So, just got my new superb with MDI but no cable at first.

I spoke with the dealer and they kindly sent one. I was expecting a USB style cable but got sent an ipod one. That's great, but I ideally would like to plug in an exernal hard drive - my external hard drive has mini USB.

So the ipod MDI cable is part AZO 800 001

Looking on the instructions I got with it I can also see

AZO 800 002 USB - MDI (for plugging in flash memory sticks)

AZO 800 003 mini-USB - MDI

AZO 800 004 jack "3.5" - MDI

It strikes me that the USB connection is generally all round more useful, but I;ve seen comments that if you connect an ipod into it with standard ipod USB cable it won't do the trick.

So first question is would it work with my external hard drive connected via another lead or should I go for the direct mini-USB version?

Maybe this is a daft quesiotn I can't see why it would make a difference, but just wanted to check, I am sure there are plenty of people using one or the other cable so hopefully one of you can tell me.

Finally, I was going to order a cable off ebay, as they appear at less than half the price that the dealer quotes, BUT the USB cable versions on ebay I have checked with the sellers' are apparently part number 5N0.035.558

Anyone know if this is correct and would work? Has Skoda updated the MDI and chaged the actual cables or have they just changed the part numbers at some point? Are these maybe VW or AUDI part numbers and not Skoda ones? How can I be sure I'm getting the right thing without paying more for one from the dealer?

thanks to anyone who might be able to help

Edited 18 September, 201114 yr by madfiddler

OK. So I ordered a USB version of the MDI cable AZO 800 002

It works absolutely fine with external hard disk (via standard mini-USB lead) and of course also supports plugging in USB flash memory sticks.

I can also confirm that, if you plug an iPod cable into this the iPod (Touch) is not recognized as a supported device and this is reported via a message on the screen of the Columbus.

So the iPod specific cable must have various pins on the connector wired differently. I guess it may well be possible to botch open a USB version of the MDI lead and work out what's what therefore creating a hybrid for all devices, but the lead was not so cheap as to make me want to do this and I have an iPod specific lead anyway. Would be intersting to hear if anyone else tries this though.

HTH

mf

USB cables won't work with the Apple devices as the music is not presented in a simple file system and some of the music may be restricted to authenticated devices.

Apple get fond this by providing high quality digital audio out from the device and these lines can't be carried by USB.

I found the iPod cable cheap on eBay if that helps.

I've gone for USB in my Monte

Pound per gigabyte a USB hard drive knocks spots off an iPod, plus you can put all your groups into alphabetical folders (A, B, C etc) to make access far easier than the iPod set up

IMO

Then just set up 26 smart folders in iTunes to give you the songs beginning with each letter.

The benefit of the iPod lead for me is that I can use an iPod Touch - leave it in the car and sync it via WiFi so it never needs to be unplugged and it always has the latest music I bought as it will download them automatically through iCloud.