[Rear Seat Entertainment Upgrade Complete, 2018+ Navigator]

On 3/9/2021 at 7:53 AM, Gpfarrell said:

I give you a 95/100 on the installation and 100/100 on being a cool, dedicated dad! Well done!

 

Thanks! It really makes a difference to have options while on the road!!

[Rear Seat Entertainment Upgrade Complete, 2018+ Navigator]

On 3/8/2021 at 10:09 PM, vipersinu2 said:

Ditch the old monitors, they are a 2000 boat anchor.

Add a set android tv monitors.

Then get the in vechical hotspot wi-fi from Att for 200 a year.

The kids play roblox online

And stream 1000's of live tv channels. YouTube ect.

Also they come with an fm rf modulators so the sound is great over the radio no delay.

 

Also they have bluetooth headsets and remotes.

 

Its a no brainer.

 

I have posed somewhere my photos.

 

 

I have not seen your post, if you could point me in the right direction I'd love to take a look.  

 

I didn't go with this option for three main reasons, the system would cost over $1k and likely over $2k installed; to replace a system I already paid $2k for.  Second, I didn't want to make irreversible change to the system, as I tend to switch vehicles every few years. Lastly, I have the ATT wifi option but travel enough to/through areas with spotty coverage which would result in dropped connection/unable to stream. 

 

On top of that stuff, my wife and I are a huge fan of picking up random movies at redboxs (you can buy blu-rays for $3-4) for the kids to watch while on the road.    Not to mention, I'm not a fan of android systems as they, like many other electronics suffer from planned obsolesces syndrome. 

[Rear Seat Entertainment Upgrade Complete, 2018+ Navigator]

Hey everyone, 

 

So I finally finished my upgrades and its a place where I think it gives us most of the functions we wish it had from the factory.  (I also added a piggyback tuner to it that gives me an additional 100hp/120 ft-lbs, but that's a whole other story) 

 

• Audio direct via RCA connection to Sync 3 ($175) no lag at all but very slight feedback (NAVIKS NAXK-L) 
• Automotive grade blu-ray player ($200 w/ installation)  (Autopro BD1208)
• Nintendo Switch in front seat map pocket ($300)
• HDMI 3-port switch ($40) (3 in 1 HDMI Switch with Audio RCA extractor) 
• Google Chromecast ($40)

 

The HDMI switch isn't as fast as I'd like as it sometimes takes longer then it should to select an active HDMI port.  Also, as you can see in some of the photos the installation isn't totally hidden but I did what I could, besides the two spots I show on the photos the wires are completely hidden.  Other thing this doesn't solve is the baby in the back seat scenario, but I have kids in the back that can answer simple questions to walk me onto the target. Lastly, the thing takes up my entire front center console so that's a consideration too. 

 

One of the main things I wanted going into this was to make it removable where I didn't have to buy all new parts if I ever wanted to part ways with the Navi.  The NAVIKS and the HDMI 3-port switch that extracts audio out of HDMI and feeds it over RCA are the two devices that allow the whole thing to work without audio lag.  I also still have a USB drive connected to the screens and they're hooked up via a Bluetooth FM transmitter that allows us to take calls and hear the audio (with lag) for short commutes or with kids that dont care about the lag.  

[2020 white monochromatic chrome delete done]

How much did this run you, if you dont mind me asking.  Is it vinyl or painted? 

[2018 Navigator-2nd Row Center Console]

On 11/7/2020 at 10:28 PM, Andy L said:

All versions of the Navigator can be ordered with middle row bench. I order one. It took 6 weeks from order to delivery.

They made that an option in 2019 or 2020, for 2018 black label Navigators only came with the a center console.  I actually considered buying everything needed to retrofit the bench seat and when I pulled off the center console yesterday I saw taped over holes likely used to bolt the bench in place but I think it would be way too expensive unless I could find a donor bench from a pick a part or something like that. 

[2018 Navigator-2nd Row Center Console]

On 8/6/2020 at 12:39 PM, snowmotion said:

I deleted the rear center console in my 2019 navigator this past weekend.  Definitely possible.

 

1- There are 4 plastic panels that need to be removed from around the console (gently pulling so as to not break the tabs)

2- then there are 4 bolts that need to be removed on the sides of the console

3- the entire console will lift out vertically and you'll have plenty of slack in the electronic cord to unplug from a plastic harness.  

4- there are two large'ish metal brackets that are bolted into the floorboard to which the console's 4 earlier bolts were connected.  Those metal brackets can be removed completely, but I recommend putting the washer and bolts back into the floor so there aren't any open holes in the floor.  

5- I wrapped the plastic wiring harness liberally in electrical tape and tucked it into one of the spaces in the floor where the brackets were located

6- there are a couple of openings where the brackets used to be that probably need to be filled in with either pieces of foam or wood or something to make sure the floor is level in all places.  

7- then put a proper floor liner or carpet over the area

 

The rear audio controls obviously don't work anymore after this, but it doesn't throw any weird lights or messages elsewhere in the car's system so that's good.  

 

 

Snowmotion! Clutch, thank you so much for the info.  As cool as the center console looks its just kind of useless and impairs the space for large flat objects. I did want to ask if you have ever tried to open up the front center console.  I'm trying to replace the CD player with a blu-ray player as part of a larger project to make the rear seat entertainment what it should've been from the factory.  Any tips to get to that area?  

[2018 Navigator L Rear Entertainment System's Sound Lagging?]

So for anyone that still cares. I spoke to the folks that designed the system and delay in the Bluetooth connection is on the Sync3 side not the Voxx screens.

This means you can buy a wireless Bluetooth FM modulater that can always sit inside ur center armrest plugged into the dc/cigarette lighter port. 2 benefits from doing this are, modulator always has power and the station your broadcasting on can be changed by the driver/passenger.

Plus no unsightly dongle stocking out of ur screens.  It’s work pretty great since we got one, no delay noticed yet and it automatically connects on startup. This method leaves the cars Bluetooth connected to my phone for calls and such.

Heres the one I used: Roav SmartCharge F0, by Anker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GJ7DHMP?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Until Ford fixes Sync, this is works; which is all I’ve wanted from the system.

[2018 Navigator L Rear Entertainment System's Sound Lagging?]

Yeah man, its called Doosl Universal Wireless FM Transmitter Audio Adapter Car Kit picked it up on Amazon for $12.95. Plug it to audio jack (we choose the passenger side) and set it AND sync FM radio to same radio station and whala clean and clear audio with zero lag.

 

Biggest downsides to this is the unsightly doggie sticking out of your $2,000 option on your $100k truck. And the battery on those little things have to be charged every 10 hours or so.

 

The amazon listing has a recommended website to find empty FM freq in your area. Its the solution that has work the best for us. At least until Ford/Lincoln unf&@*s this.

[2018 Navigator L Rear Entertainment System's Sound Lagging?]

So, as lame as this is with a $100k+ Black Label, we plugged in a $12 FM Transmitter from amazon to the audio jack of one of the screens and lag was eliminated and freed up the bluetooth connection for phones...