Radio idea with bluetooth, FM, and knobs

[IanNubbit]

It should be even simpler to put a din mount in the dash. Those covers are removable, and I'm sure there will be multiple options in both single and double din mounts to go there at or soon after launch.

As long as enough sell, 3D design/print shops will go nuts, there will be insane amounts if things available for the truck, likely more then Jeeps after a year or so thanks to the simpler designs and easy of mounting

 

[KevinRS]

As long as enough sell, 3D design/print shops will go nuts, there will be insane amounts if things available for the truck, likely more then Jeeps after a year or so thanks to the simpler designs and easy of mounting

Beyond that, I expect a few injection molded designs to be available right from the start. 3d printed designs may depending on the material used have issues with heat.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

It seems unlikely that the aftermarket demand for Slate Truck accessories will exceed the demand for Jeep products "after a year or so". It might take a bit for Slate to catch up!

 

[KevinRS]

It seems unlikely that the aftermarket demand for Slate Truck accessories will exceed the demand for Jeep products "after a year or so". It might take a bit for Slate to catch up!

I don't think it was about demand, but selection in supply. Simpler design and dead simple fast install might mean more designs on the market. If printing them works, small scale sellers don't have to worry about keeping stock, they can print on demand.

 

[IanNubbit]

I don't think it was about demand, but selection in supply. Simpler design and dead simple fast install might mean more designs on the market. If printing them works, small scale sellers don't have to worry about keeping stock, they can print on demand.

This is exactly where I was coming from. right now, Jeep parts need either a 3D scanner, or loads of R&D to get right, before the actual part even gets designed. Slate will have most of the mounting and part CAD documents ready to go right off the bat, this means many small shops and individuals can build and develop parts for the vehicle without needing nearly the upfront cost in time and labor and waste material. One thing I do hope eventually get's popular is body kits. Custom hoods, Fenders, bumpers etc. With bolt on locations, I could see this being easy to develop. I would personally love a wide body, or a street truck style aero bumper!

 

[enigma9o7]

I've said it before, but I think the blank slate should include an fm antenna (either whip on the passenger fender, or integrated into the front windshield) and stanadrd DIN opening with that antenna's plug, along with the other necessary wires, including wires to the doors for speakers.

That way we can install what we want, or nothing at all. But without antenna and wiring already there, installing anything is going to PITA.

 

[IanNubbit]

I've said it before, but I think the blank slate should include an fm antenna (either whip on the passenger fender, or integrated into the front windshield) and stanadrd DIN opening with that antenna's plug, along with the other necessary wires, including wires to the doors for speakers.

That way we can install what we want, or nothing at all. But without antenna and wiring already there, installing anything is going to PITA.

Well wiring for speakers will be there for the dash speakers. AM/FM Antenna's are the most universal and easy to run thing there is, limitless mounting and cable length available.
The question is what do the speakers wire to, I'm assuming a Blutetooth recevier, but I wonder how that all works, is it there but off with no speakers? What enables it? Wither way, in the grand scheme of things, adding an AM radio, especially if only for Emergencies mainly, could be achieved for less than $100.

Alos DO NOT put a radio antenna on the windsheiled that is a MASSIVE cost multiplier to a component on the vehicle almost everyone will end up replacing at-least once.

 

[KevinRS]

Well wiring for speakers will be there for the dash speakers. AM/FM Antenna's are the most universal and easy to run thing there is, limitless mounting and cable length available.
The question is what do the speakers wire to, I'm assuming a Blutetooth recevier, but I wonder how that all works, is it there but off with no speakers? What enables it? Wither way, in the grand scheme of things, adding an AM radio, especially if only for Emergencies mainly, could be achieved for less than $100.

Alos DO NOT put a radio antenna on the windsheiled that is a MASSIVE cost multiplier to a component on the vehicle almost everyone will end up replacing at-least once.

With plastic body panels, my thought is a wire antenna similar to those embedded in windshields, but simply taped/glued to the inside of one of those panels. Possibly the roof, but that may not be accessible.

 

[IanNubbit]

With plastic body panels, my thought is a wire antenna similar to those embedded in windshields, but simply taped/glued to the inside of one of those panels. Possibly the roof, but that may not be accessible.

I’d just run a Shark fin to the roof. Easy to run and conceal, and matches the rest of the industry

 

[KevinRS]

I’d just run a Shark fin to the roof. Easy to run and conceal, and matches the rest of the industry

A wire antenna under a panel would mean no holes, and be completely invisible though.

 

[Paul]

The classic car radio kits seem to offer what I'd like to see in a slate. Knobs, handsfree calling, bluetooth music, and FM radio.

If I can drive and listen handsfree, eyes off the dash, then I think I'm happy.

Something like this, or a single-din version would work. Wire it to some door (or dash) speakers, microphone, antenna.

If you actuallyIf you actually click on the link, the basic one is $260 And then there's a higher performance one and then the most phones one has satellite and Bluetooth. Most phones will just act as a hands-free device. I have fancy Android auto on a truck but on my basic car It just sits in a holster and turns into big buttons and you can use it as car phone. I don't think I would worry about connecting to a phone or satellite radio.

 

[enigma9o7]

I’d just run a Shark fin to the roof. Easy to run and conceal, and matches the rest of the industry

Pretty sure shark fin are not used for fm antenna, they're used for gps and satellite radio antennas which are much higher freq (and thus shorter antennas).

 

[bloo]

Pretty sure shark fin are not used for fm antenna, they're used for gps and satellite radio antennas which are much higher freq (and thus shorter antennas).

Modern cars use them for FM and AM. I'll guess there's a built-in pre-amp for the FM side while AM gets a loop. That's one reason why modern car radios perform so poorly.

The crappy Soundesign stereo in my '78 Chevette had better reception than the one in my '21 Seltos. It had a real whip antenna, though.

 

[enigma9o7]

Modern cars use them for FM and AM. I'll guess there's a built-in pre-amp for the FM side while AM gets a loop. That's one reason why modern car radios perform so poorly.

Perhaps there are some that use an fm antenna in there, but it would be pretty bad as you implied. Usually sharkfin is for satellite (including gps) antennas, some times cellular in cars with built in mobile phone. fm (when not a mast) is usually in the rear window or hidden somewhere in the body, but mast is still the best.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Hmm. Only 25 watts RMS per channel at this price? Not what I was expecting. And how about including a retro CD player that us older folks could resurrect our old compact disc collection?

I have a Pioneer Am/FM/CB/8-Track in my '78 Trans Am. Hope I can find something that can play 8-tracks in the Slate.