I was reading in the FAC post that the Shaker 500 has RDS if you hold the menu button in for 3 seconds. Whell my question is, how do you turn it on? I held the button down and it flipped to the rds, but it said RDS OFF. Does it need to be turned on at the dealer, or is this somthing I can turn on my self? I have done the search thing, and even found the radio troubble shooting guide from Ford and nothing is mentiond of it.Iactually like the Shaker system and have never had a problem with it. Ieven added an aftermarket amp and subs. Thanks for your input.

 

What is RDS?

 

Radio Data System.

"Possible uses include transmitting song titles, station call signs, and signaling when traffic or weather reports are being broadcast."

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question323.htm

 

You can turn it on yourself. I didn't even know my Shaker had that option until I read it in the forums. Just hold the button down and hit the seek button I think. Anyway, it's something you can do yourself, don't need the dealer.

 

Right, just hold the TEXT button a few seconds and you will see the name of the song. Push and hold it again and it will tell you the artist or group name, once more and it tells you the name of the radio station.

 

mine just automatically scrolls the text

 

Really? I have to manually press the Text button to see the name of the song. Now when you say "scroll" I'm thinking it moves like a billboard sign. Is there something that I should set for it to automatically come up? I mean, you have the exact same one as me.

 

Thanks for the help, guys! Went out side and turned on, (it was the seek button)now it works like a champ and scrolls the song, artist and station id.

 

To turn the RDS function on or off, press the Menu button twice, then select on or off with the up/down arrow button.
To get the additional info by pressing the Seek button depends upon if the station is transmitting that data.
Of the half-dozen local FM stations I can receive, only two transmit RDS data and it is only their call letters. With the text button you can choose between call letters and type (such as "Rock") to be displayed.

 

I love how the owners manual has none of this in there.
I pick up all NYC stations so they all input stuffinto the radio...its good. I always wished i had it, my suburban has it and I was jealous of it....now I'm not.
There is nothing wrong at all with this car!!