AM FM radio in Cybertruck?

[Crissa]

This is a big issue for me: radio for Tesla is digital so it drops out if I drive through a tunnel or some other network wasteland (which, sadly, is common near my home). If Tesla were to cache whatever I am listening to when the network feed is disrupted, and starts it back up when the feed is restored (and don’t tell me this can’t be done), I would be fine.

It can only cache so much, though, but yeah.

I sorta wish someone would take the time to map dead zones on routes so my app can know when to slip in a pre-recorded track or bulk up on the cache.

-Crissa

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[Jhodgesatmb]

Low power FM, HD, all are allowed to operate nationwide. Satellite is already licensed and could also be used.

AM just needs to be retired, instead of clung to. We have replacements, we should use them instead.

An AM signal uses a signal as wide as 10,000,000 satellite radio signals.

-Crissa

I do not think that we disagree except that you appear to be ok with jettisoning AM without an existing replacement, and I am not. SOLVE the problem; don’t hypothesize a solution. You are sounding like a researcher, and I say that with all due respect. What we need is a policy, a plan, and funding to see it through. Given Washington the way it is now I suspect that AM will vibe around a long time. The big question is whether Washington will mandate auto makers to support AM. That would be an easy out for politicians and really sad. SNAFU :-(

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

It can only cache so much, though, but yeah.

I sorta wish someone would take the time to map dead zones on routes so my app can know when to slip in a pre-recorded track or bulk up on the cache.

-Crissa

That would certainly make it a lot easier.

 

[Musselmanc]

Woah. The back screen can’t play movies while in motion? My kids are not going to be happy on road trips ?

Really?? That was one my main selling points… listen to an awesome movie on the road with awesome sound, and the kids watching in the back… rules suck!

 

[wh1t3rbb1t]

Really?? That was one my main selling points… listen to an awesome movie on the road with awesome sound, and the kids watching in the back… rules suck!

And I don’t see how it breaks any rules. Our Pacifica plays movies in the back just fine. I hope the original quote was mistaken…

 

[Crissa]

I do not think that we disagree except that you appear to be ok with jettisoning AM without an existing replacement, and...

But I'm not. AM needs to go, and those services need to be assigned new bandwidth.

-Crissa

 

[HaulingAss]

But I'm not. AM needs to go, and those services need to be assigned new bandwidth.

I didn't know anyone tuned into AM radio anymore. I could never handle the sound quality, even as a child. In all my travels I've seen AM frequencies listed for emergency info, I tuned into them a couple of times just out of curiosity, but there was never anything important being broadcast, just dumb pre-recorded messages blathering on about nothing interesting, and the sound quality still hurt my ears. I can listen to FM, if the reception is good. But I generally don't.

I would assume people would use their phones if they needed critical information.

I think the last time I ever listened to AM, beyond a minute or two to survey the airwaves, was about 1978.

 

[CyberGus]

radio for Tesla is digital so it drops out if I drive through a tunnel

AM drops out if you drive under a power line

 

[Woodrick]

Sometimes AM is the only signal that is important. Emergency road conditions for one. Some places are remote or small and need the signal strength of AM. For my money it could go away but there are powerful voices asking for it to stay.

Powerful voices are indeed wanting it to stay. And they are using highway warning systems as a reason.

Only thing is that highway warning systems would be better if FM, but I suspect that there are rules keeping them from going there because, it was assumed that not all cars had FM radios. i.e. rules created before 1970s.

 

[Woodrick]

Woah. The back screen can’t play movies while in motion? My kids are not going to be happy on road trips ?

Not sure about that.
I was mainly referencing the front screen. There are laws that prohibit the driver from seeing screens that are in motion.

 

[CyberGus]

Powerful voices are indeed wanting it to stay. And they are using highway warning systems as a reason.

Only thing is that highway warning systems would be better if FM, but I suspect that there are rules keeping them from going there because, it was assumed that not all cars had FM radios. i.e. rules created before 1970s.

"FM, no static at all." - Steely D.

 

[Woodrick]

Low power FM, HD, all are allowed to operate nationwide. Satellite is already licensed and could also be used.

AM just needs to be retired, instead of clung to. We have replacements, we should use them instead.

An AM signal uses a signal as wide as 10,000,000 satellite radio signals.

-Crissa

Yea, but the 10 kHz wide AM channel is small compared to the 150 kHz FM channel.

 

[Woodrick]

This is a big issue for me: radio for Tesla is digital so it drops out if I drive through a tunnel or some other network wasteland (which, sadly, is common near my home). If Tesla were to cache whatever I am listening to when the network feed is disrupted, and starts it back up when the feed is restored (and don’t tell me this can’t be done), I would be fine.

Got to get your terms correct.

Tesla supports using the US FM Radio channels.

Streaming is NOT Radio.

Tesla uses the cellular system for it's streaming services.

While early Tesla supported satellite radio, current ones do not.

On some feeds, Tesla does support caching. Regrettably, a lot of caching rules are dictated by legal agreements. The "free" services are mostly like to have issues, since caching can require higher license fees.

 

[REM]

The lack of AM radio has been my Tesla gripe for 5 years now. But yes, FM radio works fine most of the time.

I'm just as upset that they didn't have a phonograph built into the center console

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