Hard drive compatible with the E60's USB/iPod interface
10-09-2008, 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by kekkos' post='688967' date='Oct 9 2008, 04:00 PM
I haven't read any of the previous threads regarding this but I just want to add something that you might find useful. Last week I was on Dension's representative and I saw a Dension accessory named USB booster. It was a 15-20 cm USB cable with some circuitry on the one side and an extra red wire which I thing is connected to 12V power to provide the extra power needed to run some hard drives. I checked Dension's website but is not listed there. If someone is interested in this cable just let me know and I can call the shop and get more info.
10-09-2008, 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='689202' date='Oct 9 2008, 03:31 PM
I know about this, its basically a 12V -> 5V DC convertor that provides the USD drive with a bit more power than provided by the Dension. Note : You actually need more current and not more voltage to get these drives to spin. If you notice some drives come with a double USB jack on one side - what that simply does is double the current at the same voltage.
My new drive is still working perfectly today (spun up multiple times all by itself) and again, I can't stress enough how perfectly it fits in the bottom of the console -- even in it's little neoprene slip-on case, it fits flat on the floor of the compartment!
The built-in cable makes it an even more elegant solution that pretty much everything else I've seen... 
10-09-2008, 01:18 PM
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The nice thing with this usb booster (or 12V -> 5V converter, according to Bruce) is that you have the freedom to use any drive you want.
10-09-2008, 01:50 PM
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You don't need to buy a fancy usb booster from Dension, just pick up a car charger for any of the phones that are powered by a USB port (e.g. HTCs or Motorola razr etc) and then use that as power for your USB device and then just take the USB pins from the USB power. Ofcourse you will need to build you own USB plug that take power from one place and data from the USB connector.
Another thing that you can do is buy a cheap Compact Flash adaptor for your USB drive and that will convert it to solid state CF which does not need a lot of power to run.
Another thing that you can do is buy a cheap Compact Flash adaptor for your USB drive and that will convert it to solid state CF which does not need a lot of power to run.
10-09-2008, 03:42 PM
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Although I agree that there are many options available -- large flash drives, regular drives with boosted power, iPods, or low power drives, there's something to be said for elegance. To me, not having adaptors or bulky wires running everywhere means a lot. For the last year, I had a decent setup with a drive that usually worked. The wire I had was only about 8 inches long, etc.
Now, with my new setup, I seem to have 100% reliability, no heat issues, and the fit couldn't be better...
Here's two pics of the drive as it sits in the console out of it's neoprene case (one pic with flash and one without):
And here's a pic of the drive as it sits in the console inside the neoprene case. It fits a bit more snug but still lays perfectly flat:
Now, with my new setup, I seem to have 100% reliability, no heat issues, and the fit couldn't be better...
Here's two pics of the drive as it sits in the console out of it's neoprene case (one pic with flash and one without):
And here's a pic of the drive as it sits in the console inside the neoprene case. It fits a bit more snug but still lays perfectly flat:
10-09-2008, 11:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='689410' date='Oct 10 2008, 02:42 AM
Although I agree that there are many options available -- large flash drives, regular drives with boosted power, iPods, or low power drives, there's something to be said for elegance. To me, not having adaptors or bulky wires running everywhere means a lot. For the last year, I had a decent setup with a drive that usually worked. The wire I had was only about 8 inches long, etc.
Now, with my new setup, I seem to have 100% reliability, no heat issues, and the fit couldn't be better...
Here's two pics of the drive as it sits in the console out of it's neoprene case (one pic with flash and one without):
Now, with my new setup, I seem to have 100% reliability, no heat issues, and the fit couldn't be better...
Here's two pics of the drive as it sits in the console out of it's neoprene case (one pic with flash and one without):
Very nice Rudy !!
10-12-2008, 09:54 AM
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I have tested a Freecom Toughdrive 120GB and it also works beautifully on the USB port.
It''s much easier to select songs compared to an iPod connected to a Dension 500, because you have a lot less clicks to get to the song you want.
I never use playlists but always navigate directories with artists.
I have ordered a new Freecom Mobile Drive XXS 320GB (110x80x13,5mm, price 89 Euro) so I can put my whole CD collection in losless WMA format on it. My computer is now hard at work converting everything from FLAC to WMA as we speak, it takes about 26 hours!
It''s much easier to select songs compared to an iPod connected to a Dension 500, because you have a lot less clicks to get to the song you want.
I never use playlists but always navigate directories with artists.
I have ordered a new Freecom Mobile Drive XXS 320GB (110x80x13,5mm, price 89 Euro) so I can put my whole CD collection in losless WMA format on it. My computer is now hard at work converting everything from FLAC to WMA as we speak, it takes about 26 hours!