What is the time frame for DVD units, sat radio units, etc. that can add to the rail system?

Any links to sites where we can see these mysterious future products?

rambunctious seems to know, can we get the info in one thread!

 

Not sure abour After market.. but the Ford Accessories Dealer advised me a few days ago that he is being told by Ford the DVD system will not be available until 2005 model year.

Not sure if it is true ..

I am looking at headrest LCD's .. have found them for around &900 total system (two head rests.. andDVD player) Wireless headphones not included.

 

Rambunctious has also been active on this site. Time frames for the nav system - rambunctious?

Rambunctious posted on ford-trucks.com

"Posted by: rambunctious

Anyone notice thier interior Overhead Rail System? Did the salesman talk about the removeable modules you can buy?

I lead the product development team for the interior supplier that developed the rail system (Johnson Controls)

We are working on a number of additional modules that aftermarket companies will make that will install onto your rail.

We are manufacturing a DVD system (available through ford in Mid November)
also developing Satellite radio, Music Keg, Navigation, walkabout radio sets, etc.

We will have a booth at SEMA with a truck with some of these prototypes looking for input from Aftermarket suppliers, etc.

Do you have any ideas for what you would like to see up there?

do you see value in a system that will allow you to add/replace/ move modules to other vehicles with the rail system?

honest opinions wanted.

thanks

Rambunctious

by the way. my new F150 Fx4 will be here in 3 weeks, dealer just called with the update!!!!!!"

 

Since rambunctious works for Johnson Controls, I did some research - interesting sites!

http://www.autovisiononline.com/index.html?SMSESSION=NO

http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/asg-intro/autovision.asp

I would love to see a blue tooth enabled cell phone system to tie to the rail system, maybe make it FM modulated to send sound to the car stereo. Of course, rambunctious, you would need to enable the FM modulation to change frequencies so it won't interfere with my FM modulated sat radio.

 

Rambunctious, please help!

 

hey just some guy.... got your email

we are planning to have a sat radio module for model year 05 but probably not at the VERY start of production. still working on it.

If you have not ordered your truck, you can order the dvd factory installed on the rail.

regarding DVD for add on (not ordered with truck) we are reviewing the wire harness needed actually TOMORROW with my personal truck (04SCREW) and then working with ford to get this part number released. then you will be able to buy it through accessories and route the wires, and click the DVD onto the rail.

the "prewire kit" which gets the harness in vehicles (when ordered for about $50) will allow the addition of the DVD without adding the wire. (i.e. IT's IN THERE) that is still on track for the start of 05 model year.

I will try to round up a few of the previous posts to place as links here, unless someone would like to do it for me (hint hint ) by searching under my logon. i also post similar info on fordtruckenthusiast.com

here's a good one:
overhead rail thread from ford truck enthusiast.com

Blue connect is a product for using cell phones with bluetooth technology for hands free phone use. it will probably have it's own speaker as using the car audio will make noise cancellation(of your voice) difficult. this module will probably come after sat radio.


Ramb

 

rambunctious,

Were you the person who mentioned that the reason there was no way to hook into the stereo and use the AUX button was because no one makes a system yet that runs on the type of wires the AUX button is connected to? Is that what the "prewire kit" is for? I am planning on hooking up an iPod or something similar with all my CD's on it in my truck and I would like even more for me to just be able to hit the AUX button to switch to it. Would this be conceivable with anything you are working on? Thanks

 

I was thinking about having a DVD system installed w/ headrest monitors for the rear and visor monitor for the passenger (FM modulated, of course ). The whole deal would be about 2k, but if the wire harness will be available in the very near future, for the AUX function, I'll probably go with the factory DVD for the rails (depending on the price)....

 

That is a good thread and gives me lots of good info!

I went with an FM modulated Sat Radio unit, but hopefully that will free up the rail system for bluetooth enabled cell phone and a nice nav system.

Also, be a little careful how much you tell people even while "pat pending" - only cover that stuff actually filed in the patent! You might be kind enough to post the pat number once it publishes (assuming you filed foreign) - might give lots of nice info of things to come.

 

rambunctious.....

Do you or your company have any information as to why the trucks with the dvd entertainment system are not being built currently, and they keep pushing the date of production back again and again. I ordered my truck in the beginning of December and still nothing. Ford will only tell me that the dvd system is the hold up, but they do not know why.

I am assuming (hoping too) that it is a supply/demand issue, not a defect issue.

Thanks for any info!

 

This may be a stupid question but I assume you can buy any of these rail add-ons after you take delivery of the truck, and install them yourself.

Is that true?

By the looks of it the units seem to go on and off pretty easily.

 

Yes... I put the metro package on mine, and they just snap in place.

Boxes

Cd and sunglass holder cell phone holder is missing.

 

KATS !!! I just confirmed with our plant that makes the DVD. Production rates will be ramped up to full volume by MARCH 24, 2004. !!!!

Jojo , yes I stated the info regarding the CAN bus protocol for the 04 Ford Radio integrating only our DVD to function with the aux input to date. The wire harness we are working on will allow installation of the Ford DVD for vehicles that did not order it with their truck. this seems trivial but we needed ford to release the harness into their system so it could be ordered. To use an Ipod will require our DVD to integrate with the Aux input. but I use it with a sat radio and it works great. one touch on aux goes to dvd, one more touch goes to DVD aux input (RCA jacks on DVD)

justsome(patent) guy
we are protected with filing dates through provisionals and a recently granted patent, other patents pending with provisional dates and full filing status. nothing i mention here was not already shown at SEMA or other public shows. I will refrain from stating the patent number as I don't want the details to be handed into the lap of our competitors ( they could at least do a patent search). but trust that my patent plaque is right here in my office


thanks for the iterest.

Ramb

 

RAM - PLEASE let us know when we can order that DVD wire harness from our friendly Ford Dealer.

Can it be used without a railmount DVD actually connected to the main input (put the ipod there instead) or do I have to use OEM DVD to get 2nd set of RCA inputs to work?

 

we are trying very hard to release this wire harness
ASAP, we will be installing the first complete harness with connectors this week into my personal truck, taking pictures of the installation for the instruction manual, and working with suppliers to quote this harness.

unfortunately. the harness will not be a simple rca input. it will be the 18 wire harness that is required for the DVD integration. an rca harness wouldn't do anyone any good anyway because the radio needs the instruction set through the CAN buss I mentioned to enable the aux input feature. so the only real solution to use an ipod through the radio aux, is buying a DVD with this harness, and using the DVD's aux inputs. (but, hey, we made it available, well..... we're getting closer )

in the future , we will have a module we call IRIS. that lets you plug up to 4 inputs, including a factory dvd, or ipod, or sat radio, etc. but this is a couple years out yet.

Ramb