Anyone know if both modules are required for cell phone starting? Right now the cheapest I've found is $311 for the RMU and $131 for the VSS. The pages are also turning up that it's a discontinued item and I'm sure that's going to become more common.
I've done this install on a 2016, but that was last February and I don't recall all of the details.

 

I got them both straight from Bobby with $275. You need a phone and it's $50 per year

 

I had it on my last truck. Bought from Banner and self installed. But Bobby hasn't gotten back to me. I don't really care about the shock alarm if it's not needed. Just wondering if I can get the remote phone start with the RMU.

 

You need both

 

I couldn't recall from the last go round.
After inquiring again a short time ago Banner did get back to me. As we know, Bobby Russo handles this type of thing. I was directed to his voicemail so hoping he gets back to me and they still have the parts in stock. The modules will only become scarcer as time goes on.

 

Not sure about the other experiences people have posted with Banner and Bobby, but I can tell you personally that FedEx dropped off my kit today the 29th. Purchased the 27th from Banner/Bobby on eBay.
Can't wait to get it installed and activated at this point! VSS perimeter plus module, remote access module and OBD harness for 2017 F150

 

2017 Ford F150 XLT

Per my last post, I installed the modules last night and the VSS was working properly and the RMU was lit up.
I called Bobby at Banner this morning and left a message. Banner is in LA & I'm in IL.
He got back to me right away, I gave him my SIM #, he activated and tested remotely while I watched out my shop window -ALL IS GOOD!
I can't say enough great things about this transaction and the way it went with Bobby Russo and Banner.
Round trip from purchase from Banner , to shipped , installed and activated--November 27th to November 30th @10:30am CST.
From where I stand, I can DEFINITELY recommend them if you're looking for something like this.
Based on other forum posts, it sounds like you'll have to hurry as the RMU units are getting scarce and Ford's site shows them as no longer available.
Cheers!

 

I'm glad that you had a good experience. I did also when I bought and installed these parts from Banner on my 2016.
This time, not so much. No email replies. Finally another parts person called me. He told me that Bobby handles all this type stuff and transferred my call to Bobby's extension. That's where it ended. I got the voicemail and left all of my contact information. 3 days later, nothing.
Part have been ordered elsewhere, looks like I move on without Bobby's help on this one.

 

That's a bummer. Hopefully you'll have a better experience with the new seller you've chosen.
I did find that there were a couple of Bobbys there at Banner and at first I was sent to Bobby Lombardo's extension/ voicemail last night.
Found out it was Bobby Russo that does the internet sales and activations like this.
It's crazy how the availability of the RMU has just dried up just recently and Ford just stopped supplying the modules and noted as such on their site in the past couple of weeks.
It's also kind of bogus how Ford is leaving a whole group of new vehicle owners in limbo with the transition from this to the Ford Pass-Ford Connect products.
They really dropped the ball educating their sales team and dealerships about Ford Pass. I'm sure I'm not the only one that was told they'd be able to use the remote with the app.
I called my salesman last week at the dealership I bought my truck from and lit him up about this. For the record I was polite and cordial in the first couple of calls when I called him to point out his error
and to find out what my options were at this point. Second and last vehicle I be purchasing there because of the indifference the salesman showed when I originally called him to find out what my options were.
When I called Ford customer service last week about this , I was transferred over to another department that I believe was the Audiovox company.
I'm assuming they made the modules for Ford and I'm thinking if they see there is still a demand, they may continue to produce these outside of the Ford branding.
We'll see what's next I guess.
Good news (for me at least) is I was able to get in on the tail end before it got to this point with the RMU availability.
and also subscribe and all of the features work in the app. I like the fact that you can get alarm triggers sent to your smartphone.
I was able to set of the shock sensor and received both a text and email within seconds that the shock sensor was triggered.
I put a Viper 5901 on my last truck, (2007 F150 XLT SCREW) which I liked and it had great two way range.
I didn't install the smartphone module at the time on the Viper because I just didn't think I needed or wanted it.
It was another $100 on top of the Viper back then plus a subscription.
But on this truck since I bought it new and the autostart and perimeter alarm were already on the truck,
I didn't want to lose the functionality with the Ford keyfobs and the integrated modules.
Plus it was a probably couple hundred dollars cheaper to do it this way in the longrun than starting over with the Viper.

Good luck with your purchase and install! Enjoy the holidays!

 

Which cellular carrier does this system run on? I hope it is AT&T or Verizon, otherwise it would not be worth 50 per year for the service.

 

It piggy backs on AT&T.

 

Not sure I understand this. I've only had Verizon since they came into existence for cell service.
With my last truck the Ford remote start app worked. So I assume this doesn't mean that you have to have AT&T for your mobile service provider for this all to work.

 

I did get Bobby Russo's voicemail. But my call was never returned. Very disappointed after my good experience the first time.
The new modules should be delivered this week sometime. The RMU is coming from Tasca Ford in Rhode Island. They now inform me (after the transaction) that I'll have a SIM card number but they don't have the software to activate the module.
So Tasca will be getting a crap feedback from me over this deal. Guess I should have posed that question before buying. But they only had one left (at a good price) and these are getting hard to come by. So I jumped on it. At this moment there are 2 left on ebay from a different dealer at almost twice what I paid.
Fortunately Fairway Ford in Ohio just replied to my email. They'll help me out when the module arrives. I originally tried to buy from Fairway, but with the modules being discontinued they had none in stock.
The VSS is coming from Lasco Ford, a random place that I found by searching the part number.

 

Doesn't matter what provider your cell phone is on, the RMU unit for Remote Access talks primarily to AT&T towers. It's like texting your buddy from your Verizon phone to his AT&T phone. It still communicates just the same.

If you're in an area that has no or very poor AT&T service, then Remote Access won't work, regardless of what service your cell phone has.

 

Unfortunately it sounds like you talked to someone who has no clue how to activate Remote Access.

Every dealership has access to get to the activation site. There is no "software" for them to download or have loaded on their system. If they have internet and a service dept Ford dealer login, they all have the same access to the activation site to turn on your RMU and generate a PIN.