RB4 review?

[Cryppie]

Hey all, does anyone have a truck with the RB4 CD GPS radio? I'll be picking my new rig up Monday, and will be installing the Sirius package. Just looking for opinions before I pick mine up. I'll post my review for those interested over the 4th weekend.

 

[stevenknapp]

This is the closest I've seen.



http://www.wjjeeps.com/nav.htm

 

[NDanecker]

I have the RB4 and wish I got the RB1 or maybe spent my money on an aftermarket one. If you are looking for simple 'turn left in 300 feet' directions the RB4 is for you. However, if you expecting maps or an picture of you on a map as you drive then forget it. I was led to believe the one I was getting was something like the RB1 (dealer didn't know there was a difference when I ordered. I later explained to him there IS a difference).



I'm looking at a DVD/GPS combo kit so my RB4 may show up on E-bay one day!

 

[jam1on1]

i hanve an 04. 5 if you want a radio set up for your truck go to www.united radio.com thats where i got my sat radio and my rb1 they are cheaper then dealer and the ship the next day . they are the company that dealers send there radio to for repair plus you get the warranty from them

 

[Cryppie]

Uh-oh...

I was kinda afraid the reviews here wouldn't be "glowing" on the RB4. Guess that's one thing I should have spent more time investigating before I pushed my order through. Thanks for the link to UnitedRadio, I'll probably be giving them a call after I get back down here to San Diego next week. Hope I can get my RB4 listed on eBay before the flood comes in!

 

[Cryppie]

Took the plunge

Well, did it anyway... just did another search on eBay for an RB1, lo and behold, there one was for $980 shipped. So, it's on the way, and soon as I can get my RB4 out, it's going up for bidding. I will get a review in on the RB4 on my way down from Spokane, so those interested can still check it out. Stay tuned!

 

[Dirk]

They are both cool, the rb1 definitely offers more features, for not much more money. The only problem with the rb1 is you can't listen to a cd in navigation mode. I got a cd changer to address this problem, but the dealer has'nt been able to make it work yet. Going in for third attempt next weekend. Also have the Satellite radio which is the problem with hooking up bothcd changer, and satellite. They guarantee they have it figured out now,

 

[artie]

Dirk

Yes you can have both the CD CHanger and SIRIUS radio connected to the RB1 you just end up needing some MOPAR parts that normally are used on JEEP's. The electronic selector box that sets between the CD / SIRIUS and RB1 it in a kit for the JEEP Liberty plus a couple of adapter cables.

 

[GregTaylor]

i have the rb1 and xm radio. i absolutly love the nav. it is worth what i paid,1500 bucks. the xm is ok i had them mout the antana in the bug deflector so the camper doesen't interfear.

 

[Dirk]

Artie Thanks for the info, last attempt they had the cable from the Liberty, and everything worked, except the dispay for the sat. radio. So like I said hope they have it figured out this time. If not, I'll be in touch for the details. between the nav. system, and the u - connect, Dodge totally kicks ass on the competition.

Greg, do you have xm?. How does that work? Satellite radio is great, I don't know why I'm putting in the cd changer.

 

[KHogan]

The RB-4 is garbage. I'm sorry I didn't read up on the thing here on the TDR before I ck'ed that option box. The RB-1 is OK, but doesn't play regular DVD's or CD's with MP-3's.



Is the new next-gen '05 Durango/Caravan/Jeep Nav radio with the MP-3 player available yet? If so, will it shoehorn into the 04. 5' Ram and work?

 

[artie]

KHogan

I have looked at the new Nav Radio used in Durango and found the it has square corners vs rounded and is bigger heigth wise than the opening in the 03-04 trucks.

 

[Cryppie]

Road trip home with the RB4

I'll post a complete review this weekend with pictures when I have some more time, but here's my first impressions:



1. Yep, no mapping. But,

2. I didn't really miss mapping that much because the voice directions and simple symbols are very good (most of the time).

3. As with any program, it's only as good as the data. If an area is very new, the software may not recognize the roads, and won't be able to properly direct you.

4. RDS is a cool function, radio stations that are broadcasting song information/theme are growing, but many areas don't support it yet.

5. Overall, I was pretty impressed with the storage capability for routing (Spokane to SoCal could be one route), you can listen to CD's in NAV mode, as long as you don't stray to far from the planned route.



That's going to have to be it for now, but I'll get some screen shot photos posted this weekend, and I'm standing by for questions (won't guarantee I can answer yet, still learning myself).

 

[KHogan]

1) The non-mapping feature stinks - I've used the thing to map destinations I know my way around (just for s**ts and giggles) and have found that it picks the most arcane routes that defy logic. It will recompute as you're driving the more desired route, but it won't store it as a preferred route. Select the same destination from the stored memory (assuming you stored it in the first place) and it'll pick the same lousy route every time. I can just imagine what'll happen when I'm going somewhere I don't actually know how to get to. What terrible route will it take me over? If it had the mapping feature, at least you could modify your route to get away from clogged major roadways.



2)The fact that you can't re-program while the vehicle is moving is lousy and should be user-defeatable. I understand it is unsafe for the DRIVER to operate the thing while supposedly paying attention to the road, but what does that have to do with the PASSENGER operating the thing. You have to pull over eveytime you need to change destinations! Screw the lawyers, give me control over responsibility for my own actions, LOL!



3) Unless a destination is previously stored in memory, the thing needs the nav cd everytime you change destinations. I have destination that appear on the nav menu, but aren't "stored", so it asks you for the disc if you select them. If you're not listening to the radio, and don't have the under-seat cd changer, you have to keep jockeying the discs. I see that the '05 next-gen Nav has a separate drawer for the nav DVD. Too bad the RB-4 doesn't, nor do you have the built in 6-disc changer that comes standard on the Laramie.



As I've said before, it an expensive toy that looks good in the dash and impresses first time gawkers, but doesn't deliver the goods. Very disappointing and not worth the premium over the stock 6-disc Infinity system IMO.

 

[viper700]

I just picked up a 2004. 5 4WD DRW Turbo Diesel in Kellogg ID to drive back to my home in Alaska. What a shock when no Alaska in the data base but has Hawaii. You can't program your route by yourself. This option is totally useless. The data base that it does have is very limited. I want to be able to pull out the Rand Mcnally maps and set up a trip plan and you cannot do it with this unit.