Poll: Do you like your Ram Electronics(RADIO<GPS<UCONNECT<ETC)

[Red Rocket]

Interesting past week for me....I got an email from RAM/FCA requesting that I take a survey....Followed later by an email requesting my phone number...Followed then by a phone call.

Truthfully I dislike the electronic side of my truck. I'm an electronics guy too. But, I HATE when electronics don't work correctly.

So I filled out the survey, and the follow up call went like this: Hello, bla bla, oh the Samsung Galaxy S6 is not fully supported(one of the most popular phones in the USA), bla bla, unpair, repair, we'll call back in a week.

I guess it shows they're trying, but the S6 not supported? Wow, I asked her if she realized how common that phone is. I'm going to list my grievances below. Any input is appreciated:

1. Uconnect ultra slow(Radar map takes 3-5 MINUTES to load)
2. GPS voice command is useless, searching for things by name is just as bad
3. Bluetooth audio is glitchy at best, although this has improved over time
4. Phone via bluetooth is OK, has improved dramatically over two years
5. Lock/unlock via uconnect app was worthless. My key fob got locked in the cab, had to call a tow truck to unlock. When it did work, SLOW, minutes to unlock.

I'm sure some of you have others, but I haven't found a search specifically asking if you LIKE or DISLIKE your system.

 

[sag2]

Before you get too mad at Ram, or any other manufacturer for that matter, perhaps you should be mad at your cell phone maker. Unfortunately there is no national standard for cell phone connectivity to automobiles. It appears that every cell phone maker has their own proprietary software to control the advanced features of their devices. They have no obligation to share this information with any of the auto manufacturers. As a result the auto companies have to reverse engineer the device and the software, and then do it again every time there is a software update to the phone. Since there are only a couple different phones in the US (note sarcasm) this should be an easy task for all the manufacturers to do.
So next time your phone does something strange or just doesn't interface, your frustration might be equally vented to your cell phone maker. The real answer is for the industry to get together and demand standards, but that would probably end up with legislation, and we know how well that would work out. And as a final note, Apple is the worst when it comes to new devices working with vehicles.

 

[EGroeneveld]

I liked it until I got a year out. And the voice to text is part of the pay per month fee along with the U-Connect App.....so I only renewed the Sat Radio for 1 year. I HATE monthly fees that add up.

I truly puzzled why the voice to text is part of the monthly fee...it's just the radio using my smart phone..... stupid fees.

 

[dfb]

Wish they had RV PARKS,

 

[RClark]

I carry a backup GPS, aRandMcnally 7730. It gives RV parks among others.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

So when you are comunicating via your smart phone,you must look at the upper right hand or left hand of the screen,you will see a signal strength.This signal provider for this software is Sprint,so when you are drving down the road,and the signal goes from 4 bars to 1 or zero,you will lose comunication between your phone and the sat commands you are issuing.Mind you if there are no bars loading a command from a app or from the software itself might require a few attempts.And of course as you are drving any obstuctions like canyon walls,high dense forests,or even a heavy dense cloud layer will effect this Sprint signal.This was what the tech support from UConnect told me.The worst app that is also not from FCA RAM truck division, but is contracted out is the Travel app,listing current fuel and locations,this is provided by guess who,XM/Sirrus twice while in New Mexico it routed me off the interstate with the fuel lite illuminated to a field of all places,nothing there nada.Next time it occured was when I selected a Shell station due to the lower price it was a 76 station ask the owner how long has it been a 76 he said over a year now.When researching on XM/Sirrus website explaining that serive it stated that it depends on the owners and customers to update the travel app.So was the case because the ARCO across the street became a homeless campsite.So when I called UConnect that night on the highway she said have always a backup station to go to if there is no station and try to fuel at 1/4 of a tank,not when the fuel lite comes on.Maybe my fault as I was under tow and trying to get the most out of each tank and looking for cost saving in diesel,it was at night as well.Also RAM does have a list of phones and there respected updated software for there phones,so if you do not have the lastest encryption for your phone UConnect might look at it as a security weakness,and block you from commincating with the 8.4A,and the 8.4AN.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Sag2 You hit the nail on the head.And just think driverless cars coming,which will be heavy on electronic's and smart phones.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

Also this UConnect was voted during 2015 NAADA as the best info system on the market and many electronic conventions too voted it the best on the market as well.I still rated a 9 out of ten.The sun when it hits it in a certain way you can't see nothing.I have heared this as well from other RAM owners.It too bad it does rotate to the left and right in side the housing so that both can see the screen and one can see the screen.Some clients who ride with me pair up but do not want others to see the in coming text/or phone call.So they disconnect the bluetooth pairing but re-pair so we can hear there music service through the speakers.I still like the text response through and hearing it as well.You may try to do a re voice to the mic,your 269 page UConnect manual will guide you.

 

[TCollier]

I liked it until I got a year out. And the voice to text is part of the pay per month fee along with the U-Connect App.....so I only renewed the Sat Radio for 1 year. I HATE monthly fees that add up.

I truly puzzled why the voice to text is part of the monthly fee...it's just the radio using my smart phone..... stupid fees.

I installed an update that lets me talk to Siri instead of the Uconnect voice. I think I press and hold the talk button a second or two and my phone will activate Siri through Bluetooth. I can speak to text like that. The text does not come across the Uconnect screen, only on the phone so it's not optimal but my hands stay on the wheel and it's free. Siri repeats the text before you send it. It takes a little work to talk right for Siri but so was Uconnect first time I used it with my coastal Alabama drawl. I figured there would be an update for the Android voice assistant too?

i still have the same access to Uconnect by doing a quick press instead of long press.

 

[TCollier]

Interesting past week for me....I got an email from RAM/FCA requesting that I take a survey....Followed later by an email requesting my phone number...Followed then by a phone call.

Truthfully I dislike the electronic side of my truck. I'm an electronics guy too. But, I HATE when electronics don't work correctly.

So I filled out the survey, and the follow up call went like this: Hello, bla bla, oh the Samsung Galaxy S6 is not fully supported(one of the most popular phones in the USA), bla bla, unpair, repair, we'll call back in a week.

I guess it shows they're trying, but the S6 not supported? Wow, I asked her if she realized how common that phone is. I'm going to list my grievances below. Any input is appreciated:

1. Uconnect ultra slow(Radar map takes 3-5 MINUTES to load)
2. GPS voice command is useless, searching for things by name is just as bad
3. Bluetooth audio is glitchy at best, although this has improved over time
4. Phone via bluetooth is OK, has improved dramatically over two years
5. Lock/unlock via uconnect app was worthless. My key fob got locked in the cab, had to call a tow truck to unlock. When it did work, SLOW, minutes to unlock.

I'm sure some of you have others, but I haven't found a search specifically asking if you LIKE or DISLIKE your system.

My radar map comes up pretty quick. Longest is maybe 10 seconds, usually 2. That data should be coming through the XM link. The scale is what I don't like. Largest is 100 miles. Needs to be able to go down to 25.

No problems with Bluetooth audio yet.

The extremely limited Nav is my biggest gripe. Should have more options to put more data on screen. ETA and MTG at same time, etc. Can't zoom in on route when planning to check things out ahead of time. Also the traffic alerts will badger you to death repeatedly warning you about a wreck ahead even after you press ingnore or accept. I clicked it at least 25 times over an hour about the same wreck a couple weeks ago because it takes over the whole screen. Don't know if that's XM or Garmins fault. Garmin should be able to figure out its the same wreck and filter out the repeats I would think.

 

[Eagle6.7L]

TCollier while viewing the mapping system (on the screen)showing you the direction you are going. In the right hand upper corner is a number,if you press on it,it then you will have a drop down menu,which at that exact time takes into account,the GPS location,throttle postion,and current fuel mileage. This drop menu will give you time of arrival,distance to next destination,and the amount of minutes you have remaining till you get there.Some of this data can be displayed in the gauge area between the 2 main rpm,speed gauges,as well.The miles to go till empty is the only data that can be displayed in the cluster,and average as well.TCollier you can zoom in on the map,and you can drag across the map as well to look out around you as well.But caution it must be done a certain way very slowly allow it to respond to your finger tips.In the option menu for the map you can remove certain data from being displayed like trafficalerts,construction,and now we have reroute capabilities as well,voice command of saying reroute will reroute you now.So if you see a accident on the display showing a complete stop just press the button and say reroute,and away you go.But also it does not take into account the amount of fuel you have and fiqured this into the reroute so if you are going to reroute and you were going to fuel up ahead somewere just make sure your reroute gives you a station to drop in on.

 

[dfb]

Thanks... At camping world?

 

[SnoKing]

Lack of working talk commands to fine things like camp grounds are my only big beef! Have not spent to time to learn everything it will do. Voice texting works pretty good. I am sure there is maybe a way to change who the person sending to text is my name rather than Uconnect.

Snoking

 

[TCollier]

TCollier while viewing the mapping system (on the screen)showing you the direction you are going. In the right hand upper corner is a number,if you press on it,it then you will have a drop down menu,which at that exact time takes into account,the GPS location,throttle postion,and current fuel mileage. This drop menu will give you time of arrival,distance to next destination,and the amount of minutes you have remaining till you get there.Some of this data can be displayed in the gauge area between the 2 main rpm,speed gauges,as well.The miles to go till empty is the only data that can be displayed in the cluster,and average as well.TCollier you can zoom in on the map,and you can drag across the map as well to look out around you as well.But caution it must be done a certain way very slowly allow it to respond to your finger tips.In the option menu for the map you can remove certain data from being displayed like trafficalerts,construction,and now we have reroute capabilities as well,voice command of saying reroute will reroute you now.So if you see a accident on the display showing a complete stop just press the button and say reroute,and away you go.But also it does not take into account the amount of fuel you have and fiqured this into the reroute so if you are going to reroute and you were going to fuel up ahead somewere just make sure your reroute gives you a station to drop in on.

The drop down menu in the upper right gives you the option of showing one of those options on the screen. I would like to have ETA and MTG or TTG at the same time. Plenty of screen space for it. My EVIC is already full of other stuff I like.

You can zoom and pan easy enough on the map if there is no route selected. If a route is selected say like from Mobile AL to Gatlinburg TN, you can go to "View Route" but it shows the whole route from start to finish. So that's a 700 mile scale. You can't zoom in on a particular part to study a turn or how it has you routed through a small town. If you go through the step by step on the turn list or pick a turn on the turn list to view, it will zoom in so close that all you see is that corner. Probably a 40ft scale and you can't adjust the zoom in that mode.

It should stop giving me traffic alerts even if I only hit ignore like I usually do but last time I hit reroute hoping it would leave me alone the wreck was an hour away. It didn't matter, the traffic warning will keep coming back over and over. This happens 3 out of 5 times a traffic alert comes up. I don't want to turn it off because I like the the heads up. But only the first one.

 

[Wayne M.]

If you think Uconnect is bad, try Fords Sync.
My '14 Durango has 8AN (so I'll chime in) and while we don't use any subscription services, all the basic functions work real well. We're very happy with it. We use Apple 5/6 phones and never had a problem with pairing. The text to speech/screen works real well.
I seriously think the sprint service in your area is not good. There are 2 signal strengths, one for the phone when it's paired, and one for the Sprint/Uconnect. That is far right bottom, and bear in mind it's a 3G service.

 

[RVTRKN]

First, I'll admit I voted "liked" but did have issues, and I haven't read any posts in this poll yet. I'm not a fan of Uconnect, my 07 wouldn't allow Bluetooth to play music, which cost me a bundle to allow me to play my music from my iPhone. The 2014 5.0 radio wouldn't load my phone or recognize my Bluetooth at times. But I did like the electronics when working, which was most of the time. My 2016 Tacoma has issues with phone connectivity in the Bluetooth at times, so I contribute some of the issues to the phone, but Uconnect is the worst version between the two. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[RustyJC]

Not that it matters, but the Uconnect infotainment system is consistently the top rated system in Consumer Reports reader surveys, and the editors tout it as the standard for these systems to aspire to.

Rusty

 

[RVTRKN]

But not in 07, it was phone only capable.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

My 8.4 has been 99% flawless. Had a locked screen issue but disconnecting both batteries for a short period cured that.

iPhone always connects via bluetooth or tethered cord without a hitch.

Don't use the lock/unlock/start Uconnect phone features; only to show off in front of friends. Will not renew Uconnect once trial is over.

Don't text or talk text while driving. I pull over and do that or wait until I make it to where I'm going. Texting can wait.

Only real complaint I have is voice recognition when trying to call someone. When I ask to call the "office" or "home" or whoever, it rarely reads my words correctly, and I end up searching my phone for the contact manually. That blows. I had a hands free unit from Parrot in my 3rg gen, and it did the same thing. I would ask it to dial "Julie" and it would dial someone else or not do anything at all.

 

[Wayne M.]

IIRC, The Uconnect 8.4 was developed by RIM, the company who owns(ed?) Blackberry. While that ship has sailed, it was probably the best phone format as far as reliability goes.