Who here has them, and can say a bit about them? How do they function? Are they similar to all the aftermarket units out there (i.e.... full speech, reroute directions if you miss a turn, can input for destinations like restaurants and such)?? Its an awfully expensive upgrade, and Ford has not done much in the way of describing all the benefits and features of the setup. Any info would be appreciated.

 

I cannot relay any personal experience with the stock system, but in my opinion you are better off taking the same amount of money and spending it on an aftermarket unit. You can get one with much better sound and more features for less money than the stock system. My Kenwood does all of the things you mentioned above and more. I have a pic of it installed in my gallery. If you have any questions about aftermarket stuff feel free to ask otherwise I will refrain from taking this thread too far off topic.

 

It does everything that you mentioned. Like all GPS systems the maps will need to be updated as my neighborhood is not on there. Of course it is not on my Magellan either. The factory navigation works great. There are some out there that also allow you to watch a dvd movie. The factory unit does not.
When you get off course, the unit continues to reconfigue your route. The chicks voice is not bad either.

 

I agree with Beerstalker as to get an aftermarket unit, I also have kenwood navigation, but it was before the navtraffic was availabe although my xm can get it I have to upgrade to the new nav system to have it. The ford vehicles aren't going to have navtraffic as they are partnered with sirius, however most aftermarket units allow you to do either one, but I happen to like XM more and I am thinking about getting the newer nav unit so I can have navtraffic(my dad has it in his LS 460L and I like how that works). Most aftermarket units now are all touchscreen, I don't know if the Ford factory one is or isn't if it isn't then I would definately not get it as I have had one without touchscreen(Alpine) and one with(Kenwood).

 

I have the built in navigation and high end sound system.. I have used Co-Pilot for several years and the built in is a great system. My only complaint is having to press the Agree button everytime the ignition is turned on. Only thing it is missing is a hard drive to interface to a laptop. As far as the 6 CD Audiophile system. It sounds as good if not better than any stereo system I have ever heard... Definitely on the high end (list $2430 dealer cost $2017) but for what you are getting, I think it is very great setup.. Everything is built in (amps, sub woofer, 8 speakers) so works seemless....

 

Does anyone know how that input jack, located on the dash, interfaces with the head unit? That would keep me away from any aftermarket setup if it did not accept that. I LOVE that addition from Ford.

 

There is no way round that, to my knowledge they all have that and for the foreseeable future they are all going to still have that. It's just their way of covering themselves.

 

It is located on the right side of center section on the dash with the exception of F450-550 chassis cab. There is a tab (on radio display) which shows Line Input on the radio. It will accept any audio input (Ipod, etc.). It works great and sounds awesome. If you order F-450-550, it is available but does not come installed with dual fuel tanks. They put the switch for the tanks where the 1/8" input jack normally comes. I can give anyone instructions on how to get it turned on. The Line Input tab does not show up... FYI, all the super duties use the same system. This means the rear DVD, Line Input, etc. is available but not cut on from the factory in the radio.

 

To my knowledge it is audio only input, aftermarket systems have it to where you can view what your Ipod is playing so you don't have to look at the small screen(I am assuming that is what you are going to use that for, that seems to be the craze lately). Also because the interface is more sophisticated the what comes from the factory(suprisingly even the higher end vehicles only have the audio only input), you can use the radio controls to control the Ipod, don't even have to mess with the Ipod after you hook it up and start the truck. You can get radios that do this for cheaper(yes even the touchscreen screens like I have in my truck that has this function, of course it's the model that replaced mine, my didn't have it, which is fine I'm not an Ipod fan) then what I saw listed for the Ford system. Radios and affiliated accessories that come in the factory systems(particularly the big 3), seem to be behind the times, that's why I always try to get people to go aftermarket.

 

I hadn't even thought about the nav screen to be used for 'whats playing'. One of my gripes about my current F150 is that I cannot interface ANY mp3 player easily to it. When Ford lumped this factory jack in, I couldn't be happier. I have to use an FM modulator now. The direct source input is far superior sonically. If the aftermarket can provide me with an in-dash navigation, that also allows the use of that factory input.... I am SOLD!

 

No, it's not the factory input, because that will always just be audio in. The aftermarket radio will have it's own input(in the form of a usb connection(unless the even newer ones are different)). But you will be able to have navigation, alot of them even have it to where the navigation is built into the radio itself and you will just need to update the software accordingling when needed(via that same usb connection, and I believe it's the 2.0 so it's the nice and fast connection).

 

So there is no input on the back, to accept whatever connection (I assume 3.5mm) goes to the jack on the dash? I did not mean on the front. I guess I need to take a bit more time to look at the aftermarket stuff, and see whats really out there.

 

No the reason being is that kind of connection is only for audio input. The newer radios are offereing complete control of the mp3 device(more so with Ipod as that is where the current trend is). Alpine even has a single din radio that has a rotary **** similiar to the rotary used on the Ipods(that radio is specifically designed for Ipods though, with a smaller screen(still bigger then whats on the Ipod itself but smaller then a double din screen(which is the way to go) ) ). That is way most aftermarket companies have gone to the usb connection as that is similiar to how your Ipod interfaces with your computer, you just use the same cable. Also if you have a jump(or flash drive, whatever they call it) drive you can store mp3s on there and then put that into the usb port and play mp3 files right off there, more crude navigation then the Ipod, but still effective. Your not going to see stuff like that on factory radios for a good bit longer. Plus the RMS of a stock radio is anywhere from 12 to 15 amps despite it being their top of the line radio, most aftermarket companies start at 19 and go up to 22 amps(if you don't know RMS is the continous level that you can have your radio at without ruinning it, when you look at a radio and it says something like 45 x 4 channels, that 45 is the max that you can have the radio at for a short burst of music or sound).

 

Ok since we are talking more on aftermarket units I will chime in again.

If you go with aftermarket most of them offer built in DVD player, Navigation, Bluetooth phone capability, rearview camera inputs, XM or Sirius satellite radio, integrated ipod controls, RCA video and audio inputs.

Most aftermarket navigation units allow for custom locations to be saved, and are the updated maps are usually much cheaper. I beleive I have heard that updated maps from Ford run around $500. I can download new maps for my Kenwood unit directly from Garmin's website for about $100 and save it to a SD card to update my unit. I can also download lists of updated locations etc. and load them through the SD card.

I have a bluetooth add on for my stereo that works with my cell phone. Whenever I get in my truck my phone automatically pairs with the radio. If I get a call while driving the stereo pauses, starts ringing over the truck speakers, and the caller ID comes up on the screen. I can either hang up or pick up from the screen, or after a certain number of rings it will pick up for me. The callers voice is played over the truck speakers, and my voice is picked up by a microphone I mounted up by the rearview mirror. You can also dial numbers from the touchscreen or load your phonebook into the unit and just touch the contacts name to call them. I beleive Ford offers a bluetooth car kit that works with thier radio, but I think all it does is mute the radio and play the call over the speakers, and has a built in mike. No caller id, no contact lists.

Most newer aftermarket units have a USB port than can be used to play music or video files from a USB powered drive. A lot of the time this USB port can also be connected to an iPod and allow direct control of the iPod from the touchscreen. Along with also displaying the song information. Some can play and control videos from a video iPod as well.

Most aftermarket units have Audio and Video inputs. You could up a 3.5mm to RCA cable and use that to hook up any other kind of mp3 player. I doubt you can use the jack that is built into the truck with an aftermarket player, but you could probably remove it and add your own in the same location.

Do you have an iPod, or some other kind of mp3 player? If so what kind?

 

Try Coastal. It worked on the wife's nav.

http://www.coastaletech.com/BASIC_LOCKPICK.htm