I've ordered an Octavia Elegance with Bolero head unit and MDI (media device interface). I've currently got a 20GB mp3 player, but intend to get something that can hold my whole music collection (16,000 tracks, 75GB).

Would like a simple hard disk drive that can fit in the glovebox, USB-powered, turns itself on/off with the head unit / ignition.

Any advice on what will or won't work? I was thinking of a 250GB Seagate Freeagent Go

I really like the Western Digital 2.5" Passport drives. I've found them to be very rugged . The 320gig is about 60 quid.

I too would like an answer to this. I have posted elsewhere on this forum but found no one who is using the mdi in this way. Answers on a postcard please.......(my elegance arrives in a few weeks).

nothing wrong with the hard disk you suggested yourself, faster the better as it speeds up seek times within the menu structure

Isn't there a problem with the set up not remembering where it was in your music? Ie it goes back to the start (usually 1st alphabetical artist) whenever the ignition is turned off. Where as iPods etc will 'keep' it's place. A minor thing, but could be annoying.

Isn't there a problem with the set up not remembering where it was in your music? Ie it goes back to the start (usually 1st alphabetical artist) whenever the ignition is turned off.

Hmm, yes that could be annoying. Does anyone know if the problem is the same (a) with SD cards or ( with iPods under Bolero/MDI control, rather than iPod plugged into an Aux port?

I really like the Western Digital 2.5" Passport drives. I've found them to be very rugged . The 320gig is about 60 quid.

Yeah that was the other one I noticed. Are you using this with MDI?

I've see somewhere that there can be power problems with the Western Digital one - apparently it takes more power than some USB ports provide and can need a separate power source. Don't know if that's relevant to MDI?

Hmm, yes that could be annoying. Does anyone know if the problem is the same (a) with SD cards or ( with iPods under Bolero/MDI control, rather than iPod plugged into an Aux port?

My ipod under MDI control tends to do that more than an SD card or USB device

I've see somewhere that there can be power problems with the Western Digital one - apparently it takes more power than some USB ports provide and can need a separate power source. Don't know if that's relevant to MDI?

I've not used it on MDI, but I doubt it would be a problem. I've used them on at least 5 different laptops running off battery and never had any problems.

An SDHC card with the Bolero will continue from where it left off last time you were in the car. An HDD plugged into the USB MDI won't do this.

Steve

Thanks for replies.

Think i'll use a combination of an SD card (for quick access and remembering where I left off) and then a HDD in the glovebox (so I can have absolutely all my music with me for when the mood takes me).

If the ipod tends to skip back to 1st track every time then there's no reason for me to spend the extra money (~£160 for a 120GB ipod vs ~£60 for a 320GB hard drive), as I doubt i'd use the ipod outside the car.

Edited 20 August, 200916 yr by Mr Hugo
typo

16Gb SDHC card for the Bolero - under £20. That should take care of your day-to-day requirements easily.

Steve

Thanks for replies.

Think i'll use a combination of an SD card (for quick access and remembering where I left off) and then a HDD in the glovebox (so I can have absolutely all my music with me for when the mood takes me).

If the ipod tends to skip back to 1st track every time then there's no reason for me to spend the extra money (~£160 for a 120GB ipod vs ~£60 for a 320GB hard drive), as I doubt i'd use the ipod outside the car.

IMO You've gone down the best route, my iPod is forever crashing, leaving it connected kills the battery, never had a problem with USB or SD

Well my elegance has finally arrived! Decided on an Iomega 250G HD from PC World for 40 squid to go with my mdi.......works like a dream. No disernable wait and unlike some reports plays where it left off when you return to the car. I also remember some where else on the forum someone asking if the Bolero played without gaps between songs (Dark Side Of The Moon being a prime example) and yes it does.....! Bloody brilliant.

Well my elegance has finally arrived! Decided on an Iomega 250G HD from PC World for 40 squid to go with my mdi.......works like a dream. No disernable wait and unlike some reports plays where it left off when you return to the car. I also remember some where else on the forum someone asking if the Bolero played without gaps between songs (Dark Side Of The Moon being a prime example) and yes it does.....! Bloody brilliant.

Waiting for my own elegance to come until April (1.4 TSI - DSG delay...) and have opted for Bolero too. Only one question. A HDD connected to the MDI can be under ANY file system (FAT32 or NTFS)? I see you talk about a 250 GB HDD and, probably, it's formated in the NTFS. Thanks in advance.

I really like the Western Digital 2.5" Passport drives. I've found them to be very rugged . The 320gig is about 60 quid.

I've just got one of the above for £49 from Currys, and it works fine with my MDI lead attached to an MFD3

Had to reformat it to Fat32 though, as it comes in NTFS out of the box

Edited 24 December, 200916 yr by Brimma

I've just got one of the above for £49 from Currys, and it works fine with my MDI lead attached to an MFD3

Had to reformat it to Fat32 though, as it comes in NTFS out of the box

Slightly off topic but still related to MDI - I got MDI for my new vRS and wondered where to get the correct wire connection for my iPod - understand they're about £25 from Skoda (but my local dealer has none in stock) but what is the actual MDI plug and can I get the right connection somewhere else ?

Slightly off topic but still related to MDI - I got MDI for my new vRS and wondered where to get the correct wire connection for my iPod - understand they're about £25 from Skoda (but my local dealer has none in stock) but what is the actual MDI plug and can I get the right connection somewhere else ?

Hi just got my brand new octavia VRS with MDI and the MDI to USB Cable, put my 2.5" 80Gb HDD that I had around for ages in a caddy I assumed it was FAT 32/16 but it did not seem to work, the cable I had with it is one of those double enders at one end in case your computer is only USB 1. So I have just put some songs on my SD card until I can check out the HDD incase it is NTFS unless anone knows the extra cable (USB to USB-MDI into the MDO socket) is a problem?

Slightly off topic but still related to MDI - I got MDI for my new vRS and wondered where to get the correct wire connection for my iPod - understand they're about £25 from Skoda (but my local dealer has none in stock) but what is the actual MDI plug and can I get the right connection somewhere else ?

Have you tried the other VAG dealerships as well, as the lead should be the same - failing that look on ebay and I'm sure there will be some available

Well I found out my HDD was NTFS, so that had to be why it was not working with my MDI, converted the drive to FAT32, but had to download a special application to do that as windows wont format FAT32 on HDD bigger than 32Gb.

I have the standard MDI to USB skoda cable, then a USB male to female with USB 1 compatibility (USB 1 ports dont give enough power to run USB 2 only devices so some times come with a double/split ended cabel to plug into 2 USB ports to provide enough power to the device) This works fine dispite reading in the bit of paperwork that came with the MDI to USB cable that extra cable and or hub will not function with the MDI interface :oS

I would have also scoured the internet for a HDD, I got a 500Gb external 2.5" (laptop size drive) for £63 off amazon and that came in about 3 days. So if you can wait get it off the internet.

As a basis for HDD prices 3.5" for 1Tb or 500Gb for 2.5" I would pay around £60 and they should fall in prices as time progresses.

If your after a MDI to Ipod connector try search google shopping or ebay I quicky brought this up : http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=MDI+to+Ipod&hl=en&aq=f

Try it scour the internet for the best prices.

Brimma, I recommend FAT32Format or guiformat (more user friendly) to reformat HDD bigger than 32Gb.

Edited 15 April, 201016 yr by Dave vRS