Using a USB drive in my sat nav

Technical Area Electrics & ICE
1
  1. My model of MX-5 is: __Mk3
  2. I’m based near: __Weymouth
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __Using a USB stick in my sat nav.
    Having just become the proud owner of a Mk3 I am learning the ropes. Whilst the manual for the car itself is good and comprehensive, the sat nav manual is dreadful. Just a few postage stamp sized images with labelling but no explanation.

I’m trying to use a USB stick with all my music collection on. It was compiled using Windows Media Player, with artist, album name and song titles all there. When I put it in my wife’s Dacia it displays all the information I need and works great. When I plugged it into my MX5, however, I cannot find a way to list the contents. It just seems to randomly start playing a song, displaying the artist name and song title. When I press the Search button (magnifying glass) it asks me if I want album title, artist or song titles, but then just displays an empty list.

Can anyone tell me what I’m doing wrong?

2

There are (at least) two different satnavs which Mazda used in the NC (Mk3) - a Sanyo/TomTom unit and, on later cars, an Alpine one. Many owners have also fitted aftermarket head units.

Do you know which you have? (The easiest way to tell is possibly by the buttons - I think that the Sanyo unit has buttons down both sides of the screen, whereas the Alpine just has buttons on the left).

3

The buttons are on the left, so I’m guessing it’s the Alpine.

Anyhow, problem solved. On digging through the manuals to try to make sure, I found, in a pocket I hadn’t noticed, a CD. In it are much fuller instructions, and I discovered I needed to look under the ‘Folders’ button. That showed me what I wanted.

Thanks a lot Philip, much appreciated.

4

No problem.

If it is the Alpine AVN2 unit, then it’s a Mazda-customised Alpine W920R. There’s more information about this unit on Alpine’s web site, as well as the Alpine firmware. Some of us have installed this firmware on the head unit, as it enables a number of features which Mazda had removed, not least much greater control over the sound equalisation.

Enjoy your new car!