Unhappy With RB4 NAV RADIO

[cannongeorge]

I picked up my new 2004. 5 Laramie, I am really happy with this truck but I was sure disappointed with the RB-4 "Navigation" radio. I (and the dealer) did not realize that this radio does NOT include any mapping capability, which was my only reason for getting it in the first place! Basically, the RB-4 provides only a "turn left/right" turn icon, voice prompts and directions, but will not display any streets or any other map information. I verified that the RB-1 and RB-4 are dimensionally the same, but to install an RB-1 I'll have to order an after-order "upgrade" kit to install an RB-1. The wiring harnesses are different and this kit is supposed to provide compatible connectors for everything. Can anyone tell me, will the retro-fitted RB1 still be compatible with the steering wheel audio controls, and will the RB1 display dim down in response to lowering the dash lights?

I probably missed an earlier TBD thread on this but thought I'd share this experience. Also, the RB-1 is NOT available as a factory option for the 2004. 5, only the RB-4 is.

 

[jzaremski]

The wiring harnesses are different

No they aren't. All Chrysler vehicles with the exception of the Sebring/Stratus coupes and the new Durango use the same radios with the same connectors.

Can anyone tell me, will the retro-fitted RB1 still be compatible with the steering wheel audio controls, and will the RB1 display dim down in response to lowering the dash lights?

It will. The only thing I can recall is there may have been a specific compatibility issue in early '04 with the new amplifier, but it may have been fixed in a firmware update. I can check on this tomorrow at work.

 

[artie]

Yes, the steering wheel controls will work with the RB1. I replaced the RBQ the factory radio and installed with an RB1 because I wanted the mapping and found out the RB4 does not show the map. The main connector is the same but because the RB4 has a factory installed GPS atenna the connector on it may not be the same as the RB1 uses.

 

[cannongeorge]

Thanks for the info. Artie, how do you like the 6 CD changer, will it fit underneath power seats?

 

[artie]

Yes, both the CD changer and the SIRIUS satellite radio and the selector box all fit under the driver side power seat. I bought extra CD mag. so I had three fully loaded ones that I could swap and really like that ability but now that I have the SIRIUS I have only used the CD twice in the month and half since putting in SIRIUS. See pictures in Reader's rig of installation under seat and antenna location.

 

[DF5152]

does the sirius use the old or new antenna technology. is it a small single wire antenna or a larger 2 wire?

 

[Bob Fennema]

Originally posted by artie

Yes, both the CD changer and the SIRIUS satellite radio and the selector box all fit under the driver side power seat. I bought extra CD mag. so I had three fully loaded ones that I could swap and really like that ability but now that I have the SIRIUS I have only used the CD twice in the month and half since putting in SIRIUS.

What is the selector box? I have a 6CD Changer that I will install on the next warm Saturday. I want to install, Sirius at the same time but it sounds like I need somthing special. I have just installed the RB1 and took out the RAZ radio. I really like the RB1.



What did you do with all the extra cable that come with the changer?

 

[evldsl]

The reason I purchased the truck with the rb4 was for the mapping features and the serious radio . Now I have to make a $ change this is not fair when we are led to believe from the order sheet that the rb4 is a mapping unit. All you have to do is look at the unit in the picture and it shows a street map on it. Oh well I guess I will just have to reorder the truck since the dealers wont work with you without you kicking down some extra cash. Maby I will bid for one on E-Bay. I won one on E-Bay for $990. 00 I guess thats the best I could do but I now own a RB 1.

 

[DanDee]

Thanks to input on this site, I caught the difference between the two factory units before specing out my order and decided just to get an after market unit.

I ordered a Garmin StreetPilot 2610 from a place in Nevada two weeks ago, got it for $750 delivered, came fedex in about 3 days... .



I've used it once, worked great. Has voice commands, you can move it between vehicles, pre-plan your routes with the ac adapter, and the best part is a $39 256MB flash card from the local Costco works perfect! (takes about 2 gig to hold the entire US & parts of Canada on one chip)



Seems to perform similar to a buddies 2002 factory unit, not sure about how it compares to the new indash units.

I didn't think it would be a big deal, but the touch screen really works well and I can't imagine trying to navigate just using the little buttons on the side!!!

 

[artie]

The selector box is a MOPAR part along with special adapter cables that allow the RB1 to toggle between the CD Changer and the SIRIUS radio, The adapter cables connect to the CD Changer and the SIRIUS and then to the cable running to the RB1. Funny this is MOPAR doesn't think anybody with a RAM truck would do this but they make an installation kit for a JEEP LIBERTY that has the selector and adapter cables. The normal factory SIRIUS antenna has two rather larger cables but I have put a TERK antenna unit on the dash and run its smaller cables to the SIRIUS under the seat. See pictures in reader's rig of underseat and antenna.

 

[cannongeorge]

"Upgrade?" ... "larceny" is more like it...

Well, the RB-4 to RB-1 "upgrade" kit finally came in. I was expecting some sort of "reasonable" credit for my RB-1 radio. (I've only had my new truck for a month) Turns out the dealer says he can offer a whopping $125 credit on my brand-new RB-4 radio, if I spend another and whopping $1,495 to get the RB-1 which I really want in order to get the mapping capability. (To be fair, he says that he can "bump" the rebate offer up to $200. , just because I'm a new "first-time" Dodge customer... )



Something is very WRONG here... . I order a fully-loaded top-of-the-line Dodge truck, and get an inferior radio that nobody at the dealership didn't know did not offer mapping capability, and now they say I have to spend another $1,495 to get the radio that should've been offered as an option in the first place??? (@#%$^@!)



I hope somebody from Dodge is reading this. Anybody know somebody at DC I can write to to voice my opinion? I love the truck otherwise...

 

[OHale]

cannongeorge,



I'm really sorry to hear about your experience! I think there are going to be a lot of disappointed customers out there when they find out about the RB4. I just 'pulled the trigger' on my new truck yesterday and I would have gotten he RB4 if I hadn't seen an earlier post here. I really wanted the in-dash mapping capability.



I talked to Parts at my dealership and they offered something similar to what you were offered: basically, I pay a huge price for an RB1 and ditch the factory radio. One suggestion was that I try to sell the factory 6-CD radio when the truck came in (which is what I ordered instead of the RB4) and sell it on EBAY. Truly stinks.



I'll probably buy a high-end external Garmin instead, although I really don't like the look of something stuck on my dash. At least I can move an external GPS between vehicles.



If you want to go that route I think your dealer should put in a MOPAR radio of your choosing and refund the difference from the RB4 to you. I think Dodge is going to be hearing a lot of similar complaints this year.



BTW, my dealer didn't know about the RB4 issue either so we took a key out to one of the trucks on the lot and played with the GPS. He thought the arrows and voice prompts were awful too. I consider the RB4 GPS to be useless.

 

[Richterno1]

hey how hard would it be to wire a RB1 in a 98 ram?

 

[funkra]

Has anyone installed the factory Sirius antenna? I just bought the receiver and antenna kit from Dodge, and it doesn't have any install directions except to tell you that you need to drill a 3/4" hole in the roof! Doesn't say where the hole should be drilled, where the connectors are under the headliner, etc. My dealership doesn't have a clue either. Lacking any instructions, I may need to pull the headliner to see where the factory antenna wires are, if any.



How well does a dash mount antenna work? Sirius says the antenna should be mounted on top of the roof clear of all metal framework. However, my factory GPS antenna is mounted UNDER the dash, and it works just fine.

 

[funkra]

My dealership said the RB1 was not an available option. I checked it, and when you order the vehicle, the RB1 doesn't come up as an option, if that makes you all feel any better.



I think the RB4 is a waste as well. Pretty useless to have a GPS without a moving map! I was able to find a dealership that let me swap it and pay the difference between my RB4 and the RB1. They took the RB4 back and I only paid the difference of about $200. However, this happened within 2 weeks of purchase, and I do a lot of business with them. If you have a friend in parts, ask him about it.

 

[amsoilman]

I ordered a Garmin StreetPilot 2610 from a place in Nevada two weeks ago, got it for $750 delivered, came fedex in about 3 days... . QUOTE]





Do you have a name and address of this place you ordered the Garmin from?



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[klenger]

Funkra: My Sirius antenna is mounted centerline on the truck. The back end of the antenna (the narrow part of the tear drop) is about 5-1/4" forward of the backup light lens. I can get a pic if that would help, but would not really show all that much. My system was installed by the dealer and works well.



One of the reasons that the GPS antenna works pretty well under the dash is because the GPS receiver may track up to 12 satellites at a time in different parts of the sky. Only 4 satellites are required to get a position fix. With the Sirius radio, only 1 of 3 satellites is usually in view at any given time, so the antenna needs an unobstructed view of the sky. I still get occasionall drop outs (once every few weeks), but they are generally short.

 

[OHale]

You have a great dealership! So far, the best offer I've heard (the same one I got) was to sell the stock radio and BUY the RB1. Count your blessings!

 

[DanDee]

amsoilman... I'm looking, get back as soon as I find it. (think it was GpsCity, but I'll check)



I'll chime in and say that I too wanted a clean indash install... but I'm really glad I got an external unit. Why?



Because as I sit here trying to route my next trip, using the computer map program, on my 19" moniter, with a mouse and the ability to scroll, zoom, drag and compare results with my other map programs... all in the comfort of my home, I can't imagine trying to do this on a tiny screen in the pick-up cab!



(With most external units you then just plug them into the computer and download your route... )



Believe me this is not that easy even on a powerfull home computer. Try making your own route thru the maze of freeways in the crowded Los Angeles basin! (Instead of the route the map program keeps trying to give you!)



Remember the best route is not always the most direct. Not even the fastest or the most scenic... its just whats best for you.



Well, just my opinion, probably worth what I charge for it... nothing!



DanDee

 

[mgonske]

Has anyone installed the factory Sirius antenna? I just bought the receiver and antenna kit from Dodge, and it doesn't have any install directions except to tell you that you need to drill a 3/4" hole in the roof! Doesn't say where the hole should be drilled, where the connectors are under the headliner, etc. My dealership doesn't have a clue either. Lacking any instructions, I may need to pull the headliner to see where the factory antenna wires are, if any.



How well does a dash mount antenna work? Sirius says the antenna should be mounted on top of the roof clear of all metal framework. However, my factory GPS antenna is mounted UNDER the dash, and it works just fine.

Mine came with detailed instructions and a drawing showing the location to install it on the roof (it was with the "install kit" that had the cables specifically for the Ram, not with the receiver and antenna). However, I installed it on the dash, instead. I had recently installed the dash gauge pod from Geno's, and so it balances nicely over on the right side of the dash. There is a spot where there's a nice depression in the steel dash panel under the plastic panel that accomodates the wiring connection, so the only drilling required is in the pop-off plastic dash panel. I get a drop-out while facing south under the trees waiting for my front gate to open, but have never experienced drop-outs on the road (I'm sure that would be different on a heavily canopied road--but no problem on a normal road with an open view of the sky).



Ah, good old "preview post" function! On review I see your question about finding connections under the headliner. There are none--the cable that goes from the receiver up to the connection point under the headliner is what you get in the "install kit", which is almost as expensive as the receiver itself. The instructions tell you how to route that cable from under the dash up into the headliner. This also includes the bracket for mounting the receiver. They think you can stuff it up into a cavity above the driver's side kick panel, but there was no way I could pass it through the tiny opening available (especially since I have an aftermarket wire stretched right across that tiny opening). For now, mine is just laying on the passenger's side of the center hump, pending a better solution.