Premium Connectivity Expires Soon

[OxygenMask]

You set it up yourself.

I will take another look. Might just be it's not "intuitive" enough for me...

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[1996-to-2025]

I hope my navigation does not go away.
I have a 2024 Ranger and a 2021 f-350 both still have navigation as of now.
Is my navigation supposed to expire at some point?

When I was shopping for my Ranger I noticed that the 2024 came with 3-years of connected service and the 2025 comes with only 1-year of connected service. Another cost cutting measure from Ford.

 

[vagabond102]

I'll be getting Premium when my trial expires. I need the data connectivity as I don't have unlimited data on my phone and to do so would be a minimum +60 a month. I'll take the $10. AA uses the truck data when connected. That's my only reason for it.

 

[K_teven]

Wow! That's good news!!

Yes, it is good. Unlike most of the other auto makers. My wife has a Honda Odyssey and they want an annual fee of $110 for remote start capability. There are LESS features in Honda's service than there are in the Ford app.

 

[K_teven]

When I was shopping for my Ranger I noticed that the 2024 came with 3-years of connected service and the 2025 comes with only 1-year of connected service. Another cost cutting measure from Ford.

I ordered a 2022 Ranger directly. After I sold my previous truck, then the new one arrived. Ford "de-contented" that truck something fierce. I ordered the extra bright LED headlights as I have night blindness issues. Ford deleted them without so much as a conversation. But, in the text of this conversation, the truck had the 501A package on it. This included LIFETIME NAVIGATION. Sure, I had to update the maps a couple times, but, the service was there. My 2025 RR just expired for connected navigation. Ford is simply NOT going to provide any kind of "extra" positive experience for customers, unless it is associated with the F-150 CASH COW....

 

[saf1]

I tried to use the Sync voice command for navigation the other day and it said it was not available. 2026 Ranger Raptor.

Reached out the dealer, said it should be there. Reached out to Ford, they confirmed it is there by the Vin. Ford portal shows it is active for 1 year.

I'll be damned if I know how to access or enable it. Can't find it is the trucks menu(s). User error I am sure, but shouldn't be this hard.

TL; DR - I just use carplay. Will have to figure out how to download maps if I try small day hikes on fire trails...

Edit: why Ford is adding subscriptions to expensive cars/trucks is beyond me. Maybe we have Tesla to thank for this.

 

[K_teven]

I tried to use the Sync voice command for navigation the other day and it said it was not available. 2026 Ranger Raptor.

Reached out the dealer, said it should be there. Reached out to Ford, they confirmed it is there by the Vin. Ford portal shows it is active for 1 year.

I'll be damned if I know how to access or enable it. Can't find it is the trucks menu(s). User error I am sure, but shouldn't be this hard.

TL; DR - I just use carplay. Will have to figure out how to download maps if I try small day hikes on fire trails...

Edit: why Ford is adding subscriptions to expensive cars/trucks is beyond me. Maybe we have Tesla to thank for this.

Perhaps your truck is defaulting to Android Auto or Apply Car Play? Try having no phone connected to the truck and then push the audio command button, then speak "navigate to xxxxxx" (just use the address or name of some business you know in lieu of the xxxxxx). What happens then?

 

[Crapblaster]

More phone plans are adding satellite now

T-Mobile announced a full list of Android apps that will be optimized for T-Satellite. The company notes that more apps will be coming soon.

• AccuWeather
• AllTrails
• CalTopo
• Google Find Hub
• Google Maps
• Google Messages (with Gemini)
• Google Personal Safety
• onX Backcountry
• onX Hunt
• onX Offroad
• T-Life
• WhatsApp
• X
• Yahoo Mail

 

[dajo]

Read this entire thread and read what Ford said on my notification. Still don't know what to expect when Premium and nav expire. Guess I will find out after the end of this month.

 

[CaptAngry]

If you wish to keep all the features of connected navigation without a subscription you can connect sync to your cell phone hot spot.

• Alternative Connectivity: If you want to keep the "connected" experience without the Ford subscription, you can connect your vehicle's SYNC system to your phone's Wi-Fi hotspot or use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which provide free, up-to-date navigation through your smartphone.

This is exactly what I did with my previous GMC once the trial period ended. Their nav system is Google Maps based, and their OnStar subscription was salty. What I did was set up iPhone shortcuts to automatically turn ON the hotspot when I connected to CarPlay, and then to turn it OFF once I disconnected from CarPlay. The truck then automatically connected to the phone's hotspot each time I started the truck

I will plan to do the same once my '26 trial period ends

 

[LDHunter]

The Apple Play with google maps works on my 2025 RR and is far superior to what came with the truck originally. I was a bit upset when my 1 year subscription expired and they wanted quite a bit to continue it until I discovered Apple Car Play is FAR superior.

Also you don't need T-Satellite if you have an iPhone 15 or newer and Verizon. It's free and will work any time you don't have cell service. I've used it and it's slow but it certainly works. All you need is a clear view of the sky.

It's nearly impossible to find a place where Verizon cell service doesn't work in my region but it's nice to know that you're not completely out of touch when you can't reach a cell tower.

 

[OxygenMask]

Sometimes I long for the good old days, driving around looking for a pay phone, navigating by road signs, folding paper maps.

By sometimes I mean pretty much never....
I do still love paper maps though.

 

[saf1]

Sometimes I long for the good old days, driving around looking for a pay phone, navigating by road signs, folding paper maps.

Significant others probably appreciate that we don't have to do that anymore

By sometimes I mean pretty much never....
I do still love paper maps though.

I usually have a state map or ones I'm traveling through if doing a road trip. Of course the last time I tried to use it I needed a magnifying glass Used the phone camera to help...

 

[OxygenMask]

Significant others probably appreciate that we don't have to do that anymore



I usually have a state map or ones I'm traveling through if doing a road trip. Of course the last time I tried to use it I needed a magnifying glass Used the phone camera to help...

Yeah I've used my phone as well. I used to be able to read a map just fine, they must be using smaller print these days...

But there's this!! -

 

[LDHunter]

The Apple Play with google maps works on my 2025 RR and is far superior to what came with the truck originally. I was a bit upset when my 1 year subscription expired and they wanted quite a bit to continue it until I discovered Apple Car Play is FAR superior.

Also you don't need T-Satellite if you have an iPhone 15 or newer and Verizon. It's free and will work any time you don't have cell service. I've used it and it's slow but it certainly works. All you need is a clear view of the sky.

It's nearly impossible to find a place where Verizon cell service doesn't work in my region but it's nice to know that you're not completely out of touch when you can't reach a cell tower.

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