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Level 1

8 points

Lightning adapter not the same as Lightning adapter 0.2m cable

I have an iphone 5 with both an Lightning to 30-pin Adapter and a Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m). They do NOT work the same way. I have a DICE in-car system that has a 30 pin connector cable for connecting an ipod or iphone. It has worked fine on all ipods and all iphones through the 4S. So, obviously had to wait for the lightning adapters came out when I got a 5. Ordered both the the 30-pin/Lightning adapter and the 30-pin/Lightning cable. Have both in hand now and tested each with my in-car 30-pin cable. The 30-pin/Lightning adapter works flawless. Audio and charging work perfectly with the iphone 5. Thankfully.

A different story with the 30-pin/Lightning cable. When using this cable, the iphone reports "accessory is not supported". Charging does work, but no audio out. Tried it in every conceivable configuration of car stereo/ipod/cable insertion orders you might imagine. Nada.

So, the 30-pin/Lightning adapter works perfectly and the cable version does not support audio and reports "accessory is not supported".

Something is different between these 2 adapters. I tried swapping between both adapters about 30-40 times trying to figure it out. Assumed it was user error for the first 10-15 times, but now I'm convinced there is something different between the small 30-pin/Lightning adapter and the 0.2m cable version of the "same".

I hope as more people get there's and test it, we'll figure this out. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them. If you are still deciding or waiting, just be aware, that at least one person (me) is having these 2 adapters behave differently with the same exact accessory.

Posted on Oct 15, 2012 7:41 PM

42 replies

jgmoore Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2012 11:23 AM in response to therobesons

Both adapters were Apple products purchased through the online Apple store. Apple shipped a replacement yesterday, should be able to comment further when I've tested the replacement.

Pauleebe

Level 1

0 points

Oct 23, 2012 11:31 AM in response to jgmoore

As I posted a few posts back:

I ALSO own the Dice Silverline Duo Kit.

I purchased the 30 pin to lightning adapter CABLE .2m, and it works flawlessly.

I'm pretty sure yours is just a dud 🙂

jgmoore Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2012 9:37 PM in response to jgmoore

Received my replacement Lightning/30pin cable adapter from Apple today. Having the same problem with the original and the replacement. In all cases, the Lightning/30pin adapter works just fine, but the cable version does not - shows up on the phone as "accessory not supported" and does not pass audio. I used the iPad to take a video of this which I'm also sending to Apple. Sorry for the grainy, night-time footage, but best I could do in a pinch. The video shows me using both types of adapters using the same DICE Electronics in-car accessory. You'll see that the Lightning/30pin adapter works fine every time and the Lightning/30pin cable (both of them) do not work. In my case, I have a DICE Silverline Duo connected through the CD changer port of my car. This system has worked well on every 30 pin ipod and iphone i've had including both the iphone 4 and iphone 4s.

https://www.box.com/s/o9vqxfu72w3yk7cmov4h

Oct 26, 2012 11:51 PM in response to jgmoore

Hi all, just received my 30 pin to lightning and it works perfect.

I plug it into my Kenwood and both iPod and pandora work and all controls work from the radio/steering wheel.

But it does not do video so I not not get Netflix any more.

Must wait for new adapter.

Oct 28, 2012 7:37 PM in response to jgmoore

I'm also having the charging issue with my iPhone 5 in a 2010 MINI Cooper using the 0.2 m lightning cable adapter connected to the y-cable supplied by MINI for the iPhone. I can access my playlists, but I can't charge my iPhone 5. My older iPhone 4 worked without an issue. I haven't tried the solid lightning to 30 pin adapter.

I think the issue with 0.2 m lighting-to-30 pin adapter may be related to low power being provided by the head unit of the stereo to the iPhone for charging and the lightning adapter is not recognizing the power source. As an experiment, I connected the USB of my y-cable from the MINI to the power brick for the iPhone and plugged it into a wall socket, then I connected the 30 pin to the 0.2 m cable adapter, and last connected by iPhone 5. The result - the charging feature worked.

I took the series of cables back to the MINI and connected them to the USB port and again I received the error message that charging was no supported.

Since these adapters have a chip set, it may be a firmware issue with power threshold needed to activate the charging feature.

Oct 29, 2012 3:31 AM in response to Brian in long Valley

Hello,

Could be a faulty 30 pin cable, I was having this problem with my Audi in car system, apple contacted me & swapped the cable out, the new one works fine & charges the iPhone 5.

Cheers

Congo_1

Level 1

70 points

Oct 30, 2012 11:41 AM in response to jgmoore

Is it possible that the cable is okay, but it is the part plugged in that it is not compatible with? I know with the older 'brick' chargers only certain cables would work with them.

Nov 6, 2012 11:33 AM in response to jgmoore

Hi jgmoore,

I hope this helps you...

I have exactly the same set up as you I.e the dice silverline and I had exactly the same issue with the lightning cable, it just did not function as I thought it might.

After reading your post I managed to get a refund from Apple ( no problems there ) and then ordered a lightning adapter, after a 2 week wait it has finally arrived today and I can happily confirm that it works perfectly.

So in summary there is either a technical difference between the cable and the adapter or we both had a faulty one?? I know which one i believe to be true.

Thanks again for pointing me to the adapter.

jgmoore Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 6, 2012 11:48 AM in response to Dickiebird1974

Hey Dickie - glad I could help. Apple shipped me a replacement cable adapter and it also didn't work like the little adapter. I've been in touch with Apple regularly and they are looking into it further. I've been impressed with the Apple engineers I've talked to - they could easily have blown me off over a silly cable, but they've continued to escalate this to try to figure out what's going on and the folks I'm talking to now are specifically involved in vehicle integration equipment. It's quite possible there are other accessories that this happens with and they are just trying to figure out what the root cause is. The DICE equipment can be flaky at times. It could be possible that the signals that the DICE accessory is generating are borderline within spec. I'll post more again as I hear more from Apple on this.

But I do hope this post helps others try both in case one isn't working. Would hate to see folks toss an old accessory that still works because they only tried one.

jgmoore Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 7, 2012 4:11 PM in response to jgmoore

Update: Apple engineers have been very helpful in troubleshooting this issue. I get the sense that I'm not the only one having the issue. The 2 adapter types *should* be functionally equivalent, but in a very few cases are not. After some detailed troubleshooting, they indicated they are confident they know what the issue is. They couldn't provide any guidance on a fix, but it is clear that people are looking into it.

So, moral of the story is that they should be interchangeable in every situation, but if you have problems with one adapter type, try the other before ditching the accessory you're connecting the iphone to.

akkhosla

Level 1

0 points

Nov 7, 2012 4:45 PM in response to jgmoore

WOW! This is the same issue I am having, although I hav not tried the regular "brick" adapter...

I posted a thread just yesterday...

Audio plays from Pandora and iHeart Radio apps, but not the native "Music" app!

I hope that a fix or update is made available soon!

amhobbs

Level 1

9 points

Jan 5, 2013 6:34 PM in response to akkhosla

I bought two cheap 30 pin to lightning cable adapters for the two iPod Nano (7th gen.) and neither of them worked. Granted they were cheap knockoffs from China, but was wondering if they were junk or only worked with certain devices. Seems like the issue is deeper than that. Was about to return the clock radio that we bought to be used with them, but am holding off until the 30pin to lightning adapters that I ordered come in to see if they work.

Lightning adapter not the same as Lightning adapter 0.2m cable