HD Radio Reception and Station Troubleshooting
Potential reception issues
If you are listening to a multicast station and you are on the
fringe of the reception area, the station may mute due to
weak signal strength.
Reception area
If you are listening to HD1, the system changes back to the
analog broadcast until the digital broadcast is available again.
However, if you are listening to any of the possible HD2-HD7
multicast channels, the station mutes and stays muted unless
it is able to connect to the digital signal again.
When the system first receives a station (aside from HD2-
HD7 multicast stations), it first plays the station in the analog
version. Once the receiver verifies the station is an HD Radio
station, it shifts to the digital version. Depending on the station
quality, you may hear a slight sound change when the station
changes from analog to digital. Blending is the shift from
analog to digital sound or digital back to analog sound.
Station blending
In order to provide the best possible
experience, use the contact form to report
any station issues found while listening to
a station broadcasting with HD Radio
technology. Independent entities own and
operate each station. These stations are
responsible for ensuring all audio streams
and data fields are accurate. Potential station issues
Action
Cause
Issues
No action required. This is a
broadcast issue.
This is poor time alignment by
the radio broadcaster.
Echo, stutter, skip or
repeat in audio.
Increase or decrease in
audio volume.
No action required. The recep-
tion issue may clear up as you
continue to drive.
The radio is shifting between
analog and digital audio.
Sound fading or
blending in and out.
No action required. This is
normal behavior. Wait until the
audio is available.
The digital multicast is not
available until the HD Radio
broadcast is decoded. Once
decoded, the audio is available.
There is an audio mute
delay when selecting
HD2 or HD3, multicast
preset or Direct Tune.
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Potential station issues
Action
Cause
Issues
No action required. The station
is not available in your current
location.
The previously stored multicast
preset or direct tune is not
available in your current recep-
tion area.
Cannot access HD2 or
HD3 multicast channel
when recalling a preset
or from a direct tune.
Fill out the station issue form.1
Data service issue by the radio
broadcaster.
Text information does
not match currently
playing audio.
Fill out the station issue form.
1
Data service issue by the radio
broadcaster.
There is no text
information shown for
currently selected
frequency.
1 You can find the form here: Website
http://www.ibiquity.com/automotive/report_radio_station_experiences
HD Radio Technology manufactured under
license from iBiquity Digital Corp. U.S. and
foreign patents. HD Radio and the HD and
HD Radio logos are proprietary trademarks
of iBiquity Digital Corp. Ford Motor
Company and iBiquity Digital Corp. are not
responsible for the content sent using HD
Radio technology. Content may be
changed, added or deleted at any time at
the station owner's discretion. CD (If equipped)
Once you select this option, the system
returns you to the main audio screen.
The current audio information appears on
the screen.
The following buttons are also available: Function
Button
You can use the browse button to select a track.
Browse
Select this button and a small number one displays to indicate
the track is set to repeat.
Repeat
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Function
Button
For MP3 CDs, this button allows you to toggle through repeat
off, repeat one track (a small number one displays), and repeat
current folder (a small folder displays).
Select the shuffle symbol to have the audio on the disk play
in random order.
Shuffle
You can use the forward, reverse, pause or
play buttons to control the audio playback. Bluetooth Stereo or USB
Bluetooth Stereo and USB allow you to
access media that you store on your
Bluetooth device or USB device such as
music, audio books or podcasts.
The following buttons are available for Bluetooth and USB: Function
Button
Pressing the repeat button toggles the repeat setting through
three modes: repeat off (button not highlighted), repeat all
(button highlighted) and repeat track (button highlighted with
a small number one).
Repeat
Play the tracks in random order.
Shuffle
You can use the forward, reverse, pause or
play buttons to control the audio playback.
To get more information about the
currently playing track, press the cover art
or Info button. For some devices, SYNC 3 is able to
provide 30-second skip buttons when you
listen to audio books or podcasts. These
buttons allow you to skip forward or
backward within a track.
While playing audio from a USB device you
can look for certain music by selecting the
following: Function
Button
If available, displays the list of tracks in the
Now Playing playlist.
Browse
This option, which is available under
browse, allows you to play all tracks or to
filter the available media into one of the
below categories.
New Search
Play All
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Function
Button
Playlists
Artists
Albums
Songs
Genres
Podcasts
Audio books
Composers
This button allows you to choose a specific
letter to view within the category you are
browsing.
A-Z Jump
If available, this allows you to browse the
folders and files on your USB device.
Explore Device
USB Ports The USB ports are in the center console or
behind a small access door in the
instrument panel.
This feature allows you to plug in USB
media devices, memory sticks, flash drives
or thumb drives, and charge devices if they
support this feature. Select this option to play audio from your
USB device.
Apps
The system supports the use of certain
audio apps such as iHeartRadio through a
USB or bluetooth-enabled device.
Each app gives you different on-screen
options depending on the app's content.
See Apps (page 407).
Supported Media Players, Formats
and Metadata Information
The system is capable of hosting nearly
any digital media player, including iPod,
iPhone, and most USB drives.
Supported audio formats include MP3,
WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC.
Supported audio file extensions include
MP3, WMA, WAV, M4A, M4B, AAC, and
FLAC.
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Button
Press this button to adjust your preferences. See Settings (page 410).
Navigation
Settings
Provides your current location city and the nearest road.
Where Am I?
The following are only available on the menu during an active navigation route:
The system asks for confirmation and then returns you to the map
mode screen.
Cancel Route
Selecting this option switches off the audio navigation guidance. Press
the button again to un-mute guidance.
Mute Guidance
Press this to see a map of the full route.
View Route
An alternate route displays in comparison with the current route.
Detour
Only available if you have an active waypoint on your route. See
Waypoints later in this section for information on how to set
waypoints.
Edit Waypoints
Use this button to re-order or remove your waypoints.Optimize Order
You can
also have
the system
set the
order for
you by
pressing:
Go
To return to
your route
press:
Waypoints
You can add a waypoint to a navigation
route as a destination along your route.
To add a waypoint: 1. Select the search icon (magnifying
glass) while on an active route. This
brings up the destination menu.
2. Set your destination using any of the given methods. Once the destination
has been selected, the screen allows
you to set the destination as a
waypoint by selecting:
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Action and Description
Menu Item
Select to choose from a listing of
weather locations.
Area
Touch this button to view scores and schedules from a variety
of sports. You can also save up to 10 favorite teams for easier
access. The score automatically refreshes when a game is in
progress.
Sports Info
Touch this button to view ski conditions for a specific area.
Ski Conditions
SETTINGS
Under this menu, you can access and
adjust the settings for many of the system
features. To access additional settings,
swipe the screen left or right. Sound
Pressing this button allows you to adjust
the following:Sound Settings
Returns Treble, Midrange, and Bass sound settings to factory levels.
Reset All
Adjusts the high frequency level.
Treble
Adjusts the middle frequency level.
Midrange
Adjusts the low frequency level.
Bass
Adjusts the sound ratio from side to side or front to back.
Balance / Fade
Adjusts the amount the audio system volume increases with speed,
or turns the feature off.
Speed
Compensated
Vol.
Optimizes the sound based on the location of the listeners.
Occupancy Mode
Stereo
Sound Settings
Surround
Your vehicle might not have all of these features.
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Media Player
This button is available when a media
device such as a Bluetooth Stereo or USB
device is the active audio source. Pressing
the button allows you to access the
following options for active devices only. Action and Description
Menu Item
For some Apple devices, SYNC 3 can adjust the playback speed of
podcasts. When a podcast is playing, you can choose:
Podcast Speed
Faster
Normal
Slower
For some Apple devices, SYNC 3 can adjust the playback speed of
audiobooks. When an audiobook is playing, you can choose:
Audiobook Speed
Faster
Normal
Slower
Cover art displays from your device ’s music
files. If no cover art for the files exists on the
device, then the Gracenote Database provides
cover art.
Media Player
Cover Art Priority
The Gracenote Database supplied cover art is
used for your music files. This overrides any
cover art from your device.
Gracenote®
Switches on and off Gracenote® to provide metadata information
such as genre, artist, album.
Gracenote®
Management
This allows you to view the version level of the Gracenote Database.
Gracenote® Data-
base Info
This allows you to view the manufacturer and model number of your
media device.
Device Informa-
tion
Erase the stored in media information in order to re-index.
Update Media
Index
Clock
To adjust the time, select the up and down
arrows on either side of the screen. The
arrows on the left adjust the hour and
arrows on the right adjust the minute. You
can then select AM or PM. You can adjust the following features:
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You can enable and disable the following options as well:
Action and Description
Menu Item
When enabled, vehicle audio (such as radio or apps) is muted for the
duration of the phone call even when the phone call is in privacy.
Mute Audio in
Privacy
When enabled, an alert displays that your phone is roaming when
you attempt to place a call.
Roaming
Warning
When enabled, a message displays when the battery on your phone
is running low.
Low Battery
Notification
911 Assist
Note: This service is only available in the
United States and Canada. Select this button to modify the on or off
setting for this feature. If the mobile
phone
’s contacts have been downloaded,
you can adjust the following option: Action and Description
Menu Item
You can select up to two numbers from your mobile device's phone-
book as emergency contacts for quick access at the end of the 911
Assist call process.
Set Emergency
Contacts
Radio
This button is available if a Radio source
such as AM or FM is the active media
source. Pressing the button allows you to
access the following features:
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