2010 Fusion HD Radio Option

[radioboy]

It's been noted in a few places, including the Custom Accessories brochure for the 2010 Fusion that HD Radio is an option. I have the standard 6-speaker system with Sirius and Sync...and I've asked everywhere about the HD Radio adapter (which is apparently a dealer-installed option)...and no one knows about it. I'd rather not get into a debate about HD Radio vs. Sat Radio...because the fact is, I work in terrestrial radio and like to have lots of choices...I'm just trying to find out what I need to do to actually get HD Radio in my Fusion.

 

I've called Ford directly...they were confused. Called my dealer first...they're still investigating though they mentioned an add-on from Peripheral Electronics. Turns out that's also what the HD Radio people said Ford was recommending for models PRIOR to 2010. No word on if it actually is still the same solution for 2010. Simply, no one knows. Ford was supposed to have been making HD Radio a factory-installed option for this model year...and you'll find Press Releases on Google that state such. However, no luck.

 

Does anyone here have any ideas? Thanks in advance!

[Grey]

I havn't researched it, but for most of my radio related questions I go to the Authorized radio exchange stations for the most reliable and latest information. Most major markets have one or more. Ask your service advisor for the name of their Ford radio exchange station and give them a call. :shift:

[radioboy]

I havn't researched it, but for most of my radio related questions I go to the Authorized radio exchange stations for the most reliable and latest information. Most major markets have one or more. Ask your service advisor for the name of their Ford radio exchange station and give them a call. :shift:

 

Thanks for the advice...funny thing happens to be that that's exactly who the service advisor spoke to. She mentioned the Peripheral Electronics adapter...but had no idea if it would work with the 2010 radio...which isn't exactly standard-looking in the car...so, wish that was the answer.

[radioboy]

Thanks for the advice...funny thing happens to be that that's exactly who the service advisor spoke to. She mentioned the Peripheral Electronics adapter...but had no idea if it would work with the 2010 radio...which isn't exactly standard-looking in the car...so, wish that was the answer.

 

AND now even more confusion straight from Ford: "Thank you for your email in regards to HD Radio Technology.

 

Upon further investigation on fordvehicles.com, HD Radio technology is or will be available as factory-installed equipment on new vehicles in 2010: Available on MOST models. To verify if your vehicle has the HD radio you will need to check with your dealership. Currently there are no after market kits available.

 

For more information on HD Digital Radio, visit www.hdradio.com."

 

Luckily I know someone at HD Radio quite well ... and she's been told something completely different. It's looking more and more like Ford may have rushed this car out the door and left HD Radio in the dust. How can they say there are no aftermarket options available? The folks at Peripheral won't be too happy to hear that. Oh, and the HD Radio folks are absolutely steamed.

[FFHdriver]

It's been noted in a few places, including the Custom Accessories brochure for the 2010 Fusion that HD Radio is an option. I have the standard 6-speaker system with Sirius and Sync...and I've asked everywhere about the HD Radio adapter (which is apparently a dealer-installed option)...and no one knows about it. I'd rather not get into a debate about HD Radio vs. Sat Radio...because the fact is, I work in terrestrial radio and like to have lots of choices...I'm just trying to find out what I need to do to actually get HD Radio in my Fusion.

 

I've called Ford directly...they were confused. Called my dealer first...they're still investigating though they mentioned an add-on from Peripheral Electronics. Turns out that's also what the HD Radio people said Ford was recommending for models PRIOR to 2010. No word on if it actually is still the same solution for 2010. Simply, no one knows. Ford was supposed to have been making HD Radio a factory-installed option for this model year...and you'll find Press Releases on Google that state such. However, no luck.

 

Does anyone here have any ideas? Thanks in advance!

I checked with my dealer who had their radio service people call me. They in turn checked with some other people who said IIRC------ on my non-navigation car with a SIRIUS and not a SAT button on the radio, a module can be put in the Sirius antenna line to receive the HD signals. Also if you can't tune in say 96.1-2 or xxx.x-2 on your dial you don't have HD. I didn't ask the cost for the module..

[radioboy]

I checked with my dealer who had their radio service people call me. They in turn checked with some other people who said IIRC------ on my non-navigation car with a SIRIUS and not a SAT button on the radio, a module can be put in the Sirius antenna line to receive the HD signals. Also if you can't tune in say 96.1-2 or xxx.x-2 on your dial you don't have HD. I didn't ask the cost for the module..

 

My dealer mentioned this as well...however Ford themselves are now saying that that's not even an option. The story from all sides has been murky at best...like there has been a big error in production.

[petras52]

My dealer mentioned this as well...however Ford themselves are now saying that that's not even an option. The story from all sides has been murky at best...like there has been a big error in production.

Anyone interested in the HD radio add on, call customer sales at 800-321-6970.. they offer a visteon kit, model hdz-300 for all ford vehicles...quoted supplier price was around $400 for parts only..may be the reason for the apparent low interest..they will give you the parts numbers you need for your specific vehicle...however it might be cheaper to buy a new aftermarket head unit with built in HD..JVC has several models and kenwood has one that fits the fusion/milan..also sonic electronix has a new custom faceplate that works with aftermarket radios on 2010 fusion models..none of the ford dealers I've talked to have a clue about the HD add-on option...

[radioboy]

Anyone interested in the HD radio add on, call customer sales at 800-321-6970.. they offer a visteon kit, model hdz-300 for all ford vehicles...quoted supplier price was around $400 for parts only..may be the reason for the apparent low interest..they will give you the parts numbers you need for your specific vehicle...however it might be cheaper to buy a new aftermarket head unit with built in HD..JVC has several models and kenwood has one that fits the fusion/milan..also sonic electronix has a new custom faceplate that works with aftermarket radios on 2010 fusion models..none of the ford dealers I've talked to have a clue about the HD add-on option...

 

Well interestingly, I found out WHY the dealers don't know anything. Turns out (and this is straight from my connections at iBiquity...the folks who invented HD Radio)...Ford is introducing HD Radio STANDARD half-way through this 2010 model year. Yep. They've been keeping it pretty hush-hush...but apparently it wasn't quite ready for primetime when they launched the 2010's...but you'll see it start to appear in either December or the first part of 2010.

 

Hate to say it, but that kinda pisses me off.

[zunehd2010]

 

 

Hate to say it, but that kinda pisses me off.

 

wow that freaking sucks. and why is that at every ford dealer they do not know anything about their products.

[Rodeo]

wow that freaking sucks. and why is that at every ford dealer they do not know anything about their products.

That's pretty "par" for the course.

 

Every time I walk into a Dealership, Ford or other, I know more about their cars then they do.. (Sales dept anyway.)

 

I'm ordering mid February, so maybe I will be lucky enough to actually get an HD enabled radio for my SONY system? I can hope!

Edited January 2, 2010 by Rodeo

[Steve R.]

Anyone know the current status of the availability of HD Radio on the Ford Fusion?

 

Below is a link to a press release issued on Sept. 26, 2009.

 

Ford Makes HD Digital Radio Available On Most Products

 

Does this mean that the 2010 Fusions currently being delivered will have the HD Radio, but the existing inventory won't?

Will the HD Radio option require a "special" package?

 

Anyway, the local dealer here believes the HD radio is still unavailable.

[PaulGo]

Anyone know the current status of the availability of HD Radio on the Ford Fusion?

 

Below is a link to a press release issued on Sept. 26, 2009.

 

Ford Makes HD Digital Radio Available On Most Products

 

Does this mean that the 2010 Fusions currently being delivered will have the HD Radio, but the existing inventory won't?

Will the HD Radio option require a "special" package?

 

Anyway, the local dealer here believes the HD radio is still unavailable.

From what I have read - Ford will start putting HD radios in some of their cars starting in 2011 model year.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Ford to offer tagging on HD Radio

Some models will allow downloads later

Posted: Dec. 29, 2009

BY BRENT SNAVELY

FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

 

Starting next year, drivers of some new Ford models who hear a song they like on their high-definition radio receiver will be able to tag it by pressing a button and download it later onto their iPhone or iPod.

 

While the iTunes tagging technology is available on some aftermarket HD Radio receivers, Ford will become the first automaker to offer it as a factory-installed option, said Jeff Jury, chief operating officer for Columbia, Md.-based iBiquity Digital Corp., which is the developer and licenser of HD Radio technology.

 

"It is a great complement to the broader application of Sync," said Jury, whose company also is developing the tagging technology.

 

For Ford, the announcement is the latest in a string of recent advances related to Sync, the voice-controlled telecommunications and entertainment system Ford launched in 2007.

 

Two weeks ago, Ford said it is launching software that allows licensed partners to develop their own software applications to operate with Sync.

 

And last week, Ford said the next generation of Sync will allow anyone who plugs an air card into the Sync USB port to turn the car into a mobile, Wi-Fi hotspot.

 

Ford said iTunes tagging on its next generation of Sync will be able to hold up to 100 songs. Then, when an iPod is connected to iTunes, the customer can approve the purchase and download the songs.

 

Ford isn't saying yet whether HD Radio and iTunes tagging capability will be standard or optional.

 

"HD Radio and iTunes song tagging will be part of an infotainment package launching next year," and additional details will be announced by Ford at the Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, said Ford spokesman Alan Hall.

 

While Ford is the first automaker to offer iTunes tagging, it isn't the first to offer HD Radio. Jury said more than a dozen automakers either already offer HD Radio as a factory-installed option or plan to offer it soon.

 

BMW became the first automaker to offer HD Radio in 2005 and now provides it as standard equipment on eight models. It is already standard on all Volvo models, too.

 

HD Radio technology works just like a regular radio receiver except that it seeks out signals that are being broadcast digitally. When they are found, the receiver automatically transitions to that signal.

 

Ford began offering HD Radio as a dealer-installed option in 2007 and initially planned to introduce HD Radio as a factory-installed option this year. Ford didn't say Monday why that effort was delayed..

Edited January 27, 2010 by PaulGo

[acdii]

Wait, WHAT? iTunes, and Sync? An Apple product working with a Microsoft product? Oh my, next thing you know, ducks will mate with groundhogs. What is the world coming too!!!! :headspin:

[svtenthusiast]

I am also interested in this because I hate the quality of Sirius. I see this will be included on the 2011 Mustang. I sure hope this can be added as an accessory for the current 2010 models, since the radio layouts will be the same.

[HDproblems]

"HD Radio Not High Definition"

 

"Despite iBiquity’s claims of improved sound quality and transmission, there have been numerous complaints about HD Radio from not only the radio industry but also consumers... Automakers are aware of the complaints associated with HD Radio. For example, in 2007, BMW released a Service Information Bulletin describing the problems associated with HD Radio, but noted that there was no retrofit kit or procedure available. The attorneys at Keefe Bartels are continuing their investigation into HD Radio and whether consumers are being forced to purchase technology that does not work as claimed. If you have experienced problems with your factory-installed HD radio receiver, we are interested in speaking to you."

 

http://www.keefebartels.com/CM/HotTopicsandAlerts/HotTopicsandAlerts168.asp

 

Volvo also has a TSB against all 2009/2010 models (TJ20784 MAR 09 Audio System - HD Radio® Troubleshooting Guidelines), so I'de be really careful about being forced to opt for HD Radio, if it comes standard, or a a factory option. We have a 2007 Mustang and 2007 Fusion - I was thinking about looking at the latest Fusions but I will look elsewhere. It seems Ford (an iBiquity investor) may be holdng off on HD Radio, due to a potential class-action agsinst iBiquity and the automakers that offer HD Radio. I am really disappointed that Ford would get involved, and possibly try and force consumers to purchase HD radios. I'm done with Ford.

[Davidoo]

I have the 11 FFH that has HD standard. I really like it as you can hear a better sound quality when the HD kicks in. When you tune to a station you get the analog version first, then after a few seconds the orange HD lights up and you can hear the difference. Just like HD TV, the HD radio, at least for now, does not have the range of analog. I took a trip out of town a couple of weeks ago and about 60 miles away most of the HD disappeared but the radio seamlessly went back to analog which I carried up to 90 or so miles away.

 

I assume it will be the same as with HDTV as when the analog eventually shuts off they can boost their HD signal to get the same range as they used to with analog. Anyone know if there is any set date for radio to switch to digital as they did for TV. I assume if there is it would be many years away considering how few have the new digital radios and how many analog radios are out there.

[akirby]

I have the 11 FFH that has HD standard. I really like it as you can hear a better sound quality when the HD kicks in. When you tune to a station you get the analog version first, then after a few seconds the orange HD lights up and you can hear the difference. Just like HD TV, the HD radio, at least for now, does not have the range of analog. I took a trip out of town a couple of weeks ago and about 60 miles away most of the HD disappeared but the radio seamlessly went back to analog which I carried up to 90 or so miles away.

 

I assume it will be the same as with HDTV as when the analog eventually shuts off they can boost their HD signal to get the same range as they used to with analog. Anyone know if there is any set date for radio to switch to digital as they did for TV. I assume if there is it would be many years away considering how few have the new digital radios and how many analog radios are out there.

 

The switch to digital TV was driven by the gov't wanting to recover some of the analog TV spectrum to use for other services. Unless they decide to take over some of the analog radio spectrum I don't see them forcing anyone to HD radio. The advantage to HD radio is the sets are cheaper so they'll be easier to replace analog sets.