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Work Solutions Computer


isellford
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I am very glad to have had this installed. Everything about it so far has been great. It paired with my Blackberry Storm and bluetooth without a hitch. My phonebook downloaded very quickly so that part is good to go. Works a lot like Sync.

The Garmin GPS is very similar to my Nuvi in operation so that is nice. The directory for locations is very comprehensive and there is even a category for Ford Dealers in case you travel a lot and in the unlikely event that you need service.

I am just now starting to play with the computer. Should have my Sprint activated the beginning of the week. I already registered with LogMeIn so I will be able to access my office computer and pretty much run all of my office programs including my truck spec'ing program. All I need now is the printer to print out quotes and bills of sale right at the customer's location.

FYI, this wonderful accessory is able to be retrofitted into TC's that are not equipped with it from Ford. See your dealer for details.

Edited by isellford
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  • 4 weeks later...
   

Do you know how much it cost? I have a XL with the plain am-fm radio. Does it plug right in to the radio wiring harness or is there extra wiring and components that also have to be installed too? I'd like to know more on how its installed.....Thanks....Love the TC so far, owned it just over a month.

Paul

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  • 3 weeks later...

The price for the unit itself isn't much more than the factory option. Ordering through one of the many parts desks who've embraced the internet can provide you with a very good relative bargain.

The challenge comes in the installation and vehicle integration given that it also functions as a hands-free system and has additional antenna connections. And the problem is made worse by the how quickly Ford pulled-forward the TC to market in North America, as virtually no dealer knows more about any of its features or potential than a motivated customer.

Given the price, it was a relative no-brainer. The challenge was finding one so-equipped that happened to meet all of the other specifications I wanted. About 1-2% have the FWS computer; and of all the vehicles available in the Northeast U.S., there was ONE that happened to have all of the additional feature content I wanted (I fly out to pick it up Tuesday. Hooray!!!).

The only feature I had to forego (and will install later) is the DeWalt Tool Link. So little is known about the system (despite it being available for other E & F Series vehicles) that I was fortunate enough to actually speak with the product's developers (who fulfill orders on Ford's behalf) to obtain all of the necessary retrofit and integration information). Of course, this situation will improve with time, but it's essentially every owner for himself at this point.

For me, one of the most compelling features of the computer will be how "open" the platform happens to be. Can it run other Windows CE applications? If so, that would be the ideal Sirius/XM implementation. I need to discover if it Sirius can otherwise be added to the FWS computer. I'm opting for Sirius over XM given that both of my other vehicles (Flex and MKS) include the Sirius Travel Link system, and Sirius XM remains unable to integrate owners of both systems under a single account. Otherwise, I may very well be listening to Sirius/XM over my iPhone while patched into the FWS audio.

I'm very interested in learning what others have been able to do to upgrade their audio using the FWS head unit. I would think adding an amp and the wholesale swap-out of existing speakers in combination with a sub and pair of rear door-mounted 6 x 9's will give me a reasonably pleasant mobile audio experience. It's a shame that integration couldn't have been completed as far as supporting SYNC, but I'm sure Ford will correct this for MY 2011 or 2012 as one of the many feature discrepancies that exist throughout their entire product lineup as part of products being brought to market so quickly to capitalize on current conditions. (Perhaps then BLIS can be available to MKS owners who've paid $10,000 more than the so-equipped Taurus, and non-SHO Taurus drivers can enjoy an integrated backup camera because Ford chose to install the Taurus camera in the spoiler, limiting the option to SHO vehicles only).

Having owned a Chevy HHR that I made the most of (and far more than Chevy ever envisioned) that I traded-in on my Flex (which I had intended to expand my cargo capacity, but have ultimately been reluctant given how nice a passenger vehicle I'd like it to continue to be), the Transit Connect is the absolutely ideal vehicle format for my needs; and I'm so very looking forward to finally making the most of it. Even so, it strikes me how little a price difference exists between a fully-equipped XLT and an entry-level Flex SE after all rebates and incentives have been taken into consideration. While the Transit Connect clearly remains the best vehicle for my many and varied needs, the Flex remains an incredible bargain given everything it offers, even in base SE trim.

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  • 1 month later...

Work Solutions Operation

I am interested in owner experiences with the WS and the TC and its operation with the ignition switch in accessory. I have not been able to get any definitive answers on the operation of the In-Dash in the Transit Connect from Ford Work Solutions.

I have an issue with the operation of the in dash computer/radio/etc. shutting down after 1 minute of operation with the ignition in accessory position.

The computer is operational with the engine running but as soon as the ignition is switched to accessory it shuts down approximately 1 minute later. The In-Dash manual FYI pg 56 refers to operation of the system with the ignition turned to accessory or On position. With the ignition On and engine not running, all systems are energized including the fuel system...

I know the standard factory radio is supposed to be operational in accessory and even for up to an hour without a key but I would expect being able to use the system in accessory.

Trial and error I did discover the In-Dash will continue to operate indefinitely (have used up to 45 minutes) with the ignition in accessory with the emergency flashers going, but soon after turning the flashers off the unit shuts down. It seems a major waste of energy if the system requires running the engine to operate a computer considering what is available in a conventional laptop. Maybe a laptop type backup battery should have been integrated into the system. Using the flashers draws inquiries as to do you need help.

Is mine an isolated issue or common with the TC.

If this is common to the TC, is the In-Dash operational in accessory in the other trucks lines?

A side issue is the display with the GPS. The auto mode does not work. The daytime setting blinds the driver at night requiring a manual change of display. Again, is this a common issue with the TC?

Other than the FWS, the vehicle has been a lot of fun after 1 month of ownership. Big change from 15 years in an E150.

Edited by kmoilan1
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Kudos for researching the matter far enough to involve the emergency flashers. Wow. That's persistence.

As for the "Auto Mode", I am experiencing exactly the same thing. One would think with the myriad already-written pieces of code that are able to determine sunlight/dawn/sunset for any global coordinate at any date and the GPS providing that data, the auto display mode would be among the most bullet-proof features.

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Kudos for researching the matter far enough to involve the emergency flashers. Wow. That's persistence.

As for the "Auto Mode", I am experiencing exactly the same thing. One would think with the myriad already-written pieces of code that are able to determine sunlight/dawn/sunset for any global coordinate at any date and the GPS providing that data, the auto display mode would be among the most bullet-proof features.

It's a Garmin so I would think the mode change would be built into the GPS software... The computer manual pg 46 indicates that it is dependent on the headlights on to change to night setting. I have daytime running lights. I thought it might be the cause of the glitch but I would expect the display to be in night mode if I am in the auto setting.

I have a portable Garmin Nuvi680 that changes day/night settings early evening depending on daylight saving time without any issues. At the price for the in vehicle unit, it should be more than a novelty accessory and have more bells and whistles than I could ever use.

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It's a Garmin so I would think the mode change would be built into the GPS software... The computer manual pg 46 indicates that it is dependent on the headlights on to change to night setting. I have daytime running lights. I thought it might be the cause of the glitch but I would expect the display to be in night mode if I am in the auto setting.

I have a portable Garmin Nuvi680 that changes day/night settings early evening depending on daylight saving time without any issues. At the price for the in vehicle unit, it should be more than a novelty accessory and have more bells and whistles than I could ever use.

Only the GPS software is is Garmin. The day/night/auto control is function of the shell layer, not the GPS application alone.

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Only the GPS software is is Garmin. The day/night/auto control is function of the shell layer, not the GPS application alone.

Correct, but I would think the function of the GPS display could be driven by the Garmin software as it is with the stand alone units. Since I can manually change the display, software could do the same driven by time and location. Whatever the case, it should not be assumed that the customer won't notice or won't care.

If the function is documented as a feature, it must be operational. If is is not a function of a vehicle line, ghost it out or make that function not available. Someone responsible for FWS must have tested the vehicle at night.

No reflection on the vehicle. I look at it as something that needs work or updating.

So far, the vehicle itself is great. The vehicle functions as expected. No surprises yet.

Great response from the public with a lot of questions and positive comments.

Edited by kmoilan1
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I am having same issues and without the daytimne running lights. Also at night my function and radio buttons are not backlit so it is a real pain to change radio stations while driving. The buttons only seem to light up when the W/S is booting up on initital vehicle start and they go off after 10 seconds or so. Today I switched to the daytime display mode even though it was dark out on the way to work and the buttons lit up. Perfectly logical, they light up in daylight when it doesn't matter and go off at night when you can't see the buttons.

Otherwise I love my T/C. Showed it to a customer last week and am delivering 2 to them today and 7 mor in the 1st quarter of next year. They are a water treatment business and will be using them for service vehcicles.

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I am having same issues and without the daytimne running lights. Also at night my function and radio buttons are not backlit so it is a real pain to change radio stations while driving. The buttons only seem to light up when the W/S is booting up on initital vehicle start and they go off after 10 seconds or so. Today I switched to the daytime display mode even though it was dark out on the way to work and the buttons lit up. Perfectly logical, they light up in daylight when it doesn't matter and go off at night when you can't see the buttons.

Otherwise I love my T/C. Showed it to a customer last week and am delivering 2 to them today and 7 mor in the 1st quarter of next year. They are a water treatment business and will be using them for service vehcicles.

On the main screen at the bottom center select settings.

Select DISPLAY

On the display screen day/night mode select night setting button.

Below on the night slider bar I am guessing your setting is to the left. Toggle until it moves to the right and you should see the radio buttons get brighter.

Move until you are satisfied with setting.

I have been leaving mine in night mode setting because the GPS screen does not change in auto setting at night/headlamp on and to avoid the blinding display I choose the dark background..

In auto, I believe the radio buttons at least toggle with headlamp on switch but I will have to check to be sure...

If this does not work for you I will check my settings again to work out the sequence.

Edited by kmoilan1
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Unfortunately, the settings aren't working as they're supposed to. And because both the software and operating are subject to crashing, certain system states, like whether the pre-programmed function buttons are back-lit, are often out-of-sync with the system and application settings in addition to the ways the overall system has problems syncing with the headlamp state and changing between day/night as it otherwise should.

These aren't "hard wired" binary-state functions.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I am having same issues and without the daytimne running lights. Also at night my function and radio buttons are not backlit so it is a real pain to change radio stations while driving.

Here's an interesting little tidbit I discovered. And of course, it's just LAYERED in irony.

I too was struggling with the auto day/night brightness setting and had come to accept it after someone had noted it seems to have something to do with the headlamp switch position and conflicting with vehicles equipped with DTRL.

Well, only upon cleaning-out the glove box after having traded-in my XLT wagon did I find a little yellow slip of paper that read to the effect:

"This vehicle is equipped with DTRL which does not support the FWS Computer Auto Day/Night Brightness setting. See page 46 of the manual for more information".

Well, there you have it. And JUST in the nick of time. :)

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