Need FM Radio

[sodamo]

To listen to AM radio on your phone, use apps like TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, or myTuner Radio which stream stations online

 

[YDR37]

A mandate is not required here. If an owner wants to install an AM radio, there will be many options.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine and his response was: "Back in the day I attached a "transistor radio" to the dash of my old truck that did not have a radio." Worked great.

$10 on Amazon.

With EVs, it's not that simple. EVs typically generate a lot of electromagnetic interference that affects the AM band. This is why many (most?) EVs sold in the US today don't have traditional AM radios. If you tried attaching a $10 AM radio to the dashboard of a Slate, you might not get anything except static.

A 2023 study found that:

There is an effort in the US Congress to require automakers to maintain AM radio in all vehicles, including new electric vehicles (EVs). However, the nature of EVs and their operating conditions, including acceleration and deceleration, pose a challenge to ensuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) with the analog AM band radio. This study, conducted by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), shows that mitigating electromagnetic interference (EMI) in an EV is challenging and could lead to added costs for vehicle manufacturers. The cost of mitigation depends upon the electrical architecture of the vehicle and entails several design and engineering tradeoffs. Automakers may mitigate some EMI through vehicle engineering choices, including shielding, filtering, active noise cancellation, and strategic placement of components. These mitigation techniques can improve analog AM band reception. However, a total vehicle system EMC requirement would need to be included from the beginning of any future EV redesign, if not already considered by the automakers, to eliminate the need for piecemeal late-stage mitigations.

If the bill becomes law, maybe Slate (and other EV manufacturers) can satisfy the legal requirements at minimal cost by including a cheap AM radio, even if it doesn't actually receive anything when the motors are running. But if the bill specifies more functionality, the costs for shielding and other mitigation could be significant.

 

[YDR37]

If the bill becomes law, maybe Slate (and other EV manufacturers) can satisfy the legal requirements at minimal cost by including a cheap AM radio, even if it doesn't actually receive anything when the motors are running. But if the bill specifies more functionality, the costs for shielding and other mitigation could be significant.

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) has taken a position against the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act". Slate is not listed as a member, but Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid are. My guess is that Slate would be opposed as well.

 

[KevinRS]

A mandate is not required here. If an owner wants to install an AM radio, there will be many options.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine and his response was: "Back in the day I attached a "transistor radio" to the dash of my old truck that did not have a radio." Worked great.

$10 on Amazon.

If it is mandated, Slate could offer something like that, as a free option, with a custom case to fit a dash cubby.

 

[Doug T]

With EVs, it's not that simple. EVs typically generate a lot of electromagnetic interference that affects the AM band. This is why many (most?) EVs sold in the US today don't have traditional AM radios. If you tried attaching a $10 AM radio to the dashboard of a Slate, you might not get anything except static.

A 2023 study found that:

If the bill becomes law, maybe Slate (and other EV manufacturers) can satisfy the legal requirements at minimal cost by including a cheap AM radio, even if it doesn't actually receive anything when the motors are running. But if the bill specifies more functionality, the costs for shielding and other mitigation could be significant.

Thanks for the heads up on this. Obviously, I was unaware of the interference issue and the possible legislation. That picture of that ridiculous 1960s style radio I posted seemed a lot funnier before....

 

[YDR37]

Another twist to the story involves HD (digital) AM radio.

Traditional AM/FM broadcasts are analog. But in recent years, some radio stations have started broadcasting "HD" digital signals, along with the traditional analog signal. The HD signal provides superior sound, as long as you have an HD radio that can decode it (not a $10 transistor radio).

The good news is that (1) HD AM works better in EVs than traditional analog AM, and (2) a digital AM receiver satisfies the requirements of the "AM in Every Vehicle Act" (as it is currently written).

The bad news is that (1) HD radios cost more, and (2) there are relatively few HD AM stations out there. HD FM is fairly common; HD AM not so much. You can check for local HD stations by entering your zip code here. The HD FM stations will be listed first; the HD AM stations (if any) will be listed at the bottom. For example, Warsaw Indiana (home of the Slate factory; zip code 46580) can get two HD FM stations (Adult Contemporary and Country formats), but currently has no options for HD AM.

So Slate (and other EV manufacturers) could potentially satisfy the requirements of the Act by providing an HD AM radio (which would probably also include HD FM). However, this would be more expensive than a traditional analog AM radio, and many customers would find that few (or even zero) HD AM stations are available.

 

[enigma9o7]

I am considering this truck, but the lack of FM radio seems like a big deal to me. A radio needs to work independantly of my phone completely and come on automatically and immediately when I start the vehicle. I don't care about features like power windows or power steering or automatic tranmissions or anything like that, but I need a friggen radio, sheesh.

People have mentioned if they at least offer a DIN opening we can install our own, but that neglects the hassle of installing an antenna and wiring! If this truck isn't going to offer an option for a radio, in order to make it reasonable for people to install their own head unit, besides the DIN opening, we need an antenna mount (ideally with 30" mast like full size trucks use, and all old cars used to) wired to that DIN opening. We also need power and ignition wires there so we don't have to hack into the wiring harness, and ideally also illumination and handbrake wires too. And wires to where the speakers go, so even if it doesn't come with speakers and head unit, we still needsomewhere to mount speakers, likely in the doors, with wiring to the DIN opening.

I have read other people suggest paring bluetooth speakers to a mobile phone and using streaming radio as a substitute. This may be acceptable to some, but certainly not me. I don't want to have to fiddle with my phone every time before I start driving. And I most certainly I don't want to have to fiddle with my phone *while* driving, which is illegal where I live anyway. Not to mention the issue of streaming music using tons of data, which not only costs money, but also requires a strong signal, and cuts out completely now and then. And random places where bluetooth just disconnects due to interference, etc, I know a corner that happens every single time. Not to mention when you stream FM stations thru services like iheartradio or audacy or radioFM or tunein, you get a delayed stream from live (annoying for contests or weather or traffic, especially Audacy which can be an hour or more behind), and additional ads playing over songs, sometimes ads before the station will play, and ads in foreign languages. These things don't happen with the analog or HD FM broadcasts, I can easily and quickly switch between my favorite presets.

Someone suggested using a mobile phone with built in radio. My phone has that, and requires using the line cable or headphones as antenna, which is nowhere near as good as an externally mounted 30" antenna. And my current phone doesn't even have the minijack, so to use the FM radio I have to use a usb to minijack adapter (that came with the phone) plus plugging antenna/headphones/line cable. But besides the fact that I dont want to have to fiddle with my phone, FM doesnt work over bluetooth anyway, into only works out of the headphone jack or phones internal speaker. My daughter's phone which does have a minijack is the same way so I suspect thats a common limitation, and thus negates the suggestion of using phone for FM radio with Slates bluetooth speaker option.

So slate, I suggest if you're not going to offer a radio option, you at least offer a "radio ready" option, with DIN opening (single or double makes no difference to me), 30" antenna, somewhere to mount analog speakers, and wiring harness at that din opening with power, ground, ignition, illumination, handbrake, and speaker wires.

 

[AZFox]

I am considering this truck, but the lack of FM radio seems like a big deal to me.

IMHO Slate knows people will want radios and will build in ability to install one by following some reasonable instructions posted on the Slate University pages.

Maybe they'll offer a "DIN Radio Kit" that provides everything you need except the radio unit and your choice of speakers.

"We know people are going to bring insane audio systems to this."​

-- Eric Keipper​

 

[Daemoch]

I am considering this truck, but the lack of FM radio seems like a big deal to me.

It's not. Go to Best Buy and buy whatever type of radio you prefer and schedule the installation. Most cities have dedicated audio installers (they often do tints and wraps, too, incidentally). If you don't trust a big box store or a professional, or you want to do it cheaper (even cheaper than Slate, I promise you), you can buy kits that are darn near plug and play for almost every car ever made.

This is such a rehashed 'concern' I just cant believe so few people know how to use a screw driver.

which is nowhere near as good as an externally mounted 30" antenna.

...if all you want is analog, sure. Digital uses a very different antenna, as does cellular, which a lot of audio systems can now do, too. Its part of why those stupid 'shark fins' on the roof got popular. Big antennas are old tech, back there with CBs, 8-tracks, and HAM (all of which I do like tbh) and get horrible reception on the new freqs/bands. And adding an antenna is stupid easy, too. Stop worrying about things we all dealt with and solved 30+ years ago like its a 'new' problem. Relax.

 

[enigma9o7]

You are mistaken. Digital/HD FM uses the exact same antenna as analog FM. (The same was true with TV btw, you didn't need a new antenna when TV went digital/HD either.) Also, seems HD FM is even *less* popular today than it was 15 years ago... although yes, thats a feature that's important to me, many people don't know or care about digital fm or digital subchannels etc.

I doubt Best Buy is going to install an antenna for you. Cars come with antennas, when the kids at Best Buy install aftermarket radios they expect the antenna to be there from the factory.

Adding an antenna is not "stupid easy". I imagine first having to source something meant for another car, having to drill a hole in the fender, installing a mount, running wire to the steel frame for ground plane, running wire thru the firewall to get to head unit behind the dash. And not that it would be an acceptable workaround even if they were an option, but magnetic mounts wouldn't work either as this car is plastic.

As to GPS and Cellular Antennas, not asking for them. Just FM antenna. In my experience, head units that include a GPS come with a gps antenna they like you to install under the dash near the windshield. (I have not installed or used a head unit with built in cellular, but I'd imagine if such aftermarket head units exist, they are not common and would provide an antenna similar to ones with GPS receivers.)

I dunno what you mean about "big antennas are old tech" as there is still nothing better than a 30" antenna for FM other than a 60" antenna, 1/2 wavelength instead of 1/4 wavelength. This is physics. Higher frequency radios (like those used in mobile phones) can use shorter antennas, but FM is still around 100MHz, it isn't changing.

 

[Daemoch]

You are mistaken. Digital/HD FM uses the exact same antenna as analog FM. (The same was true with TV btw, you didn't need a new antenna when TV went digital/HD either.) Also, seems HD FM is even *less* popular today than it was 15 years ago... although yes, thats a feature that's important to me, many people don't know or care about digital fm or digital subchannels etc.

Mostly, yes, thats true. I misspoke. Not counting DAB, DAB+, etc or antenna units with built in boosters/filters, its the Tx/Rx unit that is different. I assumed you were just tossing out the normal "big antenna = better" reasoning. Sorry about that.

If all you want is FM, then a 3 foot dipole would be ideal; you can/could find those embedded in some cars' windows and sometimes as part of the rear window defroster elements. Modern ones favor folded designs (I'm not a fan) and some exotic/specialty ones use resonant mass, not dimensions. I should have also have clarified 30"/60" is not ideal for anything other than FM. AM for example wants 100s of feet of antenna ideally. It obviously then wouldnt support the other wireless options people are going to generally expect either very well. So all of those would have to be included in an antenna option (so $) if they decided to make an accessory 'standard' and not track multiple spec options. The 'shark antennas' I mentioned usually have several antennas coiled inside them. Pop one off and theres usually 2+ plugs going to the various antennas inside for FM, Wifi, Cell, sat, VHF, UHF, etc - whatever options the car could come with.

I doubt Best Buy is going to install an antenna for you. Cars come with antennas, when the kids at Best Buy install aftermarket radios they expect the antenna to be there from the factory.

Adding an antenna is not "stupid easy". I imagine first having to source something meant for another car, having to drill a hole in the fender, installing a mount, running wire to the steel frame for ground plane, running wire thru the firewall to get to head unit behind the dash. And not that it would be an acceptable workaround even if they were an option, but magnetic mounts wouldn't work either as this car is plastic.

Bestbuy did and still does as far as I know. My grandmother wanted a retractable antenna in her Topaz back in the day and thats where she got it done. I know I can buy generic motorized and non motorized antennas at various auto and supply stores around the area, the truck stops even, never mind off Amazon. The local car audio installers certainly do installs. Any Camper or boat shop certainly will.

Yes, the mounting would be less standard I suppose compared to most cars, but its not the first time we've had plastic body cars (Saturns and Fieros being commonly cited examples) and boats are usually fiberglass, so no, it wouldnt be a problem. Id be more worried about interference from the car itself and I'm sure thats not a new one either and has also been solved since the first EV rolled off the assembly line decades back.

I dont need to imagine what it takes to install. I've installed a ridiculous number of stereo systems over the years. Its stupid simple. Time consuming? Sure, but stupid simple. Theres several threads about it already in here. Take a look.

 

[Daemoch]

with power, ground, ignition, illumination, handbrake, and speaker wires.

Genuinely curious....."handbrake"?

 

[Luxrage]

Genuinely curious....."handbrake"?

Any radio with any sort of "photo/video" function wants a handbrake on signal to ensure the driver is not driving the vehicle while looking at pictures / videos / etc. My Pioneer I put in my Element doesn't have a photo viewer or video player or any of that but still wanted it just to set the wallpaper! Ended up wiring it to a flip switch in the glovebox so I could make it think the handbrake was on while adjusting settings.

 

[Daemoch]

Any radio with any sort of "photo/video" function wants a handbrake on signal to ensure the driver is not driving the vehicle while looking at pictures / videos / etc. My Pioneer I put in my Element doesn't have a photo viewer or video player or any of that but still wanted it just to set the wallpaper! Ended up wiring it to a flip switch in the glovebox so I could make it think the handbrake was on while adjusting settings.

Gotchya. Id forgotten about those. We always bypass em at installation. Ive literally never had to deal with it.

 

[Luxrage]

Gotchya. Id forgotten about those. We always bypass em at installation. Ive literally never had to deal with it.

Mine was smart enough to want to see it change states at least once, so I couldn't get away with just dumping the signal straight to ground. What a pain!