Thread: Alpine KCA-620M: USB interface for Ai-Net

Well I just purchased one of these USB Ai-Net interfaces for my IVA-D310E head unit and I must say I was bitterly disappointed. However I went into my local store where I purchased it and we did some testing. Below are some observations on the unit.

1. The unit does not supply enough current to spin up a 2.5" HDD, it will run the HDD once it has spun up but you need an external power source to spin it up. I used a cigarette lighter adapter to power my 80GB HDD. The module could power the drive once it had spun up without the assistance of the external power to the drive.

2. Flash Drives - My 2Gb flash drive worked fine in the adapter but I am not sure what method it was using to sort/determine the play order. The folder up and Folder down buttons don't work but you can list the folders with the search button. But a 2GB flash even a 4/8Gb one is next to useless for my in car needs.

3. HDD - This did not work very well at all, first there was the power issue (See point #1). Secondly my IVA-D310E could not list any of the folders, it would play tracks but it was very odd indeed. The folder it determined to be the first (don't know how it determined this) it would play every song/track from that folder. Then it would play the first track from every album directory and no more. I have a feeling this is a folder vs file mode thing. Again the Folder up and Folder down buttons do not work. Only 137 of the 2,000 (approx) songs on the HDD were available/playable using the next/prev track buttons.

4. It does not remember where you were if you power off and then back on again.

I spoke to my dealer and they spoke to alpine and alpine said "OH, the 310 is an older unit it might be having problems because it is older".. I thought that's sounds like complete BS and went to my dealer to do some testing with their display stock.

5. Testing on an IVA-D100E. This is the latest (read newest) A/V Headunit from Alpine and it functioned EXACTLY the same with the 620 and my 80Gb HDD as my IVA-D310E did .. so it's not the fact that my HU is "old"

6. Tested on a CDA-9857. Testing on this unit was somewhat more successful and it could see all 187 album folders on the HDD and play songs from these folders once I figured out the search on the head unit.

So in conclusion, it works, KINDA.

If you have a Mobile Media Station then it will not work properly with a USB HDD. If you have a regular type head unit then it will work but you will need an auxiliary power supply to spin up any HDD's you might want to use.

I have returned the KCA-620M and I am waiting on the local Alpine techs to do some testing of their own (they had not tested on any Mobile Media Station head units). It is most likely I will be getting the KCA-420i and an 80Gb iPod to do the job. I really don't like the iPod that much because I can't just store my files on there like a regular USB storage device and play them.

Originally Posted by Sidewindr

1. The unit does not supply enough current to spin up a 2.5" HDD, it will run the HDD once it has spun up but you need an external power source to spin it up. I used a cigarette lighter adapter to power my 80GB HDD. The module could power the drive once it had spun up without the assistance of the external power to the drive.

The length of your USB cable might have an effect on this. Currently, I have an 8" cable since I have the KCA-620M and the HDD together in the center console. I experimented with a longer cable and alternate locations last weekend; the HDD would not come up with my 3' cable I was testing.

However, one needs to also consider that I am using an older 4200RPM 2.5" drive at 20GB, yours is more likely at the very least a 5400, if not 7200 RPM drive, being 80GB.


That said, I am glad others are confirming my bad experiences. There are a few less-than-stellar reviews at Crutchfield as well.

Originally Posted by jbuck2029

The length of your USB cable might have an effect on this. Currently, I have an 8" cable since I have the KCA-620M and the HDD together in the center console. I experimented with a longer cable and alternate locations last weekend; the HDD would not come up with my 3' cable I was testing.

However, one needs to also consider that I am using an older 4200RPM 2.5" drive at 20GB, yours is more likely at the very least a 5400, if not 7200 RPM drive, being 80GB.


That said, I am glad others are confirming my bad experiences. There are a few less-than-stellar reviews at Crutchfield as well.

Definatley not the cable, I had not installed the unit into the car, I simply plugged the AiNet cables in and then plugged the USB cable to mini USB directly into the 620 and my HDD total length of USB cable < 1m. All of these parameters were the same for all of my testing. The biggest thing to note is that a HDD simply does not work properly on the Media Stations but does on the regular head units.

As for the HDD, it simply cannot supply the current needed fro this 80Gb HDD to spin up which means it is going to have some issues with other similar devices requiring similar current drains. It did supply enough current once the HDD was spinning. Your HDD may infact require a lower startup current hence it spins up ok, but generally older disks means greater startup current... maybe not so in this case.

Originally Posted by Sidewindr

Definatley not the cable, I had not installed the unit into the car, I simply plugged the AiNet cables in and then plugged the USB cable to mini USB directly into the 620 and my HDD total length of USB cable < 1m. All of these parameters were the same for all of my testing.

I figured the cable length might be a long-shot. It did affect mine, but the cable I was trying to use was substantially longer than the one that worked.

Originally Posted by Sidewindr

The biggest thing to note is that a HDD simply does not work properly on the Media Stations but does on the regular head units.

This is good to note, as I have considered upgrading to one (the IVA-W200, since I have a double-DIN opening).

Originally Posted by Sidewindr

As for the HDD, it simply cannot supply the current needed fro this 80Gb HDD to spin up which means it is going to have some issues with other similar devices requiring similar current drains. It did supply enough current once the HDD was spinning. Your HDD may infact require a lower startup current hence it spins up ok, but generally older disks means greater startup current... maybe not so in this case.

My experience is that the drive RPM is a factor. The drive I am using is only 4200 RPM, which is quite old (Date code on drive is DEC-01). I would be surprised if yours was not at least 5400 or 7200 RPM.

I know you have pretty much given up on the KCA-620M, but have you tried using a USB cable with an additional "power-only" 'A' plug on it? The SABRENT cases I use come with such a cable. I am wondering if that extra "not used at this time" USB port would allow that extra bit of current draw you need. My curiosity is if the current limitation is from the USB port(s) or from the Ai-NET plug (which is the sole source of power for this device). If it gets to me, I might have to acquire a newer drive and test!

Originally Posted by jbuck2029

FYI, it does not recognize the iPod at all, not as a USB storage device, nor as a "Premium Support" player. I am waiting to find out if this thing supports firmware upgrades and if more functionality is coming. If not, I probably wont be keeping it.

Did you try clicking "Enable Disk Use" in iTunes? That should make your iPod show up as a standard hard drive.

Originally Posted by slvbeard

Did you try clicking "Enable Disk Use" in iTunes? That should make your iPod show up as a standard hard drive.

Excellent question! And I might assume the answer is yes, because my co-worker had been using it to transport files to-and-from the house. (It was not my iPod, so I never attached it to my machine to check).

I think I will track her down and see how her iTunes has it configured.

I am not sure what file-system it uses. If I assume Fat32, as I said earlier, I don't think that is a guarantee for success (since I had to recreate it on my 20GB drive).

Originally Posted by jbuck2029

My experience is that the drive RPM is a factor. The drive I am using is only 4200 RPM, which is quite old (Date code on drive is DEC-01). I would be surprised if yours was not at least 5400 or 7200 RPM.

I believe it is a 7200RPM drive .. late model laptop drive..

Originally Posted by jbuck2029

I know you have pretty much given up on the KCA-620M, but have you tried using a USB cable with an additional "power-only" 'A' plug on it? The SABRENT cases I use come with such a cable. I am wondering if that extra "not used at this time" USB port would allow that extra bit of current draw you need. My curiosity is if the current limitation is from the USB port(s) or from the Ai-NET plug (which is the sole source of power for this device). If it gets to me, I might have to acquire a newer drive and test!

Good thinking, I didn't try that as once I read the second port was "not used at this time" I didn't bother even pulling out the bung in the port. I would be betting the current limitation is in the Ai-NET connection. I cannot do any more testing as I have returned the unit and purchased an iPod interface and iPod .. which I must say works a treat.

I have also just found out that Alpine Australia are recalling the 620's .. not sure why but when I was testing it the Alpine techs were raving about how good it was and had only tested it with an 8GB USB stick ..

Originally Posted by Sidewindr

I have also just found out that Alpine Australia are recalling the 620's .. not sure why but when I was testing it the Alpine techs were raving about how good it was and had only tested it with an 8GB USB stick ..

Interesting bit of news. I have forwarded that to my friend where I got my unit from. Seems as if waiting 8+ months was still not long enough!

[QUOTE=chuyler1;759992]A great setup from Alpine's new lineup would be:
IVA-W200 ($1100) - Double Din Head unit / DVD
KCA-620M ($160), USB adapter for mp3 playback from a disc
KCA-100BT ($220), bluetooth integration for cellphone (hands free)

Alpine has come out with all new stuff, the new ultimate setup would be
IVA-W205 1100 Double Din /DVD 7" lcd
Blackbird 200 portable navi unit that docks inside of the double din makeing navi right on the screen with the option of taking it out, called the dock and roll
no need for bluetooth, the blackbird also brings with it bluetooth when docked
KCA-620m usb adapter only drawback, 32 gigs is as big as you can get due to the fact that you have to format it in a fat32