3.5mm to USB Cable - 2017 Expedition

[17LimitedExpy]

I have a portable satellite radio I use in multiple vehicles and am running into a connection issue.

Who has used/is using a 3.5mm audio jack to USB cable in their 2015-2017 Expedition? The satellite radio has a 3.5 mm audio jack output and I want to connect it to one of the USB plugs in the center console.

I've tried a few cables, but I either get the "This USB device not supported" or nothing/it doesn't recognize I have anything connected. I have Sync 3 with the most current update and my Expy only has the 2 USB connections in the center console...it does not have the 3.5mm aux input.

 

[Plati]

I saw this adapter the other day and it seemed odd to me since the 3.5mm audio jack is historically an analog signal cable (and USB is digital). But I guess you could send digital data over the resulting cable connection, its just a cable, assuming it has the correct number of wires and electrical properties. They both have 4 "wires". But why put a USB device on a non usb cable and plug type? Thats one of the points of a USB connector, only used for USB, both ends conform to USB.

http://connector.pinoutguide.com/4_pin_3.5mm_2.5mm_plug/

https://www.electroschematics.com/4856/usb-how-things-work/

Just because you can plug it in doesnt mean it will work, both ends have to be compatable with each other which means the portable satellite radio has to be a valid USB device on that 3.5mm connection. There is a very specific USB protocol that both ends of the cable need to conform to.

https://www.lifewire.com/usb-to-aux-cable-in-car-audio-3986249

My guess is the portable satellite radio 3.5 mm jack is a standard analog audio connection and the other vehicles you use it in have standard analog audio "ports" to plug devices into? Do you plug that radio into USB ports on other vehicles?

I'm not claiming to understand this ... I dont

Looks like Apple did this on the iPod to have one connector (3.5mm jack) that can be used for both headphones for audio AND also as a USB port. To save space and not have to have an additional USB connector. BUT they included circuitry to make it work as either and to know which was connected?

 

[mquick5]

I don't understand why some models have a aux port while others do not. My Expy has the 3.5 as well as usb in center console.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[17LimitedExpy]

I saw this adapter the other day and it seemed odd to me since the 3.5mm audio jack is historically an analog signal cable (and USB is digital). But I guess you could send digital data over the resulting cable connection, its just a cable, assuming it has the correct number of wires and electrical properties. They both have 4 "wires". But why put a USB device on a non usb cable and plug type? Thats one of the points of a USB connector, only used for USB, both ends conform to USB.

http://connector.pinoutguide.com/4_pin_3.5mm_2.5mm_plug/

https://www.electroschematics.com/4856/usb-how-things-work/

Just because you can plug it in doesnt mean it will work, both ends have to be compatable with each other which means the portable satellite radio has to be a valid USB device on that 3.5mm connection. There is a very specific USB protocol that both ends of the cable need to conform to.

https://www.lifewire.com/usb-to-aux-cable-in-car-audio-3986249

My guess is the portable satellite radio 3.5 mm jack is a standard analog audio connection and the other vehicles you use it in have standard analog audio "ports" to plug devices into? Do you plug that radio into USB ports on other vehicles?

I'm not claiming to understand this ... I dont

Looks like Apple did this on the iPod to have one connector (3.5mm jack) that can be used for both headphones for audio AND also as a USB port. To save space and not have to have an additional USB connector. BUT they included circuitry to make it work as either and to know which was connected?

Yes, the other vehicles I use this satellite radio in have Aux Inputs...which is a simple cord to plug in.

Only having USB inputs make it very difficult to plug in a simple 3.5mm output.

 

[17LimitedExpy]

I don't understand why some models have a aux port while others do not. My Expy has the 3.5 as well as usb in center console.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

It is odd, but it appears on a few factors...production date, options installed, etc. For you I think you have the best of both worlds