Originally Posted by FordmanNJ

Howdy,



Everything Alpine
Head unit ilx-509 9 inch screen.
Speakers S2S69 (Definitely an improvement over stock speakers. I was shocked how shot the stock speakers were.
Amplifier KTA450

Mastro device was from the previous Pioneer head install. My friend updated the software and firmware. Tailgate camera also was from the previous install. The head has an option for a second camera input in the front. My friend did quote it out but I couldn't see the need for the front cam. However the larger screen is great with the back up camera. It is also higher definition in general. The overall unit is quicker in function. The SXM module was suppose to transfer over. The original one I had in the truck was should have been compatible but there was an issue with connector. As he put it, he installed a new one for free since I was already spending a good chuck of change with him. According to my bil there was 7 hours of labor at Family discounted rate. However he did tell me he spent about an extra hour and a quarter tweaking things. Making sure they sound good.

The Pioneer head was a 2016/17 close out.AVH2300 NEX. Worked great. it was a7 inch screen lower definition. As a matter of fact, I had it installed into my daughter's car. He installed the dash kit, new SW interface/wiring harness. Wired up the dash front/ back facing camera set up and installed a new backup camera. Basically gave my daughter's 2008 Focus a more modern function. He was like you got more in parts than labor on this one! It was $400 or 450 in parts but I think he charged me I think 1.5 hours of labor for everything. I know i was able to get some items for cheaper but if there is a problem it is my problem not his. So it was worth the extra money plus he did work on the vehicle for a few hours.

Originally Posted by FordmanNJ

My 2016 XLT had regular/ original Sync in a AM/FM/CD with SXM double Din radio. My daughter's Focus had Sync as well. She actually used it for a few weeks! Ironically when my mom owned the car she never used it and didn't want it set up. Same as their 08 Explorer. It has a AM/FM SXM and CD with Sync. Both mom and dad had no desire for it. My daughter when she got the car, it was like the first thing she figured out was how to get streaming music out of the speakers.

One of my ex bosses had a 2012 Explorer with had Sync 2 which was horrendous. Sure he was able to connect his phone but that was about it. His wife's 2016 MY was the same thing. Horrible interface. They both drove with the phone in their lap watching it for directions with those explorers. Then he got rid of the 2012 bought the F150 which had Sync 3. At least the interface was usable with google maps. When they bought the T350 van an entertainment interface was a huge selling point. It had to be driver friendly for all the travelling we did. All company phones had to be synced to every vehicle with Sync 3. I don't know anything about Sync 4. Just it is not backwards compatible unless things changed.

With my truck I had the head pulled within 3 months of owning the truck. I missed having a BU cam and well a more graphical head unit. I figured I moved out of the 1990s with my vehicle's entertainment. Which also means I use my AM/FM radio from time to time. It is pretty weird to not listen to a streaming or Satellite platform. Interestingly enough my first car was a mid 80s GM G body. It only had a AM/FM with a bad tape deck radio in it. My father came across an aftermarket radio with a working cassette deck and a quick swap out later, I was high rolling with a car that had cat back cherry bomb exhaust and a 5 cassettes in which 3 of them were mixed off CDs. A couple of years later, I purchased an 87 Bronco a couple of months before Christmas. I got a Sony CD player that Christmas. I thought that was a big thing since since I only had about 20 cassettes between the cars. For years and I still have the CD binder I think in my trailer now of a whole 30 CDs in it. I look back on it now saying how lucky i was to have 7 to 10 cassettes and a radio for entertainment getting to places like school, work and other places. Then getting a CD player. Finally getting mind blown with a Sat radio and MP3 player off a phone to now having 3000 songs on my iphone, "as long as I have service" streaming service like Apple Music. To have an instant library of any genre of music, playlist, and everything in between, my 17 year old self would have said you were crazy. I started the whole phone thing in 2013 when I took a field tech job which put me on the road for hours at a time getting from place to place. So I learned to load the phone with music and used Pandora at the time for streaming.

It's crazy since the aftermarket is still relevant. I was to have the original radio replaced with a better interface. Could I have been able to use the original radio in the truck. Yes. However, would it be harder to use. Yes. At this point I could still plug in a USb drive and have Mp3 files playing. My new Alpine head doesn't have a CD player. However do i really need it? I have not had a CD binder in my trucks in nearly 2 decades. As a matter of fact, I had a DVD binder in my second explorer since it had rear entertainment. For 6 months, Finding Nemo was stuck in the player until one day it decided to eject the disc. Strange enough my wife will use her CD player in her car every so often. My CRV doesn't have a CD player. So come to think about it, I can't remember the last time I used a CD in a vehicle. Anyway I digress...

Sorry to take it down a rabbit hole. It use to be about what media can I play to now I need to have an interface to stream a podcast or play my favorite artist or having a better more user vehicle interface. Maybe in some ways it was easier to pop in a tape, CD or adjust the radio and drive down the road. Drive down the road until the FM station fades away or the CD plays its last track. How did we really do it?

Originally Posted by Overkill2

Like stated, I had an Alpine stereo and speakers installed in my old 96... they made good stuff my recollection...



The only problem I see is that if I go to an aftermarket unit, I'd lose the ability to control my heated/cooled seats in my Lariat truck. I am leaning towards the Sync 3 conversion... do not believe they make a Sync 4 conversion for my 16 F350 unfortunately.

I still have a book of CDs in my truck... but usually listen to Sirius XM or AM talk radio... yeah. I'm still old school. And the Sirius XM app is actually better than their vehicle application because there are channels on the app they don't have on the vehicle radio which sux...

Appreciate your well thought out posts.

More later...

Originally Posted by rvpuller

I successfully converter over to Sync 3 in my 2013 F350. I found and used a company called Four Synctech out of Florida and it's all US based and uses OEM parts. I ordered it Thursday and received it Saturday so shipping was fast. The only installation problem I had was getting the brake controller to line up with its support when putting the cover back on. Everything was programmed properly so everything works including Android Auto. I just have some display setting to find tune. Total price was $531 with a 10% discount they were offering.

Denny

Originally Posted by rvpuller

I'm like you I wanted all my existing functions that my Lariat had plus a few more. We use our truck to pull our trailer cross country so we like our creature comforts . Now I can install our right side kick panel the way it's supposed to be because I won't be pulling fuse #29 every time I turn around. I'm going to play with Android Auto some more but traveling in the Southwest there are a lot of places that don't have great cell service so we will rely on Sirius radio and trucks nav system.
When I was shopping some of the ones on Amazon were tempting because of price but when contacting them with question's I couldn't get any straight answers and warranties were short or didn't exist, what we bought had a 3 year warranty and if you contact them they get right back to you.

Denny

Originally Posted by Overkill2

Whoa... did not go back far enough to see this... thanks for posting up... I'll check them out, Denny...



And it's working good then?? Have any pics of the screen, if you don't mind? Would be great... thanks

Originally Posted by rvpuller

Yes it's working great, I have one in my F150 at home but it's a XLT so it has fewer options but it's the same but fewer options.
I getting we some strange lines from the sun screen and reflection from the back window, we are in Sunny Yuma AZ. The nav looks empty because it's facing the back wall of the park and the other side is dessert. The middle one in night mode.
Denny

Originally Posted by Overkill2

I looked into those guys, based out of FLA and shot them a message from their website. Very quick to respond. 3 year warranty and actual English speaking folks to talk to.

I am more than likely going to go with these guys with a Sync 4 screen upgrade -- almost double the resolution.

I am staying OEM because of the butt warmers my truck has and is controlled via the factory Sync screen. Plus it also reads the temp of the heat for both driver and passenger.

But I could definitely see going aftermarket for a lower trim truck without the big 8 inch screen.