Ford Navigation Subscription?!

[Frenchy]

OK, someone fill me in. 2019, and I use navigation when I travel. Never an issue. What is this about paying for navigation subscription?

Since you have a 2019, it more comes down to paying SiriusXM for Traffic and/or Travel Link. Thankfully you still have Sync 3 and can use the GPS as normal even without the SiriusXM Subscription(though it is much cheaper than what Ford is offering on Sync 4).

For Sync 4 you have to pay Ford a Monthly Subscription to even use the GPS. At best you can use it to get an idea where you are, but that's it.

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[ControlNode]

I wish once Ford gives up on Sync3 updates they would give the source code out so the community can continue to work with it. One bug in my Ranger that drives me nuts is that while using navigation (Waze) and listening to music or audio book, it doesn't return the music/book audio volume to the original value (18-19) after a navigation audio prompt. In the Focus RS it works fine, it's only in the Ranger that this happens.

 

[Tom_C]

OT, sort of. With smart phone apps (waze, google, apple maps) does it display to the dash screen, or are you just displaying on your phones?

I have never played with any of those apps, and typically the built in NAV works for me, but sometimes it's not correct, or a bit clunky to use.

 

[got3fords]

I wish once Ford gives up on Sync3 updates they would give the source code out so the community can continue to work with it. One bug in my Ranger that drives me nuts is that while using navigation (Waze) and listening to music or audio book, it doesn't return the music/book audio volume to the original value (18-19) after a navigation audio prompt. In the Focus RS it works fine, it's only in the Ranger that this happens.

Yes, this bugs the crap out of me. It's just stupid!

 

[Motorpsychology]

I don't understand why people would use/buy subscription for nav when it's free on apps...I run Waze and Googlemaps on the same screen the factory nav uses...

AFIK, the factory nav does not require a cellular signal for the nav portion, only for traffic. Phone apps have come along way in the last 5 years and update far more frequently and at no charge. But, some folks want their vehicles all OEM; in our case Motorcraft parts & acc., Quick Lane service, Ford Nav. subscription.

 

[Motorpsychology]

OT, sort of. With smart phone apps (waze, google, apple maps) does it display to the dash screen, or are you just displaying on your phones?

I have never played with any of those apps, and typically the built in NAV works for me, but sometimes it's not correct, or a bit clunky to use.

Yes Google Maps, AppleMaps etc mirror the phone's display and work seamlessly as long as you have strong enough signal. Even with weak or no signal the phone's internal gps will continue to plot your progress even if the map display is lost.

When using Apple Car Play or Android apps, you must enable those in your phone's settings to have them display your apps on your vehicle's screen.

 

[Frenchy]

AFIK, the factory nav does not require a cellular signal for the nav portion, only for traffic. Phone apps have come along way in the last 5 years and update far more frequently and at no charge. But, some folks want their vehicles all OEM; in our case Motorcraft parts & acc., Quick Lane service, Ford Nav. subscription.

Keep in mind that you also have to rely on the interface for Android Auto and Apple Car Play to actually work. I have run into it not always wanting to connect or stay connected even with my new phone and the Transit i have from my work. It's part of why I like the Garmin GPS Platform more than anything and it provides lifetime updates. The traffic will depend on the unit. The Tread series requires the phone to work. Others simply have it built in.

 

[ControlNode]

Yes Google Maps, AppleMaps etc mirror the phone's display and work seamlessly as long as you have strong enough signal. Even with weak or no signal the phone's internal gps will continue to plot your progress even if the map display is lost.

When using Apple Car Play or Android apps, you must enable those in your phone's settings to have them display your apps on your vehicle's screen.

On the signal part, that depends, some apps allow you to download offline maps, I know Google Maps does, so even in no cell/wifi coverage areas you are good to go. When I go to the mountains of NC I switch from using Waze that requires internet to using Google Maps for this reason.

 

[Motorpsychology]

I have a Garmin Zumo XT that I use on my bike and in the Ranger when off-road especially in the MN Arrowhead region. In some areas, It will show a road where obviously there are younger trees and thick underbrush; couldn't go through without a chainsaw and a machete. Other times it can show the road I'm on, then the displayed road veers off while I am on the real road, and joins up with reality again; weak GPS signal maybe, or the map needs updating.
I wonder if Garmin's cartography folks are using outdated arial photos showing USFS/ logging roads that no longer exist?

 

[Frenchy]

I have a Garmin Zumo XT that I use on my bike and in the Ranger when off-road especially in the MN Arrowhead region. In some areas, It will show a road where obviously there are younger trees and thick underbrush; couldn't go through without a chainsaw and a machete. Other times it can show the road I'm on, then the displayed road veers off while I am on the real road, and joins up with reality again; weak GPS signal maybe, or the map needs updating.
I wonder if Garmin's cartography folks are using outdated arial photos showing USFS/ logging roads that no longer exist?

Most likely wrong outdated maps for this one as I have noticed similar with my Garmin Tread Overland

 

[RedlandRanger]

I have a Garmin Zumo XT that I use on my bike and in the Ranger when off-road especially in the MN Arrowhead region. In some areas, It will show a road where obviously there are younger trees and thick underbrush; couldn't go through without a chainsaw and a machete. Other times it can show the road I'm on, then the displayed road veers off while I am on the real road, and joins up with reality again; weak GPS signal maybe, or the map needs updating.
I wonder if Garmin's cartography folks are using outdated arial photos showing USFS/ logging roads that no longer exist?

If I've learned one thing in my years hiking and looking at tons of maps it is that every single map has mistakes. The most glaring example I have seen is a trail that has appeared on many maps for probably 30+ years. It was a proposal that got started many years ago - they did some initial recon to scout a route but nothing ever got built. But the trail still appears on maps even today. There are lots of things like that. I've seen roads that appear on maps that the corridor was cleared but the road was never built, and I've seen roads that don't even appear on the maps. So maps - especially when it comes to man made things (trails, roads, etc) are at best an approximation of what is there. When it comes to topography and things like that, they are generally very good, but even there I've found that the topo lines on a map do not match conditions on the ground occasionally.

 

[Bkfore]

Is there an new Sync 3 or Nav maps updates for the Sync 3?? Last one I saw was at least a year ago and maps more like 2 years. The Ford site ever tells you what version you can/are downloading.

PS: Talked to Ford Sync Help line... NA 2 24 maps are out. Sync3 is still at 3.4 build 21388. I guessing this will be the end of updates for Sync3; maps may be continues but at $109 (currently) per update.

I purchased the "lifetime" map updates for $109 in 2019. Found out the first update meant I could buy updates for $40, not free. The nav is one thing I have really enjoyed on the Ranger. After a year of running Google maps side by side with the Ford map, I now just use the Ford nav and really like the large screen map.
Worked great until a couple weeks ago when in the middle of Orlando it suddenly showed me in the middle of a lake trying to get me to take a u turn. A soft reset once we arrived (after scrambling to set up the phone) seemed to correct the issue for the ride home, but decided to bite the bullet and buy the Ford update.
I had skipped the last update as it didn'tseem worth the effort. This update took 2 hours and 41 min to complete. Completed lots of errands with the wife and took the dog for a long ride, but that is SO much longer than the 1 hour it says on the package.

 

[RangerBill]

I purchased the "lifetime" map updates for $109 in 2019. Found out the first update meant I could buy updates for $40, not free. The nav is one thing I have really enjoyed on the Ranger. After a year of running Google maps side by side with the Ford map, I now just use the Ford nav and really like the large screen map.
Worked great until a couple weeks ago when in the middle of Orlando it suddenly showed me in the middle of a lake trying to get me to take a u turn. A soft reset once we arrived (after scrambling to set up the phone) seemed to correct the issue for the ride home, but decided to bite the bullet and buy the Ford update.
I had skipped the last update as it didn'tseem worth the effort. This update took 2 hours and 41 min to complete. Completed lots of errands with the wife and took the dog for a long ride, but that is SO much longer than the 1 hour it says on the package.

If you put a 10 amp battery charger on the battery, you can do the updates without running the engine. You still have to turn off auto engine off in the dash menu to keep the accessory mode on.

 

[5thranger]

I never use the factory Nav and use either Google Maps or Apple Maps. They update regularly and there's no charges and personally I feel they're much better than most factory Nav. These subscriptions are getting out of hand just like tipping. Now everyone has their hand out for a tip (most for just doing their job at the counter) and it's almost common to see them now on every establishments tablets.

Sorry, rant over.

Tell me about it. Just yesterday the damper on my tailgate asked for a tip.

 

[5thranger]

I had a Garmin for long, long time. Served me well, and with free updates. Too bad it wouldn't take a charge anymore. (I was kidding about the card reader.)

Well thanks for bringing it up as Ford will see that and say MARVELOUS. The card reader.

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