INFO - 2013-2018 8.4A /AN FW Notes (RA3/VP3-NA & RA4/VP4-NA & UAx)

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JW2 Innovations

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Just checked. I don't have any versions but version 17.43.01 has a download link in post 7. I that not what you're looking for?


Edit: Oh I see 2014 only...sorry
Thanks for checking, I've been trying to be careful to find only MY16 files which I think from all that I've read is correct.
 

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My 2016 Ram 2500 like some others was made in Canada but is now down south in USA with me. Was just wanting to update my maps and add my truck to my SiriusXM account, and have been reading countless details about how to do this.
At one point I called my dealer supplying some details and was told I would have to pay (and expected some cost) $160 per version of upgrade needed to get to version needed to update my maps (this price does NOT include updated maps), which they claim is 3 versions. 15.30.2 to 16.x.x, 16.x.x to 17.11.x, and 17.11.x to 17.43.x which would be $480.00 plus tax just to update firmware. That sounds crazy to me, so thought I would see if anyone here knows what options there are, and if a DIY option where to get the files.

Software version: 15.30.2
NaviServer: 9.10.32.532696
HU Part Number from screen: 68258675AF
It is a VP4-CA
Has NAV with Map DB: CMCN4VP4NA;HMNA2014 Q2;20141213
If I need to supply more detail, please let me know. I've read through countless pages on this site, followed the Post #7 links which are no longer posted for CA download on other site, so hoping someone has what I need to update this without just chucking this one (selling) and getting a 2018/19 or newer one - which won't be for many months.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Update: I wasn't successful in finding RA4/VP4-CA firmware files. But somewhere along the way I read that someone had updated successfully to 18.x.x on a Canadian radio from either 17.11.x or 17.43.x. So I kept digging and so far, I'm up to 17.43.01 on a VP4-CA radio by doing the following:

I started with:
VP4 (NAV Version) from Canada(CA) - P/N: 68258675AF
Starting with SW version: 15.30.2

I found some MY16 files for VP4 radios, but they were all North America (NA).

Versions I found were: 15.44.4, 16.33.29, 17.11.07, and eventually 17.43.01 - Again, all NA.
So I found a 8gb USB thumb drive, formatted it to Fat32, and started with 15.44.4 and worked my way up.

Since these take a little while, I hooked up a battery charger to my truck. Got inside with key fob and closed the drivers door. Put my push button start into Run but NOT starting the truck. Inserted USB drive in and waited for the screen to tell me whether or not the image was good for my radio - and the display screen indicated that it was good and a Yes/No option if I wanted to continue. Radio began to check the ISO and go into each area the firmware was updated for this version. Finished, restarted the radio, and I left the USB drive in until it asked me AGAIN if I wanted to upgrade my radio - but this time it showed that I was on 15.44.4 and same question was up asking if I wanted to upgrade to 15.44.4. To me that indicates the upgrade is complete so this time I selected NO. I then checked system settings, and indeed I was no longer on 15.30.2, but now on 15.44.4

So I repeated the same steps - with one change. I put down all the windows after putting the truck into Run on my pushbutton start. Got out of the truck leaving it in Run (but not running), closed the drivers door and then reached in through open passenger window inserting the USB key in center console and then selecting YES to do the next upgrade when the question came up on the screen. TOO HOT inside the truck. :)

I do want to mention that during the 17.11.07 update, I stuck around and notices that once it applied 3 of 15 and then again on 4 of 15 updates the radio reset/rebooted. But on each one it did NOT repeat those steps again (but did repeat 1 of 15 and 2 of 15 updates). The rest of the update went as expected.

So at this point I'm on 17.43.01, I can see both bed camera button and tailgate one and they both work when selected. NAV when I select the MAP icon dose say it needs to calibrate and take it to a major road to start that, but no buttons to push. Probably just a sync thing. Radio works well and kept all my channels on FM, so that's good. I'll test it out more in a few days, but very happy I didn't have to pay the dealership $480 to get to the min FW version just to update the maps.

Who knows, maybe I'll see if I can find the 18.45.01 MY16 NA file and go up to that..

Hope this helps others!
 
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SitKneelBend

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Update: I wasn't successful in finding RA4/VP4-CA firmware files. But somewhere along the way I read that someone had updated successfully to 18.x.x on a Canadian radio from either 17.11.x or 17.43.x. So I kept digging and so far, I'm up to 7.11.01 on a VP4-CA radio by doing the following:

I started with:
VP4 (NAV Version) from Canada(CA) - P/N: 68258675AF
Starting with SW version: 15.30.2

I found some MY16 files for VP4 radios, but they were all North America (NA).

Versions I found were: 15.44.4, 16.33.29, 17.11.07, and eventually 17.43.01 - Again, all NA.
So I found a 8gb USB thumb drive, formatted it to Fat32, and started with 15.44.4 and worked my way up.

Since these take a little while, I hooked up a battery charger to my truck. Got inside with key fob and closed the drivers door. Put my push button start into Run but NOT starting the truck. Inserted USB drive in and waited for the screen to tell me whether or not the image was good for my radio - and the display screen indicated that it was good and a Yes/No option if I wanted to continue. Radio began to check the ISO and go into each area the firmware was updated for this version. Finished, restarted the radio, and I left the USB drive in until it asked me AGAIN if I wanted to upgrade my radio - but this time it showed that I was on 15.44.4 and same question was up asking if I wanted to upgrade to 15.44.4. To me that indicates the upgrade is complete so this time I selected NO. I then checked system settings, and indeed I was no longer on 15.30.2, but now on 15.44.4

So I repeated the same steps - with one change. I put down all the windows after putting the truck into Run on my pushbutton start. Got out of the truck leaving it in Run (but not running), closed the drivers door and then reached in through open passenger window inserting the USB key in center console and then selecting YES to do the next upgrade when the question came up on the screen. TOO HOT inside the truck. :)

I do want to mention that during the 17.11.07 update, I stuck around and notices that once it applied 3 of 15 and then again on 4 of 15 updates the radio reset/rebooted. But on each one it did NOT repeat those steps again (but did repeat 1 of 15 and 2 of 15 updates). The rest of the update went as expected.

So at this point I'm on 17.43.01, I can see both bed camera button and tailgate one and they both work when selected. NAV when I select the MAP icon dose say it needs to calibrate and take it to a major road to start that, but no buttons to push. Probably just a sync thing. Radio works well and kept all my channels on FM, so that's good. I'll test it out more in a few days, but very happy I didn't have to pay the dealership $480 to get to the min FW version just to update the maps.

Who knows, maybe I'll see if I can find the 18.45.01 MY16 NA file and go up to that..

Hope this helps others!
Glad to hear it! One thing I will mention on the map updates is they are typically pretty old maps (about 2-3 years behind).
 

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Glad to hear it! One thing I will mention on the map updates is they are typically pretty old maps (about 2-3 years behind).
Understood. Looks like my maps are from 2014 Q2. So about 9 years old. If NAV were 3 years old by upgrading, I'd be driving on a lot more roads according to my NAV than I am today. :) Today my NAV shows me 4 wheeling it off road way too often!
 

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Update: I wasn't successful in finding RA4/VP4-CA firmware files. But somewhere along the way I read that someone had updated successfully to 18.x.x on a Canadian radio from either 17.11.x or 17.43.x. So I kept digging and so far, I'm up to 7.11.01 on a VP4-CA radio by doing the following:

I started with:
VP4 (NAV Version) from Canada(CA) - P/N: 68258675AF
Starting with SW version: 15.30.2

I found some MY16 files for VP4 radios, but they were all North America (NA).

Versions I found were: 15.44.4, 16.33.29, 17.11.07, and eventually 17.43.01 - Again, all NA.
So I found a 8gb USB thumb drive, formatted it to Fat32, and started with 15.44.4 and worked my way up.

Since these take a little while, I hooked up a battery charger to my truck. Got inside with key fob and closed the drivers door. Put my push button start into Run but NOT starting the truck. Inserted USB drive in and waited for the screen to tell me whether or not the image was good for my radio - and the display screen indicated that it was good and a Yes/No option if I wanted to continue. Radio began to check the ISO and go into each area the firmware was updated for this version. Finished, restarted the radio, and I left the USB drive in until it asked me AGAIN if I wanted to upgrade my radio - but this time it showed that I was on 15.44.4 and same question was up asking if I wanted to upgrade to 15.44.4. To me that indicates the upgrade is complete so this time I selected NO. I then checked system settings, and indeed I was no longer on 15.30.2, but now on 15.44.4

So I repeated the same steps - with one change. I put down all the windows after putting the truck into Run on my pushbutton start. Got out of the truck leaving it in Run (but not running), closed the drivers door and then reached in through open passenger window inserting the USB key in center console and then selecting YES to do the next upgrade when the question came up on the screen. TOO HOT inside the truck. :)

I do want to mention that during the 17.11.07 update, I stuck around and notices that once it applied 3 of 15 and then again on 4 of 15 updates the radio reset/rebooted. But on each one it did NOT repeat those steps again (but did repeat 1 of 15 and 2 of 15 updates). The rest of the update went as expected.

So at this point I'm on 17.43.01, I can see both bed camera button and tailgate one and they both work when selected. NAV when I select the MAP icon dose say it needs to calibrate and take it to a major road to start that, but no buttons to push. Probably just a sync thing. Radio works well and kept all my channels on FM, so that's good. I'll test it out more in a few days, but very happy I didn't have to pay the dealership $480 to get to the min FW version just to update the maps.

Who knows, maybe I'll see if I can find the 18.45.01 MY16 NA file and go up to that..

Hope this helps others!
Update on 18.45.01 step:
I found a firmware file for RA4/VP4 file for MY13-17 in version 18.45.01 and applied the same way as described above - again, this file was the North America (NA) version. No issues with update, now reading the latest version.

Not saying this will/should work for all that have a Canada built Ram, but for my situation it did.

To me, taking it in small chunks for firmware updates though it does take more time is the key. Along with either running your truck, or like I did doing in the Run position on the push button start (and assuming with key fob in Run position/engine off) and batteries fulling charged on charger during the entire process is an important approach. That, and once you start - DO NOT take out the USB until it asks you the second time if you want to upgrade your radio from a version (Ex: 17.11.01) to the same version (Ex: 17.11.01) With this second message with duplicate versions you know the update took, and is being seen. When you get that message with duplicate versions, press NO and then remove the USB update key. No need to update same version of firmware over itself again (unless you are seeing other issues and found another download to try and overwrite that version on your Radio)

Again, hope this helps others.
 

simplyal

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I believe I've researched enough and wanted to confirm that I am on the right track. I am about to pull the trigger on a UAS 68331635AK pulled from a 2019 1500 Warlock and going to install in my 2016 1500 Longhorn/Limited.

What's the difference between 68331635AA & 68340153AK ?

After Install, will the radio have all the features enabled for my Ram? Heated/Cooled seats, back up camera, 7 speed fan, etc etc.

I have hardwired a charging cable just above the radio so I can have my phone charge while in the phone mount. Is there a secondary connection from the new media HUB that can be run from the Media hub to where I want to run for charging and for Android Auto?

MEDIA HUB: 68328704AC (RAM)
MEDIA HUB CONVERSION HARNESS

Also looking for members recommendations for where to buy the HUB and Harness. I also believe I saw where someone can 3D print a bracket to fit the media hub?


1684171998154.png

1684171967966.png
 
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JW2 Innovations

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I believe I've researched enough and wanted to confirm that I am on the right track. I am about to pull the trigger on a UAS 68331635AK pulled from a 2019 1500 Warlock and going to install in my 2016 1500 Longhorn/Limited.

What's the difference between 68331635AA & 68340153AK ?

After Install, will the radio have all the features enabled for my Ram? Heated/Cooled seats, back up camera, 7 speed fan, etc etc.

I have hardwired a charging cable just above the radio so I can have my phone charge while in the phone mount. Is there a secondary connection from the new media HUB that can be run from the Media hub to where I want to run for charging and for Android Auto?

MEDIA HUB: 68328704AC (RAM)
MEDIA HUB CONVERSION HARNESS

Also looking for members recommendations for where to buy the HUB and Harness. I also believe I saw where someone can 3D print a bracket to fit the media hub?


View attachment 521298

View attachment 521297
I saved this off another thread somewhere on this site, but it has your P/N's in it - looks like one is USA model number, and the other is Canada - both without NAV:

2018/19 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (USA)
68331631Ax (UAQ 4c Nav)
or 68331635Ax (UAS 4c non-nav)

2020/21 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (USA)
68461699Ax (UAQ 4c Nav)
or 68461703Ax (UAS 4c non-nav)

---------------------
2018/19 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (Canadian)
68331632Ax (UCQ 4c Nav)
or 68340153Ax (UCS 4c non-nav)

2020/21 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (Canadian)
68461700Ax (UCQ 4c Nav)
or 68461704AC (UCS 4c non-nav)
 

SitKneelBend

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I believe I've researched enough and wanted to confirm that I am on the right track. I am about to pull the trigger on a UAS 68331635AK pulled from a 2019 1500 Warlock and going to install in my 2016 1500 Longhorn/Limited.

What's the difference between 68331635AA & 68340153AK ?

After Install, will the radio have all the features enabled for my Ram? Heated/Cooled seats, back up camera, 7 speed fan, etc etc.

I have hardwired a charging cable just above the radio so I can have my phone charge while in the phone mount. Is there a secondary connection from the new media HUB that can be run from the Media hub to where I want to run for charging and for Android Auto?

MEDIA HUB: 68328704AC (RAM)
MEDIA HUB CONVERSION HARNESS

Also looking for members recommendations for where to buy the HUB and Harness. I also believe I saw where someone can 3D print a bracket to fit the media hub?


View attachment 521298

View attachment 521297
@Mpgrimm2 can s make a conversion harness for you and answer most of your questions specifically for your truck.
 

simplyal

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I saved this off another thread somewhere on this site, but it has your P/N's in it - looks like one is USA model number, and the other is Canada - both without NAV:

2018/19 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (USA)
68331631Ax (UAQ 4c Nav)
or 68331635Ax (UAS 4c non-nav)

2020/21 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (USA)
68461699Ax (UAQ 4c Nav)
or 68461703Ax (UAS 4c non-nav)

---------------------
2018/19 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (Canadian)
68331632Ax (UCQ 4c Nav)
or 68340153Ax (UCS 4c non-nav)

2020/21 classic 4th Gen Ram Radio: (Canadian)
68461700Ax (UCQ 4c Nav)
or 68461704AC (UCS 4c non-nav)

Dammit. I missed that part. What issues could/would I have if I used a Canadian version?
 

JW2 Innovations

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Dammit. I missed that part. What issues could/would I have if I used a Canadian version?
Sorry, I don't have one of those yet. You might want to search around on this forum for those details. I'm sure it's come up before since newer style radios started in 2018 model from what I understand.
 

richard_godin121

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Hey Guys,
First time poster, Long time lurker. Kinda stumbled upon this forum. Happened to look at my canadian versions. And noticed my FW is pretty outdated. However when i look at UConnect. It states i am up to date. How would one go about force updating from 16.21.19 on P/N 68270663AD Seems as though there isnt any updates posted here regarding it.
2017 Ram 1500
5.7Hemi
68270663AD
16.21.19 SW Version
 

jcd302

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Hey Guys,
First time poster, Long time lurker. Kinda stumbled upon this forum. Happened to look at my canadian versions. And noticed my FW is pretty outdated. However when i look at UConnect. It states i am up to date. How would one go about force updating from 16.21.19 on P/N 68270663AD Seems as though there isnt any updates posted here regarding it.
2017 Ram 1500
5.7Hemi
68270663AD
16.21.19 SW Version
Kind of in the same situation trying to update from 15.30.2 (US) It seems you have to go in steps to get to the newest. Just make sure when you find files they are the right year and there is a difference with Non-Navigation (RA3/VP3) and Nav (RA4/VP4) systems. I think Canadian versions are RC3 & RC4.
 

reddawg67

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Hi , just completed the 8.4 upgrade with a 2017 ra3 non nav 225 hvac module used 145 8.4 bezel 150 with the atc buttonpractically new ! and the awsome wirring harness from @Mpgrimm2 and M2mods for 210 with the atc bulit in . grand total 730.oo alot cheaper than the 1400 bucks from infotainment peeps and works like a charm . Tanks again @Mpgrimm2 for the tech support . But the wife says i cant talk to you anymore lol to many mod ideas ! Also up dated the files from this website with no glitches and works flawlessly ! Thanks to all who keep this thread updated and put in the time working on these upgrades ! My 2017 ram 1500 express 5.7 hemi is coming around slowly . atc upgrade is next then heated and cooled leather seats if its affordable lol .... shhh dont tell the wife (wink)
 

Selecters75

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Hi, I'm new to this forum and just bought my first Ram 1500 (Sport 2013) a couple of days ago. :)

Sorry if these questions have been answered already, I've been trying to read up on this subject but it's a big thread with a lot of information to take in.

I've checked the SW-version on my radio and it's 13.06.2 with P/N: 68140964AH according to dealer mode. Nav is activated on it.
I guess my model is a export version since the Uconnect website says that my system qualifies for 8.4A_15_26_1_MY14_RJ3 (which I can't download for some reason).
Since it says MY14 on their website, is it a MY14 radio and not MY13 or is it unrelated to the hardware?

Assuming that I have an export version, is it "safe" to proceed with the files for the correspondig MY or are these SW-updates only for the non export versions?


Thanks!

EDIT: I realize that I need probably need firmware (17.46.01) for the EMEA-version (RJ3/RJ4) which I've found both for MY13 and MY14. I suspect that I should go with the MY14 version?
Tried to Google P/N: 68140964AH but can't really determine if it's a 2013 or 2014 part.
Were you able to solve this? Were you able to find the 8.4A_15_26_1_MY14_RJ3 file? Thanks!
 

Runninstuff

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@Mpgrimm2 Hooked me up with everything I needed to get my 2014 RAM 2500 CCLB 6.7L upgraded to the 8.4 with Single ATC. Even gave text support during the install. 5 Star Experience....
 

Runninstuff

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I need help getting CANADA software files for a 2016 VP3 Radio Part number 68258676Ax. I need the 17.xx.xx files first then I can update to the 18.45.01.
 

alamartina

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New to the Forum. I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask my question or if I should start a new thread. Feel free to educate me. I appreciate the guidance.
Question: Can NAV be unlocked through alphaOBD or is there more to it than that? I have a 2018 Ram 1500 with 8.4 Radio. Thank you for any information/ guidance.
Best regards,
 
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Mpgrimm2

Mpgrimm2

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New to the Forum. I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask my question or if I should start a new thread. Feel free to educate me. I appreciate the guidance.
Question: Can NAV be unlocked through alphaOBD or is there more to it than that? I have a 2018 Ram 1500 with 8.4 Radio. Thank you for any information/ guidance.
Best regards,
The factory 2018/19-22 Panasonic 4c 8.4 UAs/UCs radios do not have the ability to have the navigation unlocked/added via dealer, AlfaOBD, or anything else.
 

alamartina

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Thanks for your reply. I spoke with UConnect, and they quoted me the price to activate. I'll have to verify with UConnect. Thanks,
 
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