Hello, my greenline, (2011) has an MDI port which allows for track changing and file access on the swing system when I connect my iPod touch with the 30pin connector. However, I now have an iPhone 7, which will not fit the 30pin connector, and was wondering if anyone has found a way to make use of the MDI system for lighting devices? 

 

I thought Skoda did a Lightning-MDI cable now?!

1 hour ago, Simoneale1973 said:

I thought Skoda did a Lightning-MDI cable now?!

Thanks for the reply, they do indeed, but amazingly it costs £80, and there are reports of it being temperamental. 

Thought they did, knew it was s'pensive, but £80quid!!! 😲

 

Glad they let me swap my Apple 30pin for a USB connector when I bought my Greenie 6 years ago (they just assumed I had an iPod/phone) 

 

Isn't there an after market one on amazon/Ebay you could try (that doesn't need a mortgage to buy)

Edited 7 August, 20196 yr by Simoneale1973

6 hours ago, Simoneale1973 said:

Isn't there an after market one on amazon/Ebay you could try (that doesn't need a mortgage to buy)

There are some, however many of these are actually tricks because they only supply power. 

Having said that, there are some alternatives that have an aux and lightning connector that are cheap and will do the same thing, I would just have to then buy all sorts of adapters to get around the iPhone 7’ lack of aux port.

I've gone the DAB/Bluetooth adaptor (Nextbase 350) route into the AUX next to the hand brake! Means I can stream my music, get my Sat-Nav and Notifications on my standard Stream stereo, Plus DAB for a fraction of the cost of a new stereo or even an Official Skoda MDI cable.

 

Also means if you change phones at a later date, or Apple change their connector again, you won't have an expensive piece of copper/plastic laying about!

 

Took 30 minutes to fit, and that included hiding the cabled in the trim!

 

So now my MDI is not used really!

8 hours ago, Simoneale1973 said:

I've gone the DAB/Bluetooth adaptor (Nextbase 350) route into the AUX next to the hand brake! Means I can stream my music, get my Sat-Nav and Notifications on my standard Stream stereo, Plus DAB for a fraction of the cost of a new stereo or even an Official Skoda MDI cable.

 

Also means if you change phones at a later date, or Apple change their connector again, you won't have an expensive piece of copper/plastic laying about!

 

Took 30 minutes to fit, and that included hiding the cabled in the trim!

 

So now my MDI is not used really!

I have a similar solution at the moment for my swing, KS Bluetooth adapter in the audio jack next to handbrake, which allows for dab using the tunein app, then a small Bluetooth remote button for track changing. This works fine for now, but I might invest in one of those Nextbases so I can change DAB channels without having to stop and open Tunein.

MDI USB works fine. 

It's just a ball ache, having to decide what you want to listen too, and then put it onto a USB stick... Only to decide you want to listen to something else!

 

Having my Phone, with all my 50,000 tracks accessible at a whim, or Spotify for stuff I've not got yet etc... is easier! and I've never been able to get the USB to recognise my phone/streaming music! (even though people say it's possible)

UPDATE

One strange but successful method I have found is connecting my 30 pin iPod Touch, (not sure which generation, but the right era to be supported by my Greenline II) to the swing through the included MDI cable, and hide it out of view in that weirdly deep storage cubby next to the MDI port, behind a couple of old parking tickets. This way, I can make full use of the swing’s on screen menus for choosing songs/podcasts, and because this iPod is capable of using iCloud, it synchronises my iTunes and podcasts when the car is on the driveway in reach of the WiFi.

Then, when I need SatNav, I use your solution with the AUX adapter and use Waze on my phone, (iPod doesn’t have LTE or SIM card). 

On 07/08/2019 at 13:32, Simoneale1973 said:

Glad they let me swap my Apple 30pin for a USB connector when I bought my Greenie 6 years ago (they just assumed I had an iPod/phone) 

 

Cooool, Sound's like a great solution... I only have an ancient (3rd Gen) iPod Nano which is on it's last legs, and more of a ball-ache than the USB option!... Can you not set up a wi-fi hot-spot on your phone (data provider dependant!), and connect your Touch to your Phone? 

 

3/Three, Have a SIM only deal - Unlimited Voice/Text/Data for £20/month, also has their 'Go-Binge' add-on, and you can use all that data tethering (used to be 30Gb MAX). Plus you can also use all that (voice/text/data) in 76 countries around the world!!

 

It's what I use, makes going across Europe with my Phone as Sat-Nav/Music and Tethering my wife's Phone and Boy's Kindles on the journey a breeze!

26 minutes ago, Simoneale1973 said:

 Can you not set up a wi-fi hot-spot on your phone (data provider dependant!), and connect your Touch to your Phone? 

 

3/Three, Have a SIM only deal - Unlimited Voice/Text/Data for £20/month, also has their 'Go-Binge' add-on, and you can use all that data tethering (used to be 30Gb MAX). Plus you can also use all that (voice/text/data) in 76 countries around the world!!

I have a hotspot on my EE contract, used to be on three until I moved to a group contract which was already with EE. That would mean that the iPod could give directions. 

Overall though even with the faffing of getting these things set up, it’s better than the naff aftermarket head unit I got for £150 off amazon, where opening the satnav would crash the whole thing!

Yep! I've looked at the Chinese Android and Win-CE ones, even the VAG head units on the Bay!

 

But thought it's cheaper and easier to use what I've got (and just spend £35 on the Nextbase) Job done. 

 

Plus I've saving for a Fabby MkIII, which will have the Infotainment system, so the less I spend now, the better I can afford later!

3 minutes ago, Simoneale1973 said:

Yep! I've looked at the Chinese Android and Win-CE ones, even the VAG head units on the Bay!

 

But thought it's cheaper and easier to use what I've got (and just spend £35 on the Nextbase) Job done. 

 

Plus I've saving for a Fabby MkIII, which will have the Infotainment system, so the less I spend now, the better I can afford later!

Haha yeah the MKIII is a big leap forwards in terms of the interior IMO