Adding a digital output to your Xbox (v0.1)
Tutorial
written
by : DataBitz
The
following
is what
I have
found
from the
forums
and other
documents
floating
around
the web.
I do not
take any
credit
for figuring
it out,
I didn't.
I have
tried
the coax
mod myself
on a PAL
v1.1 Xbox
and it
works
sweet.
If you
try it
then you
will void
your warranty.
I take
no responsibility
for any
damage
caused
by attempting
this modification,
hack at
your own
risk.
Introduction:
For reference,
the pins
we use
are as
follows:
Pin 3
= Digital
SP-DIF
signal
Pin 5
= Mode
ground
Pin 13
= 5 volt
supply
(required
for optical
connector
only)
Pin 18
= Mode
2 (when
grounded
tells
the Xbox
that an
AV connector
with digital
output
is connected,
enabling
the option
in the
menu for
Dolby
Digital)
Option
1. Coax
(RCA)

click
image
for full
view
Parts
required:
-
RCA socket
(one that
is designed
to mount
to a panel,
not into
a PCB
or onto
a loose
wire)
- Some
thin insulated
wires,
solder
and a
low wattage
soldering
iron with
a fine
tip, a
torx screwdriver
Instructions:
1. Open
the Xbox
(voiding
your warranty)
2. Remove
all the
drives
and remove
the mainboard.
Flip it
over and
locate
the AV
connector
(as pictured)
3. Solder
a wire
from Pin
5 on the
AV connector
to the
outside
(ground)
leg of
the RCA
socket.
*
4. Solder
another
wire from
Pin 3
of the
AV connector
to the
center
(data)
leg of
a RCA
connector.
*
5. Solder
another
wire from
Pin 18
of the
AV connector
to a grounded
point
on the
board.
6. Find
somewhere
you would
like the
socket
to stick
out the
case (make
sure there's
still
room for
it there
when the
case is
put back
together),
and drill
a hole
and mount
it there
(depending
on the
RCA socket
it could
mount
in one
of various
ways,
you will
need to
work this
out for
yourself)
* There
is a hole
in the
mainboard
located
next to
the LAN
connector,
it is
right
next to
where
the '8'
co-ordinate
is printed.
This hole
is big
enough
to fit
the 2
wires
through
so the
RCA socket
can be
above
the mainboard
when reassembled.
This
is what
it looked
like when
completed.

Option
2. Optical
(TosLink)
- untested

click
image
for full
view
Parts
required:
-
Toslink
Optical
transmitter
TOTX173
or TOTX176
or TOTX178a
- 100nF
capacitor
- Some
thin insulated
wires,
solder
and a
low wattage
soldering
iron with
a fine
tip, a
torx screwdriver
Instructions:
1.
Open the
Xbox (voiding
your warranty)
2. Remove
all the
drives
and remove
the mainboard.
Flip it
over and
locate
the AV
connector
(as pictured)
3. Solder
a wire
from Pin
3 of the
AV connector
to the
data leg
of the
TosLink
connector.
*
4. Solder
another
wire from
Pin 5
of the
AV connector
to the
ground
leg of
the TosLink
connector.
*
5. Solder
another
wire from
Pin 13
of the
AV connector
to the
Vcc leg
of the
TosLink
connector.
*
6. Link
a 100nF
capacitor
between
the Vcc
and Ground
legs of
the TosLink
connector.
7. Solder
another
wire from
Pin 18
of the
AV connector
to a grounded
point
on the
board.
8. Find
somewhere
you would
like the
socket
to stick
out the
case (make
sure there's
still
room for
it there
when the
case is
put back
together),
and drill
a hole
and mount
it there
(depending
on the
TosLink
socket
it could
mount
in one
of various
ways,
you will
need to
work this
out for
yourself)
* There
is a hole
in the
mainboard
located
near the
LAN connector,
it is
right
next to
where
the '8'
co-ordinate
is printed.
This hole
is big
enough
to fit
the power
wires
through
so the
optical
connector
can be
above
the mainboard
when reassembled,
the 3rd
(data)
wire will
fit through
another
smaller
hole located
between
the AV
connector
and the
LAN connector,
just above
the pin
3 hole
of unused
J6A1,
if you
cant squeeze
3 wires
through
the other
larger
hole.
Tutorial
written
by : DataBitz