Old Apple dock and composite AV cables

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Old Apple dock and composite AV cables

My old iPod with Color display (circa 2005) recently died, so I'm getting a new iPod Touch 4G.

the old iPod could display pictures on the TV as well as play music. I had it in an old style genuine Apple dock and used a genuine Apple Composite AV cable to connect the dock and my home entertainment system so I could show the pictures on the TV and play music through my surround sound system. That old Apple AV cable did not connect through the dock connector but is connected to the dock through a headphone like 3.5mm plug. That old Dock also has an S-Video out

All the original stuff was bought years ago when I made good money... but I lost my job over a year and half ago and just got another after being out of work that long that pays significantly less than I used to make ...

As my old iPod died, after living on shoestring budget so long with NO frills, even though money is still tight, I decided to give myself a gift for the holidays and replace it with a Touch.

I knew i would have to replace my old Apple Firewire chargers (I have 2) and my old 3rd party firewire car charger (in the car I had a line out cable from dock connector as well which I connected to a cassette adaptor for my 9 year old car)..

But figured I could find USB chargers cheaply and could still use the old dock and AV cables (as those were - and still are- outrageously expensive)...

But I've started reading things which I think are saying is that I might not be use my old Apple Dock, and Apple Composite AV cables which is making me nervous.

So ... can I use the old Apple Dock and AV cables for video with the 4g Touch????

There should be no TECHNICAL reason for it not to work... but maybe Apple has gotten a bit more greedy...

If it does not work for video, will at least the audio part of the cable connected to that dock and the s-video out work? I can make that work with what I already have to get audio and video.

If not then I need a lot more new stuff I can't really afford... and will be very very disappointed and angry with Apple... There is no good reason those things should stop working other than purposely sabotaging them to make me have to buy new over priced accessories! I PAYED my apple tax on those already!

Thanks for any info...

A worried karen

Posted on Dec 4, 2010 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

lllaass

Level 10

210,513 points

Dec 4, 2010 3:26 PM in response to Karen1234

This article should answer your questions:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1454
(iPhone, iPad, iPod: TV out support)

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Answer 2

Dec 4, 2010 4:00 PM in response to Karen1234

Karen,

It sounds like you have the older iPod AV cable like the link above shows.

I also had that cable and it did not work for photos or video out...
It did work for music.

So, I ended up buying the newer AV cable.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC748ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0OQ&mco=MjAyNDIxNTg

Or if you prefer and your TV accepts Component cables, then you could use this.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC917ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0OQ&mco=MjAyNDIxNTE

Sorta good news.
The cables above used to be $49 and now they are $39
However, they used to come with a $29 wall charger and now they no longer do therefore the price reduction.

I am not positive the older dock will work.
I do still have my older dock but haven't tried it for video out through the dock.
I don't see why it wouldn't work with the new cable but I could try it for you if you let me know.

I know money is tight for many of us but just wanted to give you the other options...

The new Apple Universal Dock now comes with the USB cable, Wall Charger, Aluminum Remote for another $59 but still does not include the AV cables above.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC746LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA0OQ&mco=MjAyNDIwNTA

Let me know if you want me to try out my older dock with the newer AV cable.
Again, I know the older cable will not work.

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Answer 3

Karen1234 Author

Level 1

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Dec 4, 2010 4:11 PM in response to lllaass

Thanks... It ALMOST does but not quite.

First it does not mention the iTouch 4G...

And the table titled:
iPod, Cable, and Dock compatibility

specifically only mentions the touch 3G and the Universal Dock... I have the iPod Photo Dock.

So it implies it MIGHT work, but is not definitive...

Anybody here actually use an iTouch 4G with an iPod Photo Dock and the old style AV cables?

Thanks,
- Karen

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Answer 4

Dec 4, 2010 4:32 PM in response to Karen1234

Looking over that chart again reminded me of how I tried to use my old AV cable.

I hooked my old AV cable directly to my iPod Touch and it would not do video.
That is why I bought the new AV cable.

I didn't try hooking my old cable through the dock and then to the TV.
According to the document, it should work the way you want it to including the S Video.

Not sure what an iPod Photo Dock is you mention...??
The older dock is called the "iPod Universal Dock" as shown in the document above and has a part number of MA045G/A

Message was edited by: Joseph Kriz

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Answer 5

Karen1234 Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2010 6:37 PM in response to Joseph Kriz

I as refering to what it said higher up on that page:

[quote]
The following docks support TV out when used with an iPod model or iPhone that supports TV out:

* Apple Universal Dock (requires either the Apple Composite AV Cable or the Apple Component AV Cable—will not work with the iPod AV Cable). Search the store for part number MB125G.

* iPod Universal Dock or iPod with color display dock (iPod photo dock)
[/quote]

I took that to mean that "iPod Universal Dock" as not the same thing as "iPod photo dock" though it look the same as the one pictured.

In any case that table only mentions iTouch 3G not 4G... I don't know if they behave the same way.

I still have the box from that old dock. it's part number is M9868G/A. The Bottom of the Dock said main in China and the year on it is 2003. Is that the one you have and do you have a G4 touch?

If so can you you put the touch in the old dock and attach the old AV cable to it an see if you can get video out?

If it works the you have another fully usable dock! 😉

Thanks,
- Karen

I that the old dock you have?

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Answer 6

Dec 11, 2010 6:29 AM in response to Karen1234

I have the same iPod photo dock as you do, and I have also been trying to use it to output video from my iPhone 4. I can confirm that it does not work to output video through the S-Video connector. I haven't yet tried with an old iPod AV cable or equivalent (camcorder cable with RCA connectors inverted) to see if a video signal passes through Line Out instead. As soon as I get hold of the appropriate cable, I'll be posting my results in this thread.

PS. If you have already tried, I would much appreciate it if you could let me know.

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Answer 7

Dec 11, 2010 2:57 PM in response to Karen1234

Apparently there are at least 3 different Dock model numbers.

The Model number is the most important and can be found on the bottom of the dock.

The part numbers may change due to several things like boxing an AV cable with or without a wall charger. You would probably get the same cable but the part number on the box would be different due to possible other contents inside the box.

1. *iPod Photo Dock* Part# M9868G/A, Model# ?????
with iPod AV Cable or S-Video cable Part# M8765G/A

2. *iPod Universal Dock* Part# MA045G/A, *Model# A1153*
with iPod AV Cable or S-Video cable Part# M8765G/A

3. *Apple Universal Dock* Part# MC746LL/A, Model# ?????
with Apple Composite AV Cable Part# MC748AM/A
or Apple Component AV Cable Part# MC917ZM/A

I had both items in #2 above. I still have the iPod Universal Dock and it came in its own box.
No remote, No cable(s), but did come with 5 dock adapters.
I never tried my iPod Touch through the Dock to the TV. I did try the iPod Touch using the older iPod AV Cable to the TV but that did not work and the link above tells us it doesn't. That's why I bought the newer Composite Cable which does work when directly connected to the TV and the iPod Touch.
I gave my older cable away to a friend so I can't test if it would work like the document says or not but like you said, in theory, it should work.

According to the document given above and below, the iPod Touch should work with your Dock you have now even though it doesn't list the 4th generation. (I don't think they have updated this yet)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1454

If you buy a new iPod Touch 4th generation, then I guess the only way you will know for sure is to try it out and let us know here.

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Answer 8

lex0455

Level 1

0 points

Jan 13, 2011 3:49 AM in response to Karen1234

I have an ipod photo with its original dock and av cables and an ipod touch 4G.

The touch will not work in the dock - a message appears which says it will not charge and when I try to play music through my hifi it only plays through the speaker on the ipod touch. Everything work perfectly with the ipod photo so there are no problems with the dock. I contacted Apple and they confirmed that you need a different dock for the ipod touch 4G. I've ordered a PURE i-10 dock which appears to be a good balance between price and quality at approx £20 in the UK.

Hope this helps

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Answer 9

CyberMac

Level 1

5 points

Oct 4, 2011 5:22 PM in response to lex0455

I have the iPod Universal Dock* Part# MA045G/A, *Model# A1153*, using with iTouch 4th Gen & adapter cable.

TV-Out Works!!!

Don't pay Apple's high price of $45 for iTouch composite cable.... The cable I used was from my video camera '3.5-mm jack to 3 AV cables'. Plug into the 1/4" jack on the Universal Dock and the RED cable to the YELLOW jack on the TV (white jack to Left audio). Ipod Touch MUST be in the Universal Dock. Works perfectly for audio & video. 🙂

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