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.
515
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3 (If Equipped)
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://hdradio.com/stations/feedback
HD Radio Technology manufactured under
license from iBiquity Digital Corporation
and foreign patents. HD Radio and the HD
and HD Radio logos are proprietary
trademarks of DTS. The vehicle
manufacturer and DTS 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
516
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3
(If Equipped)
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 Press the button to enter the
settings menu.
Once you select a tile, press the
button next to a menu item to
view an explanation of the
feature or setting.
Sound
Select this tile to adjust the sound settings.
Clock
Select this tile to adjust the clock settings.
Bluetooth
Select this tile to switch Bluetooth on and
off and adjust the settings.
Phone
Select this tile to connect, disconnect, and
manage the connected device settings.
Audio
Select this tile to adjust the audio settings. Driver Assist (If Equipped)
Select this tile to adjust Driver Assist
features like Parking Aids, Lane Keeping
System, Pedestrian Detection, and
Auto-Start-Stop.
Vehicle
Select this tile to adjust vehicle settings
like windows, alarm, lighting, and MyKey
settings.
FordPass
Select this tile to adjust the FordPass
settings
General
Select this tile to adjust settings like
language, measurement units, or to reset
the system.
911 Assist
(If Equipped)
Select this tile to switch 911 Assist on and
off.
Automatic Updates
Select this tile to adjust the automatic
update settings.
Mobile Apps
Select this tile to adjust permissions,
enable, disable, and update mobile apps.
531
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3
(If Equipped)E280315 E268570
Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
–You are not saying the name exactly as it appears on
your device.
•Say the first and last name of the contact exactly
as it appears on your device. Spell out any abbrevi-
ations in the name.
– The name contains special characters, for example *,
- or +.
•Rename the contact on your device or use the
touchscreen to select and call the contact.
The system does not under-
stand the name of a contact
in the phonebook on my
device and calls the wrong
contact.
–You are not saying the name exactly as it appears on
your device.
•Say the first and last name of the contact exactly
as it appears on your device. The system applies
phonetic pronunciation rules of the selected
language to the names of contacts in the phone-
book on your device. Select the name of the
contact on the touchscreen and use the Hear it
option to get an idea of how the system expects
you to pronounce it.
The system does not under-
stand foreign names of
contacts in the phonebook
on my device.
–Device limitation.
•The system uses text-to-speech technology and
uses a synthetically generated voice rather than
pre-recorded human voice.
The system voice prompts
and the pronunciation of
some words does not seem
to be very accurate.
USB and Bluetooth Audio Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
I cannot connect my device. –Device malfunction.
•Disconnect your device. Switch your device off,
reset it and try again.
– Cable connection issue.
•Correctly connect the cable to your device and the
vehicle USB port.
– Incompatible cable.
•Use the cable recommended by the manufacturer
of your device.
534
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3 (If Equipped)
Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
–Copyright protected files.
•Use a device that contains files that are not copy-
right protected.
– Unsupported file format.
•Repair or convert the files to a supported format.
See Entertainment (page 509).
– Device indexing required.
•Re-index your device. See
Settings (page 531).
– Device lock screen enabled.
•Unlock your device before connecting it.
Sometimes I cannot hear a
track playing on my device. –
Device malfunction.
•Disconnect your device. Switch your device off,
reset it and try again.
When I disconnect my iOS
device the audio volume is
set to maximum. –
Device limitation.
•Turn the volume down on your device
If the system does not play the tracks on your USB device
in the correct order, the following information could help:
The system does not play
the tracks on my USB drive
in the correct order.
–If you are selecting USB as the audio source when the
system is still indexing, SYNC plays tracks sorted
alphabetically by file name in the root directory.
– If you are selecting USB as the audio source after the
system has finished indexing, SYNC plays all tracks
sorted alphabetically by the title in the ID3 tag
regardless of where they are located. SYNC uses the
file name if the title in the ID3 Tag does not exist.
– If you are selecting the option to play all tracks from
the browsing menu, SYNC plays all tracks sorted
alphabetically by the title in the ID3 tag regardless of
where they are located. SYNC uses the file name if the
title in the ID3 Tag does not exist.
– If you are selecting a track when using the explore
device option, SYNC plays tracks sorted alphabetically
by file name in the folder you have selected. SYNC
then plays all tracks in any subfolders in the folder you
have selected.
536
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3
(If Equipped)
Phone
Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
During a call, I can hear
excessive background noise. –
Incorrect cell phone settings.
•Check and adjust the audio settings on your cell
phone. Refer to your cell phone's user manual.
– Cell phone malfunction.
•Switch your cell phone and Bluetooth on and off
and try again.
– Cell phone microphone muted.
•Unmute your cell phone microphone.
During a call, I can hear the
other person but they
cannot hear me.
During a call, I cannot hear
the other person and they
cannot hear me.
–
System restart required.
•Restart the system. Switch the ignition off and
open the door. Close the door and lock the vehicle.
Wait until the touchscreen is off and any illumin-
ated USB ports are not illuminated. Unlock the
vehicle, switch the ignition on and try again.
I cannot download phone-
book. –
Incompatible cell phone.
•Check the compatibility of your cell phone on our
website.
– Incorrect cell phone settings.
•Allow the system to retrieve contacts from your
cell phone. Refer to your cell phone's user manual.
– Incorrect system settings.
•Switch automatic phonebook download on. See
Settings (page 531).
– Cell phone malfunction.
•Switch your cell phone off, reset it and try again.
– Incorrect cell phone settings.
•Allow the system to retrieve contacts from your
cell phone. Refer to your cell phone's user manual.
• Check the location of the missing contacts on your
cell phone. If they are stored on the SIM card, move
them to the cell phone memory.
– Incorrect system settings.
•Switch automatic phonebook download on. See
Settings
(page 531).
A message displays
suggesting that my phone-
book has downloaded but it
is empty or it has missing
contacts.
537
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3
(If Equipped)
Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
–Incompatible cell phone.
•Check the compatibility of your cell phone on our
website.
– Cell phone malfunction.
•Switch your cell phone off, reset it and try again.
• Install the latest cell phone firmware.
• Delete your device from system and delete SYNC
from your device and try again.
• Switch automatic phonebook download off. See
Settings (page 531).
I cannot connect my cell
phone.
Text messaging does not
work.
–
You did not switch on text message notifications.
•Switch text message notifications on.
See Phone
(page 521).
– Incompatible cell phone.
•Check the compatibility of your cell phone on our
website.
– Cell phone malfunction.
•Switch your cell phone off, reset it and try again.
– Device message sharing is not enabled.
•Check the permissions on your device to ensure
text message sharing is enabled.
– Incompatible cell phone.
•Check the compatibility of your cell phone on our
website.
I cannot hear text messages.
538
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3
(If Equipped)
Possible Cause and Solution
Symptom
You are using the old linking method.
Personal Profiles does not support your unsaved settings.
My personalized settings do
not save. A different personal profile is active.
Another user changed the settings for the wrong personal
profile.
You did not create a personal profile.
My profile will not recall. Personal Profiles is turned off.
The profile you requested is already active.
You did not link the memory button you are using to a
profile.
You did not link the remote control you are using to a
profile.
You are using the wrong remote control.
You are pressing a button other than the unlock or remote
start on a linked remote control.
You deleted the personal profile.
You switched the personal profiles off.
My preset positions recall,
but my profile does not.
The vehicle is in motion.
My profile recalls but my
preset positions do not. The preset positions are the same as the guest or previ-
ously active profile.
Unlink and relink your remote control in the Personal
Profiles menu. You may need to see your authorized dealer.
I lost a remote control.
You erased and reprogrammed the remote controls. This
could happen if you let a dealership add a new remote
control to replace a lost one.
I lost all profiles.
Someone performed a master reset without your know-
ledge.
544
Super Duty (TFE), enUSA, Edition date: 201909, Third-Printing- SYNC™ 3 (If Equipped)