jazzcrazed

Hi all,

Just last week, I purchased my first pda, an Axim X5 400Mhz with charging/syncing cradle and a 128MB CF card, used off of Craigs List. I thought it was a good deal at $130, even though the guy warned me of headphone jack issues. I didn't think that was a dealbreaker for me; I mainly wanted it for reading and writing purposes, and storing contact information. And for those purposes, I am beyond satisfied with it. I love being able to work on documents, or read the news with it on the go.

But I tried out the headphone jack, anyway; I admit that it would be nice to use it for portable music and for playing XVIDs. But the seller's warnings were well-advised; the audio crackles in and out very easily. When it works, I'm satisfied with the decent volume and sound quality from 96 kbps Ogg files using Beta Player. However, it takes much jostling and pressure applied to the mini plug to get the audio playing constantly - and it does not take much jostling to lose the audio (eg, the normal shakes and rattles of NYC subway are enough to make the audio blank out until I rejostle it back).

I'm wondering if it would be possible to replace the jack with a new one. Or does the problem lie elsewhere?

Thanks in advance...

mara6

You could try replacing the jack. That seems like the most logical place for correction, but it also might be a circuits problem. I would go ahead and do it since you don't have a warranty anyways. But if you aren't the 'take apart' kind of guy, I wouldn't advise it since you said you mainly use the X5 to read and write. ;)

BTW- Welcome to the Aximsite! :yeah:

jazzcrazed

Thanks for the quick response.

As it happens, I am a "take-apart guy." Just not very good at it - especially when it comes to electronics. But I'm willing to give it a shot with with this one; I don't feel I have much to lose since I only just got it, and didn't spend TOO much on it (my budget was around $300).

Can you perhaps point me towards some good directions in taking apart an Axim?

mara6

Yea sure! There is one on the Aximsite that is for replacing the screen, but it is close enough! :p

http://www.aximsite.com/tutorials/in...mostrecent=yes

mara6

Actually this one might be good too...;)

http://www.aximsite.com/tutorials/in...mostrecent=yes

jazzcrazed

Wow, perfect... Hopefully I'll get to this this weekend, and come back here with good news!

Thanks again, Mark!

mara6

Yea, tell us how it goes! :D

Noisy Crow

It's probably either a bent contact in the jack, a bad solder joint, or jack has ripped loose fom the board. If you need to solder anything use the smallest iron you can find... 15 watts or so. Too much heat and you'll have a whole set of problems!

jazzcrazed

I opened it up just now, and discovered that the black plastic housing for the minijack was pretty much busted up. It was cracked nearly all the way around and snapped off pretty easily. One of the metal contacts of the jack was loose and fell out easily with the top of the housing removed. It looked sort of as if it had began to melt away; only a very small part of plastic held the top to the base.

I also realized that the X5 minijack was a lot different from the one I purchased from Radio Shack. The housing was smaller, and the metal parts within were differently shaped, and contacted the PCB in different places. I realized I wouldn't have much luck trying to replace it. Besides, I am not at all confident in my soldering abilities - especially on a spot as crowded as where the headphone jack is on the X5.

To make matters worse, I accidentally dropped the loose metal piece from the X5 headphone jack, and now I can't find it. It's seemingly melted and disappeared into my hardwood floor. If and when I find it, I may try to put it all back together... Until then, I'll put up with a headphone-less X5. At least I can use it to remote-control my PC audio with Vinyl and listen through my wireless Sennheisers! :)

Really reaching, now... If I were desperate and had money to spare, how plausible would it be to combine a Compact Flash USB card with a USB audio adapter? I guess something like an audio adapter would use too much power, huh?

Whatever the case, thanks Markprieb and Noisycrow for your advice!

mara6

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

I think it will be cheaper to buy a BT CF Card and get a BT Headset. Then you could listen wirelessly! Or you could get one of those CF radios, they have their own headphone jacks. But I'm not sure if the headphone jack can only be used while using the radio. I'll look into that and get back to you.

jazzcrazed

Hmmm, I'm much intrigued by BT audio... I'll have to look into that. The problem is, I won't be able to take advantage of my Sony EX1SLs that isolate so well in the subway (and sound pretty darn good). But damn, the allure of jamming out or watching a movie during my arduous commute with no cable snaking into my pocket... Color me interested! I guess I'm really digging the idea of using my Axim for more than just reading and writing. ;)

Starting my search engines...Thanks again, mp!

mara6

I would recommend the BT headphones, so you don't get mono sound. But I'm not sure if it works with Pocket PCs. If it doesn't you can always return it. http://www.bluetake.com/products/BT420EX.htm

mara6

Here is a CF Radio thing. Not sure if the headphone jack only works with the radio though...:|

http://store.yahoo.com/ibizpda/pocketradio1.html

jazzcrazed

Thanks for the tips, mp!

I looked into the BT headphones you suggested, and man are they pricey! Approx. $250... But supposedly they sound pretty good.

I saw that pocketradio, too, during my Googling. Maybe I'll give that a shot... I'm more encouraged by the radio, as it's cheaper, and I'd get to use my Sonys. And, like you said, I can return the failures for refunds.

Though it would seem that if the card itself has its own jack, and that the device receives commands (information) from the PDA to which it is attached, it's perfectly conceivable for it to relay digital audio information to the jack, as well. Otherwise, why wouldn't it rely on the existing jack on the PPC? It would only make sense that Ibiz intends for the card to replace existing PDA jacks, unless they expect for users to swap their headphones back and forth between jacks to hear the usual sounds and beeps of their PPC, no? (Insert hopeful look here.)

I like arguing with myself sometimes... Anyway, a CompUSA near my work has them in stock, so I'll be able to test our theories tomorrow!

Thanks yet again, mp!

jazzcrazed

Argh... Life isn't so simple; it seems Ibiz manufactures TWO DIFFERENT PocketRadios - one for average joe PPCs, and one that accounts for the details of the X5's singularly designed CF slot. Considering that manufacturers of other CF peripherals don't make X5-specific parts, would it not have been hard to engineer a single PocketRadio compatible with all??

Ah well... It'd be cheaper to order online, anyway; I just hate having to wait for something that might not solve my problem.