How to use Audio unit's Hard Disk Drive Media Storage?

[DukeCanBuildit]

I use an old 3g, have been using it as my IPod for years since my IPod classic died.
I am looking into a way to tap into the back of the Media Hub and extend a third USB port into the glovebox vs using one port and cabled into the glovebox, hidden except for the visible cord.
The problem is finding a data (y) connector or adapter that will work and keep the existing (2) ports open.
I will possibly have to splice something in, I would rather just find an adapter to do it but I have searched (not in-depth) for an option, no luck .
It’s not a big deal , just one of those things on my list of (want’s) and can it be done without errors

I use the USB port on the back of the console (SuperCab) and route the cable into the console and toss my phone inside so I can use Siri hands free for text messages or calls. Having a USB port inside the console would be great - I think someone on here reversed theirs so they pointed into the console.

Oh yeah, any idea why voice directions on Google maps are muted when I connect wirelessly?

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[airline tech]

I use the USB port on the back of the console (SuperCab) and route the cable into the console and toss my phone inside so I can use Siri hands free for text messages or calls. Having a USB port inside the console would be great - I think someone on here reversed theirs so they pointed into the console.

Oh yeah, any idea why voice directions on Google maps are muted when I connect wirelessly?

Try This:
Launch Google Maps on your phone. Then Account - Settings - Navigation settings.
Make sure the Play Voice over Bluetooth feature is enabled.

I use the Sync-Nav, but I think this setting may need set.

 

[DonovanJM]

My point is that he DOESN'T have ACC. He has whatever tech package (301A? 302A? I don't remember) my 2019 has that used to have the front parking sensors in 2019 but didn't when he bought his. But that didn't stop his idiot dealer from telling him he had it. I even pointed out his lack of a radar unit.

I guess my point is that he can't have any tech package then. The Ranger has the 500A base pack and the 501A high pack. The 501A comes with ACC and any tech pack on the 500A has ACC. So it sounds like he has the base Lariat. The pessimist in me is thinking the salesman lied to your father.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Try This:
Launch Google Maps on your phone. Then Account - Settings - Navigation settings.
Make sure the Play Voice over Bluetooth feature is enabled.

I use the Sync-Nav, but I think this setting may need set.

Thanks - that’s already enabled but I’ll activate “Play as Bluetooth phone call” and see if that makes a difference.

 

[mtbikernate]

I guess my point is that he can't have any tech package then. The Ranger has the 500A base pack and the 501A high pack. The 501A comes with ACC and any tech pack on the 500A has ACC. So it sounds like he has the base Lariat. The pessimist in me is thinking the salesman lied to your father.

what? he has an XLT FX4. base package on the XLT is 300A. I don't know what the differences between 301A, 302A, and the "tech package" are, but those are options for that truck. he's got the Sync3 infotainment screen. but not built-in nav. no front parking sensors. no ACC.

mine is a 2019, and looking at my window sticker, I have 302A (among a few other things) on my XLT 4x4, and I have front parking sensors, also no ACC, also no built-in nav.

 

[Grandaccess]

spoken by someone who's never out of cell reception long enough for streaming services to run out of buffered content.

which is fine. but there's absolutely still a place for stored music.

I have been, but it downloads your playlist to your phone in a listen offline mode

 

[Grandaccess]

I'm not interested in paying Google for YT Premium. Or paying Spotify. Or paying Pandora.

Or dealing with dead reception areas (as @mtbikernate notes).

Since I already have my large collection of CDs ripped into MP3 format a thumb drive works well for me (and costs me virtually nothing). The only issue I've encountered is Ford's nanny system making it difficult to select MP3 music while driving....

If the issue is MP3 sound quality, well, being a partially deaf tanker means I'm long past hearing any lost audio quality....

So, to each his/her own, right? Yay for choices!

I dont just pay for Y/T for the music service that was an after thought, you dont need to pay for it you just get an ad every few songs, I pay for it because I am am on youtube a few hours a day
you can also download to listen off line, there may be a diffeance in quality but I cant tell from my ripped CDs to YTMusic?

 

[DonovanJM]

what? he has an XLT FX4. base package on the XLT is 300A. I don't know what the differences between 301A, 302A, and the "tech package" are, but those are options for that truck. he's got the Sync3 infotainment screen. but not built-in nav. no front parking sensors. no ACC.

mine is a 2019, and looking at my window sticker, I have 302A (among a few other things) on my XLT 4x4, and I have front parking sensors, also no ACC, also no built-in nav.

Ahh, man my bad. I somehow got you confused with the original poster who posted his Dad had a Lariat with the 501 package.

 

[mtbikernate]

Ahh, man my bad. I somehow got you confused with the original poster who posted his Dad had a Lariat with the 501 package.

yeah, no. I was just wondering if it was another case of salesmen full of $hit, similar to my dad's situation.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Hi all, my elderly dad has the 2021 Lariat with the top audio unit (501A equipment group) that has the "Hard Disk Drive Media Storage" and I'd like to put some music on it for him. Does anyone have a resource on how this internal storage works, since I don't have regular access to his truck and I want to research how to do it first? I've done a lot of googling but I can't find anything. I don't even see a reference to the Hard Disk Drive Media Storage in the online manuals. For the record I am NOT asking about how to use an external USB drive. Thanks!

Just circling back to this for you because I believe I have an answer for you - there is a 20GB hard drive that is in the truck for the Sync3 firmware, and the unit is just big enough to be able to download and install updates, etc. I'm not sure where you saw it described as "media storage" but it's possible it was mistranslated from somewhere else because it is technically storage for the "media player"? I dunno man that's a WAG on my part. End of the day it's not there for us - it's there for Ford.

Hope this clears up the hard drive question at least. Best place to store media is on a connected phone/device or external USB still.

 

[PltFX4]

Fun fact! The "HD" in HD Radio does not stand for hi- definition, it stands for "hybrid digital", which is roughly how they can get 3 or so different signals from one frequency

Learned that from my Radio Shack days working with an engineer who specialized in that stuff

Hummm... it could... per Crutchfield What you need to know about HD Radio®

Confusing when the same abbreviation is used for two different things.

 

[Rangerinator]

Just circling back to this for you because I believe I have an answer for you - there is a 20GB hard drive that is in the truck for the Sync3 firmware, and the unit is just big enough to be able to download and install updates, etc. I'm not sure where you saw it described as "media storage" but it's possible it was mistranslated from somewhere else because it is technically storage for the "media player"? I dunno man that's a WAG on my part.

Hope this clears up the hard drive question at least. Best place to store media is on a connected phone/device or external USB still.

Thanks, I'll see my dad's truck and manual tomorrow and follow up.

 

[TechEditor]

Depends on what package he has.
Not all Rangers have auto cruise control, but all Rangers have Pre-collision detection with auto emergency braking.

Late 2022, Have Pre-colliision detection (the red lights on the dash) but no auto emergency braking. No sensors up front. Just where they would plug in.

 

[Jason B]

Late 2022, Have Pre-colliision detection (the red lights on the dash) but no auto emergency braking. No sensors up front. Just where they would plug in.

Actually, you do have AEB. It uses the camera on the windshield behind the rearview mirror, same as the pre-collision detector.
It's a standard feature on just about every newer Ford vehicle, and the reason for the kerfuffle with adding a trailer brake controller.

 

[Sojourner]

...the reason for the kerfuffle with adding a trailer brake controller.

Soon as the weather turns a bit nicer I was going to install the TBC. Thought I had read that it was pretty straightforward. Watched an install video that seemed to confirm that.

What then would the kerfuffle be? May I ask you - when you have a moment - to point me to some threads (or the like)?

Thanks, in advance.

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