USB HDD and Hu

whatcanthisbe · 26th June 2006, 17:47

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 · 26th June 2006, 17:52

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 · 26th June 2006, 17:55

Quote:

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 · 26th June 2006, 19:38

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

whatcanthisbe · 26th June 2006, 20:37

Quote:

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 · 26th June 2006, 22:06

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

navin · 27th June 2006, 10:18

check this out...

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/index.php?cPath=2071 http://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 · 27th June 2006, 10:25

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 · 27th June 2006, 10:43

Quote:

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 · 27th June 2006, 12:41

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 · 27th June 2006, 14:43

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

whatcanthisbe · 27th June 2006, 15:18

Quote:

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 · 27th June 2006, 18:21

Quote:

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 · 27th June 2006, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp1

Does your hdd has a USB connector?

YES

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp1

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

Yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp1

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

Yes

Quote:

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 · 27th June 2006, 19:38

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.

26th June 2006, 17:47	#1
whatcanthisbe BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: http://www.wandering-online.com Posts: 499 Thanked: 6 Times	USB HDD and Hu 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
	() Thanks

26th June 2006, 17:52	#2
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,497 Times View My Garage	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) Last edited by jkdas : 26th June 2006 at 18:08.
	() Thanks

26th June 2006, 19:38	#4
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	even if you have a USB capable HU does it not have to formatted so that the HU cna read it's FAT?
	() Thanks

26th June 2006, 22:06	#6
mail4ajo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,959 Thanked: 337 Times View My Garage	A HU from Xenos has a USB drive plug point. But I think the HU is crappy. Not sure about HDD drive HU
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 10:18	#7
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,410 Thanked: 9,957 Times	check this out... http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/index.php?cPath=2071 http://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). Last edited by navin : 27th June 2006 at 10:22.
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 10:25	#8
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,939 Thanked: 2,479 Times View My Garage	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.
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 12:41	#10
whatcanthisbe BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: http://www.wandering-online.com Posts: 499 Thanked: 6 Times	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 Last edited by aah78 : 27th June 2006 at 20:00.
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 14:43	#11
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,770 Thanked: 2,705 Times	Hey do let us know how it goes when you try this, wold be helpfull as well as interesting to know
	() Thanks

27th June 2006, 19:38	#15
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 7,997 Thanked: 281 Times View My Garage	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. Last edited by iraghava : 27th June 2006 at 19:49. Reason: Sorry read the post incorrectly
	() Thanks