SYNC 3 replacement

[Jonnyguitar]

Hi all,

I am trying to install a Linkswell T radio in my 2020 King Ranch. The directions and installation videos leave a lot to be desired. Can anyone tell me what this is? It is behind the touch screen and I needed to remove it to install the B&O adapter. It is at the top of the 1st picture where you can only see the bottom of it and the next 2 pix are front and back after removal. Might but factory back in if I can't figure it out but I am tired of voice commands calling people I don't ask it to and not understanding when I ask for a particular band. The twin evils of Google and Amazon have proven voice commands can work well, but SYNC doesn't always know what I am saying. Love my truck, but SYNC 3 is not the best technology out there. Ford has moved away from Blackberry based systems so we shall see. SYNC isn't horrible, but not what it could be. Can't seem to attach pictures. Will try later.

 

[Jonnyguitar]

Picture of mystery component

 

[Jonnyguitar]

I am customizing the Linkswell 12 inch screen I put in my 2020 Tremor. Here is the boot screen I put on it. When I got it. It had a raptor picture. I am looking to put a boot animation as well. I put the boot screen together and installed it and here is the result.

 

[Digger29]

I was going to go with the Linkswell to after seeing a buddy who has one in his KR super duty but you lose too much to especially if you don't have onboard Wi-Fi. He has an onboard Cradlepoint mobile hotspot running his and it's amazing but that alone was like $1100. The boot up takes way too long in my opinion too because I'd already be out of my driveway before it finished booting up and the rear camera activates. You have to make a list of pros and cons and see if it's worthwhile and it just wasn't worth it for me. Just my 2 cents

 

[Jonnyguitar]

I was going to go with the Linkswell to after seeing a buddy who has one in his KR super duty but you lose too much to especially if you don't have onboard Wi-Fi. He has an onboard Cradlepoint mobile hotspot running his and it's amazing but that alone was like $1100. The boot up takes way too long in my opinion too because I'd already be out of my driveway before it finished booting up and the rear camera activates. You have to make a list of pros and cons and see if it's worthwhile and it just wasn't worth it for me. Just my 2 cents

Hi Digger 29,
I am still working on customizing mine. I agree that if you don't have onboard WiFi, it is probably not worth it. My King Ranch came with AT&T wifi that costs about 20 bucks a month. I got it so I can use my laptop on the road but with the Linkswell, I can check email and do other work related things in case I forget the laptop. I find the boot up on the Gen 4 too be not too much longer than SYNC 3, but sometimes it takes longer than others. I was surprised to see, one time when I was in a hurry, I backed out of the driveway while the static boot screen was still on, and lo and behold, my backup camera and 360 view pops up on the screen even though it hadn't booted yet. It is still too early for me to say this is better than the SYNC 3, as I am still figuring out how to get it to do some things I want, but it is super customizable. My biggest complaint with SYNC 3 is that so many tasks you are locked out of while driving , compared to SYNC 1, and you are forced to use voice commands. That wouldn't be an issue if it actually did what I asked it too or understood me correctly. I think SYNC 3 is an improvement on SYNC 1, but both are a good idea, poorly executed in my opinion. As I mentioned before, Google & Amazon have demonstrated voice command can be done very well and I can use either Google or Alexa with the Linkswell. Hopefully they fix some of this on SYNC 4. Once I have made sure there is no way I am putting the SYNC 3 back in, I will do a proper review. I considered the Phoenix radio which retains SYNC 3, but Linkswell has better customer service and SYNC 3 is what I had an issue with. Will wait and see if the SYNC 3 to 4 upgrade becomes available, but as it's likely to be much more expensive then the Linkswell, I would want to be sure that the bugs were worked out. Enough from me this morning, enjoy the day!

 

[Digger29]

Hi Digger 29,
I am still working on customizing mine. I agree that if you don't have onboard WiFi, it is probably not worth it. My King Ranch came with AT&T wifi that costs about 20 bucks a month. I got it so I can use my laptop on the road but with the Linkswell, I can check email and do other work related things in case I forget the laptop. I find the boot up on the Gen 4 too be not too much longer than SYNC 3, but sometimes it takes longer than others. I was surprised to see, one time when I was in a hurry, I backed out of the driveway while the static boot screen was still on, and lo and behold, my backup camera and 360 view pops up on the screen even though it hadn't booted yet. It is still too early for me to say this is better than the SYNC 3, as I am still figuring out how to get it to do some things I want, but it is super customizable. My biggest complaint with SYNC 3 is that so many tasks you are locked out of while driving , compared to SYNC 1, and you are forced to use voice commands. That wouldn't be an issue if it actually did what I asked it too or understood me correctly. I think SYNC 3 is an improvement on SYNC 1, but both are a good idea, poorly executed in my opinion. As I mentioned before, Google & Amazon have demonstrated voice command can be done very well and I can use either Google or Alexa with the Linkswell. Hopefully they fix some of this on SYNC 4. Once I have made sure there is no way I am putting the SYNC 3 back in, I will do a proper review. I considered the Phoenix radio which retains SYNC 3, but Linkswell has better customer service and SYNC 3 is what I had an issue with. Will wait and see if the SYNC 3 to 4 upgrade becomes available, but as it's likely to be much more expensive then the Linkswell, I would want to be sure that the bugs were worked out. Enough from me this morning, enjoy the day!

I couldn't agree more about the Sync 3 because I've had back to back Raptors (14 and a 17) and I've had my issues with all of the versions of the sync systems. The Sync 3 in my 21 Tremor is a lot better but still leaves a lot to be desired with it's voice recognition feature. I get it, I'm from Ma and it can't figure out my New England accent My ultimate lariat also has onboard Wi-Fi and I've never tried it so that is obviously an option when going with the Linkswell. I watched a bunch of reviews on the Phoenix and the Linkswell and was sold on the Linkswell for the customer service. I called them and got through in like 3 minutes and they guy answered all of my questions. I also watched a number of reviews of both systems after 1 yr and almost all of the guys wouldn't go with either system if they had to do it over again.