No real AM or FM radio in the R2

[Tony S]

Did you download the “Radio” app to access some local AM/FM/FM HD channels?

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[Bullwinkle]

FM has a useful radius of 75ish miles. If you have plenty of FM station access, maybe you are not adventuring.

 

[Mos Eisley]

WIFC is there:
https://www.iheart.com/live/95-5-wifc-9160

No. The nav is on-board. The cloud connection optimizes route planning, updates etc.

 

[SwampNut]

No satellite GPS or radio?

It has a GPS receiver. Rivians have never had satellite radio.

 

[RivianRocks25]

I had not heard that route planning is cloud based in the Rivian. Seriously? If there is no cell service in the area, the Rivians cannot navigate? I spend a lot of time far from any cell service, but that has never been a navigation issue with my Mach-e. The nav is useful even when I am on unmapped roads and no cell service, using only GPS (when I should be in a more off-road capable vehicle like the R2). I have been in garages where there was no cell or WiFi service and even GPS was blocked, but the Mach-e can still use it's built-in maps and memory of last known location to plan nav routes just fine. Please tell me I got this wrong about the Rivians depending on the cloud for navigation.

It will nav to destination and can use maps. It won't give you "charge % and remaining range at destination" as that uses the cloud to calculate based on weather, wind, etc.

OK, I can see why, but it's a pain waiting to get closer to town before I see those numbers. Now add waiting for Fake Radio and that is a real problem as sit in silence thinking about how the Rivian choice to save a couple $$$ is making my life worse.

 

[pearbaron]

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is currently advancing through Congress. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Department of Transportation to mandate that AM radio be included as standard, accessible equipment in all new passenger vehicles at no additional cost to consumers

 

[RivianRocks25]

WIFC is there:
https://www.iheart.com/live/95-5-wifc-9160

Clicked link on phone and got "no streams returned for source".

 

[RivianRocks25]

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is currently advancing through Congress. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Department of Transportation to mandate that AM radio be included as standard, accessible equipment in all new passenger vehicles at no additional cost to consumers

Looks like they need to add FM to that bill.

 

[Alan in Tempe]

FM has a useful radius of 75ish miles. If you have plenty of FM station access, maybe you are not adventuring.

Plenty of FM stations can be one station. And for me, the “adventuring” is my summers spent at my mountain home 175 miles from my primary residence.

 

[RivianRocks25]

FM has a useful radius of 75ish miles. If you have plenty of FM station access, maybe you are not adventuring.

And cell towers go about 15 miles by us, so my house and cabin, not so far out and adventuring, still get hurt by this decision.

 

[SteveInBend]

Clicked link on phone and got "no streams returned for source".

That station is available via the TuneIn app.

 

[SwampNut]

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is currently advancing through Congress. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Department of Transportation to mandate that AM radio be included as standard, accessible equipment in all new passenger vehicles at no additional cost to consumers

Idiots. Thanks for the warning, I've written my politicians to ask them to vote against it.

I haven't used either satellite nor FM since they became obsolete in the early 2000s, and still have all the media I could want when away from both cell and FM. And AM radio, well, I fondly recall that road trip in the 80s where the AM radio told me, every ten minutes, what number to call to order a GEEEENN U INE imatation damond ring all the way across Texas and Alabama.

Granted, I do not feel the need to be informed second by second on what some sportsball team is doing, or where the Kardashians are going next. I'm on an adventure to get away from the daily tripe.

 

[Mos Eisley]

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act is currently advancing through Congress. This bipartisan legislation would direct the Department of Transportation to mandate that AM radio be included as standard, accessible equipment in all new passenger vehicles at no additional cost to consumers

As a former broadcaster - it's pointless. FM maybe, AM no. Why? Because the number of AM radio stations that a re licensed to operate post-sunset/pre-sunrise is miniscule. Most AM's have to drastically power down after dark otherwise the signal carries for thousands of miles outside their designated area and interferes with everything else. It used to just be the occasional powerline the fritzed signals. now there's EMF interference everywhere. In an emergency, would your kids think, quick, switch to AM!?! No. The EAS emergency broadcast is imbedded in AM, FM and satellite - and can be in phones just like the amber alert. Requiring AM in new cars would be like mandating that you keep a horse in tow, just in case.

 

[SwampNut]

and can be in phones just like the amber alert.

I find it a bit shocking--and this isn't a directed attack on you--that people don't know it already is legally mandated. Every phone for...maybe a decade? Maybe more? Has had this built in. I'm surprised you haven't received one, there was a test some time ago that woke me up, and I disabled it. By default they are just there, enabled, on all phones, by law.

Anyway, as you said, it's hilariously silly to think that kids will turn on a "radio" to get anything.

 

[Rivian R2D2]

The R2 has no AM or FM radio receiver. It uses internet streaming services iHeart and TuneIn apps to stream radio and also satellite radio. I am minimally peeved about no grab handles above the doors, slightly upset at no CarPlay, holding my breath to see how well the still undelivered Homelink-like garage door remote SW will function, but really pissed about having no real radio.

My summer home in the mountains has terrible cellular connectivity which makes streaming radio worthless. The local community station I support and listen to mostly when there isn’t available on iHeart and TuneIn starts with minutes of commercial after commercial of their own before starting the actual stream, and that stream is far from real time. I can’t tell how many hours behind it is, or even if is the actual programming of my station after the last few tries on their website. I have no use for the poor audio quality of the satellite services, nor have I found very satisfying programming in any of my many favored genres, so have never renewed the free introductory service I had in my last three cars . When I am not in the mountains, I love the local HD FM stations with their high quality audio and excellent programming.

I really love the ride and handling and build quality and overall specs and features of the R2, but first I will have to get over not having a radio before buying.

Yep, no fishtail antenna, bummer as their whole sales pitch is mostly to get away from the cities and off the beaten path.

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