J&M MP3 player

[Mercy]

I saw some posts about MP3 players but my question wasn't addressed exactly and I didn't see how to post a new question. Anyway, we just purchased a 2007 1800 Goldwing trike that came with an MP3 player. The couple we bought it from had a card in it and showed us how to operate it. I do believe she pushed the "audio" button and then used the handlebar flipper to change/advance to another song. At any rate, I am so green when it come to anything tech. I did figure out how to get music from CD's to the card but we can not get the card to play! I also read on this forum that with J&M you can't use a card over 4GB on bikes 2008 and back. We have a 2007 and I bought a 8GB card. Does this matter so much that it would keep it from even running? Please someone help us figure out how to make this thing run. I copied music in MP3 format and need to know if the button we push is audio or another button. Yes, I'm dumb....Help yourself to a big smile and then help if you can

[Big Blue UK]

Hello Mercy.
The J&M MP3 adapter is a virtual CD changer emulator, that tricks the Wing into thinking the adapter is a Honda CD changer. Like the Soundgate they are somewhat notorious for hanging (not responding to control commands). The J&M adapter comes with a 4GB memory card, but does support 8 GB cards I use one in my 2002. I do not understand how the year makes any difference, the memory card capacity support is totally down to the adapter, the Goldwing has no idea what size memory card is in the adapter because it thinks the adapter is a CD changer with 6 X 700MB, neither does the adapter, all it knows is it can only read so much info.
I do not wish to insult your intelligence but need to ask
Do you use helmet headsets, and do you understand pushing the 'AUDIO' button switches between speakers and headsets, if headsets icon is displayed, no sound will come through the speakers. push the audio button so the speaker icon and not the headset icon is displayed.

First you need to varify your MP3 tracks are on the SD card ok by playing the music files on your PC, if you already did this ok.

Insert the card into the adapter.
Select AM or FM radio, if you can hear music from the radio, push the 'CD' button.
If 'CD is not displayed or the adapter cannot be operated.
Leave the ACC or IGN on, unplug the J&M adapter, wait a few seconds then plug it back in. This will reset the adapter and should work ok. You may have to turn the IGN off and back on.

If the adapter still does not work as a CD player, you could delete some songs from the memory card and start with about 50 songs to see if you have too many songs in the root directory, and try again.

J&M do not manufacture the adapters, some early adapters may only support up to 4GB I do not know for certain, but 4GB is poor these days. If resetting the adapter does not work, copy your music onto a 4GB memory card, just in case it is a early model that for some reason supports 4GB max storage.



I have a both a Soundgate and a aftermarket (the same as J%M with a different brand label) adapters, both hang at some point, but I tend to leave the ipod plugged in and it goes flat as a pancake. The adapter will power on the ipod if off, but if flat and takes a while to charge enough to be powered on, the adapter will not power it on, I have to do it manually.

As you have chosen 8GB, a problem may be you have too many files in the root directory (copied direct to the memory card with no folders created).

How many music files (songs) are on your memory card?

I have 5 folders on my memory cards CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD6, the adapter thinks the music files copied direct to the memory card (700MB max) that are not in any of the folders are CD1, and the other folders are CD's. I use the folders as sort of playlists with different types of music in each folder (classic CD2, Rock CD3 etc) making it easier to select the type of music I want to listen to instead of scrolling through a plethora of mixed songs..

I rarely use the memory cards though because I use a ipod, I carry memory cards in the top box in case I forget the ipod.

Because the wing thinks the adapter is a CD changer, 6 folders on the memory card is like telling the Wing there are 6 CD's (that are 700MB capacity each), so the wing is not trying to read a 8000MB CD which is DVD capacity, and the Honda CD changer does not play DVD's.

Loads of music files in a single folder or directory may be ok I do not know, I have always used folders (700MB max each) because that is what I do, ipod is different (16GB), the ipod carries the capacity with ease.

I only use an ipod because my daughter offered it me if I bought her a Xbox One and a new ipad for her birthday, best dad in the world made it a bargain LOL.

[Viking]

Insert the card into the adapter.
Select AM or FM radio, if you can hear music from the radio, push the 'CD' button.
If 'CD is not displayed or the adapter cannot be operated.
Leave the ACC or IGN on, unplug the J&M adapter, wait a few seconds then plug it back in. This will reset the adapter and should work ok. You may have to turn the IGN off and back on.

Loads of music files in a single folder or directory may be ok I do not know, I have always used folders (700MB max each) because that is what I do,

As Big Blue mentioned, the method of use for the sound is 1) turn audio on and select either speaker or headset. 2) turn cd on. Now you should have music from the J&M unit.

As to memory cards and how to load your music: The newer stereo types, in the 2009 and newer US models and 2012 and newer worldwide models have different requirements and the limitations seem to be mandated by the motorcycle stereo system rather than the J&M unit. For my bike and for your bike, as best I can learn, your music must be in folders, and you can have as many as the root plus five more, called CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5 and CD6. You can have no more than 99 songs in each folder. The 700mb limit was a new one to me, but may very well be factual. I cannot get my unit to play anything larger than 2GB SD cards, so that may be a problem for you. So with the 2GB limit, I can only get 55 songs per folder including the root at a total capacity of about 333Mb per folder. Every one of these adapter units, paired to every different motorcycle seem to operate just a bit differently, go figure. Hope Big Blue's info and this info help enough to get you going.

[Mercy]

Thanks to both of you! First of all, don't apologize for thinking you've insulted my intelligence, lol. My hubby and I are genius' at our selected trades but tech gadgets/electronic is not one of them. Yup, dumb as rocks we are
After reading, it now appears that I may have transferred music to card incorrectly. I know I used MP3 format but I didn't do anything with "folders" so essentially all the music is on this one "root" you mention. I will first of all try to play the card by pushing the buttons in the order given and unplugging the adaptor if needed. When I transferred tunes from CD to the computer, while I was syncing the music it said I used 2.3 of 7.3 available GB. Maybe less, can't remember now until I go look at file again. The exact number of songs I do not know but it was like 40 CD's....800 or fewer songs.
I got no idea how to put things in folders or divide what I have in sync into folders. I sure as heck hope I don't have to start from scratch. "Ripping" the music took some time.
So....I guess I have to first check the order in which I push correct buttons, fiddle with adaptor plug and then go back to computer and see if I can understand this folder thing. UGH !!! Either of you guys making a trip through KY any time soon ???

BTW....we do not use helmet headsets and whilst pushing buttons we did notice the icon (headset) and it disappeared once but I assure you it was by accident and not because we pushed the correct button. And the MP3 tracks ARE on the card as I can play them on my PC.

[Viking]

Okay, quick lessons time. To put the songs into folders, go to the place on your PC where you ripped the songs into MP3. Right click on a blank area and choose create new folder. Name this new folder CD2. Do this again for CD3 thru CD6. Now, cut and paste songs into the CD folders till you have about 50 or so in each folder, and 50 or so still visible in the MP3 folder. Move the rest somewhere else for now. Now get to that SD card, and just simply format it. Once it is formatted, drag and drop everything from the MP3 location onto the SD card. That would give you the setup that should play. Keep in mind that with a 2007 motorcycle/stereo, you may have to go out and get a 2GB SD card, if it does not work with the 8GB you are using. I could not even use the 4GB one that J&M included with the unit, when I bought it. I had to go out and buy fairly decent name brand 2GB cards. I had a long discussion with J&M about this at the time, and again at WingDing when I went to see them. They could not specifically answer any of the questions I had, but did swap my unit for a new one because it had been glitching. I have had no problems since with the exception that a rough road will cause it to jam, and need resetting. I carry a half dozen 2GB cards filled with music, so I can go over a week without repeating music. The six "CDs" per card last about a day and a half of riding. (about 330 songs) They play in order to the last, and then start over within the same CD folder, so then I change folders. To advance or go back in your tunes (once you get it working) a quick single push up or down on the right switch, and a long press up or down changes folders. Any more questions, just ask, and I will see what else I can remember... the first thing to go is the mind, doncha know.

[Mercy]

Well mainviking, I did go to that folder and I right clicked everywhere on that page and nothing came up about folders.
We went through all the steps as directed above with ign on, FM (yes we had sound/radio/FM), pushed CD and nothing. The CD icon spins which indicates it is playing, or at least that's what it did on our old bike with CD changer. It is stuck on CD5, T1 at 2:36 minutes in. Can not toggle up or down to another CD by quick toggle or by holding it.
All I can think to do now is get a 2GB SD, or a few, and go back to where my songs are on the PC and try to transfer them again. With a 2GB card will I still need to separate into folders because I am having difficulty finding that option let alone how to do it if I find it, lol. I may have to break down and take everything to someone who knows what they are doing. Sad thing is....no one wants to do anything anymore! And I have to find someone who not only understands the MP3 player but also how to apply it to use on the Goldwing. Too bad Hondaline could not have created a 6-disc CD changer that worked for any length of time!!
We just purchased this trike yesterday. I have spent most of last night and so far this morning on the MP3 player....I'll resume my efforts this evening but right now I JUST WANT TO RIDE !!!

[Viking]

Hi... okay, first off, to make sure we are talking about the same thing, your J&M adapter is installed in the trunk, right?

To get it to start playing, if you are stuck on a spinning disk, you would need to turn off the bike, unplug the J&M adapter, then plug it back in again. If that results in the same spinning disk, then you either need a different SD card or the adapter itself is malfunctioning. Try getting just one 2GB SD card to check it out, as you do not want to be spending a bunch of money on experimentation.

You are running Windows on your PC, right? The instructions below are for Windows 7, but are the same for the other versions such as 8, 8.1 or 10.

Now, when you right click in that folder on your PC, you should get a dialog box, and about 2/3 of the way down should be the word 'new'. If you hover over new, it should give you a supporting dialog box to select 'folder'. Then if you click that, you should get the opportunity to name the folder.

[Big Blue UK]

Mercy, you remind me of a mate who came round one day to watch me mess with this kind of stuff, I gave him a notepad and there he sat taking notes. A week later he came round to say
"You know those notes I made when you were doing your MP3's"
"You have lost them"
"No, they do not make any sense, can you make a you tube video"

Viking- 2GB support from the Wings unit is unbelievable although no surprise. I chose 700mb purely because it is the capacity of a standard CDr, I figured if the Wing will recognise 6 X 700mb CDs, this seems a good limit for the MP3 root, I never got it to 700mb because of the other 5 folders masquerading as Cd's. and I do not update them as they are just for backup when I forget the ipod.

Mercy- 800 songs in the root directory, that was funny, hope you can have a laugh at this when sorted.

I am gifted when it comes to all this MP3/ipod/iphone malarkey...... I have a 15 year old daughter.

[Mercy]

Big Blue & Viking...you guys are a lot of help in explaining to me what I need to learn/look for.
We got to ride today....235 miles. Loving the new bike but it needs to be customized to "us"
Backrest, highway pegs, taller Tulsa windshield, a bit more chrome....and TUNES !!!

I have company coming tomorrow but once they are gone I will work on this subject again. I did pick up a couple of 2GB cards this evening.
Yes, Big Blue....I hope I can laugh at this soon too !!
Indeed, I have all tracks from 42 CD's on my 8GB with no separations into "folders".
Viking has faith that I can find these "folder options"....bless his heart....

Seriously, thanks to you both and I will return. I also need to post pix of our new wing !!

[Viking]

Indeed, I have all tracks from 42 CD's on my 8GB with no separations into "folders".

Do you also have them in a folder on your PC? because that is where my instructions begin.

[Mercy]

Windows 7, library, music. And that's where I went to right click and look for option to make a new folder. These songs are not in a folder but just sitting in my music. I see where I can create a playlist...but no mention of a folder.

[Viking]

Hi Mercy

Okay, I am going to PM you and send you my email address. That way we can take this off the forum.

[kevinb2u]

To share my experiences - Have used an 8MB card in 2008 GL since almost new so been a few years. Just took card out to update with new tunes over the Winter. Original poster is correct: Bike can "see" 6 CDs, 1st CD is root of card, then folders CD2 - CD6. I don't think there is any limit on file sizes / song lengths, but 99 songs per "CD" is the limit. One challenge is getting the songs in some kind of order, if you have songs in folders (and root) on PC arranged as you want, then write the entire thing at once. I have had it lock up a couple times over the years, it doesn't like you if switching up and down and around too quickly, either between tracks, CDs, or GL audio switching to FM, etc. . Otherwise works perfectly and I love it.

[DenverWinger]

One challenge is getting the songs in some kind of order

I can't speak for this unit specifically, but I've found just about every MP3 player will play the tracks in alphabetical order by filename (unless "shuffle" mode is on, then it is random)

Best way to get tracks to play in a specific order is to pre-pend a two or three digit number (i.e. 01-99) to the filename, then the tracks will play in numerical order unless using "shuffle". Not necessary to number all tracks, the numbered ones will play first in numeric order, two tracks with same number will play in alphabetical order based on the rest of the filename, then the balance un-numbered tracks will play in alphabetical order.