New Pioneer Deck

**berdine3** · 05-23-2009, 02:50 PM

I just had a pioneer deh-p5100ub installed and it has usb ports from and back for ipod or mp3 players. If i hook up a portable hard drive will it work?

**smokinsilverado** · 05-23-2009, 03:48 PM

You might be able to, typically they are made for portable music players(they only have music files), if your using a portable hard drive it might not be able to read the info, you won't be able to search files on the hard drive through the deck most likely

**mrgrim** · 05-23-2009, 05:32 PM

If you build the file structure correct and the hard drive can be powered by usb its worth a try. Some hard drives even in a external
usb case will have a cord for power read the box!

**berdine3** · 05-23-2009, 07:22 PM

i am going to check it out

**chevyaddict83** · 05-23-2009, 08:27 PM

I have an Alpine 9886 with the usb, and it works with memory sticks, so I cannot see why it wouldnt work with a portable hard drive.

**clemsonhacker** · 05-26-2009, 06:40 AM

get a western dgital passport 250 gig external and it will work..

**92_half ton_W/T** · 05-26-2009, 08:12 AM

I have a Pioneer DEH6000UB in my Bonneville, and before I got my ipod, I had a 4 gig flash drive attached to it. It worked well, and I could also control it right from the menu on the head unit, same as my ipod works now.

Although I never tried it with a portable hard drive, I don't think it would be any different.

**clemsonhacker** · 05-26-2009, 11:52 AM

its no differnt than a flash drive... just make sure its formated to fat32 and the WD passport will work.. the Pioneers can handle up to 250 gigs if my memory serves me right

**berdine3** · 05-26-2009, 06:19 PM

ok i'll check it out this weekend and let you all know. thanks

**thunderstruck95** · 05-26-2009, 08:44 PM

If your hard drive only requires you to connect to one USB port and nothing else, then you *should* be fine but...

By specification, the USB port can only deliver up to 500mA of current and the USB devices shouldn't draw more than that from the port. However in reality, a lot of USB devices draw more than that and the headunit might not be able to output much more current through the USB port.

It's a crapshoot. Search around, some drives work better than others.