RCD510 MY09 - SD Card Formatting

[silvershadow]

My partner's recently delivered MY09 Eos is fitted with the standard RCD510 multimedia system. This unit has the capability to accept SD data storage cards with mp3/wav files. The RCD510 card input is specified as accepting SD cards up to 2Gb in size.

When I first tried a 2Gb card loaded with tested mp3 files, I received an error message saying the card could not be read. I then tried a 1Gb card with the same files which worked fine.

After some detective work, I discovered the 1Gb card was formatted with the basic Windows FAT file system whereas the 2Gb card had been formatted with the later NTFS file system. Reformatting the 2Gb card to FAT and reloading the files proved successful.

If you experience problems with card read failures, checking the card format to make sure it is in the windows FAT file system should be the first step before blaming the card/multimedia system.

Now to see if I can trick the system into playing 4Gb SD cards .

[phaeton]

Good tip that I can see coming useful in the future.

Thanks for posting

[silvershadow]

I have some good news regarding use of cards greater than 2Gb:-

I purchased a 4Gb Sandisk SDHC card yesterday and have been able to get it to work on the RCD510 when formatted in both the Windows FAT and FAT32 formats. I loaded 3Gb of files [mixed in sub-folders and as individual files visible in the main menu] in FAT32 format to see if there were any problems with over 2Gb of content [this being the limit given in the owner's manual] without any problems being experienced with playback including from the sub-folders. The Windows NTFS format definitely does not work on SD cards of any capacity and I do not have access to an Apple Mac to test the formats compatible with Apple Mac computers so will have to leave this to others to test for me.

A potential problem exists for owners of Apple Ipods as I cannot get mp4/m4a files to work on the RCD510. These will work after conversion to mp3 [audio only].

If anyone has an ipod and wishes to convert their mp4 files to mp3 audio for use in their vehicle – I use a freeware Windows program called Quick Media Converter [donations are requested from happy users]. This is available for download from Major Geeks and other safe download sites.

Next trip to the city in a fortnight, I will get an 8Gb SDHC card to test as this should also be OK .

[rotelman]

Hi Silvershadow,

I have the RCD510 in my passat and want to get the 8gb SD card so I can fit all my ipod music on 1 card, Did you have any luck with larger cards?
What's the biggest capacity anyone has had work sucessfully?

Cheers

Rotelman.

[silvershadow]

Hi Silvershadow,

I have the RCD510 in my passat and want to get the 8gb SD card so I can fit all my ipod music on 1 card, Did you have any luck with larger cards?
What's the biggest capacity anyone has had work sucessfully?

Cheers

Rotelman.

I have an 8Gb card to try - will do this later today and post the outcome for you.

silvershadow

[rotelman]

Can't wait!

Was looking at buying one this week.

Thanks