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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: andyr on 03 December 2011, 12:37

Title: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: andyr on 03 December 2011, 12:37
Rather than using the standard (?) Ipod interface cable - and Ipod of course  :rolleyes: - in the centre arm rest, is anyone using a USB stick via Part No. 000 0514 46B MDI USB cable??
I'm just about fed up with the beginning of track skip/silence with my Ipod Touch 2nd Gen. I've read that there's a software update that's supposed to cure the problem - some say it does, some say it doesn't - that's loadable via a stick and the above cable but I just wanted to know how effective - and owners views on - playing music via a suitable USB stick is?

I can either purchase a cheap - non touch - Ipod to leave in the arm rest and see if the skip problem is resolved

Or (And this is what I've decided on)

USB stick (cheap as chips)
USB MDI cable - £35 from VW or less that £12 ebay..... Guess which one I went for, cheapskate that I am  :wink:

Oh yeah, my Head unit is the basic RCD 310  :cry:
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: SRGTD on 03 December 2011, 12:58
I've got the RCD510 and use a memory stick plugged into the USB cable under the armrest. Haven't had any problems with tracks skipping or silences - seems to work fine.
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: DDg on 03 December 2011, 13:20
Got a 64Gb USB stick via the MDI cable into an RCD-510. No issues whatsoever.

Hard disc? CD's? Pffffft!


edit: not sure if the RCD310 comes with an SD slot, but I did a bit of a test comparing the USB stick with the SD card route and I felt the USB was a bit quicker.
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: andyr on 03 December 2011, 13:43
Thanks guy's....

@DDg - No SD slot with the 310, but I think SD cards can be used via a card reader and the USB lead.

Another question.....
Can you 'browse' the stick, ie, go up and down directories/folders/albums (if that's how you stored the music of course) etc or is all the music viewed as a single folder?
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: DDg on 03 December 2011, 13:56
The folders I loaded onto the USB stick were straight from my PC, i.e. Band > Album > and the songs within. They're displayed on my RCD510 exactly the same... Select from a list of Bands, then from Albums, then from tracks.

The only downside is that navigation around them is pretty much all via the radio unit itself, which can be distracting if you're scrolling down a list of 50 bands. The steering wheel controls (and the little display twixt speedo and rev counter) only jump back and forward between tracks.
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: andyr on 03 December 2011, 14:37
The folders I loaded onto the USB stick were straight from my PC, i.e. Band > Album > and the songs within. They're displayed on my RCD510 exactly the same... Select from a list of Bands, then from Albums, then from tracks.

The only downside is that navigation around them is pretty much all via the radio unit itself, which can be distracting if you're scrolling down a list of 50 bands. The steering wheel controls (and the little display twixt speedo and rev counter) only jump back and forward between tracks.

Brilliant!  :laugh:

Pretty much the same as Iplod navigation it seems.... and steering wheel control is identical.............

Many Thanks DDg :cool:
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: dubber36 on 03 December 2011, 15:22
I use a memory stick with my RCD310. Navigation through it is a bit of a chore, but then I do have around 150 albums on it. I tend to just leave it on "Mix All" most of the time.
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: Jimble on 03 December 2011, 16:37
Memory stick FTW! No faf at all although my car came with both cables and as i'm sure the majority on here did? :huh: might have been worth a trip to the dealer methinks. :wink:
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: p3asa on 03 December 2011, 18:20
Yeah I agree with Jimble. You should have been supplied with both the USB and Ipod MDI cables with the car!!!

I've not found anything that is as good as the Ipod navigation.

Andyr I have the stuttering/pausing problem between ipod tracks. I upgraded the MDI firmware and yes it did help but hasn't completely got rid of it. Although it is much less noticeable. Between my wife, myself and 3 kids we must have about 10 different ipods and they all do it but to varying degrees. The nano's don't do it as much but they tend to make the track name stick on the display.

VW have admitted there is a problem but I think they have put the fault down to Apple rather than themselves.

Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: ajmoir36 on 04 December 2011, 09:42
I use a 500 Gb USB Hard disk, works now (properly) that I updated my RCD510 using the info here http://www.my-gti.com/3148/volkswagen-media-device-interface-mdi-firmware-upgrades (http://www.my-gti.com/3148/volkswagen-media-device-interface-mdi-firmware-upgrades) so that the drive remembers the last song you were playing. It didnt before and always started again once the ignition key was removed.
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: Jimble on 04 December 2011, 09:44
WOW :shocked: you must have lots of music?
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: andyr on 04 December 2011, 10:22
WOW :shocked: you must have lots of music?

Or is it all saved as WAV/lossless??  :wink:

As for the USB cable.... I didn't buy the car new and only the Ipod cable was supplied and as I sourced one for less than £12 that'll do nicely...

Thanks for all the replies/help people, that's what these forums are all about  :cool:

I'm gonna have to wait till after Xmas to try it all..... Gotta let the kids buy me *something* to open on the day  :laugh:
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: mkviken on 04 December 2011, 10:49
i got both leads when i got my car. the only thing i got free of them!

i use my iPhone most of the time but i made a USB stick too

the only problem with the phone is interference and white noise thru the speakers now and then cos of the phone signal
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: IainTinTop on 10 January 2012, 23:57
I have only just got my car, both cables supplied. USB stick works, but one I made (on free stick) didnt work reliably. One on a quality stick is working well.

I have found iPod navigation to be a pain on wife's seat Alhambra (same radio, mmi), so use stick or aux. Note I found that dodgy eBay cable didn't work well here.

I use mix all as well.
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: andyr on 11 January 2012, 11:05
OK, so I got the cheap  Ebay cable,( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290636534594?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 ) plus a 32G memory stick and after I had to make a 'music' folder on the stick all works well - just copying artist's across from PC and dumping them in the top directory on the stick would result in just the first alphabetical artist being played!?! Weird.

The annoying Ipod 'stagger' between some tracks has gone, but I've found that any track that naturally blends in with the previous one will result in a few m'sec's of silence, ie, live album's etc, so if I can be ar$$ed I'll re-record them and merge them together and all is well (of course they then become 1 track).

One more thing, the head unit does not like M4a compression (comes up as 'File Error' or something on screen) so I've had to check my entire library is in MP3. :smiley:
Title: Re: Head unit USB/Ipod Interface cable
Post by: kane1210 on 11 January 2012, 11:09
Got a 64Gb USB stick via the MDI cable into an RCD-510.

haha now thats awesome i never utilise my usb lead like that , i do like having the choice of sd card , plugging my phone in ipod , or the said usb stick!

64gb though how much was that bad boy?