USB capable Car Stereo

[pancit175]

I suggested to another user, asking how to transmit music from his G1 to his car stereo with the current lack of stereo bluetooth, that a USB capable radio may be used to access his SD card. I would like to confirm that I have successfully been able to access the SD card through the USB cable in 2 different radios, Sony CDX-GT630 (front USB input)& Alpine iDA-X100 (rear usb cable), with full navigation/browsing of folders and sound compatible sound files. Although, if you dont already know, you will have to enable the option to use the SD card as a mass storage with the USB cable and you have to manually mount the SD card when you get the notification.

[No longer valid]This leaves me to believe that most, if not all, USB inputs for car stereos should be able to provide such functionallity. [/No longer valid]. I will report if I do find one that does not function properly with my G1 when I actually get to installing one for at work.

Remember this only accesses the music files (video files yet to be confirmed) on the SD card, and acts in no way as a hands free alternative or streeming audio output (ie youtube)

Current hardware/firmware I was using for the curious:
-RC30
-8GB SDHC (adata)
-Provided 11 pin USB mini cable (for obvious reasons)

Updates:
*No recognition with kenwoood KDC-MP438U (see later posts)

[union crane]

nice this will be great with my panasonic strada navigation!!

[pancit175]

I just walked out to my sales floor and tried it out on the kenwood kdc-mp438u and it did not detect that it was hooked up with the USB. Or it could just be that the deck has been trashed by customers and the volume knob has been broken off

[union crane]

one more thing, have you tried any kind of videos to see if they will play? if not it will try this weekend and see. my navi has ipod video support so i am wondering. Thanks for sparking an interest in me on this!!

[pinaytoy]

how do i enable the option to use the SD card as a mass storage? my stereo gives me a N/A display on the screen. can you give me a step by step? thanks in advance.

[pancit175]

I will try to get out as much testing on different units as I install them at work. The down side to video is that, like the G1, it requires a specific format on particular units, but I will give it a try the next time I do an In-dash Mobile Video.

[pancit175]

Step by step request:
Well I used "anycut" to make a shortcut for the SD card. Within those options it gives you the ability see the stats for your SD card (total, used and available space) to unmount your SD card for safe removal from your G1 as well as enabling "USB mass Storage." I ususally keep that checked otherwise it just uses your USB cable as a glorified charger. For obvious reasons, I should mention that you should use the USB cable provided with the G1 due to the 11 pin mini USB connection instead of the normal 5 pin mini USB cable, which would become another glorified charger. Just like connecting your G1 to your PC, When you connect your G1 via USB to your headunit, if your Headunit is compatible, it gives you a notification that the usb is connected. Click on the notification, and it gives you the options to "Mount" your phone to the connected device. Click "Mount" and it should either automatically switch to the USB source, or you have to manuall switch the source to USB to have access. And it depends on the radio on how to navigate through the folders of your card.
I usually like to either switch the source out of USB or turn off the Headunit all together before disconnecting the cable. I know its only using it as read only, but I just like to be safe.

Side thoughts: On the two radios that I was successfully able to use in the mannor I was able to get the "USB connected" notification, but on the kenwood I did not get the notification at all. It is probably due to how it detects devices. I noticed that on the 2 headunits that did work, the Headunit didn't try to detect the device that was connected untill I mounted the SD card. But with the kenwood, it tried to detect the device once I plugged it in. I dont know what that truely means, I'd guess that it's missing a step in the USB handshaking protocol that the others have.

[kaysesoze]

this is good info... g1 is lookin alot better than the iphone as far as possiblities.

[pinaytoy]

i tried all that and my stereo sill says N/A. i guess pioneer might not be capable? that weird though cuz it should. its just a mass storage. ill try it on some decks at best buy. thanks fo the info homie.

[pancit175]

Yeah, there should be no reason why it should not work with any USB capable deck. You may be experiancing the same problem I had with the kenwood I tried it on. Something wrong or missing with the handshaking protocol.