SendStation iPod Dock Extender

Reviewed by Barry Little - April 23, 2008

Manufacturer: SendStation

Model Number: 131 1533 (White) 131 1532 (Black)

So you’ve purchased a case to protect your precious iPod from the wear and tear of daily usage. Great! Except the case prevents you from using your iPod Dock and similar accessories. Now what? You could do things the hard way and remove your iPod from its case every time you want to dock it—and defeat the purpose of having a case to begin with. Or you could do things the easy way by picking up a great little accessory that’s the subject of today’s review—the iPod Dock Extender from the folks at SendStation.

About SendStation Systems

SendStation Systems, a company based in Frankfurt, Germany, designs and manufactures world-class iPod and Mac accessories. As one of the initial five authorized suppliers since the iPod took off in 2003, SendStation Systems has launched its series of successful PocketDock iPod adapters. Products are available through thousands of retailers around the globe including Apple Stores worldwide. More information about SendStation Systems is available at www.sendstation.com.

Package

The SendStation iPod Dock Extender’s comes in a blister pack that would be almost impossible to miss when perusing the iPod Accessory section of your favorite electronics superstore, thanks to SendStation’s bright orange and gray corporate color scheme. The Dock Extender is displayed in all its elegantly simple glory. On the back are photos of the product in action, accompanied by the usual marketing sales-pitch product and a list of its features.


SendStation's iPod Dock Extender in its display pack.	The back of the display pack tells you all about the product. Note the easy-open flap.	Here, we have everything unpacked and ready to go.	The iPod Dock Extender is a simple yet effective way to connect an iPod equipped with practically any case, to a docking station or any device utilizing Apple's docking station interface for iPods.	SendStation's iPod Dock Extender consists of this Support Bracket Assembly: the Bumper Cap, Support Bracket Wire and a modified iPod Docking Station Insert.


In the event that the host docking insert is built into the device, the support bracket can be removed by loosening these little knobs.	Another view from underneath. The Dock Extender is also available in white.	*An iPod's eye-view of the Dock Extender.*	The interchangeable bumper cap removed. Made of thick, flexible rubber, it slides on and off without a fuss.	SendStation's iPod Dock Extender comes with two additional bumper caps to accommodate iPod cases of any size or thickness. The "Factory Default" cap is on the right.

Unlike most blister packs for computer and electronics accessories that require all manner of butchery with sharp instruments to open, SendStation takes a more user-friendly approach for the iPod Dock Extender with a pull-down flap. Taking it out is less of a chore than with other products sealed in plastic blister packs.

Features

●	Thumb-sized Dock Extender compatible with all iPod accessories
●	Fits any iPod/iPhone case with an opening for the iPod dock connector
●	Matching Universal Dock Insert allows easy docking with docking stations and speaker systems for iPod
●	Detachable support bracket with interchangeable bumper caps ensures the safety of your docked iPod/iPhone, regardless of case thickness

The SendStation iPod Dock Extender supports all iPods with a 30-pin dock connector, which includes:

●	iPhone
●	iPod touch
●	iPod classic
●	iPod nano (all generations)
●	5G iPod (video)
●	4G iPod (click-wheel)
●	iPod photo
●	iPod mini
●	3G iPod (touch-wheel)

The iPod Dock Extender

The SendStation iPod Dock Extender consists of several key components. First, there’s the Support Bracket Assembly. Modular in design, we have a gray rubber Bumper Cap which is split on the end, so it can be slipped on and off the Support Bracket—an elongated loop of chrome-plated steel. Two additional Bumper Caps—one slightly thicker than the one pre-installed by SendStation, and one that’s very thick—are included with the kit.

The purpose of the interchangeable Bumper Caps are to give the iPod Dock Extender the ability to support just about any iPod case on the market when it’s connected to the Dock Extender, as it rests against the Support Bracket. The bracket itself is secured to a Docking Insert that fits into the docking cavity of docking stations and other iPod-ready products.


*On the left is the actual Dock Extender* which connects your iPod to any supported device. A Dust Cover for the connector (right) is also included.**	A Mini-Brochure with SendStation's other fine iPod products.	My 5G iPod (30MB). I've had it for over a year now, and as you can see, it looks practically brand new. Here's the front...	...and the back. The reason why it's not all scratched up from daily use...	...is this Belkin iPod Case.


Here's my iPod in an iPod Docking Station. Front view...	...and back.	Now here's my iPod back in its case. You can see some of the scratches on the case if you look closely enough.	As you can see, my Belkin-protected iPod and iPod Docking Station aren't getting along very well.	Well, we'll fix that. First, we remove the adapter tray from the docking station...

Next, there’s the Dock Extender itself—a pass-through adapter with the same connector as iPod synch and charging cables—30-pin female on one end (for connecting to the 30-pin male connector of iPod docking stations and other accessories), and 30-pin male on the other for plugging into the base of the iPod.

For devices with a removable dock insert, the insert is swapped out with the iPod Dock Extender’s Support Bracket, and the Dock Extender is plugged into the device’s existing 30-pin jack. The Dock Extender raises and supports the iPod, and the Support Bracket holds it at the proper angle for insertion and removal while also supporting the iPod. Devices that do not have a removable docking insert shouldn’t be a problem for SendStation’s iPod Dock Extender. If the device is Made for iPod certified, it should have two small holes for snapping in the Support Bracket. The Dock Extender’s Support Bracket can be removed via the thumbscrews underneath the insert.

Pretty ingenious and effective. Now let’s see how it actually works.

Setup

I have a 5^th Generation 30GB iPod protected by a Belkin iPod Case, and Apple’s iPod Universal Dock. Like most iPod owners, the thought of my iPod eventually looking like it had just finished a tour of duty in a combat zone, wasn’t very appealing. I didn’t want to give up the convenience of the Universal Dock, but had no choice when I purchased the Belkin case for my iPod. At least I thought I had no choice until I discovered SendStation’s iPod Dock Extender.

It took longer to take the photos for this review than to install the iPod Dock Extender in my Universal Dock. While I’m not claiming any titles for the Guinness Book of Records, it took less than ten seconds to pop the default insert out of the dock and to pop the Dock Extender Support Bracket and the Dock Extender itself, in place. The Dock Extender is keyed, and will only insert one way, but to make things easy for you, you should plug it in with the SendStation logo that is silkscreened on the back of the iPod Dock Extender facing the back of the dock or whatever device you’re using. Plug in your iPod with its case, and you are good to go.


...like so. Incidentally, you should never connect an iPod to the docking station without an adapter tray, especially if the iPod is in a case. The additional unsupported weight of the iPod will break the 30-pin connector in the docking station.	*Now we insert SendStation's iPod Dock Extender* Support Bracket into the docking station.**	Finally we plug the Docking Extender into the base. The Docking Extender is keyed and will only fit one way on the 30-pin connector underneath. A tip: insert the Docking Extender with the SendStation logo facing the back of the docking station.	All done! Looks like my Belkin-protected iPod and docking station are going to get along fabulously!


Notice how the bumper cap supports the iPod.	A closer look at the Docking Extender.	I swapped out the existing bumper cap for the larger one. Choosing the right bumper cap for your iPod Dock Extender not only insures that the weight of your iPod and case are properly supported, but holds the iPod at the correct angle to make connecting and disconnecting it easier.

You should be able to insert and remove the iPod from the iPod Dock Extender as easily as you would using it without a case, and an iPod dock with the default dock insert—and without yanking the Dock Extender itself out of the socket. If that happens, it means you’re pulling too hard at the wrong angle (avoid pulling the iPod forward as you disengage it). You should also install the appropriate Bumper Cap for your particular case, to insure that the iPod is held at the proper angle.

Final Impressions and Conclusion

I’m both pleased and impressed with the iPod Dock Extender. It provides a very simple solution for a common problem iPod users face that want to protect their iPods from scratches and damage by using a case, but also don’t want to give up the convenience of using a dock or other accessory that requires them to remove the iPod from the case. If I had a penny for every time I actually lost track of my iPod under a stack of magazines and papers on my desk while charging or synchronizing it, it would probably pay for the cost of the Dock Extender twice! With the iPod Dock Extender, I can sync and leisurely recharge my iPod with the sync cable. If I need to recharge it in a hurry, I simply unplug the sync cable from the docking station and connect the charging cable to it.

SendStation reports that although the Dock Extender doesn’t fit fully into the docking station supplied with it, it works just fine with the iPhone nonetheless. I don’t have an iPhone, so unfortunately I can’t tell or show you the extent of how much the iPod Dock Extender doesn’t fit the iPhone Docking Station.

The SendStation iPod Dock Extender is available from X-treme Geek in either white (Part No. 131 1533) or black (Part No. 131 1532), for $28.95. Like cases for protecting your iPod, it’s a must-have accessory that no iPod owner should be without.

Barry's Rigs 'n Reviews would like to thank Ted Crews for providing the sample for this review!