Hey guys,
Hopefully this is the right spot to post this, but either way I think it'll help a lot of people out. I had a crappy FM transmitter for a while until I decided, "Zune makes good stuff, so their transmitter for their Zune out to be great (compatibility and all)..."
Anyone who ones a Zune Car Pack v2 knows it is garbage. Really unfortunate. However, if you spent 80, 60, or even 30 bucks on one, you can redeem your purchase.
I'm aware there is already a range hack for the first Zune transmitter, but this allows you to charge your Zune and have FM presets. A pretty fun combo, I think.
Enough talk, here is the guide.
Range hack your Zune Car Pack v2:
1. The first step is getting that lame backing off the little box that is your transmitter. It is glued on exceptionally well, and getting it off will not be pretty. If you are amazing with tools and get the metal backing off without damaging it, I think you deserve a medal. Either way, this is what you are dealing with...
The quickest, simplest, and easily the crudest way to get it off is what I did. Use a screwdriver to create a gap, then use a pair of pliers to get under the glue and pull. Simple. This is what you'll get.
2. Now that the back is off, take out the 4 tiny screws with a small Phillips
head screwdriver. The little metal disc is a magnet. It's pretty convenient if you don't want to lose those screws.
3. You are inside. Looks complicated, huh?
Don't be afraid; it's easy. Just be careful. I fixed a kit one time, and it eventually stopped working (remember this guide is used at your own risk). I believe it stopped from repeated abuse. When your transmitter is naked, be quick and careful about doing the job and sealing it back up. Anyway, your goal is the little white tower with copper wire circuited around it. That's your antenna. If you have trouble finding it, or you just want to test your connection (not a bad idea), then take it to your car and hook it up with the zune and all. While the transmitter is outside of its case, play some tunes and take any antenna wire (I just stole about 6 inches from the long wire hooked up to my stereo. I hate the radio anyway.) and do your best to connect the wire with the solder sticking out of the bottom of the the internal antenna. Depending on where your set up will be in the car, you may want a shorter wire. I can tolerate a long wire, so I play it safe with about 5 or 6 inches. Play around and see what works. Again, poke the antenna joint with a wire. Any wire will work, but you'll need the antenna wire to make the joint permanent, so you might as well get it. Normal copper wire is terrible for the job because it works like a sponge to soak up the solder instead of holding fast. Virtually no connection. Here is the placement of the internal antenna (inside my red box). It's on the back side of the circuit board.
4. Did you test the connection? Awesome. If it didn't work, just keep playing with that little joint. You'll see where I soldered in a minute if that helps you find it. Alright then, pull out your soldering iron and some standard rosin core solder. Don't have on? A cheap iron (about $15) and some solder ($1.50) won't set you back much. Trust me, clear music and your whole collection at your finger tips on the road? Worth it. Or you could just buy another cheap transmitter. Moving along, you will be soldering your antenna wire to the already existing solder joint beneath the little white tower that is the internal antenna. Because the circuit board is filled on both sides with electronics, you will not be able to flip the board to the other side and solder there. You are going to need to place the wire right next to the antenna itself. Not on. Beside. Soldering onto the copper circuit does nothing. See? This is why we tested it earlier. When you are finished (I used a thin solder tip for a precise job, but it was still a little tricky), it should look like this.
5. Not to shabby, eh? Pull lightly and make sure that the wire is secure. If not, little bumps on the transmitter will knock that sucker off easily. Solder again and again if you have to. Next, you will need to make room for the new wire sticking out. Angle it so that the wire comes along along with the main wires, and then cut out (or burn out with the iron) a small chunk of the transmitter backing (the plastic one, not the metal one) for the wire to fit in. Like so.
6. Put the screws back in.
7. I used some duct tape to secure the magnet because I like there (it came off once before). If you don't, you can pull it off. It won't hurt your Zune either way though.
8. Congrats! Remember to test it out to make your soldered it correctly. If not, crack it back open. Check the connection, and then the solder. The solder should like shiny, not dull. If it's dull, re-solder it. That's a bad connection, and your antenna will not function well.
I hope this helped you guys out!
Zune Car Pack v2 Fixed.
