How to hook up an iPod
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I'm assuming you have the entryline radio, 2011+ models only. The iPod is not directly compatible with the usb input. It will only charge through that port, and *some* versions of the iPod will play music in a file format that is not meant for a human to understand.
The best way is to use the 3.5mm port and control your iPod music from the iPod itself.
The usb input is designed for mp3 files installed on a thumb drive or other hard drive. In other words, all the music files you placed on your iPod should be copied onto usb thumb drives as mp3 files. You can create folders and have song lists and you will then be able to browse your music collection directly from your entryline radio.
This system works well for me. I plug a 32 bit ipod connector into the ipod and then the single pin into a headphone amplifier in my glovebox (http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20031047-285/pump-up-your-ipods-sound-for-$60/). I put a small hole in the rear of the glovebox to access the amp. The amp then connects directly to the built in smart connection. The ipod itself is in the cavity to the right of the steering wheel and is constantly charged via a usb connection (also part of the 32 bit connector wiring) in my 12 volt access point in the middle of the car. The wires are all hidden and I love the sound.
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If you're using AUX you can only control music from your iPod. If you want to control music files, you can use a thumb drive in the usb port. Trying to use the usb port to control your iPod will not work because the entryline radio is designed for mp3 files and not Apple AAC files. The closest you can get to organized control would be to organize folders with mp3 files on your flash drive, then you can cycle through all your playlists and songs from the entryline radio.
Some iPods work through the usb port, and you can control the iPod itself through the entryline radio. BUT, it was not designed for that and as such there will be literally NO organized way of finding the songs you want to play. It's complete random computer assigned filenames.
You can literally hand Stevie Wonder an iPod and he'll have an easier time finding songs and playlists on it than you will trying to find songs on your iPod directly from the entryline radio.
I have the entryline radio (2011) and I have a similar problem. I cannot make the USB work. It always says "device unavailable" when a USB drive is plugged in. The user manual says it has to be formated in FAT32. I tried 3 USB drives (2GB, 16GB and 64GB) all formated in FAT32 (also tried formating them in NTFS, exFAT and FAT, with the same result). I also tried with my android phone. Same message appears when plugged in. "Device unavailable".
Smart suggested that I might have to place the mp3 files directly in the USB drive (no folders). I did that. Same thing.
I've tried an old 2GB iPod I had at home and it works.
Does anyone have any suggestion? Is there something I'm missing?
How do you guys make the USB drive work? What file system (format) do you have? How do you sort your mp3 files?
Smart suggested that I might have to place the mp3 files directly in the USB drive (no folders). I did that. Same thing.
I've tried an old 2GB iPod I had at home and it works.
Does anyone have any suggestion? Is there something I'm missing?
How do you guys make the USB drive work? What file system (format) do you have? How do you sort your mp3 files?
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The headunit has to be able to access the files you device you’re using. Because of this, phones are out of the question. iPhones and iPod Touch devices use a file system that the smart’s headunit doesn’t support and Android’s OS confuses the headunit so Android phones are not compatible either.
This leaves you with old iPods and USB flash drives formatted to FAT32. What are you using to format the drive? Mac or Windows?
Also make sure that these are mp3 files and that there aren’t any weird folders that do not belong.
I also think the port in the car is a USB 2.0. I’m not sure what impact that has if your drive is 3.0. Technically you should be okay, but the headunit is kinda dumb, so I’m not sure.
This leaves you with old iPods and USB flash drives formatted to FAT32. What are you using to format the drive? Mac or Windows?
Also make sure that these are mp3 files and that there aren’t any weird folders that do not belong.
I also think the port in the car is a USB 2.0. I’m not sure what impact that has if your drive is 3.0. Technically you should be okay, but the headunit is kinda dumb, so I’m not sure.
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Just use your old iPod for your music. I had the same issue, with my other brand vehicle too. “Device unavailable”. Even when I’ve added mp3 music from my iMac/iTunes. Same with data files. Formatted stick not correct? It madding. I've plug it right back into the iMac. To see if the memory stick was bad. Device unavailable. It’s crazy.
New after market sound systems for the smart car. Are cheap now. I’d personal would replace the smarts head unit, with a better new one. Crutchfield carries a wide range. Bluetooth, hand free calls, USB that works etc. I like Bluetooth steaming. Even though USB is better quality. But it’s a smartcar sound system.
Just use the iPod. It was designed for music. I use one, in all my cars. It’s got to be over 10 years old now. Plus I have a draw full, of old iPhone, I use for music too, in my cars, and the sound systems at home.
Good Luck.
New after market sound systems for the smart car. Are cheap now. I’d personal would replace the smarts head unit, with a better new one. Crutchfield carries a wide range. Bluetooth, hand free calls, USB that works etc. I like Bluetooth steaming. Even though USB is better quality. But it’s a smartcar sound system.
Just use the iPod. It was designed for music. I use one, in all my cars. It’s got to be over 10 years old now. Plus I have a draw full, of old iPhone, I use for music too, in my cars, and the sound systems at home.
Good Luck.
Thank you very much for your replies!!
I'm using windows. The standard utility you use when formating drives from "My PC". I can try other programs if you think this might be an issue.
I've tried placing all MP3 files directly in the USB drive with no different result.
Most USB 3.0 are compatible with 2.0. However, the ones I've tried are 2.0, so this shouldn't be a problem. I'm gonna try a 3.0, too. Also, I'll try to recue a 1.0 drive if I find one (just to rule things out).
Can't use it. It only has 2GB, which is not a lot.
I thought about it. But I do like the physical buttons in the radio, and we already have a nice Parrot (no bluetooth streaming, though) for calls. A music USB is the way to go for me.
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What’s strange about this. USB 3.0 was introduced in 2008. You able to use 3.0 cables/drives, in a 2.0 slot. Only with a 2.0 a transfere.
What year smart car is this? I just believe the USB drive, isn’t formatted correctly. Have you tried transferring iTunes music to the drive?
I have lots of friends, that use drives in all their cars. Aftermarket radio.
What year smart car is this? I just believe the USB drive, isn’t formatted correctly. Have you tried transferring iTunes music to the drive?
I have lots of friends, that use drives in all their cars. Aftermarket radio.
SOLVED!
Thank you all for your advice!
I've solved the issue. Now it works flawlessly. Here's what I did.
I just used another program to format the drives. I don't know why, but I guess my Windows wasn't formating the drives as it should. I used this program fat32format (http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/guiformat.exe) (also, you need it if you want to format drives bigger than 32GB, because Windows doesn't allow yo to do it with its tool). It seems that this was the only thing that wasn't working properly. Formated with this tool and both the drives I tried before (2GB and 64GB; 2.0) that didn't work, they work fine.
Furthermore, the radio doesn't let you play by artist, album or so, but it lets you play (and shuffle) songs within a folder and it lets you browse folders inside the USB drive. So you can (and should) place files in folders to sort them.
It's a pretty simple radio, with simple functions and options. But it works great if you don't want anything super fancy.
Thank you all for your advice!
I've solved the issue. Now it works flawlessly. Here's what I did.
I just used another program to format the drives. I don't know why, but I guess my Windows wasn't formating the drives as it should. I used this program fat32format (http://www.ridgecrop.demon.co.uk/guiformat.exe) (also, you need it if you want to format drives bigger than 32GB, because Windows doesn't allow yo to do it with its tool). It seems that this was the only thing that wasn't working properly. Formated with this tool and both the drives I tried before (2GB and 64GB; 2.0) that didn't work, they work fine.
Furthermore, the radio doesn't let you play by artist, album or so, but it lets you play (and shuffle) songs within a folder and it lets you browse folders inside the USB drive. So you can (and should) place files in folders to sort them.
It's a pretty simple radio, with simple functions and options. But it works great if you don't want anything super fancy.
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