UPDATE: Dongle for Sirius Car Kit

[twodogsdennis]

Hello, two questions for the group.
I have a '23 Pro, which does not come with a satellite so I'm using the Sirius Car Kit. The question is, does anyone know of a dongle that the Pro would recognize as a USB device? I've tried a couple of USB dongles that are connect to the kit using a 3.5mm plug, but of course Ford doesn't recognize the USB device. Instead, I connect the kit to a portable speaker that rests in the cup holder, but it would be nice to get the sound through the truck speakers. I use the kit instead of android auto because of the satellite antenna.

Next, before the latest update that encompassed the radio, I could find a Tesla charge station using Navigation. Now, Navigation on the truck doesn't show the Tesla stations but the phone app does. Are there settings in Navigation that I haven't yet found?

Thanks

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[Grumpy2]

Now, Navigation on the truck doesn't show the Tesla stations

This is so frustrating, one of the recent updates made the native Ford navigation even worse than it was before. Basically, now the Lightning Nav is a waste of time and worthless. We can only hope they solve this sooner than later.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...’s-native-nav-is-worthless.23332/#post-452243

'23 Pro, which does not come with a satellite

Can't help on the satellite radio issue.

 

[Maquis]

Why not use the SXM app on your phone?

 

[B177y]

Does the SXM dongle have bluetooth? If not, does it have a headphone jack?

If it has BT, try to BT it to SYNC. I also have a BT dongle that I used on older cars that plugged into the headphone jack of a device and sent the signal over BT. I also had a similar device to send it via FM to an empty FM station.

I also had an old old old XM car tuner that had an FM transmitter built in to broadcast to an empty FM station.

I think the USB device can only be a memory stick or portable drive formatted in xFAT. That and Android Auto or CarPlay.

As for the Ford Maps.... yeah, pretty much useless, or as a last ditch effort if all of your other technology is not working.

 

[Pioneer74]

Why not use the SXM app on your phone?

This. When I work late, there is a certain show I like to listen to that is live an hour before I leave. I load the SXM app on the phone, rewind the channel to the beginning of the show, then pause it. When SYNC fully boots, just select Bluetooth audio and it will pick up right where I pause it.

 

[twodogsdennis]

Why not use the SXM app on your phone?
[/QUOTE
The satellite antenna works anywhere while the phone is limited to wifi area.

 

[twodogsdennis]

Does the SXM dongle have bluetooth? If not, does it have a headphone jack?

If it has BT, try to BT it to SYNC. I also have a BT dongle that I used on older cars that plugged into the headphone jack of a device and sent the signal over BT. I also had a similar device to send it via FM to an empty FM station.

I also had an old old old XM car tuner that had an FM transmitter built in to broadcast to an empty FM station.

I think the USB device can only be a memory stick or portable drive formatted in xFAT. That and Android Auto or CarPlay.

As for the Ford Maps.... yeah, pretty much useless, or as a last ditch effort if all of your other technology is not working.

So far, I haven't found a dongle that the Pro will pair with. The truck will pair with any phone, but that is limited to wifi whereas the satellite antenna works anywhere. An FM connection, from reading other threads, is often washed out. So I'm still hunting for a USB dongle that Ford will pair with just as it does with a phone.

 

[astrand1]

So far, I haven't found a dongle that the Pro will pair with. The truck will pair with any phone, but that is limited to wifi whereas the satellite antenna works anywhere. An FM connection, from reading other threads, is often washed out. So I'm still hunting for a USB dongle that Ford will pair with just as it does with a phone.

You could just add satellite radio to your truck. There are many who have done it. You can search thru the forums. It’s not that hard to do. New ACM w/satellite and a little bit of forscan work and you’re good to go.

 

[bmwhitetx]

The truck will pair with any phone, but that is limited to wifi whereas the satellite antenna works anywhere.

Wouldn’t the phone app work using cellular data?

 

[rufustlong]

Next, before the latest update that encompassed the radio, I could find a Tesla charge station using Navigation. Now, Navigation on the truck doesn't show the Tesla stations but the phone app does.

I noticed the same thing, it's very strange and makes it pretty hard to prep the battery for charging this time of year. I do believe I was able to find the Tesla Superchargers using the new Public Charging app in the truck though so give that a try as a work around for now.

 

[twodogsdennis]

cell phones stop working when you're out of range of a tower. satellite antenna will work in remote areas.

 

[chl]

Hello, two questions for the group.
I have a '23 Pro, which does not come with a satellite so I'm using the Sirius Car Kit. The question is, does anyone know of a dongle that the Pro would recognize as a USB device? I've tried a couple of USB dongles that are connect to the kit using a 3.5mm plug, but of course Ford doesn't recognize the USB device. Instead, I connect the kit to a portable speaker that rests in the cup holder, but it would be nice to get the sound through the truck speakers. I use the kit instead of android auto because of the satellite antenna.

Next, before the latest update that encompassed the radio, I could find a Tesla charge station using Navigation. Now, Navigation on the truck doesn't show the Tesla stations but the phone app does. Are there settings in Navigation that I haven't yet found?

Thanks

I have a 2023 Pro.

I used a Roady XM tuner connected to the FM radio through an FM transmitter device, tuned to an unused FM station. The sound is fine but a lot of wiring. It's an old iTrip transmitter I used to use with my 2001 Ranger stock radio.

I can also use my old iPod through it as well, or my old Zune, or anything that has an AUX jack.

But like I said it is a lot of wires. There is power for the source, and the transmitter, then there is the AUX wire between the source and the transmitter, then with XM there is the antenna wire. Spaghetti.

I tried using the blue-tooth in my iPod - but there were too many drop-outs, I mean multiple times per minute! Same with the Zune blue-tooth transmission.

And I had the same experience with a portable XM model with built-in blue-tooth!

I can use my iPod with my USB input on my 2012 Nissan Leaf perfectly.

WTF, Ford!

Anyway, if you want to avoid a tangle of wires, you can use the USB input for music and power by formatting a USB stick or SSD in exfat format and loading all your music on it. The SYNC4 radio display will show the device in the source menu.

The advantages of a USB stick or SSD in a USB enclosure are: no XM subscription fee, no listening to DJs talking about BS when you just want to hear some music, and no same old song list that XM plays that you've heard many times with tunes you do not care for.

I burned my many CDs and records onto my PC and put them on my other devices (Zune and iPod) so I could listen while I drive, but Ford's SYNC4 is not USB compatible with them so the USB stick or SSD is my solution to that.

Of course, you could use a "smart phone" through the USB if you turn off the blue-tooth - and stream XM through that perhaps - I haven't tried it, my wife owns the phone and data rates and throttling may apply.

Good luck.

 

[chl]

PS: there are upgrade kits for the SYNC4 system available, and less expensive options that are add-ons.

They are:
The Vaistech fd04-w-tuner-kit

https://vaistech.com/product/gsr-fd04-w-tuner-kit/

$349.99 (11-28-2024)
https://vaistech.com/product-category/satellite-radio/?fwp_year=2023,ford-2023,lightning,pro
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2023 - 2025 Ford F-150 SuperDuty SiriusXM Radio Factory Stereo Kit - with SYNC 4

https://www.siriusxmfactorykits.com...siriusxm-radio-factory-stereo-kit-with-sync-4
-----
The Infotainment Radio Upgrade XM with or without HD audio as well:
$499.95 t $549.95
https://infotainment.com/shop/interior-accessories/infotainment-radio-upgrades/f-bdlsatacmhdr-21l3/

 

[Silenze]

So far, I haven't found a dongle that the Pro will pair with. The truck will pair with any phone, but that is limited to wifi whereas the satellite antenna works anywhere. An FM connection, from reading other threads, is often washed out. So I'm still hunting for a USB dongle that Ford will pair with just as it does with a phone.

Fm connection is better then an external speaker.

Or get the bluetooth car dock https://shop.siriusxm.com/sxm-bluetooth-car-dock

Or get a radio with Bluetooth https://shop.siriusxm.com/roady-bt.html

 

[twodogsdennis]

Update: I found a dongle that SYNC4 recognizes and will allow the Sirius car kit to play through the stereo system, for the nice price of $10. The dongle has transmit and receive capabilities, so use the TX side. Directions are in small print, but very understandable. Connect using "Audio", "add phone", "add other bluetooth". Users may have to go through the initial pairing a couple of times since the dongle only transmits the pair signal for about 15 seconds and of course SYNC can be busy scanning for every available BT piece in the area. Once the initial pairing is set, use the volume buttons on the dongle to max the sound volume being transmitted and then use the controls on the truck to control the sound going forward. It's just a quick press and brief hold of the dongle on/off button to pair, after the user starts the truck. Nice set up, and everything fits next to the front USB connections while the Sirius antenna is in the tray on the dash. I'm going to have a video on my Youtube channel soon, @twodogsdennis9332.
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