dugzilla

RF= raido freq

vintage42

I found two Rostra dealers and maybe that's not all of them:
AllScion http://www.allscion.com/cruisecontrol.html
M&R http://electronman.stores.yahoo.net/scxa2020crco.html

Did you get your RF model from M&R?

dugzilla

The allscion guy is getting his from the M&R guy in Michigan.

vintage42

So M&R is selling the Rostras to AllScion, and AllScion is not recommending or selling the RF models.

Why could this possibly be?

What powers the RF control - batteries or hardwire? How does the motorized cable box under the hood receive the RF?

I would really like to get the RF model with the control box on the steering hub, out of the way of my knee.

dugzilla

The RF unit sends a signal to the receiver that is plugged in where the stalk would normallly be wired to. there is a batter in the control unit. I have had mine in for a few months and it still works fine, The battery should last for quite a while.

As to why they don't reccomend the RF unit? Maybe they didn't buy any of those and don't have them to sell?

Gsnorgathon

Well, Rostra themselves don't recommend the RF unit for the xB, so it's likely something a bit more significant than inventory issues.

dugzilla

Did you talk to someone at Rostra? Like I have said I have had the RF switch on my box for a while now and have had no issues with it. Even if the airbag were to deploy It would not interfere with the switch. So please explain why it would not be recommended!! We do things to our cars all the time that Scion doesn't reccomend. That doesn't stop us from doing it. I don't understand why anyone would want the stalk when the RF switch is available. It's completely out of the way and is easier to use.

Gsnorgathon

No, I haven't talked to Rostra, and clearly I should. Seeing as they make a kit specifically for Scions that doesn't include the RF switch, and say "The "RF" Switch can be installed on several vehicles, but is not recommended for every vehicle.", I came to the logical but not necessarily warranted conclusion that the RF switch wasn't recommended.

I'd really rather use the RF switch when I get my cruise control, so I ought to just ring up Rostra and say yo.

dugzilla

It does say it is not reccomended on some vehicles, but they don't specifically say it's not reccomended for the Scion. If it wasn't I don't think the dealer in Mich. would be selling it as an option with the kit.

Baine

I have both units as I have two cars. And yes, my knee does hit the stalk on occasion.
I mounted the RF unit on my wife's car in one of the cubbies behind the wheel on the right
side. It is easy to reach but there is no light to tell you if it is on or not. The install
took all of 30 minutes and was very easy.

dugzilla

the rf unit is always on, you can cancel it by holding down both buttons, but just hit the set button to use it again.

dave_d

I recently decided to have the stalk cruise installed and am satisfied with it. I'm 6' 2" and have not bumped it with my knee once. If you have it installed in the correct spot and at the correct angle (slightly below the turn signal stalk and parallel to the floor, NOT pointing down) I don't think knee bumping is an issue unless you have exceptionally long legs.

A couple of times I did get the turn signal and cruise stalk confused before I got used to it, but other than the 5 mph kick-in delay others have mentioned and occasionally having to press the button twice to engage it works fine.

Baine

The five mph lag can be corrected if you adjust the play out of the throttle
linkage. One of my cars has the dealer installed cruise and one I installed
myself. The instruction tell you how to set the linkage correctly and the
dealership did not adjust mine at all. It had about a 1/2 inch of slop in the
linkage. This led to a long delay before it actually engaged the throttle and
the car lost five mph. I adjusted it and all is now well.

Also, I'm 6-4 and the dealer installed the stalk with a downward angle. I always
hit it with my knee.

gslippy

You'll see pictures of my cruise control installation in this thread:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60507

I have been very happy with it even though the stalk is behind the steering wheel. Personally, I wouldn't want the obstruction of the RF unit inside the steering wheel openings.

dugzilla

The RF unit is small and I have never noticed any obstruction personally.

FaulknerScion

cruise is cruise.

vintage42

I just bought a Rostra CC kit from AllScion. The package was shipped from Specmo Enterprises in Michigan: http://www.specmo.com/
Rostra makes and/or sources the parts, boxes the kits and sells them to Specmo. Specmo is a large distributor of auto products who warehouses the kits and drop ships them to customers that order them from retailers like AllScion (and M&R I would guess).

dugzilla

Specmo must have picked it up recently. I looked everywhere when I bought mine. Or they go through retailers like you said, but to buy it outright I could only find it through M & R

BlueBoxParts

I ordered mine through Allscion with the standard stick (didn't realize RF was available until I read this thread). I haven't gotten it yet but the FedEx tracking says it departed from LIVONIA, MI and the pacakge data was transmitted from Madison Heights, MI. Specmo is in Madison Heights, MI and M&R is in Saginaw, MI. Sounds like Allscion is a retailer, Specmo is the wholesaler leading back to Rostra as the manufacturer. It also looks like MI is the cruise control capital of the world.

dugzilla