Using an SDHC card + reader as an MP3 to connect to car radio (VW)

[ChasingSquirrels]

I have recently got a new (to me) VW which has MEDIA-IN preparation.
I can connect this to my phone and use the radio to play the music stored on my phone, controlling the music via the radio

BUT

• to access the music I have to scroll to the correct files in the phone storage - which is a little time consuming,
• I also have to connect the phone in to the MEDIA-IN dock, which is located in a pull down bit in the glove box, so is a bit of a faff for a short journey.

SO

I considered getting a cheap MP3 player to leave connected in the car with all my music on and using it like that, there is one on Amazon that doesn't have any memory but you can use and SDHC card and I thought that way if I wanted to I could also put the card into my phone and have the music there.

Then (and to the point of the post) I wondered if I could just get the card and a card reader and connect that up to the MEDIA-IN (which is just a usb in). Does anyone have any idea if this would work?

The MEDIA-IN just seems to be using the phone as a mass storage device, so I thought this would be the same.

I don't think you need an MP3 player, just an USB memory stick should do the trick and should be cheaper too (you're not paying for all the actual playing bits and bobs). As you say it seems to be using the phone as a storage device, all you need is therefore a storage device, the Mp3 player is just fluff around that.

When you say you have to "scroll to the files" and you do that through the radio then dropping all the music just onto the stick and not using any folders would make that a lot simpler, or just make a folder per album, or folders of artists and within them have the albums. Whatever worlds for you.

However the car's instructions should confirm exactly what it's expecting.

thanks, that what I thought (although the radio manual doesn't say anything, it just talks about attaching an MP3 player).

having posted all that, and thought about it, I could just put a usb in (rather than a card reader & card) and try it (I have a usb, don't have a card reader) and see.

The point about just having a folder for each album and so being straight into the music, rather than having to scroll straight all through to get to the music folders on my phone seems to be much better, plus not having the faff of having to connect my phone up every time.

I'll put some music on a usb and go and try it.

"I'll put some music on a usb and go and try it."

That's the spirit :)

it worked :)
Don't know why the using a usb didn't occur to me in the first place, must be a thought process - MP3 player, oh an MP3 player that just uses micro SDHC, oh what about SDHC & usb card reader.
I wanted to know it worked before I then brought one.
Not sure whether to get a bigger usb or a micro SDHC & card reader now (as I could put the micro SDHC in my phone if I wanted), but it is going to take a while to rip all my cd's anyway.

Asda had some 8 GB USB memory sticks for about 7.50 a week or two ago.

Seems good value if you have an Asda nearby.