AM/FM radio in Rivians?

[Count Orlok]

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[Chris TX]

If you want AM radio, you can do what I do and get a RTL-SDR radio (USB) and connect it to your phone, then BT audio to the truck. In order to get the lower frequencies that AM uses, you'll need a Frequency Upconverter.

 

[Monkey]

The FCC has postulated disbanding AM radio and has been trying to kill it for quite a while now, but a bunch of old coots in Congress and their respective lobbyists won’t just let it die. most places also have all the traffic and weather and emergency broadcast stuff on FM as well — and they’re required to have it broadcast on FM now with a full deadline to have FM simulcast for any/all pertinent information broadcasts going into effect nationwide I believe by September of ‘27.

The main proponents of AM radio have some really weak arguments as to why it needs to continue to exist. But the primary two valid reasons are cost and broadcast distance. Both of those reasons work hand in hand. The cost of entry for private broadcasters is low with AM because the signal can be effective over longer distances than FM with lower-powered hardware. That’s it, that’s the technical advantage. It falls short in every other aspect vs. FM or newer digital formats and delivery methods.

Getting AM stations via TuneIn is OK, but a problem in a weather emergency or other scenario that may knock out cell towers and data services.

The claims of interference with AM radio on EVs is dubious at best. It’s about as valid as cell phones causing commercial airplanes to crash.

While AM radio is technologically inferior in most ways, it really does need to persist for emergency broadcast usage. Last month, Congress discussed a bill that would potentially preserve AM broadcasts for that reason and require all automakers to continue including AM radio functionality in vehicles. I don’t believe there is any resolution to that yet…

 

[Dasoss]

FYI, it’s digital FM, so there’s a lag if you’re planning on doing a drive-in movie or something like that.

HD radio is a trademark for a form of in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio transmission. There are AM and FM versions. Unusually for a standard, it involves patented and proprietary IP content. Currently, using the standard requires requires the purchase of proprietary chip sets and licensing the technology fro the IP owner. So, all implementations of HD receivers are practically identical. Fortunately, the HD chip set implements a nearly ideal receiver for standard analog broadcasts too by means of digital signal processing. Since DSP is used for both analog and HD signals, turning the HD off will not remove the time lag. Aside from the processing latency, Rivian's FM radio is good as it gets for broadcast radio.

 

[CharonPDX]

No AM in most EVs due to interference. We do have FM though!

Personally I don’t miss AM, although I wish there was an emergency weather channel like I used to have in my Subaru. That saved my bacon a couple times.

I did miss AM for a while in the first couple AM-less vehicles I had, but all the AM stations I listened to have since simulcast on HD Radio sub-stations now, so I'm not missing them any more.

The only downside of no AM is the "local/weather/emergency information, tune xxxx AM" low-power AM transmitters often used around here. But I would rarely tune in to those anyway. And I carry an AM/FM/Weather/GMRS portable unit if I really need to listen to one of those.

 

[Sportstick]

I would not miss AM or FM in an R2 as long as I have Sirius. I bought three lifetime subscriptions in the 1990s for our cars that I transfer with each new vehicle. This plan amortizes to less than $1/month per vehicle at this point.

 

[COdogman]

I did miss AM for a while in the first couple AM-less vehicles I had, but all the AM stations I listened to have since simulcast on HD Radio sub-stations now, so I'm not missing them any more.

The only downside of no AM is the "local/weather/emergency information, tune xxxx AM" low-power AM transmitters often used around here. But I would rarely tune in to those anyway. And I carry an AM/FM/Weather/GMRS portable unit if I really need to listen to one of those.

That has been my solution as well. I just keep one of those hand crank emergency radios in my frunk bag in case I need it. I haven’t even touched it in 2 years though

 

[bgg1]

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[reodds]

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[Alan in Tempe]

The R2 has no AM or FM radio at all. It has internet streaming radio from iHeart and TuneIn, but they will drop out if the cell service drops, and they do not get all stations, and they often have lead in ads before the streamed station begins. I am very disappointed that Rivian dropped the FM radio.

 

[Big Kidd]

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I'm old school too!!

 

[Mos Eisley]

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[GaryL]

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[oregonridet]

No!!! Not another “No radio thread”.

 

[Tony S]

This issue alone may persuade me to go with the Volvo EX60 (I prefer the R2).
Here in South Florida during Hurricane season (June to November) we lose power, sometimes for days over a good chunk of the state. No internet, no streaming audio, no nothing. Local broadcast stations are mandated to have backup generators to cary safety messages, especially for traffic evacuation.

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