I recently sourced an 8" sync 3 screen and APIM so I could upgrade from the 4" screen to sync 3 with NAV. All went well with the install and the programming and everything is running well.
Now I am in the process of upgrading to HD Radio but its proving a challenge.
I sourced a SDARS / HD Radio ACM, Part number JL3T-19C107-FJ and manufacture date of 04/2018. My first issue was the as-built on the new ACM had a different data structure than the old ACM, so I could not load my as-built automatically to the new one. I had to manually transfer everything over filling in all 0’s for the one extra line in the new ACM. I also made the standard changes at ACM: 727-01-01 and APIM: 7D0-01-01 to enable the HD Radio. Once this was complete, I ended up with a DAB option in sources that seemed to do nothing. I did however have the HD Radio logo on several FM stations and I was able to toggle between the HD Radio sub-stations so I know its working to some extent. I can not tune or scan just the HD Radio as all the presets look blank on the screen. The only way I know the HD Radio is sort of working is by seeing the logo on some FM stations. I figure either the ACM is not compatible or I fudged the programming. Looking for advice/opinions.
After a bit more reading/searching, it seems DAB is not actually something used in the states. Its the overseas equivalent to HD Radio (I think) and looks like its not intended to be used here without a bunch of hardware/programming changes. With that said, I feel like what I have now is correct.
No HD Radio option under sources, it just shows up when the particular FM station supports it. I will say that it took a few more forscan changes than just the ones mentioned in the first post to get stuff where I wanted, but its all specific to your vehicle and options.
Really all you do in a straight Sync3 HD ACM upgrade from a non-HD unit is to drop it in, open ForScan with no saved config and drop your existing one into it. After that its just a case of enabling the HD radio button in the APIM.
The real issue here was my ignorance or misunderstanding of how HD Radio functions on our system. I just assumed there would be a selectable HD Radio source like AM, FM, or Sirius. When in reality, that is not how it works. If the HD signal is there for that frequency is will come through and show the HD Radio insignia. Thanks for the help and input.
You’ll always be able to tune the base FM station and after it picks up the HD it will cut over, I did my first HD radio conversion back in 2016.
And you can do presets for the HD2/HD3 etc stations, from my experience its not unusually for a station to have issues with the HD broadcast and not fix it for a few days. They will also add/remove the sub-channels without warning and in some cases change the format.