A rant about electronics becoming obsolete and quitting working.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

UncleJohn631

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2022
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Long Island
Ram Year
2020
Engine
Hemi
On a long trip I'll plug it in and leave it. Short trips, I can leave it in my pocket and not futz with it from stop to stop. I do it with bluetooth now, but sound quality is better through wifi than bluetooth, so using this wireless is like plugging it in. In rental cars, wireless was great.
This looks interesting for my 2020 Laramie, but do you have to plug and unplug the adapter every time you use it? Wouldn't it drain the battery if left plugged in when not in the car or driving?
 

Justin33

Senior Member
Joined
May 16, 2015
Posts
483
Reaction score
111
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
If it makes you feel any better my head unit will randomly shut off and reboot or not let me go to xm for no reason. It’s really fun when the volume keeps going up uncontrollably. Part of me wonders if it’s a bad ground or my remote start doing it.
 

Kgbship

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2021
Posts
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Tennessee
Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 6.1
I also had to update my 16 Ram to 4G with the adapter. Problem is it won’t connect to internet. I just switch WI-FI off on phone and “BAM” I’m connected to 5G. Since we travel mostly on I-40 in Tennessee there’s 5G always between Memphis and Nashville. Also all along US 45 in Mississippi to Gulf Coast.
 

Docwagon1776

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Posts
2,178
Reaction score
3,565
Location
Midwest
Ram Year
2012, 2021
Engine
5.7, 6.4
This looks interesting for my 2020 Laramie, but do you have to plug and unplug the adapter every time you use it? Wouldn't it drain the battery if left plugged in when not in the car or driving?

It's not me who has one of those adapter devices, so can't tell you. I've only used wireless via head units originally equipped for it.
 

Phillyrube

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Jan 17, 2021
Posts
530
Reaction score
502
Location
Flatistan
Ram Year
2008
Engine
5.7
I inherited my 2008. Old owner didnt want to upgrade the GPS or knowing him well, didn't know how to. So he just put in a new head unit. Ive got 2 of the 4 previous units.
 

Scottly

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2018
Posts
1,185
Reaction score
2,197
Location
Safety Harbor, FL
Ram Year
2021
Engine
HO 6.7 Cummins
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.
An old friend who was an engineer used to tell me, as a young man, "It's called pre-planned obsolescence". I never really believed him. Modern electronics proved his statement correct....It's just more noticeable.
 

turkeybird56

Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army
Military
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
18,759
Reaction score
42,960
Location
Central Texas
Ram Year
2019 Bighorn, 4 X 4, 3.21 rear, Bright Flame Red Pearl Coat, Mopar tonneau cover,Westin Bed rug
Engine
Hemi 5.7
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!
BECAUSE the whole friggin world is a Throw Away Society. Nothing you buy is made to last a long time. From washers, dish washers, wateva, pick something. My house is 40 years old with an extra AC in the wall on an added porch, 40 years old. It still runs fine and cools well (still gets colder than MY 19 truck's AC), U neva get that ne more, just saying. BOIRD Brain gobble over.
 

turkeybird56

Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army
Military
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
18,759
Reaction score
42,960
Location
Central Texas
Ram Year
2019 Bighorn, 4 X 4, 3.21 rear, Bright Flame Red Pearl Coat, Mopar tonneau cover,Westin Bed rug
Engine
Hemi 5.7
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.
I bought a multi radio/CD/cassette/turntable unit. I still have cassettes with good music on them and LP's, Have U ever gone into a store, even Walmart and see how much they want for a record now? The other day I saw a record of an older group in Walmart and it was $36, WTF over.
 

Rayzaa

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Posts
267
Reaction score
192
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Ram Year
2007
Engine
5.7
Well the thing to combat their obsoleteness is to put a aftermarket uni in. Its cheaper than buying a new vehicle.
 

GTyankee

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Posts
10,061
Reaction score
12,607
Location
El Cajon Calif. 92021
Ram Year
2016
Engine
3.0 ecodiesel
You will soon notice at the record stores
78s are coming back & i think they mentioned CD's too
 

turkeybird56

Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army
Military
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
18,759
Reaction score
42,960
Location
Central Texas
Ram Year
2019 Bighorn, 4 X 4, 3.21 rear, Bright Flame Red Pearl Coat, Mopar tonneau cover,Westin Bed rug
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Well the thing to combat their obsoleteness is to put a aftermarket uni in. Its cheaper than buying a new vehicle.
DITTO< suks, but would be a work around. MAKES me wonder what happens when 4G LTE goes away, then I be a screwed, up the river in a canoe, no oars.
 
Last edited:

PaleFlyer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2022
Posts
429
Reaction score
235
Location
Charlotte NC
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Ram changed the manufacturer of the radio in 2018, from Harmon, which you have, to Panasonic. There is a thread about installing a 2018 radio in older 4th gen's, to get Apple/Google car interfaces.
 

turkeybird56

Military Vet 1976-1996 Retired US Army
Military
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
18,759
Reaction score
42,960
Location
Central Texas
Ram Year
2019 Bighorn, 4 X 4, 3.21 rear, Bright Flame Red Pearl Coat, Mopar tonneau cover,Westin Bed rug
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Top