RADIO question
New User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Richmond,VA
Hi Guys,
RDS stands for Radio Data System
This technology allows stations to transmit additional types of information via encoded digital signals that can be received and displayed by the user's Radio. For instance: an RDS-capable Radio can display the title and artist or current song playing, local traffic information, an advertiser's phone number while a commercial is playing, etc.
My other cars all seem to have this service without having to set it up, I never tried it on my 04 F 150 with single CD. I guess I will have to try it.
RDS stands for Radio Data System
This technology allows stations to transmit additional types of information via encoded digital signals that can be received and displayed by the user's Radio. For instance: an RDS-capable Radio can display the title and artist or current song playing, local traffic information, an advertiser's phone number while a commercial is playing, etc.
My other cars all seem to have this service without having to set it up, I never tried it on my 04 F 150 with single CD. I guess I will have to try it.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Originally Posted by HotLap
I think most of you do have RDS......what you have to do is turn on the key with the radio playing and hold down the Menu botton for seveal seconds....don't scroll through it like you usually would to change bass, treble,etc. but hold it down. Then your Traffic seek, and RDS options will come up. To adjust the RDS feature you need to use the CD up/down arrow buttons - not the seek buttons.
Took me the longest time to discover the RDS function on my '05 Mustang GT "Shaker 500" stereo - my Lincoln LS actually had an RDS button in the radio faceplate..........
Took me the longest time to discover the RDS function on my '05 Mustang GT "Shaker 500" stereo - my Lincoln LS actually had an RDS button in the radio faceplate..........
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: 1000 Oaks, CA
Originally Posted by rack04
I couldn't get this to work on my 6 disc In-Dash CD Changer.
Another question.....in the Menu scroll mode (bass, treble, etc.) do you have an "Ambience" mode?
Junior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Ruckus
Does anyone know what the AUX button is for?It is located beside the Menu button?Thanks!
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Yea 2 months in my 2005 screw and the 6 disk head unit is rated poorly by me! MP3
part of is jitters like a scared cat and no AUX hookup for a real MP3 player ....
I'm getting a new unit ASAP... Ford kinda screwed us on this unit!
Good News the unit is going for a good price on EBAY ... SELL SELL SELL!
part of is jitters like a scared cat and no AUX hookup for a real MP3 player ....
I'm getting a new unit ASAP... Ford kinda screwed us on this unit!
Good News the unit is going for a good price on EBAY ... SELL SELL SELL!
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
A big Thanks to Hotlap 
for explaining how to turn on the RDS mode! I kept looking for it by scrolling in the menu and gave up. My 03 Expedition had it that way. By doing it the way you described it worked the first time!! 
for explaining how to turn on the RDS mode! I kept looking for it by scrolling in the menu and gave up. My 03 Expedition had it that way. By doing it the way you described it worked the first time!!
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Rosemount,MN
so rds is on the non-audiophile 6 disc units when I hold down the MENU button it just scrolls through the menu options
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: 1000 Oaks, CA
Originally Posted by MrFred
A big Thanks to Hotlap for explaining how to turn on the RDS mode! I kept looking for it by scrolling in the menu and gave up. My 03 Expedition had it that way. By doing it the way you described it worked the first time!!
for explaining how to turn on the RDS mode! I kept looking for it by scrolling in the menu and gave up. My 03 Expedition had it that way. By doing it the way you described it worked the first time!! Mr Fred - glad to be of help - this forum is a great place with many helpful members.......kind of funny about some of the "stealth" changes that manufacturers make between years.....we typically assume that if the radio looks the same then it must function the same and tend to just scan through the OM and miss the changes......I'm still bewildered about the "Ambience" mode in the Menu selections on my 6 CD HU.....I've never seen this feature on Ford radio's B4 and the OM doesn't mention it anywhere.....still trying to figure out what it does - can't really tell a sound diff.....I wonder if this is a similar feature as my LS had for the "Concert Hall", "Stadium", "Studio", etc. selections????
Junior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Ruckus
dgoetz, I kinda thought something of the sorts.Thanks for responding, I appreciate it.Thanks Again!
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Originally Posted by bulletbaby
so rds is on the non-audiophile 6 disc units when I hold down the MENU button it just scrolls through the menu options
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: 1000 Oaks, CA
This is getting stranger by the post.....my brother's "Preimum 6 CD w/mp3 HU and the Audiophile option added is different than my "Audiophile 6 CD w/no MP3" as well. Both of our systems have the "audiophile option" but I had thought that was only the addition of the factory sub.....my brothers HU looks just like the Shaker 500 HU in my '05 Mustang GT - with the "CD6/mp3" lettering on the HU itself - and mine has no lettering on it at all - and yet is a 6CD and mine has the "ambience" feature while his does not. I have the RDS feature (by holding down the Menu button several seconds) on my Mustang and F-150 - even though they appear to be different HU's???? I was assuming that anyone with a 6 CD (non lettered) HU would have the same functionality as mine?????
Originally Posted by rack04
I wasn't able to get this to work my my 6 disc in-dash cd changer, non audiophile.