USB HDD and Hu

[whatcanthisbe]

So i have a 2.5 inch USB 40 GB HDD, now if i wanna connect it to a HU how do i do it and which HU is compatible ?
This will alter my decision for the setup for my car. I need to have my HDD connected to the HU as I will be storing majority of my MP3's on this HDD and it is small and portable

[jkdas]

The question is will teh HDD last? Why dont you get an Ipod or a memory stick?

Sony has HU with USB in I guess. Wait for posts by someone who has seen one or use one ( if one exists)

[whatcanthisbe]

Originally Posted by jkdas

The question is will teh HDD last? Why dont you get an Ipod or a memory stick?

Sony has HU with USB in I guess.

why wont it last ? it is in a proper casing whith shock dampening.. this setup is way cheaper than an ipod and can be used for storing and moving data and no need to install any s/w

I saw the sony Hu you are taking abt but the input is the stereo / headphone jack like not usb

[navin]

even if you have a USB capable HU does it not have to formatted so that the HU cna read it's FAT?

[whatcanthisbe]

Originally Posted by navin

even if you have a USB capable HU does it not have to formatted so that the HU cna read it's FAT?

The HD is formatted(FAT) wouldnt it work like any other USB drive ?

[mail4ajo]

A HU from Xenos has a USB drive plug point. But I think the HU is crappy. Not sure about HDD drive HU

[navin]

check this out...

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/index.php?cPath=2071http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/pro...s_id/4736.html


http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/pro...mp3---usb.html
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod...777c61010cad74

any hard drive would need to be recognised by the HU and hence must either be formatted using a system the HU recognises (proprietory like the Kenwood above or 3rd party like Apple's ipod).

[Sam Kapasi]

I do not know enough about USB HU's but here is what my logiic tells me.

When music is in it's digital format, it can be read in bits and byts and apopriately converted into analog audio (without getting into the process)

However, to read a disk (be it formatted in FAT, FAT32, NTFS, MACos etc) you need a processor, a processing software that understands whats on your disk, the folders, the tags, etc.
I do not know of any HU that can recognise a HU in a casing and play the files on it. I have heard of HU's that can accept a simple flash disk (memory stick, if you will) and SD cards etc.

But to spin, sort and handle a 40 Gig HDD, though not impossible, seems like a lot of processing for a bechaara HU. I'd much rather use an iPod. It's a hard disk. Same capacity and it has an onboard processor and disk management system that converts your MP3 into digital or analog audio that would be a lot easier for your HU to handle.

Sorry, but this entire post is just my ideas and ravings, i may be entirely wrong i haven't done any web-research on this.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Sorry, but this entire post is just my ideas and ravings, i may be entirely wrong i haven't done any web-research on this.

I agree too. I have not research this either maybe a techie like Steeroid can clear this.

Till then long live the Ipod! It has a FAT, OS, etc.. and almost everyone has an Ipod adapter.

[whatcanthisbe]

i have read through the tech specs and the HDD is nothing but a Iomega hdd
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod...777c61010cad74
so a regular HDD will do as long as
File system: FAT16/FAT32
Maximum number of folder layers: 8 layers
Maximum number of files: 15,000 files (Max. 4,096 files/folder)
Maximum number of folders: 500 folders

my hdd is fat 16
2 layers
and 5 folders
so this should work


http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod...oducts_id=4903
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 certified (backwards compatible with all USB 1.1 ports)
Compatible with Windows 2000 SP4 and XP
Certified Windows XP
No external power supply or battery required

so theoretically this should work as well

Even this will work
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/prod...oducts_id=4816
109 GBP = ~8720

[Technocrat]

Hey do let us know how it goes when you try this, wold be helpfull as well as interesting to know

[whatcanthisbe]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Hey do let us know how it goes when you try this, wold be helpfull as well as interesting to know

I need a HU to try my idea out.... any one have a USB capable HU wanna help me ?

[jp1]

Originally Posted by whatcanthisbe

I need a HU to try my idea out.... any one have a USB capable HU wanna help me ?

Does your hdd has a USB connector? Can it be connected to a PC using PCs usb port? AND if you connect to the PC, is it recognizing it as a hard disk and showing the contents? If answer to all the above is Yes, then there is a good chance that it will work with an HU having usb port.

[whatcanthisbe]

Originally Posted by jp1

Does your hdd has a USB connector?

YES

Originally Posted by jp1

Can it be connected to a PC using PCs usb port?

Yes

Originally Posted by jp1

AND if you connect to the PC, is it recognizing it as a hard disk and showing the contents?

Yes

Originally Posted by jp1

If answer to all the above is Yes, then there is a good chance that it will work with an HU having usb port.

I hope so but i need to test it on a USB capable headunit

[iraghava]

Hey I read your post wrong I also have an external Iomega HDD but no HU with USB.

But I still agree with Sam & Naveen & suspect that the idea might not work. Still will call a geek friend of mine & confirm it it can work and post his opinion too.