Level 1

50 points

iPhone 3G + Composite AV cable = no video

So I bought this Apple AV Composite Cable on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=2502 68585597

It was new, still in the box, and it claims on the box to be compatible with iPod Classic, iPod Nano (video), IPod Touch, and iPhone. It plugs into the main connector on the bottom of the iPhone 3G. Since I looked on the Apple Store website and didn't find any new AV cables specifically for the iPhone 3G, I assumed that the composite AV cable for the iPhone would work for the iPhone 3G as well.

I got the cable today and plugged it into my TV. Audio comes through but no video; just a black TV screen with audio coming through the speakers. Also, a message pops up on the iPhone 3G screen: "This accessory was not made to work with iPhone. Would you like to turn on Airplane mode to reduce interference ? " And I can choose yes or no. Choosing either one doesn't give me video.

What is the deal here? I looked around on the apple store website and could not find any new AV cable that was specifically meant to output video to TV from the iPhone 3G. Also, the iPhone 3G user guide specifically says:

"+You can connect iPhone to your TV and watch your videos on the larger screen. Use+
+the Apple Component AV Cable, Apple Composite AV Cable, or other authorized+
+iPhone compatible cable. You can also use these cables with the Apple Universal Dock+
+to connect iPhone to your TV. (The Apple Universal Dock includes a remote, which+
+allows you to control playback from a distance.) Apple cables and docks are available+
+for purchase separately at www.apple.com/ipodstore.+ "

I notice that none of the cables on the apple store, nor that paragraph from the iPhone 3G user guide (which also is meant to discuss original iPHone) specifically states that the cables will work with the 3G. Has apple really screwed us over on this, and there is no way to output video to the TV?

Has anyone got this working for them?

Al Powerbook G4 1.67 GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Jul 21, 2008 9:51 PM

78 replies

Nafcom

Level 1

0 points

Sep 9, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Argyron

Argyron, you keep repeating yourself and that the cable works for you does not mean that the others are all not able to plugin a cable right.

The fact that a lot of cables needed updating before they worked right just proves this fact. It doesn't matter who you ask who is working for Apple, over here they all tell you "Wait, it isn't working right".

See it from the Apple's point of view:

They admit it isn't working correctly which is a plus. So instead they want to spend more time on re-desiging it to make it work correctly.
So this proves there is a problem - obviously not for all - but for many.

I guess enough people with problems for Apple to care about redesigning the cable.

This "It worked for me so it HAS to work for everybody else" is a stuborn stalled point of view which simply cannot be replied. It also relies on firmware version used, maybe unlocked/jailbroken firmware but surely also on different hardware revisions of the iPhone 3G phone.

I am not willing to continue this conversation on a "It worked for me so it HAS to work for everybody else" because this will not bring you or me or anybody else back or forth.

Anyway, now people can choose between waiting 6 months for the revised cable by Apple is out, try the old one and have a 50/50 change it will work.... or not!

Or try alternatives. Actually this one got pretty good reviews:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.14395

dgalvan123 Author

Level 1

50 points

Sep 10, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Nafcom

You should be fine with this cable. I received mine last week and it works flawlessly with no error messages. Only down side is that you can't charge the phone at the same time like you can with the apple-brand product. But for $9.22 instead of $50, that's perfectly acceptable to me.

Nafcom

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2008 11:02 AM in response to dgalvan123

dgalvan123 wrote:
You should be fine with this cable. I received mine last week and it works flawlessly with no error messages. Only down side is that you can't charge the phone at the same time like you can with the apple-brand product. But for $9.22 instead of $50, that's perfectly acceptable to me.

Thank you for letting me know! 🙂

Yes, I agree with you!

slam430

Level 1

0 points

Sep 12, 2008 5:58 AM in response to slam430

Update!

*iPhone 2G - firmware 2.0.1*

Apple Composite AV cable - 100% work (but NOT work with the original iPhone Dock)

So, I guess this Apple cable should work on the 3G iPhone but have not had chance to test one yet.

cazlar

Level 1

9 points

Sep 23, 2008 10:56 PM in response to dgalvan123

I also got this cable, and seemed to work great when I tested it (firmware 2.0, original iPhone). However, after updating to 2.1 it no longer seems to work, and gives me the error message (sometimes immediately, sometimes after 30sec/1min). Comments on DX suggest others are having problems with 2.1 too.

I can only assume Apple has purposely broken the compatibility via the update (boo!).

Sep 24, 2008 12:58 PM in response to slam430

Here's my setup:

Device: Ipod Touch (2.1)
Cable: 3rd party composite (just red, white, yellow leads - from ebay)
TV: Panasonic 32" SD CRT

If I repeatedly plug/unplug the cable I can get 5, perhaps 10 seconds of video before it cuts out and goes back to the video selection screen. Had never tried it before the update, so don't know if that's responsible. Just know it doesn't work. eBay buyers beware!

Nafcom

Level 1

0 points

Sep 24, 2008 1:16 PM in response to cazlar

cazlar wrote:
I also got this cable, and seemed to work great when I tested it (firmware 2.0, original iPhone). However, after updating to 2.1 it no longer seems to work, and gives me the error message (sometimes immediately, sometimes after 30sec/1min). Comments on DX suggest others are having problems with 2.1 too.

I can only assume Apple has purposely broken the compatibility via the update (boo!).

I never tried the cable with the older firmware but I got the same problem now, here is what DealExtreme (DX) replied to me:

DX wrote:
Hi Joerg,

Apologize for the defective item

A free workable replacement will be sent to you as soon as possible ,
please wait with patience , you wil get it soon , our system will give
you a notice when it shipped ,please feel free contact us if you have
any other questions , thank you

b,regards
Ellen

dgalvan123 Author

Level 1

50 points

Sep 25, 2008 8:30 AM in response to cazlar

I have the same problem now! It doesn't work after the 2.1 upgrade.

Man what a frustrating thing has become. I just wanted to avoid paying apple's $50 by getting a cheap third party cable. Now I've bought two that have been advertised to work. . . but that now don't.

Sep 25, 2008 4:39 PM in response to dgalvan123

Absolutely no probs with apple composite cable. Still works properly after 2.1 update.

I bite the bullet because it was a sale for $34.00 for the Apple cable. If you guys are lucky, you may find one.

Maybe is just not worth stuffing around.

jfaughnan

Level 3

889 points

Oct 17, 2008 7:22 AM in response to Irwin Pang

I have an Apple AV composite cable I purchased @ July at my local Apple store. It worked with my iPhone then.

It doesn't today.

I'll see what they say at the store.

jfaughnan

Level 3

889 points

Oct 17, 2008 7:12 PM in response to jfaughnan

It was the cable connector seating.

It looked fully attached, but on removal and FIRM attachment it worked.

If the AV iPod connector is not fully seated you get this error. The old iPod connector used a locking connection with a positive click, the AV cable uses a lockless connector that differs from the newer lockless iPhone connector. I suspect the AV cable connector was a transitional design that may have more connectivity issues.

Nafcom

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2008 3:20 PM in response to jfaughnan

same here but the cable connection is right, I read what you wrote carefully but no luck and I got the new one they tagged "iphone3g compatible" in the apple shop

they said it's a TV problem but I do not think so. I asked the tech support of my TV and they said this can't be a PC problem

Anyone got the same issue?

Nafcom

Level 1

0 points

Nov 8, 2008 12:59 PM in response to Nafcom

anybody an idea or the same issue, please?

Nov 28, 2008 9:29 PM in response to Irwin Pang

I have exactly the same problems using a 3rd party dock w/cable.
But how do you get to the next try? Normal Reboot?

I read that the iPhone recognizes the dock/accessory by a simple
resistor. I guess that the cheap cables have a resistor with 5% or 10%
tolerance while the apple stuff has 1% or 0.5% tolerance. Can
someone very that? Then we could just replace the resistor in the
3rd party product and we are good to go. that would also explain,
why sooooo many people have sooooo many different experiences!

Is there no electrical engineer in this group, who could comment??

THANKS

Michael

Nov 30, 2008 10:08 PM in response to dgalvan123

Had the very same problem: With iPhone 3G the composite cable (from Apple, $50.-) does not work but the component cable does. Make sure you got iTunes v8.0 and iPhone's new (but buggy) firmware v2.2 ! The issue with some people seems to be that the built in Apple proprietary DRM chip does not work in some digital TVs, possibly Sony and some Panasonic. - Other than that, the video quality is simply stunning when you hook it up depending on size of video file and proper encoding from the source. There still seem to be aspect ratio problems though.

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iPhone 3G + Composite AV cable = no video