alaskabrett
02-26-2006, 03:07 PM
I may have just found the solution to my problem. The solution is so simple that I thought I'd post it here so others can consider it and criticize it if it could damamge an ipod.
Background info: I'm new to ipods, just bought a 5g 60gb video and am loving it. I commute to work daily and needed a way to listen to the ipod in the car, after some research I bought a Griffin Road Trip, not because it was the best solution (particuarlly sonically) but because it works for what I want it to do and was available for purchase in my area. I want to protect my ipod so I bought a Speck Skintight Case for it (pack of 3 !).
The Problem: The ipod doesn't mount on the Road Trip Base with the Skintight base on, taking the ipod in and out of the case is a pain and time consuming.
The Solution?: I took the plastic ipod mounting bracket off the Road Trip. With the bottom flap of the Skintight case opened foward I slid the ipod onto the Road Trip and it connected fine. I noticed that the thickness of Skintight case is similar to the spacing provided by the plastic mounting bracket that comes with the Road Trip (which I just removed). I haven't measured the similarity between the bracket thickness and the case's thickness exactly but on first glance it appears that the ipod sits "flush" to the Road Trip. Next i was looking for something to hold the ipod in place (other than friction) and in looking around my condo I found a simple rubber band! After sliding the rubberband over the ipod in a way that it was fastened to the Road Trip the ipod seemed to stay pretty firmly in place and I was still able to operate all of the controls although the opened "flap" on the Skintight makes this a little ackward (I just set it to shuffle for the drive anyway :) Not I can listen to the ipod in the car without ever taking it out of the case, before I was taking it out four or more times a day.
Possible Concerns: This is where I'm looking for thoughts and opinions. I haven't driven around with this setup much so this isn't tried and tested but so far it seems like the ipod doesn't spring back and forth elastically. That said, its hard to imagine it not doing it a little bit on really bumpy roads....I am using a rubber band after all. I'm thinking about trying out a rubberband that is about a 1/2" wide and made of thick rubber with less elasticity. This might make accesing the controls a little more difficult but I think it will really lock the ipod in place. I keep thinking that if the ipod does sway at all while in the road trip this could damage the connection port on the bottom of the ipod, or if it swayed hard enough or with enough elastic energy it could even damage the internal workings. Again, on first glance I haven't noticed any "swaying or bouncing". One option would be switching from a rubberband to some sort of adjustable strap with no elasticity. This might look better, but I'm an Alaskan so I'm all about the elegant duct tape solutions anyway....looks aren't as much of a concern as functionality or as so many have commented I probably wouldn't have bought the RoadTrip.
Hunh?: The best solution would be for one of these "all in one" charger transmitter options to include a mounting bracket that is adjustable to fit different cases. Why don't any of the manufactuers just do that?
Thanks,
Brett
Background info: I'm new to ipods, just bought a 5g 60gb video and am loving it. I commute to work daily and needed a way to listen to the ipod in the car, after some research I bought a Griffin Road Trip, not because it was the best solution (particuarlly sonically) but because it works for what I want it to do and was available for purchase in my area. I want to protect my ipod so I bought a Speck Skintight Case for it (pack of 3 !).
The Problem: The ipod doesn't mount on the Road Trip Base with the Skintight base on, taking the ipod in and out of the case is a pain and time consuming.
The Solution?: I took the plastic ipod mounting bracket off the Road Trip. With the bottom flap of the Skintight case opened foward I slid the ipod onto the Road Trip and it connected fine. I noticed that the thickness of Skintight case is similar to the spacing provided by the plastic mounting bracket that comes with the Road Trip (which I just removed). I haven't measured the similarity between the bracket thickness and the case's thickness exactly but on first glance it appears that the ipod sits "flush" to the Road Trip. Next i was looking for something to hold the ipod in place (other than friction) and in looking around my condo I found a simple rubber band! After sliding the rubberband over the ipod in a way that it was fastened to the Road Trip the ipod seemed to stay pretty firmly in place and I was still able to operate all of the controls although the opened "flap" on the Skintight makes this a little ackward (I just set it to shuffle for the drive anyway :) Not I can listen to the ipod in the car without ever taking it out of the case, before I was taking it out four or more times a day.
Possible Concerns: This is where I'm looking for thoughts and opinions. I haven't driven around with this setup much so this isn't tried and tested but so far it seems like the ipod doesn't spring back and forth elastically. That said, its hard to imagine it not doing it a little bit on really bumpy roads....I am using a rubber band after all. I'm thinking about trying out a rubberband that is about a 1/2" wide and made of thick rubber with less elasticity. This might make accesing the controls a little more difficult but I think it will really lock the ipod in place. I keep thinking that if the ipod does sway at all while in the road trip this could damage the connection port on the bottom of the ipod, or if it swayed hard enough or with enough elastic energy it could even damage the internal workings. Again, on first glance I haven't noticed any "swaying or bouncing". One option would be switching from a rubberband to some sort of adjustable strap with no elasticity. This might look better, but I'm an Alaskan so I'm all about the elegant duct tape solutions anyway....looks aren't as much of a concern as functionality or as so many have commented I probably wouldn't have bought the RoadTrip.
Hunh?: The best solution would be for one of these "all in one" charger transmitter options to include a mounting bracket that is adjustable to fit different cases. Why don't any of the manufactuers just do that?
Thanks,
Brett