A rant about electronics becoming obsolete and quitting working.

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maillemaker

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We've got a 2015 Ram 1500 with the Hemi. It's been a good truck. Only real problem we had was the common leaky 3rd brake light issue.

However, I was driving it yesterday and the nav system was horribly out-of-date. So, I set about to figure out how to update it.

First thing I had to do was update the computer's software. It was 18.11.07 and needed an update to 18.45. Followed the instructions on the internet, downloaded and unzipped it on a thumb drive, and got it updated.

Decided to see if the update maybe would let the App Store give us Apple Car Play so I didn't have to spend $150 on the map update. I wouldn't connect, said call a phone number. I called, and the lady said that our car is 3G and all the 3G towers are gone so my car won't talk to the internet anymore. But she also told me Apple Car Play only works on 2018 and later anyway so I guess there is no need for me to connect to Uconnect anymore (although it was kind of neat to log into the mopar web site and see any issues reported by the car). But I don't want to pay $10 a month for Uconnect anyway.

I did see on the Uconnect web site there was something about "BYOD". But I plugged in my cell phone's IMEI number and it said it wasn't valid anyway. So I'm not sure if Uconnect will work with my car using my phone or what.

I'm just bummed that the car is only 7 years old and it seems like the electronic things on it are slowly starting to not be supported anymore and so they quit working. I am used to paying for things and they work until they physically break. Now with all these electronics they can just take things away from you on a whim whenever they decide they don't want to support it anymore.

Well, that's my rant.
 

British Bulldog

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Apple is the worst. My little used iPhone 7 will cease to be supported with updates shortly. I think that IOS 15 is last. End 2022, iPhone 7 will receive no more security patches or updates so basically, done if you care about privacy and not being hacked!
Why oh why do we just throw stuff away like this?????

Also rant done!
 

Docwagon1776

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https://www.ramforum.com/threads/uconnect-3g-to-4g.170220/ is an option, but from the thread it doesn't sound like a good one.

I never bother with factory navigation. Google Maps has always been the superior option, or one of the other free to use competitors. Yes, I know, "they" track me. Don't care. I'm in a publicly viewable area when I'm driving and never thought I was invisible to begin with.
 

Jeepwalker

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Technology that seems Wiz-bang today gets out of date quickly. Anyone remember Windows 2000? Or Netscape, AOL? But I guess the whole goal for car companies is to sell the car that's on the lot today. If they can't find someone who finds value in it today, and buys it, then they'll basically go broke. They can't really worry about 10 or 15 years down the road.

These large LCD screens of today, who knows what will become of them when today's cars are 20 years old. Maybe someone will come up with a 5G -> 4G/3G emulator to extend their usable lifespan. Maybe even for your dodge ram ...if you wait a few yrs. I guess new cars that are 5G capable today (or soon) will at least be able to stay somewhat current for several more years since it's relatively new. But even 5G will go obsolete someday. And who really wants to keep paying for tech on your car after it's semi-obsolete? Like the old-school maps when yer phone basically has better navigation for essentially free (if you don't mind being tracked, etc). It's usually so cumbersome to use maps in vehicles, I never really saw the point. I can literally 'talk' where I want to go into my phone and boom, it brings it right up, hit 'go' and it walks ya/talks ya right there.

I'd rather just have a regular radio/stereo with a fluorescent display and real knobs (don't forget the cassette too! :D). They'll work just fine after 20 years. But then again, I'm not the customer the new car manufacturer is targeting.
 

Bigskyroadglide

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Just purchased a 2022 jeep, obviously FCA product. Android audio and Apple car play are huge upgrades. Google maps connected va Android audio and turn by turn via the radio and display on the evic was amazing.

I wish it was able to go back a few model years. Would love to have on my 16.
 

Mister Luck

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Apple 11 is the last year of 4G
Apple 12 and forward are 5G
My 6S was still working with my small
5 inch Uconnect screen my 2016 still calls it an iPod connection.
I use to subscribe to Sirius Satellite radio but it would still cut out.

I installed an Application called
“80’s Radio” and it seems to use cellular service towers and I get the same or better reception than with Sirius Satellite Radio.
 

Atcer2018

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Just purchased a 2022 jeep, obviously FCA product. Android audio and Apple car play are huge upgrades. Google maps connected va Android audio and turn by turn via the radio and display on the evic was amazing.

I wish it was able to go back a few model years. Would love to have on my 16.
Can the pre 2018 trucks be retrofitted with the newer Android Auto/CarPlay radios? I know the 2018 radios have a lot of delaminated screen issues so there are quite a few for sale on eBay. The screen replacement isn’t a difficult job if you can find an available screen. Wonder if all the connections on the older vehicles are there for the newer radios.
 
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maillemaker

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https://www.ramforum.com/threads/uconnect-3g-to-4g.170220/ is an option, but from the thread it doesn't sound like a good one.

I never bother with factory navigation. Google Maps has always been the superior option, or one of the other free to use competitors. Yes, I know, "they" track me. Don't care. I'm in a publicly viewable area when I'm driving and never thought I was invisible to begin with.
I use it all the time. Wish I could get it to display on the center console though.
 

hunterdan

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Can the pre 2018 trucks be retrofitted with the newer Android Auto/CarPlay radios? I know the 2018 radios have a lot of delaminated screen issues so there are quite a few for sale on eBay. The screen replacement isn’t a difficult job if you can find an available screen. Wonder if all the connections on the older vehicles are there for the newer radios.
Yes, there are several threads on how to do it. Requires the radio and the media hub at minimum. 2018 radios seem to be the only ones experiencing the delamination issues. As for the op, you have a few options, update the maps in the truck, swap to a newer radio with carplay, or swap to an aftermarket stereo with carplay.
 
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maillemaker

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Yes, I understand the fixes. I've ordered the map update ($150). It just bugs me that you pay for a thing and it stops working. I understand that technology marches on and that is fine. But nothing on a 1964 Mustang just stopped working when new cars were invented. Everything it was sold with kept working until it wore out.

I think now the proper solution is to replace the radio with a modern replacement that supports Apple Car Play. Looks like it will be a couple grand to get it done right.
 

Rayzaa

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Apple is the worst. My little used iPhone 7 will cease to be supported with updates shortly. I think that IOS 15 is last. End 2022, iPhone 7 will receive no more security patches or updates so basically, done if you care about privacy and not being hacked!
Why oh why do we just throw stuff away like this?????

Also rant done!
Devices like phones only get 5 years support on those things some less than that.
And really who keeps their phone 7 seven years? It's rare and they know it so why have people keep making updates for the few that keep their thier phones that long?

Samsung is the worst at updates, not Apple. You are doing good to get 1 OS update with Samsung.
 
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Rayzaa

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Yes, I understand the fixes. I've ordered the map update ($150). It just bugs me that you pay for a thing and it stops working. I understand that technology marches on and that is fine. But nothing on a 1964 Mustang just stopped working when new cars were invented. Everything it was sold with kept working until it wore out.

I think now the proper solution is to replace the radio with a modern replacement that supports Apple Car Play. Looks like it will be a couple grand to get it done right.
Not even. I ordered a Kenwood touchscreen with Android auto and Apple Carplay capability and it was $400. I am putting it in myself but I think it's only $100 for Best Buy to put it in. Might be free if you buy it there.
 

Wirerat

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I went through this with my 2017. Uconnect removed my favorite feature of the nav. I could map a location on my phone and send the address to the trucks nav.

The 8.4 nav was very cumbersome to type in the address manually. It also locks out entering address when vehicle is moving.

When I upgraded to the 2020, I just wanted andriod auto/car play with sirus. I made sure the truck has no nav, no connected services.
 

Docwagon1776

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Yes, I understand the fixes. I've ordered the map update ($150). It just bugs me that you pay for a thing and it stops working. I understand that technology marches on and that is fine. But nothing on a 1964 Mustang just stopped working when new cars were invented. Everything it was sold with kept working until it wore out.

I think now the proper solution is to replace the radio with a modern replacement that supports Apple Car Play. Looks like it will be a couple grand to get it done right.

Well, the good news is that the truck isn't completely clapped out by 100k miles and the modem not being supported won't leave you on the side of the road. Much less of a bother than anything from the 60s.

Just imagine your modem wore out and needs a rebuild. New electron gaskets and the GPS needs re-jetted. Then it'll be in your comfort zone and a complete non-issue. Plus you don't have to try and source 8-tracks to keep your radio from being obsolete...
 

turkeybird56

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I went through this with my 2017. Uconnect removed my favorite feature of the nav. I could map a location on my phone and send the address to the trucks nav.

The 8.4 nav was very cumbersome to type in the address manually. It also locks out entering address when vehicle is moving.

When I upgraded to the 2020, I just wanted andriod auto/car play with sirus. I made sure the truck has no nav, no connected services.
I was so happy, when I bought MY 19 DT truck, it only had a plain jane U Connect 4 radio, no SOS< 911, OTA's, ne thing. Plug in phone and away U go, LOL.
 

Oliver Closehauf

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What they need is just a big touch screen that your phone uses. So you can set up whatever apps you want on your phone and when you start the vehicle it automatically connects to your phone and becomes the phones touch screen.

Or is that what U-connect is? I don't know, I don't have it and I don't install any apps on my phone.
 

Docwagon1776

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What they need is just a big touch screen that your phone uses. So you can set up whatever apps you want on your phone and when you start the vehicle it automatically connects to your phone and becomes the phones touch screen.

Or is that what U-connect is? I don't know, I don't have it and I don't install any apps on my phone.

I *believe* that's what is called "screen mirroring" and some aftermarket radios offer it. No idea how well it works, though.
 

Wirerat

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I was so happy, when I bought MY 19 DT truck, it only had a plain jane U Connect 4 radio, no SOS< 911, OTA's, ne thing. Plug in phone and away U go, LOL.
Exactly this, I had drove several laramie rams and a limited. As well as a 2019 Tundra platinum (I tried, couldn't stand how they drive).

The one I ended up with had no sunroof nor connected services and less miles/cheaper to boot.

So far andriod auto from my note 20 ultra has been flawless. My only disappointment is how few apps there is compatible.
 

Mister Luck

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Yes, I understand the fixes. I've ordered the map update ($150). It just bugs me that you pay for a thing and it stops working. I understand that technology marches on and that is fine. But nothing on a 1964 Mustang just stopped working when new cars were invented. Everything it was sold with kept working until it wore out.

I think now the proper solution is to replace the radio with a modern replacement that supports Apple Car Play. Looks like it will be a couple grand to get it done right.
Did FCA inform you there is a subscription service to operate your updated unit ?
 
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