Sync (APM) Output to Audio Control Module (ACM)

[VAtruck]

Are the L/R stereo signals from the Sync Module analog or digital (See picture)? If the feed to the ACM is analog, this would be an easy place to splice in an Auxiliary 1/8" Phono Jack for an external analog device (IPOD, CD player etc).

Worse case you could stick in an Analog to digital converter LikeThis. Either way, it's a lot easier than going inside the radio like we did in the old days.

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[RagnarKon]

Both.

The audio from the APIM is only used for chimes/alerts and USB/Bluetooth playback. Everything else... AM, FM, Satellite, etc. utilizes the ACM without any help from the APIM.

Data messages from the APIM tell the ACM which audio source to use.

 

[VAtruck]

So this would be the equivalent of USB/Bluetooth playback and the A/D conversion would happen in the ACM? That would require the A/D converter for the analog signal from the phono jack. Naviks sells an Auxiliary Audio Input for $230 but I think you could make your own for alot less with the A/D adapter and a phono jack.

 

[RagnarKon]

So this would be the equivalent of USB/Bluetooth playback and the A/D conversion would happen in the ACM?

The APIM outputs analog, but the ACM is only going to look at that signal when told to do so by the APIM. And the only time the APIM is going to tell it to do that is if some USB/Bluetooth device is playing audio. Which effectively means you need to have a USB/Bluetooth device connected to Sync that is playing back audio (that no one is listening to) at all times when you want to use your Aux input, otherwise the ACM is going to completely ignore that signal.

Never used that Naviks adapter, but I see it has some intelligence attached to that adapter harness, so I betcha that Naviks adapter has a device that mimics a Bluetooth/USB device to trick the ACM and/or APIM into switching inputs. Which would explain the cost.

 

[VAtruck]

Great, that makes the mod easy and inexpensive. It's just a matter of splicing in a microphone jack to disconnect the signal from the APIM at pins 20/31 and 21/32 on the head. To use the Aux port, you would simply plug in the analog device and point the APIM to a dummy Bluetooth input. This is a much cleaner way to connect the external device than converting the analog to FM/Bluetooth to digital then back to analog.

Thank you for your help. With all the posts in the various late model Ford forums asking how to add an aux port to the radio, I'm surprised no one has come up with this sooner. I will do a "How To" on this when I get it done. Hoping someone smarter than me takes the time to look inside a head unit to see where the signals tie to the amp to add the aux port. A little more work up front but a better job overall.

 

[RagnarKon]

Great, that makes the mod easy and inexpensive. It's just a matter of splicing in a microphone jack to disconnect the signal from the APIM at pins 20/31 and 21/32 on the head. To use the Aux port, you would simply plug in the analog device and point the APIM to a dummy Bluetooth input. This is a much cleaner way to connect the external device than converting the analog to FM/Bluetooth to digital then back to analog.

Fair warning that there may be something else happening I'm simply unaware of.

It looks like the Naviks has two devices... one which I assume is tricking the APIM/ACM to switch inputs, and other which I'm guessing is some sort of voltage converter, transformer, or LOC for the audio signal, but not sure. So it seems there is some additional funny business happening.

But yeah, let us know how it goes. Hopefully this is not one of those projects that goes awry and causes you to spend more than it would be just to buy the Naviks.

 

[VAtruck]

Thank you for the disclaimer and pointing this out. Sometimes the least expensive solution is to throw money at the problem. I will proceed with caution.

 

[rugedraw]

I don't really have much to contribute to the topic, but been following along as it piques my interest. All I want to add is that I have been using Naviks products for years in my current and older vehicles and they are great. Pricey, but they are good. I have their HDMI interface module on my APIM now to allow me to mirror video/audio from my phone to the Sync screen. The interface also allowed me to integrate a wireless camera that I put behind my boat while towing and project the image onto the factory touchscreen with the touch of one button on the steering wheel and not have to add a bulky monitor to my dash.

 

[VAtruck]

Thank you for the feedback on Navik. That's a great use of the technology. These trucks have only been out a few years, so eventually someone who knows their way around a radio will show where the signals tie to the amp section to add an aux port. I did that on my 1998 Corvette back in the early 2000's. Unfortunately no one has dug into these radios to show how to do that which sent me looking for a solution.

 

[Brian_B]

Unfortunately no one has dug into these radios to show how to do that which sent me looking for a solution.

Because today a lot of it is software that isn’t easy to get access to or work around. Back in the 90s it was mostly analog and you could pop down to Radio Shack and get some widgets to make it work.

 

[tock13]

Definitely following this with great interest. I have been on the fence with the Naviks, mostly because of cost when all I want/need is an aux jack.

 

[VAtruck]

The work around is inside the radio itself. Open it up to see where the AM/FM tuner signal feeds into the amp and tie in an aux input. Unfortunately, there aren't alot of analog guys around anymore. And digital guys find digital solutions; the reason we're using Bluetooth to add a simple aux port.

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