Ever since I’ve been using the HP iPAQ 910c (see http://www.nickmelchi.com/bl0g/2009/01/04/goodbye-iphone-hello-ipaq/), I’ve been trying to not carry an iPod and the iPaq when I commute to Milwaukee.

I had previously only been carrying my iPhone, which served as my music, video, phone, calendar, address book, entertainment and e-mail device.  The iPaq takes care of phone, address book calendar, e-mail and music.  I’m starting to get videos/movies on it, but its a bit kludgy yet.

I had an FM transmitter that was working just fine with my iPhone and iPod but it was connection specific to those devices.  Couldn’t use it with the iPaq.  The iPaq 910c only has a mini-USB connection on it, so I had to find an adapter to convert that connection to a 3.5mm audio jack.  

If you read one of my other posts (http://www.nickmelchi.com/bl0g/2009/01/15/ipaq-910c-topics/), I reference http://www.repairhppda.com/ as a site to order accessories for iPaqs and other devices.  I decided to order the adapter they advertised.  Specifically, this is the adapter:  http://www.repairhppda.com/35mm-audio-jack-to-usb-converter-p-740.html

 

USB to 3.5mm converter

USB to 3.5mm converter

I ordered it, paid with a debit card, everything was fine, I thought.  Order was processed and everything looked OK, and it was as far as they were concerned.  

My bank detected the charge I just made as a fraudulent charge and disabled my debit card.  I didn’t know about it until I tried using it several more times while out and about.  I called the bank and they explained that the system detected activity outside my normal spending and took preventative action.  

After looking more into it, turns out the site is based in Hong Kong and the parts actually ship from Hong Kong.  The bank the site uses for credit card transactions, is the royal bank of scotland.  Combine me being in the USA, rarely buying things online from outside the country, with a site in Hong Kong that uses a bank in Scotland and you get Nick’s debit card frozen.  

It took about a month and a half, but the part did arrive and it works well.  I can use any headphones or any FM transmitter that has a 3.5mm connector on it.  

They recently sent me an e-mail with a new product they just released.  It is an adapter that allows you to charge/sync as well as plug-in a regular 3.5mm connection.  They had me hook, line and sinker.  

Since I have been using the iPaq as my music source in the car and at work, the battery was draining very quickly and since I could charge while I listened, this new product was just what I was looking for.

After mulling it over for a week, I broke down and ordered it on 5/28/2009.  It said shipping is from 7 to 20 days, so who knows when it will arrive and who knows if my bank will freeze my card again, but either way, if it means I can stop carrying two devices with me, I’m in.

An image from their website of the new product.  Perhaps I’ll update it with a reallife image when mine arrives.  I think I could take a better picture than that anyways. 

 

 

charge+sync cable

 

Overall, I’m happy with the http://www.repairhppda.com website.