Ford F-550 (2017 year). Manual — part 127

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.

(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.
*

Data service issue by the radio
broadcaster.

Text information does
not match currently
playing audio.

Fill out the station issue form.
*

Data service issue by the radio
broadcaster.

There is no text
information shown for
currently selected
frequency.

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.

* You can find the form here:

Website

http://www.ibiquity.com/automotive/
report_radio_station_experiences

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

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.

(If Equipped)

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

Playlists

Artists

Albums

Songs

Genres

Podcasts

Audio books

(If Equipped)

Function

Button

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

E211463

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 532).

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.

Supported USB file systems include: FAT,
exFAT, and NTFS.

SYNC 3 is also able to organize the media
from your USB device by metadata tags.
Metadata tags, which are descriptive
software identifiers embedded in the
media files, provide information about the
file.

If your indexed media files contain no
information embedded in these metadata
tags, SYNC 3 may classify the empty
metadata tags as unknown.

SYNC 3 is capable of indexing up to
50,000 songs per USB device, for up to 10
devices.

(If Equipped)