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Archos Dock question


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I'm trying to understand what people are using for their Archos dock adaptor on their sleds.

 

I bought a 405 recorder. The currently available accessories are as follows:

 

Mini Dock--allows output to TV/monitor.

DVR travel adaptor--allows input from video source.

DVR station--allows both, but is too large to be practical.

 

So there isn't one small adaptor that takes care of input and output (which is normally built-in to every other device like this).

 

Can you guys tell that I'm frustrated?

 

Did the earlier versions use a different adaptor? Can someone post a picture?

 

ugh.

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With my 404 video is output through the headphone jack which uses a 4 conductor connector then I use the DVR travel adapter for input. So the gen5 doesn't work like that? That sucks. A while back Archos realized that if they sold the base unit cheap and sold all the features as add-ons they could make a lot more money. Unfortunately it leads to lots of BS like this.

 

Looks like a few places still have the 404 in stock. If you need both at the same time you might want to return the 405 and get a 404 if you can. My only complaint with the 404 is that the built in battery seems to need replacement after a year, but aftermarket replacements are easy to find.

 

~Jess

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I was using the travel adaptor until a grip caught the side of the connector off his leg and twisted the pole, and destroyed the socket on the recorder, after having to buy a scrap one off ebay, and swapping the connector on the board out, me and a friend of mine took apart the DVR station, figured the pin outs, and made up a little junction box. Now it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it does the job just fine. Gives me input, and output. There is now no real worry of anything getting snagged.

 

Attached is a very quick, bad, camera phone picture. Gives you an idea tho...

 

Rick.

post-1015-1243166339_thumb.jpg

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The earlier models are much better suited for Steadicam use than this. Different earlier (400 and 500) generations use a variation of the simple plug that Richard showed in that photo rather than the adapters you mentioned. You can cut that off the dock which came with each unit and attach a 5 pin PRO recorder Lemo plug which will power the unit and facilitate input/ouput. You might be able to find these models on Ebay.

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Charles,

 

I had a 405 with the travel adapter briefly before I abandoned the project since it was not what I wanted. That is when I broke down and bought the over priced FFV (which has been great but with Arricam taps going HD, I wouldn't do it again). The problem with the 405 and travel adapter is that you have to watch playback on the Archos screen. I didn't care for the user interface and then to add insult to injury I was getting noise problems on my monitor when powering it from the rig (at 6 volts; ironically at 9 volts there was no noise but you could fry an egg on the unit).

 

If I'd stuck with it, I'm sure I could have worked something out but it unfortunately became clear to me that it was not what I wanted for a deck. Great size and weight, but that's about it.

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It is possible to make a mini dock for the GEN 5 Archos that does both but it's not a simple mod, however the results are perfect for onboard recording. It requires removing the jack and electronics from the playback dock and putting them into the recorder dock. With a simple mod to the SLED, changing the 1PDT REC switch to a 3PDT (#1 - Video Switch, #2 Resistor switch 68k for record and 470k for playback, #3 Power Switch for Archos Charge - needed for resistor system to work ) it's possible for the unit to know what state the REC/PLAYBACK switch on your sled is in and behave accordingly. Then it's as easy as pressing record or play, very little menu work. With the thumbnails and touchscreen it's really a dream setup. The one pain is that by default the unit plays back to the onboard screen, you have to press the LCD button for it to feed to the Monitor.

 

post-1262-1243185851_thumb.jpg

 

If you want more details you can contact me off forum.

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I have an archos 420.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ARCHOS-AV400-420-DIGIT...p3286.m20.l1116

 

this is all I need for an adaptor.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...mp;linkCode=asm

 

A few steps to watch on the steadi-monitor if you don't like watching from the archos. Simply unplug the adapter from the "in" and plug it into the "out" press and hold the top switch button the archos and then flip the in/output of your rig.

 

My archos lives on the side of my sled and when I've got the rig on my shoulders the archos is right next to my face and level. (thanks to the shape of the master sled... who knew that would come in handy? lol ) Meh, works for me for now.

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That's what I had for mine, before it was broken off...

 

I have an archos 420.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ARCHOS-AV400-420-DIGIT...p3286.m20.l1116

 

this is all I need for an adaptor.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...mp;linkCode=asm

 

A few steps to watch on the steadi-monitor if you don't like watching from the archos. Simply unplug the adapter from the "in" and plug it into the "out" press and hold the top switch button the archos and then flip the in/output of your rig.

 

My archos lives on the side of my sled and when I've got the rig on my shoulders the archos is right next to my face and level. (thanks to the shape of the master sled... who knew that would come in handy? lol ) Meh, works for me for now.

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Hey Guys,

 

I have an Archos av400 for sale with two of those cables ready to be wired for your sled.

$200 US plus postage from Australia if anyone is interested.

Perfect condition, hardly used!!

 

Thanks

 

Matt

 

matt@steadimoves.com.au

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