Classic, iPod AV Cable + Apple Universal Dock - still no TV out !!!!!!

Question

Classic, iPod AV Cable + Apple Universal Dock - still no TV out !!!!!!

OK - I've bought a new 80GB Classic. I also bought an iPod AV Cable, and when I found out that that wasn't enough to get TV out working, I bought an Apple Universal Dock. Now, after spending £50 above the price on the iPod Classic the TV out feature STILL DOESN'T WORK !!!!! I connect it up - set the TV Out setting to Yes on the iPod, and my TV doesn't pick anything up. Ive tried 2 TVs and also tried mucking about with the connections - and still I don't get TV out.

Can anyone help or have Apple screwed me again ? I've waited a month for the dock and now I have it it doesn't bleeding work !

Thanks for any help you can give...

Message was edited by: Martin Linklater

2 Powerbooks, Powermac 2.7GHz, 2 MacMini's, MacbookPro 2.4GHz 17", Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Oct 5, 2007 11:58 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 6, 2007 9:27 AM in response to Martin Linklater

The Apple KB article on this issue is of course correct, but since there is still so much confusion about this, I'll try to clear things up:

- There are two different Universal Docks: the older iPod Universal Dock (big round remote sensor, S-Video port on the back) and the new Apple Universal Dock (small remote sensor, only dock connector and headphone connector on the back). Both of these docks can be used for TV out with the iPod classic.

- If you have the older iPod Universal Dock, you can just connect a standard S-Video cable. Alternatively, you can also use an iPod AV cable that you have lying around (it has been replaced by two new Apple AV cables cables and is only being offered for older iPod compatibility; see below). The iPod AV cable works only in combination with the old iPod Univeral Dock. It does not work directly on the headphone port of the iPod classic, nor the headphone port of the Apple Universal Dock.

- If you have the new Apple Univeral Dock, you'll need one of two new cables: the Apple Composite AV cable, or the Apple Component AV cable, depending on your TV. The old iPod AV cable will not work with the new dock.

- The new cables will also not work with the older iPod Universal Dock. However, you can bypass the dock and just connect the new AV cables to the iPod itself.

- You do not need a dock to have TV out on the iPod classic. All you need is either the Apple Composite AV cable or Apple Component AV cable.

Message was edited by: Tim Lorenzen
My post contained an error regarding the new AV cables in combination with the older docks.

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Answer 2

mikerey

Level 1

5 points

Oct 23, 2007 10:54 AM in response to BruceI

just want to confirm Tim's statement the 80 and 160 classics work with the ipod universal dock. (The one with the s-video out) I have a 160gb classic and use a regular s-video cable for video and 3.5mm stereo plug/2 rca plug cable. The apple av cable( stereo plug to 3 RCA yellow,red,white) works too but has to attached to the dock output and not on the ipod.

The reason why the classics work with these docks and not other third party docks is due to some apple authentication chip built into apple docks.

Downside to outputting is the ratio is stretched on widescreen TV's. Looks like the classics can only output 4:3. Meaning widescreen movies have to fit in a 4:3 window.

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Answer 3

Oct 5, 2007 9:53 PM in response to Martin Linklater

OK, I'll be honest up front and say that I know nothing about technology, but I've bought a new iPod Classic 80GB, an Apple Universal Dock and Apple AV cable which plugs into the dock and has the red, yellow and white plugs. I simply want to watch photos of my kids on tv while i listen to music. I was told this would do it and it was simple to set up. My DVD player is plugged into an amplifier which is connected to the tv. I've unplugged the red, yellow and white cables from the dvd to the amp and plugged in the universal dock. Fantastic, I get music through my speakers. But I don't get pictures on the tv. If this works for the dvd pictures, why not for the iPod? Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong please?

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Answer 4

DPG1901

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2007 12:27 PM in response to Martin Linklater

SNAP, same problem along with the fact that the remote appears not to want to work either.

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Answer 5

Oct 5, 2007 5:32 PM in response to Martin Linklater

well it works fine for me ... it actually works great .... once you have your ipod in the dock, the TV out option appears and gives the option to turn it on or off, and it will also give you the option for full or widescreen display too .... then connect your av cable to the back of the dock ... and turn your tv on the video in .... i am sure you're missing something here cos it works fine and apple did not lock it.... good luck

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Answer 6

Oct 6, 2007 1:38 AM in response to Martin Linklater

OK - still not working, but to try and mitigate against the confusion regarding this issue I'm going to list my parts exactly. I have a new 80GB iPod Classic.

An iPod AV Cable (part no M9765G/B) ( http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=7E4EB91E&nplm=M 9765)

An Apple Universal Dock (part no MB125G/A) ( http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=7E4F2D7D&nplm=M B125)

Note that the AV cable is a composite cable - with red, white and yellow connections. And the dock is the new dock, which does not have an SVideo out. It just has the iPod connector and a 3.5mm jack (1/8").

Now when I look at the Apple help page regarding this issue ( http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300233) there is no documentation regarding my combination of parts. The dock used with my AV cable is the old dock (note it says 'iPod Universal Dock' rather than 'Apple Universal Dock', and it has an SVideo port, which mine does not).

The entries referencing my dock only put it in combination with two differet AV cables - the Apple composite AV cable and the Apple Component AV cable.

I can only deduce that I have a totally usupported setup - which is just ridiculous !!! I've spent £50 ($100) on iPod AV accesories and I can't get a video signal out of my iPod ! I can only think that I need to get hold of an old dock (the one with the SVideo port), or buy yet another cable (The iPod Composite AV cable).

Honestly - Apple couldn't have made this more confusing if they tried. I'm totally fed up with this issue now.

Message was edited by: Martin Linklater

Message was edited by: Martin Linklater

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Answer 7

horatius

Level 1

30 points

Oct 6, 2007 12:41 PM in response to Tim Lorenzen

Hi we have today a new update for the classic, including tv out fix, but after tried to connect my classic p o s... I realized that nothing was fixed ,the message says TV OUT ON, connect your tv device, what does it mean,
I think it means you should buy a dock or a new cable so nothing was fixed.
I've tried with a dlo dock and the old a/v cable did not work , maybe I'm wrong ,did anybody tried too?

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Answer 8

Oct 6, 2007 1:14 PM in response to horatius

The 1.0.2 update changed nothing about the cable and dock compatibility situation. The only difference I've noticed is that iPod now allows you to switch on TV out without actually having an AV cable or dock connected. Before the update, the option didn't even appear in the menu without a dock or cable connected.

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Answer 9

horatius

Level 1

30 points

Oct 6, 2007 2:34 PM in response to Tim Lorenzen

Right

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Answer 10

kalda01

Level 1

8 points

Oct 10, 2007 7:11 PM in response to horatius

I bought a new 80GB classic and don't have an A/V cable yet. what cable should I be looking for if my TV has S-VIDEO and composite input ?
do I need to buy only apple made cable or are there non OEM ones ?

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Answer 11

Oct 11, 2007 1:30 AM in response to kalda01

You can use the new Apple Composite AV Cable for $49, or you can try to find an iPod Universal Dock, which has an S-Video output on the back, for about the same price. S-Video should give you better picture quality than Composite.

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Answer 12

BruceI

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2007 1:42 AM in response to Martin Linklater

I bought an 80GB and 160GB Classic in the last couple of weeks. After checking the internet and talking to the retailer where I bought the iPods it appears clear that the iPod Classic is not compatible with any earlier model universal docking station or AV cable (for video output only). Their advice was they were hoping for a software fix from Apple which would resolve the problem with older docking stations and cables. In the meantime their advice was to buy the new cables and universal docking stations - doesn't help me because they are not yet in stock.

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Answer 13

Oct 11, 2007 1:53 AM in response to BruceI

The iPod classic is compatible with the iPod Universal Dock (the original previous-generation dock by Apple) over an S-Video connection. I've tried it myself.
It is not compatible with some unlicensed 3rd-party docks, some of which are also called "universal docks" because they look similar to the Apple product and offer the same features.

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Answer 14

BruceI

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2007 4:09 AM in response to Tim Lorenzen

I'm sure what you say might be true, but I'm not willing to gamble the $150 it would cost me to buy the old technology, which might not work with new the newer devices - it's up to those reading these articles to decide if they want to chance blowing their money on something that doesn't work.

When someone who sells the products tells you 'it won't work', I'm willing to rely more on their advice than waste my money based on unsubstantiated claims.

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Answer 15

Oct 11, 2007 4:39 AM in response to BruceI

The old iPod Universal Dock does indeed not work with the iPod touch and the iPhone, if that's what you mean by newer devices. But this thread is about the iPod classic, which is supported (including TV out). I'm not making this up, just repeating Apple's official statement and backing it up with my own personal experience.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300233

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