SYNC QUESTION...

[Lammer]

I was looking at that last batch of FORD commercials where they have a bunch of people talk about the new technology in their FORD.

One guy in an ESCAPE shows how he uses SYNC to play a song, via the steering wheel controls.

The problem I have is that I cannot ask SYNC to play a song right away via the steering wheel controls, I need to first say USB or SYNC (cannot recall as the Flex is my wife's and I only drive it once in awhile), then I can do the command.

Is there an upgrade in SYNC that allows one to immediately command SYNC to "play song". without going through the steps?

[sinister mob]

In mine if the USB is not the current selection for playing devices (CD, Aux, Sirrius etc) then you have to tell Sync first to go to the USB. I do mine from the wheel as well. Press the Media button, say USB, then my play command. If I have it in USB and get out of the vehicle then get back in, it stays on the USB. Then you can just command at will.

[Lammer]

...from further digging I think my problem is not with SYNC itself, but rather, the NAV system.

It is my understanding that '09's with SYNC/NAV system, doesn't have an option for the NAV system to be turned off, thus only the SYNC (USB) will be default and thus need only voice the secondary commands.

The '10's have rectified this problem with the ability of the user to turn off the NAV system and thus simplify/speed up the commands for music via USB.

Disappointed, I was hoping there was an upgrade available for a work around... anybody with a '09 NAV system care to chime in?

[rrhos]

On a somewhat related note. I just bought a used 2009 Escape. Does anyone know how to make the voice quieter. When Sync says "say a command" it is so loud I always have to turn it down. Then the next time it speaks, it is back at the same horrific loud volume.

Also, maybe it's the phone, but half the time calls are not directed through the car speaker system. There is some kindof "privacy" mode that seems to get turned on and the calls all just go to the phone.

So far sync has been a disappointment.

[ewfarquhar]

Control the volume of the sync command voice in the phone mode. Hit the phone button and turn the volume way down. The volume for the radio/satellite/USB are controlled separately in their own menu. Kind of a pain in the butt as I always have to turn the phone volume UP to make calls, and then remember to turn the volume back down before I return to USB mode.

On a somewhat related note. I just bought a used 2009 Escape. Does anyone know how to make the voice quieter. When Sync says "say a command" it is so loud I always have to turn it down. Then the next time it speaks, it is back at the same horrific loud volume.

Also, maybe it's the phone, but half the time calls are not directed through the car speaker system. There is some kindof "privacy" mode that seems to get turned on and the calls all just go to the phone.

So far sync has been a disappointment.

[KC5ZRQ]

I need to first say USB or SYNC (cannot recall as the Flex is my wife's and I only drive it once in awhile), then I can do the command.

The MEDIA button is a two way switch. You can press it on the outside to toggle through the different inputs. So you can toggle to USB instead of saying it. This is usually quicker.

[C17chief]

Control the volume of the sync command voice in the phone mode. Hit the phone button and turn the volume way down. The volume for the radio/satellite/USB are controlled separately in their own menu. Kind of a pain in the butt as I always have to turn the phone volume UP to make calls, and then remember to turn the volume back down before I return to USB mode.

On a somewhat related note. I just bought a used 2009 Escape. Does anyone know how to make the voice quieter. When Sync says "say a command" it is so loud I always have to turn it down. Then the next time it speaks, it is back at the same horrific loud volume.

Also, maybe it's the phone, but half the time calls are not directed through the car speaker system. There is some kindof "privacy" mode that seems to get turned on and the calls all just go to the phone.

So far sync has been a disappointment.

Seems like I have tried this before, but the volume level doesnt stick. It's back to super loud next time the car is started. Seems to be a known issue as there are many complaints about this at syncmyride, and finally an engineer that acknowledged it. What kind of irks me is in so many words they basicly said it's the radios fault and not sync thus a fix on the sync side wasnt likely. Now if you ask me, I dont see why they cant program some sort of master volume routine into Sync to control the audio output level being fed to the radio. I dont see how they could of NOT had a setting built in like that from the beginning, given the same basic units are used with an array of different audio systems, which of course all audio systems arent going to output the same audio level fed to it at the same listening volume. With a master volume setting, it would allowed the Sync modules to not only be better matched to each audio unit it is possibly used with (instead of being potentially to loud on one radio, too quiet on another, etc), but allow people to hear the prompts and all at THEIR desired default volume level as well.