Doug's Mods

Here is where I will put the pictures and descriptions of the modifications I have done to my AG-5. Feel free to add your own data, comments, pictures, or whatever. Okay, I put some pictures on here, and explained a little about what I did. If you have any questions then just post a message in the group.

I wanted the text to come before the pictures and to have two pictures beside each other, but this crazy page editor is not wanting to cooperate. It could be that it doesn't like the lists with the graphics mixed in with it. Feel free to fix my screw-up if you can. 

--Doug 

What I have I done:

Easy Stand 

• I added some support to the USB cable to allow the cable to act as a stand that will put the stress on the USB connection and not the cable itself. I basically just took some cardboard and electrical (black plastic) tape and reinforced the USB cable so that the when I set it down on the desk, the cable would not be taking all of the strain/stress. Of course, the stress is transferred up to the connection, but I don't think that the weight of the AG-5 will do much to the connection. The only worry is that it will loosen the connection too much after extended usage.
• I reinforced all the way down to the magnet on the cable because if I didn't the magnet bent the cable still and I had the same problem. I can actually slide the support off if I need to (just unplug the cable and if slides off), but I leave it on most of the time. 
• It looks a little strange just sitting on my desk like this, but I hold it most of the time so I don't mind its looks. Of course, I don't see the stand at all while I am using it. 
• My goal is to make a simple device that will use those screws beside the USB connection to hold a stand that will keep it more upright when I set it down. This requires a little more time than I have right now though. 

Foam Pads 

• Added some foam pads to help me hold the device with my overly sweaty hands. This is just the first try at this, I think I am going to adjust them next week. Right now, the problem is at the top.
• I think that a vertical configuration will let me hold the device a little more comfortably. I do like the air gaps that this provides, and the cushioning of the foam is also nice. I think visually I would like them to be black or gray (yellow and red were the only colors I had), and maybe just a little thinner. I do like the extra width created by the pads, but I think three (vertical) rows of  pads about 50% of this width would be ideal.
• The tricky part is how to get the pads attached. If anyone else knows of some good glue that will hold these things on there, let me know. I used a contact cement from the dollar store that I think melted the plastic housing a little. Its not big of a deal, but I'm worried that there are going to be these really ugly spots when I move the pads around. Of course, I will cover up the same area (approximately), but there will some gaps that could be ugly indeed.
• The glue that I used also didn't hold as quickly as I would have liked it to (as you can see in the next picture) so the pads slid down a little as the glue was drying.