How do you tune an AM Radio station?

[togaxx]

Anyone know how to tune in an AM Radio Station?

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[BrockN]

You don't.

I think the only Tesla models that had it were the original S and X. My '15 S did. AM disappeared around 2017 I think. Noisy due to EV electrical systems.

If you can find an app for your phone to stream the stations, you might be able to Bluetooth it into the sound system.

 

[navycamp]

A variety of radio stations are carried by Tunein. You might be able to find a local station that way.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

The Tune-In Radio app will do it within the vehicle’s native apps. I rarely listen to AM anymore, but do so for sports, which I stream with either Tune-In or SiriusXM through my phone apps and Bluetooth.

 

[CyberGus]

"FM - no static at all"
- S. Dan

 

[YDR37]

Apparently the electrical systems of EVs cause interference with AM radio, so it's hard to get good AM reception in an EV unless there is a lot of shielding. So Tesla, and some other automakers, have given up on AM radio in EVs.

This trend is alarming to the broadcast industry, and there are a lot of religious and political talk stations on the AM band that have significant political clout. For the past two years, an "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" has been introduced to Congress, which would force auto manufacturers to include AM radios in all new cars. The bill has never come up for a vote, but would likely pass if it did.

You may still be able to listen to your local AM station if they stream their broadcasts and if you have cell reception.

 

[YDR37]

"FM - no static at all"
- S. Dan

"No FM at all"
- Lowest trims of Model 3 and Model Y

Tesla has dropped AM radio entirely, and has also dropped FM radio in their least expensive vehicles. People have criticized the forthcoming Slate truck for not including a car radio as standard equipment, but that is also true of some Teslas right now.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Never knew about the EV and AM radio issue. Sort of stinks as I am sure a AM/FM radio tab or link or whatever you call it on your screen should not be hard to do and make it work clearly. I am sure it came down to $$$ in production.

Seems like a cheap cop out whether it is a Tesla or Ford or Whoever EV.

 

[YDR37]

Never knew about the EV and AM radio issue.

It's a significant concern right now for the whole EV industry (not just Tesla). There's a coalition of companies that promote EV adoption -- including Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Waymo, battery manufacturers, and power companies -- called the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). And ZETA is actively lobbying against the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act", for the reasons outlined here.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I do not care if it is digital or analog AM. Just seems like it would be possible and yes I still do at times listen to AM radio. Mostly I tune into the local collage Non profit station on the FM dial.

Thanks for the link YDR37......

 

[BrockN]

"FM - no static at all"
- S. Dan

For sure. Fagen's "The Nightfly" is amazing album too. Fagen and Becker were a fantastic pair.

 

[BrockN]

It's a significant concern right now for the whole EV industry (not just Tesla). There's a coalition of companies that promote EV adoption -- including Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Waymo, battery manufacturers, and power companies -- called the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA). And ZETA is actively lobbying against the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act", for the reasons outlined here.

AM radio is the first generation of radio technology. From a technical perspective, it's like the horse and buggy. Massive land requirements for the broadcast antenna. High power just to be heard outside of town. And at night, the ionosphere gets the signal bouncing so you hear multiple stations at the same time (skip). At the frequency of the FM broadcast band, the signals typically don't bounce, so it's easier to coordinate frequency allocations to minimize overlap.

It's a dead technology walking. Similar to shortwave stations (Voice of America, BBC World Service, etc.) that are slightly higher in frequency and also using AM, stations are being shuttered and those remaining are predominantly nutjob religious and political stations, or pure propaganda (China for example).

The proposed bill makes little sense in today's world. People have stopped listening to AM, regardless of whether they have an AM radio or not. Running the stations is not economically viable, whether the bill is passed or not.

Propping the AM industry up with laws is not much different than mandating ICE vehicles.

 

[YDR37]

I do not care if it is digital or analog AM.

Digital AM ("HD Radio") is supposed to work better in EVs than traditional analog AM. But then you run into another problem: there aren't a lot of HD AM stations out there. Most HD radio stations are FM, especially in big cities where the radio dial is crowded.

You can check your local HD radio coverage here. You'll probably find that there is a lot more HD FM than HD AM. For example, in downtown Los Angeles (zip code 90012), there are 71 HD FM stations and only 5 HD AM stations (the HD AM stations are listed at the end).

If you live outside a big city, it's quite possible that there will be zero HD AM stations in your area. And even if you do live in a big city, the options may be limited. In downtown LA, for example, your five HD AM options include one sports station, one news/talk station, one religious station, one Spanish station, and one classical music station. And that's probably more than what most of the country has.

 

[YDR37]

AM, stations are being shuttered and those remaining are predominantly nutjob religious and political stations

But you can't discount the political influence of those stations. For example, the President of the United States has addressed the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) as follows:

“We do not answer to bureaucrats in Washington. We answer to God in heaven,” Trump said. “I will protect the content that is pro-God. We're going to protect pro-God context and content. To that end, at the request of the NRB, I will do my part to protect AM radio in our cars."

You raise valid engineering considerations, but they may be outweighed by the political and religious considerations.

 

[dpoll995]

You have the find the HD station that carries the AM station you want. For example in Houston I like to listen to AM740 news radio, so in my cybertruck I tune to 99.1HD2 and that is actually am740. The regular 99.1 is like old pop music but the HD2 channel is am station I want.

here is a list for Houston. Probably have to search for HD radio stations for your city/area…

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