USB data splitter?

[glasgowcyclist]

My car has a number of USB ports for charging only, plus a single port in the centre console for data. It’s currently occupied by a dongle that allows my phone to connect Android Auto to the car wirelessly.

The challenge is this: I want to be able to play music from a USB drive while still having Android Auto running. Is there a device that would allow both the AA dongle and my media USB to use the same slot simultaneously?

Car is a Kia Niro EV 4, if that helps.

 

[slowmotion]

I could be wrong but I think USB is a data bus if the connectors are fully wired so splitting should be easy.

https://www.amazon.com/KiWiBiRD-Splitter-Charging-Compatible-Keyboard/dp/B0CXJJGZN1

 

[Mike_P]

Google says no googling phone dongle and mp3 in same usb port

 

[oxoman]

I have a Kia Xceed and I can connect via Bluetooth and WiFi for Android Auto and run my music off my USB memory stick at the same time. You should be able to charge using the USB C port.

 

[Venod]

If your phone is connected by cable its not wireless, does your car have the option to connect AA wirelessly, then you could just plug your mp3 player into the USB data port, our car connects AA wirelessly but unfortunately we don't have a data USB port, just charging ports. (Volvo EX30)

 

[glasgowcyclist]

The phone is not connected via cable. It's using a Volaylink wireless carplay adapter, plugged into the only USB data port in the car. (I have to use this because the car only natively supports wireless connection for iPhones.)

I don't need to charge anything from the various usb-c ports.

I am looking for something that allows two devices to connect simultaneously to a single USB data port.

 

[Dan Lotus]

Can you not just increase the memory in the phone, if it can take a micro sd card, and use the phone AS the storage device for the music?

 

[oxoman]

The kia niro ev4 should connect via Bluetooth without any additional adapters. This is Kia standard spec for android and Apple play devices. That should release the USB c port up, you can hopefully use a USB c to USB adaptor for your music. My kia is a 23 plate and has both USB and USB C sockets connected for Data in the central dash.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I suspect USB hub might be the best way.

Or cheaper and will definitely work would be a cigarette lighter socket USB adapter. Loads of makes and suppliers with some having up to 3 USB ports abailable. Amazon have loads but only go for a reputable brand as lots of Chinese/Far East imports some of which might be lower quality.
eg https://www.belkin.com/uk/products/chargers/car-chargers/

 

[Mike_P]

I suspect USB hub might be the best way.

Or cheaper and will definitely work would be a cigarette lighter socket USB adapter. Loads of makes and suppliers with some having up to 3 USB ports abailable. Amazon have loads but only go for a reputable brand as lots of Chinese/Far East imports some of which might be lower quality.
eg https://www.belkin.com/uk/products/chargers/car-chargers/

Problem is not confusing the data in system. A usb hub is fine for distributing power.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

If you have several USB things going into one port them you can get a power problem
if it plugs into something to add extra power then it might well work
assuming the car USB is up to spec - some are not and only accept on device on the "bus" but that tends to be older cars!

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Can you not just increase the memory in the phone, if it can take a micro sd card, and use the phone AS the storage device for the music?

That would need me to handle the phone to change tracks/albums etc. When the USB drive is used, I can control it all from my steering wheel so I’d rather keep it like that than fiddle with the phone while driving.

The kia niro ev4 should connect via Bluetooth without any additional adapters. This is Kia standard spec for android and Apple play devices. That should release the USB c port up, you can hopefully use a USB c to USB adaptor for your music. My kia is a 23 plate and has both USB and USB C sockets connected for Data in the central dash.

It doesn’t. That’s why I had to buy a wireless adapter to use Android Auto without a cable.

None of the USB-C ports carry data, they are all power only.

I suspect USB hub might be the best way.

Or cheaper and will definitely work would be a cigarette lighter socket USB adapter. Loads of makes and suppliers with some having up to 3 USB ports abailable. Amazon have loads but only go for a reputable brand as lots of Chinese/Far East imports some of which might be lower quality.
eg https://www.belkin.com/uk/products/chargers/car-chargers/

Tried a USB hub with three additional ports, which claimed to be able to do what I needed. It couldn’t. It could support multiple data inputs while attached to a PC but not in the car.

I don’t need a cigarette socket charger, I have plenty of power sockets already.

 

[Alex321]

Tried a USB hub with three additional ports, which claimed to be able to do what I needed. It couldn’t. It could support multiple data inputs while attached to a PC but not in the car.

In that case, it is the car which is the issue, only allowing a single USB connection, and there is nothing you can do about it unless you can persuade it to connect to your phone via bluetooth. Does the bluetooth on your phone work with other devices? Or does the car work with any other bluetooth devcies?

 

[CXRAndy]

You can get USB banks 4 into 1 or whatever multiples. Or load the music omto your phone and use android auto to play them

 

[oxoman]

@glasgowcyclist, it would be worth confirming with kia over Bluetooth connection on your niro. I'll reach out to someone i know who has a niro as im sure your phone should connect. Just remembered Kia cars also have WiFi connection as well. A bit of googling suggests re- Pairing the phone to the car.