How to convert an old dock to work with iPhone 3G
Posted by Dave Merten 
Jul 25, 2008 at 6:23pm
Got an old iPhone dock laying around and don’t want to spend money for the new iPhone 3G dock? Well, here is a way to modify and old dock and make it work with the Phone 3G.
Tools used:
• iPhone (first-generation) dock
• Clear packing tape
• Sharp tool (I used a cheap Maxam folding knife)
• Small flathead screwdriver
• 100 Grit Aluminum Oxide sandpaper (found in the Paint isle of any home improvement store for about $2.50)
Step 1: Cover the male (inside cradle) and female (on back of dock, along with the Line out input) dock connectors. Don’t want plastic shavings to ruin the connectors!
Step 2: Start carving out the inner sides and back of the dock with the sharp tool of your choice. Cover your desk with something for easy disposal of all the shavings. Carve for 5 minutes at a time, and then take the tape off the male dock connector to test out your progress as you go. I used the small flathead screwdriver to help me take the tape off of the male dock connector. Don’t forget to re-cover the connector with tape after each test. Do not worry about making your carvings even or smooth. We’ll worry about that on the last step.
Step 3: Once you think the iPhone sits nicely, test out the connection to make sure you iPhone 3G syncs (taking the tape off of the connectors, obviously.)
Step 4: Reapply the tape to the connectors.
Step 5: Sand down your carvings with the 100 grit Aluminum Oxide sandpaper. This is pretty messy, may want to do this part over a trash can with safety glasses.
Here are some close-up pictures to help guide you.
Source: Posted on Flickr
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Dave Merten
Dave was one of the founding guides at ‘The Mining Company,’ now known as About.com, in February 1998. Dave was their ‘Focus on Mac Support’ guide. In 2004 he started ‘G5 Owners Support Group,’ and in 2005, renamed it ‘Mac Owners Support Group.’ In 2006, he started the ‘MacOSG Support Corner’ column here at Macsimum News.
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Timon Says:
I good mototool will work wonders as well but then if you have one you already know that.
Posted on July 25, 2008