Ford F150 - Ford Trip Tunes

deezeljuice · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:25 pm Post subject: Ford Trip Tunes

I bought and installed the TripTunes from a local Ford dealer last week and tried it out. I called two dealerships and asked about it, one was closer. The closer one had never heard of TripTunes before. Anyway, I picked it up for $50 bucks and headed home to install it. I like listening to my ipod in the truck and didn't really want to buy a new head unit for that purpose. I have the 6 disk MP3 unit in a 2006 Lariat and I like the steering wheel controls. I have tried several of the FM modulator units that transmit the signal through an FM station on the radio, and frankly they all sound like crap. Way too much static for my taste. The Belkin unit with the flex arm was the best of the FM mod types by the way. The rest were unusable, at least that one was somewhat usuable.
Installing the trip tunes was pretty easy. Pulling off the trim is a snap (no pun intended). The radio comes out after unscrewing four 6mm screws. Simply slide the radio out and there is a 12v positive and ground wire to hookup for power to the modulator. With a voltage test light, just find each in the power wires going to the radio. Then there is a switch to turn on/off the TripTunes. Run the switch to the glovebox and there is adhesive tape already on the switch, simply stick it to the side of the glovebox. Last, pull the antenna out of the radio and plug in the TripTunes antenna lead o the radio. Then plug the antenna back into the TripTunes, there is a plug for it on the TripTunes. Put everything back in the dash like before.
To use TripTunes, there is a cable that came in the package that plugs into the headphone jack of your iPod. Plug it in and plug the other and into the jack on the switch that went in the glovebox. Tune the radio to 88.3 and you're in business.
Now the quality you're going to hear is relative to several things. If you still have the stock speakers, don't expect alot. If you have upgraded to good quality speakers ( I have Infinity 6x9 directionals) then it's going to sound pretty good. The radio static and station drifting that came with the other FM modulation units is gone. I would call this "near CD" quality. Even while playing classical music during quiet passages, there is basically no static. For playing music in a moving vehicle and the noise associated with that, this is really good. And for the price, it can't be beat. It's cheaper than some of the FM mod units.
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lmullisz1 · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 4:56 am Post subject:

Will the TripTunes work on the single disk cd/mp3 player?

Thanks, Larry

deezeljuice · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:53 am Post subject:

I'm pretty sure it will. There's nothing specific about hooking this up that would only work on one model. There's a power and ground and a plug-in to the antenna. That's all. I'd go for it.
_________________
Swinging for the bleachers in the bottom of the 9th.

imassari · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 12:41 am Post subject:

Could the TripTunes be connected to the HU of the 04 my? I have the audiophile system with the 6CD changer, but mine doesn't read MP3. I saw one on ebay for 260 bucks, it's described as a Lincoln unit, but it should be the same. Or not?
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deezeljuice · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 9:37 am Post subject:

Yes. The only requirement for this unit to work on an in-dash stereo is an FM radio (they all have that) and an FM antenna connection. it works through the FM radio, not the AUX. This thing cuts out the over the air signal and becomes the FM feed. You may hear some static at times, but in my experience there has been little to none. I believe near CD quality is very accurate.