What to expect with an Aftermarket HU

[Souths1der]

I have a 2013 with the stock RA2 head unit. I have been kind of pushed into an aftermarket head unit. I've owned them in the past, but not in a while, and in less sophisticated cars. Since there is so much that I control through the head unit now that has nothing to do with music, what should I expect with not having a stock HU to control these things? After I take out the stock HU, does it retain the last settings, so is it simply that I make sure I have all those settings to a point where I don't think I'll need to change them?

I'm moving to a Pioneer HU that has the iDatalink connection, but iDatalink doesn't look to have a solution for the Ram just yet. When they do I'll probably get it and then theoretically have all the access to these settings. Some feedback from those that have gone this route would be extremely helpful.

 

[troutspinner]

I don't know if or if not those setting would "stick" after you remove the unit. I will say I have disconnected my RA3 unit and when I plugged it back in, all of my settings and even presets were still there. I don't know if this was due to the canbus or that there is internal storage on the radio. The same held true when I disconnected the battery on the vehicle, all settings remained.

I've used the iDatalink Maestro in my last Ford F150. It worked really well, we just have to be patient until they come up with a solution for the Ram.....if they do.

I don't know the sound quality of the RA2 but I am impressed with my RA3. It is one of the best sounding stock HU's I've heard when it comes to clean tonal quality. Maybe consider offloading the duty to a DSP? Unless your heart is set on a double din navigation HU. That in itself will require some cutting behind the bezel as it is setup for a single din.

 

[PCT]

not to revive an old post but, Idatalink has released a solution for ram, and i am contact crutchfield to get it ordered