Daisy chaining a second device on USB

Bullitt · 06-06-2008, 06:28 PM

Is it possible to have a storage device (i.e., flash drive, portable hd) and a supported phone (i.e., iPhone) connected to the 6FL USB port under the armrest at the same time, via a USB hub?

It would be most convenient to listen to my music and be able to pair my phone with iDrive. I also plan on getting the snap-in adapter (#84109182792) for my phone for recharging and improved cellular reception through the roof-mounted antenna. Am I stuck with one device at a time?

ansun · 06-06-2008, 07:09 PM

Yes,

I do not think I drive will recognize both.

Bullitt · 06-08-2008, 01:29 AM

Thanks, Ansun, but are you 100% sure? Looks like I may have to wait and try this on my own when my car arrives.

clived · 06-08-2008, 08:46 AM

Surely pairing the phone to the iDrive is best done over Bluetooth - why would you want to use USB for this?

InsaneSkippy · 06-08-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clived

Surely pairing the phone to the iDrive is best done over Bluetooth - why would you want to use USB for this?

Maybe to charge it? That wasn't meant to be sarcastic I was wondering the same thing. I may just get a car charger for the iPhone and pair it over bluetooth. The only other reason I could think would be because of music on the iPhone.

1Ronnie · 06-08-2008, 08:04 PM

Yeah, it will be interesting to see. From a power perspective it definately will work, with USB, the power is shared across all the ports of the Hub, but just remember there is only 500mW to go around, disk based USB drives, and more power hungry phones wouldn't necessarily get along.

The much more tricky part of the equation is the software side. The USB software would have to recognize the Hub, register the ports it has, then query the devices connected to each hub port. The end result is if Hubs are not supported in software, you can only support one device. Additionally, if there is a phone and a USB audio device, it is possible for the Headunit to get confused over which device to use (many phones look like USB memory devices as well).

So, speculation wise, I doubt it will work (keen to try myself). However, from a purely technical perspective, it would be possible to make a splitter, that only provided power to the appropriate pins on one connector (or even to cut traces inside a hub). Got a very capable electrictronics capable friend?

Bullitt · 06-08-2008, 08:23 PM

arrons, thanks for the insight! I wish to plug in a small thumbdrive and an iPhone simultaneously. I am assuming the iPhone Snap-In Adapter requires a USB connection for its special functions. I am hoping the head unit will recognize the units and differentiate them appropriately, but it's probably a slim chance. I guess we won't know unless someone tries this with a hub. Too bad I don't have the car yet to test this out.

DTNJNQ · 06-08-2008, 08:39 PM

I haven't tried tis on the BMW however, I've tried it on a media player with a USB port for external device. The media player would only read one of the connected devices. I suspect the BMW usb port would be the same a can only read one device at a time. If you want to connect more than one device you can use a usb switch such as the ones on the following web site

http://www.usbswitch.com/

clived · 06-09-2008, 06:26 AM

Bullit, do you want to use the iPhone as a phone or as a storage device for music?

If it's just for the phone, using the snap-in cradle, BMW snap-in cradles far pre-date the USB connectivity so I doubt it uses it - I think your assumption might be wrong. What "special features" of the snap-in cradle do you think will need USB?

Bullitt · 06-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clived

Bullit, do you want to use the iPhone as a phone or as a storage device for music?

Both, if possible.

Quote:

If it's just for the phone, using the snap-in cradle, BMW snap-in cradles far pre-date the USB connectivity so I doubt it uses it - I think your assumption might be wrong. What "special features" of the snap-in cradle do you think will need USB?

Besides recharging, I would like the phone to use the car's stronger antenna for enhanced telecommunication signals. This snap-in cradle I speak of was designed specifically for the iPhone.

(Only two other phones have its own special snap-in adapter: BlackBerry Pearl and Motorola V8/V9)

clived · 06-09-2008, 04:56 PM

Maybe in the US, nut in the UK snap in cradles are available for amny phones (well, many of last years phoned.... :-).

Charging and antenna are are the two basic factions provided by the cradle for any phone, which never have used USB, so you should be fine there. As for music, just put it all on your drive - you don't have a choice in my opinion.

Bullitt · 06-09-2008, 05:32 PM

^^ Good news. So where does the cradle plug into?

clived · 06-10-2008, 12:19 PM

As the name implies, it "snaps-in" to a holder in the arm-rest

john970 · 06-10-2008, 02:29 PM

A bunch of mini owners have done something similar, using the iphone as an ipod and also having it connected to the cradle for charging and antenna boosting via the sharkfin:

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...d.php?t=135178

There is still only 1 device on the bus, however.

Bullitt · 06-10-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clived

As the name implies, it "snaps-in" to a holder in the arm-rest

How does it supply power to the phone? :P

clived · 06-10-2008, 06:35 PM

WEll, for most phones it uses the power connection in their docking port. If the iPhone doesn't have a power connection in its docking port a) that's rubbish and b) I don't know

06-06-2008, 06:28 PM	#1
Bullitt Major 91 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	Daisy chaining a second device on USB Is it possible to have a storage device (i.e., flash drive, portable hd) and a supported phone (i.e., iPhone) connected to the 6FL USB port under the armrest at the same time, via a USB hub? It would be most convenient to listen to my music and be able to pair my phone with iDrive. I also plan on getting the snap-in adapter (#84109182792) for my phone for recharging and improved cellular reception through the roof-mounted antenna. Am I stuck with one device at a time?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-06-2008, 07:09 PM	#2
ansun First Lieutenant 23 Rep 374 Posts Drives: X5 4.8i 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Yes, I do not think I drive will recognize both.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-08-2008, 01:29 AM	#3
Bullitt Major 91 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	Thanks, Ansun, but are you 100% sure? Looks like I may have to wait and try this on my own when my car arrives.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-08-2008, 08:46 AM	#4
clived Captain 39 Rep 812 Posts Drives: Evolved 1M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Surely pairing the phone to the iDrive is best done over Bluetooth - why would you want to use USB for this? __________________ 2019+ BSM M2C 2011-2012: VO 1M Coupe, many toys, Evolve Stage 3. 2008-2011: 135i M Sport Le Mans Blue / Lemon / HGSL. Evolve OBD remap - 390bhp. Also in the family: X3 M40d / Audi S4 (V8)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-08-2008, 08:04 PM	#6
1Ronnie Ronnie 15 Rep 556 Posts Drives: '08 Sedona 128i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	Yeah, it will be interesting to see. From a power perspective it definately will work, with USB, the power is shared across all the ports of the Hub, but just remember there is only 500mW to go around, disk based USB drives, and more power hungry phones wouldn't necessarily get along. The much more tricky part of the equation is the software side. The USB software would have to recognize the Hub, register the ports it has, then query the devices connected to each hub port. The end result is if Hubs are not supported in software, you can only support one device. Additionally, if there is a phone and a USB audio device, it is possible for the Headunit to get confused over which device to use (many phones look like USB memory devices as well). So, speculation wise, I doubt it will work (keen to try myself). However, from a purely technical perspective, it would be possible to make a splitter, that only provided power to the appropriate pins on one connector (or even to cut traces inside a hub). Got a very capable electrictronics capable friend? __________________ "Lucy" 128i / Sedona Red / Coral Red / Premium Package / Premium Sound
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-08-2008, 08:23 PM	#7
Bullitt Major 91 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	arrons, thanks for the insight! I wish to plug in a small thumbdrive and an iPhone simultaneously. I am assuming the iPhone Snap-In Adapter requires a USB connection for its special functions. I am hoping the head unit will recognize the units and differentiate them appropriately, but it's probably a slim chance. I guess we won't know unless someone tries this with a hub. Too bad I don't have the car yet to test this out.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-08-2008, 08:39 PM	#8
DTNJNQ Captain 110 Rep 994 Posts Drives: M2, 135i, Xclass Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 135i [8.66]	I haven't tried tis on the BMW however, I've tried it on a media player with a USB port for external device. The media player would only read one of the connected devices. I suspect the BMW usb port would be the same a can only read one device at a time. If you want to connect more than one device you can use a usb switch such as the ones on the following web site http://www.usbswitch.com/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-09-2008, 06:26 AM	#9
clived Captain 39 Rep 812 Posts Drives: Evolved 1M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Bullit, do you want to use the iPhone as a phone or as a storage device for music? If it's just for the phone, using the snap-in cradle, BMW snap-in cradles far pre-date the USB connectivity so I doubt it uses it - I think your assumption might be wrong. What "special features" of the snap-in cradle do you think will need USB? __________________ 2019+ BSM M2C 2011-2012: VO 1M Coupe, many toys, Evolve Stage 3. 2008-2011: 135i M Sport Le Mans Blue / Lemon / HGSL. Evolve OBD remap - 390bhp. Also in the family: X3 M40d / Audi S4 (V8)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-09-2008, 04:56 PM	#11
clived Captain 39 Rep 812 Posts Drives: Evolved 1M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Maybe in the US, nut in the UK snap in cradles are available for amny phones (well, many of last years phoned.... :-). Charging and antenna are are the two basic factions provided by the cradle for any phone, which never have used USB, so you should be fine there. As for music, just put it all on your drive - you don't have a choice in my opinion. __________________ 2019+ BSM M2C 2011-2012: VO 1M Coupe, many toys, Evolve Stage 3. 2008-2011: 135i M Sport Le Mans Blue / Lemon / HGSL. Evolve OBD remap - 390bhp. Also in the family: X3 M40d / Audi S4 (V8)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-09-2008, 05:32 PM	#12
Bullitt Major 91 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 135i [0.00]	^^ Good news. So where does the cradle plug into?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-10-2008, 12:19 PM	#13
clived Captain 39 Rep 812 Posts Drives: Evolved 1M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	As the name implies, it "snaps-in" to a holder in the arm-rest __________________ 2019+ BSM M2C 2011-2012: VO 1M Coupe, many toys, Evolve Stage 3. 2008-2011: 135i M Sport Le Mans Blue / Lemon / HGSL. Evolve OBD remap - 390bhp. Also in the family: X3 M40d / Audi S4 (V8)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-10-2008, 02:29 PM	#14
john970 1er 73 Rep 1,205 Posts Drives: 08 135 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	A bunch of mini owners have done something similar, using the iphone as an ipod and also having it connected to the cradle for charging and antenna boosting via the sharkfin: http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...d.php?t=135178 There is still only 1 device on the bus, however.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-10-2008, 06:35 PM	#16
clived Captain 39 Rep 812 Posts Drives: Evolved 1M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	WEll, for most phones it uses the power connection in their docking port. If the iPhone doesn't have a power connection in its docking port a) that's rubbish and b) I don't know __________________ 2019+ BSM M2C 2011-2012: VO 1M Coupe, many toys, Evolve Stage 3. 2008-2011: 135i M Sport Le Mans Blue / Lemon / HGSL. Evolve OBD remap - 390bhp. Also in the family: X3 M40d / Audi S4 (V8)
	Appreciate 0 Quote