Well, I wanted to start contributing right away I don't know what model Ferrari/Becker head unit I have in my 430 Scud, but it's the one with a MEDIA slot. This is often occupied by a GPS/nav CF card if you have that option. Mine did not, and I didn't want to waste much time/money to get some basic tunes in the car. I searched and found that although the manual specifies up to a 4GB card, that another FChatter found that a SanDisk 8GB CF card worked. So, I decided to purchase and try a few on my own. 16GB SanDisk Ultra CF no worky = media not found 8GB SanDisk Ultra CF works fine * 2GB Patriot CF works fine (as it should) The 2GB was formatted FAT, while the 8GB and 16GB were formatted as FAT32 (per the manual). * There are also some other limits. Per the manual, the unit can only catalog/index 2000 songs. Depending on your bit rate/file sizes you may be over/under the 8GB size. For songs that I have, I average about 6MB per song, so 8000/6 = 1333, so I will run out of space before I run out of index. * There is also a limitation of 254 files per folder. What happens if you put more than this in 1 folder, when you use the unit, it displays "duplicate" folders. For example, on mine, I see 'Pop', then 'Pop' again listed for the files 1-254, then 255 and on, etc. I have had terrible failure problems with Patriot (the one pictured is the result of an RMA), so I would just like to conclude that the biggest CF that seems to work is 8GB, and I can confirm the SanDisk Ultra 8GB CF works. (Purchased for about $35.) So, I would recommend that card. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you. Personally this info wouldn't do me much good but I'm sure others will be able to benefit.
If you get a chance, can you post a pic of your Becker unit. I'd like to see if its the same one I have. I have a button that says Media, and I also have an iPod cable popping out of the center tunnel pouch in the passenger footwell. Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving!!! DL
Sure, Scuderia pal First is a picture of my unit. I'm sure it's the same as yours. On the older 430s, there is one that looks like the Becker unit in my Porsche. The look is completely different. Second picture is of the CF slot. It is kind of hidden, but you slide the Ferrari logo to the right to release the control panel on the left. Make sure you insert the CF as shown with the bottom to the left. When it is all the way inserted, you will not really see it, but the white button will pop out to eject it. Third picture is what you see if you have more than 254 files in a folder. Press the MEDIA button, and you will get a folder list to select. Mine has the iPod connector coming out of the pouch on the right side of the tunnel, too. I haven't bothered to hook up my iPod since I have read elsewhere that it doesn't charge the iPod. I also wouldn't want it to drain the battery since I may put in a tiny, lightweight battery later on. The CF card weighs just under 1/2 ounce. My iPod (Touch) weighs 3.8 ounces, and I'd rather have something I just leave in the car. Have a great Thanksgiving, too! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
LOL. Speaking of iPods, I noticed I had some "old school" hip hop loaded in the pic above: The Message. This song is used as the background for one of the Lacoste commercials. I was explaining this to my daughter and joking that this is what iPods used to looked like when I was a kid Image Unavailable, Please Login
The fact that I work for a technology company and don't know how to do this is a bit embarrassing. But here we go... I have an iTunes account for my iPhone. From this, how do I create a folder of pure MP3 files? Is it as simple as go into iTunes, find a song, right-click copy, and paste into another folder? And can the Becker unit handle nested/hierarchical folders? I assume then I'd need a CF to USB adapter to write to the card. I like this idea better because I can then leave my iPhone in my pocket and still use the Bluetooth. I tried hooking my iPhone to the iPod cable, and I got all sorts of background/RF engine noise whining, plus once connected, I don't think the phone will work. Happy Thanksgiving! DL
Sorry, I can't help you there. I haven't used iTunes for music/purchases in a long time -- since unencrypted, non-proprietary MP3 songs became available from the likes of Amazon and others. Everything will play unencrypted MP3s, but AAC, WMA, etc., is iffy. Less hassle for me. DL, I just tried it. Seems to work fine, but I don't know how many levels deep you can go. Most likely. Some CF readers are built-in to monitors, etc., so take a look around before you buy. It's unfortunate that Becker chose CF which has been "dead" (IMO) for about 5 years. Everything is SD these days. Yes, I like simple and less fiddling around. 1000+ songs is plenty for me.
