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USB hub?

Discussion in 'Prius c Audio and Electronics' started by RocMills, Dec 17, 2012.

  1. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

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    For a car that is so high tech, I'm a bit surprised that the C only has one USB port, and that port isn't easily (safely) accessible while driving.

    Would a USB hub plugged into that port allow, say, three different thumb drives with music to be accessible through the stereo?
     
    #1 RocMills, Dec 17, 2012
  2. DoPeY5007

    DoPeY5007 Member

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    No. My phone has two "drives" and it only sees one. And putting that many drives could short out the USB port.

    And you should not be messing with it while driving. There are drives large enough out there, you only need the one.
     
    #2 DoPeY5007, Dec 17, 2012
  3. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

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    Yes, that's why I stated that it couldn't be safely accessed while driving. And it would have to be a pretty cheap port if attaching a 3-4 port hub would short it out.

    I do have a large USB drive, 16 gig in fact. However, with 50 folders to scroll through to find what I feel like listening to at any given moment, that can get tedious. I'd much prefer to have several drives with types or genres or bands on each one.
     
    #3 RocMills, Dec 17, 2012
  4. DoPeY5007

    DoPeY5007 Member

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    Can't you use the voice command to change artist/genre?
     
    #4 DoPeY5007, Dec 17, 2012
  5. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

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    I do not believe that the C2 includes any kind of voice command. If it does, I haven't discovered it.
     
    #5 RocMills, Dec 17, 2012
  6. DoPeY5007

    DoPeY5007 Member

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    It may not

    "AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers in six locations, auxiliary audio jack, USB [1] port with iPod®[2] connectivity, auto sound leveling, hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth® [3]wireless technology"


    I can hit the voice button on the steering wheel and have a bunch of options for calls, music, navigation etc.



    Your original question on the HUB would not change the fact of all the folders to go through.


     
    #6 DoPeY5007, Dec 17, 2012
  7. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    A USB port can only supply 100mA before identification, and then 500mA maximum if the downstream device says it needs that much.

    Add in a self-powered USB hub (the ones that take their power off of the USB port) and you now have a potential problem. 500mA total available from the HU, 20-30mA to power the hub itself leaves 470mA for all N ports on the hub. A 3 port hub would require a 1.5A power supply, but it only has 470mA. For flash drives, you are probably OK. If you plug in a phone, or anything that charges, you are screwed. If you plug in a HDD based USB device, you're screwed. If you plug in cheap flash drives with fancy lights, those lights take a fair amount of power. Could be 20mA per LED if they are bright blue. Also could be 2mA for a dimmer red light. But it all depends. A powered HUB, would be no problem electrically. However as pointed out, the HU can only access 1 drive.

    They do make USB switches. These are devices that will multiplex multiple individual USB ports into 1 upstream USB port. You then switch between the routed drive. So it is not a hub in that they are all connected at once. It is a switch and you select which one you want connected. Some are as simple as a slide switch, some have LCDs and a remote. All depends on what you want.
     
    #7 2k1Toaster, Dec 17, 2012
  8. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    I stream music via bluetooth from my iphone to the auto stereo. Is that helpfull?
     
    #8 JMD, Dec 17, 2012
  9. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

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    Not in this instance. I don't have an iphone and I don't wish to stream music from another source.

    I was just hoping I could stack 3-4 USB drives. Seems that isn't a practical option... so I will heavy sigh and pick my music before I start driving.
     
    #9 RocMills, Dec 17, 2012
  10. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

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    Thank you for all the detailed information. I will look at switches, or I will just get used to one giant selection. :)
     
    #10 RocMills, Dec 17, 2012
  11. KaliforniaKid

    KaliforniaKid 2013 Prius v Five 2012 Priuc c Four

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    Old school.

    Remember the days of single CD players - you member...
    Insert, eject, insert, eject, insert, eject...
    Remember that sun visor with pockets for CD's - you member...

    Get an usb extension cord and hang near the shifter so you don't have to stretch towards the glove box usb port.
    ;)
     
    #11 KaliforniaKid, Dec 18, 2012
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  12. KaliforniaKid

    KaliforniaKid 2013 Prius v Five 2012 Priuc c Four

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    #12 KaliforniaKid, Dec 18, 2012
    kenoarto and Perry in Ohio like this.
  13. Rob.au

    Rob.au Active Member

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    I removed one of those sun visor pockets (thought I kept mine in the glove box) from my old Corolla when I traded it in. :) The Australian audio can read CD data discs - assuming acceptable audio formats are used and you follow the recommended folder structure, these will give 700 MB of storage per disc, which could well be suitable for creating genre "selections". I'm assuming that surely the US audio should also be able to do this, but you'd need to check the manual.

    Regarding the cord, I bought a black iPhone USB cable and I keep this permanently in place - it's not plugged in at the top but just to the side, with the cable hooked under the cable retainer, then it runs down to the open storage space forward of the cup holders. If my iPhone needs charging I'll connect it and leave it in that storage, then plug in the cable at the top. The cord has no difficulty staying in place through nothing other than that little cable retainer tab. Buying an appropriate length USB extension cable (taking care to find a suitable one - clearly these are different from standard USB cables that have plugs on both ends) should work exactly the same way and allow the USB stick to sit near the cupholders.

    Oh and the Australian c has two USB sockets - the same one you guys have, but also one on the head unit itself. I've not connected a USB stick yet, let alone two... I think I'd be a bit nervous about how that might go down.
     
    #13 Rob.au, Dec 19, 2012
  14. karabits

    karabits Member

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    Creating playlists to organize your music might help:
    Playlists on a usb flash drive or HDD? | PriusChat

    After your playlist is created and the USB device is inserted into the port, it will take a few seconds for the playlists to be found.
     
    #14 karabits, Dec 19, 2012
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