AM for Every Vehicle Act

[earlyhike]

It might not go anywhere but it's interesting that the death of AM radio might not be strictly left up to car manufacturers.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate...-legislation-requiring-am-radios-in-new-cars/

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[GPSMan]

Interesting.

Seems a non-issue to me.
I had a Chevy Bolt EV for 6 years.
It had perfect sounding AM radio.

EV's are no more difficult than ICE's.
Spark plugs interfere with AM radio.

AM radio travels greater distances, especially at night. It has its advantages. The technology is well developed and well understood.

It should cost next to nothing to have it in cars.

 

[fossil]

I understand some still use AM radio, it's America. Are you willing to pay for an option the majority doesn't want to pay for?

Simple Radio – Live AM FM App on the App Store

 

[WellKnownHermit]

This act makes sense. Most federal highways use AM radio to broadcast important messages regarding road closures, construction delays, tunnel restrictions, etc and they would have to switch that all over to FM at public cost.

Also, the majority of farmers rely on AM radio, which is why large pickup trucks all still have a 30" antenna on the front fender. Smaller integrated antennas work well enough in the city, but a specific length vertical antenna brings in even the weakest AM signals.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

I understand some still use AM radio, it's America. Are you willing to pay for an option the majority doesn't want to pay for?

Simple Radio – Live AM FM App on the App Store

My cable includes basketball, football, baseball and GOLF!!! GOLF?!?!?!? Who the hell wants to watch somebody play Cow Pasture Pool? Or the other children's games? I DO NOT. But, I am forced to pay for them.
Don't want AM radio? Do what I do with sports on TV. DON'T TUNE IN!!

Problem solved.

KISS

 

[GPSMan]

I understand some still use AM radio, it's America. Are you willing to pay for an option the majority doesn't want to pay for?

Simple Radio – Live AM FM App on the App Store

You miss the point:

It costs almost nothing....pennies.... to add AM capability to an existing radio.

I scratch built an AM radio on the kitchen table when I was 10 years old for like a dollar. One of those science learning kits where you get 20 projects for $20.

So dang simple.

The question is: Do YOU want to pay extra to have it removed???

 

[Redneck Garage]

You miss the point:

It costs almost nothing....pennies.... to add AM capability to an existing radio.

I scratch built an AM radio on the kitchen table when I was 10 years old for like a dollar. One of those science learning kits where you get 20 projects for $20.

So dang simple.

The question is: Do YOU want to pay extra to have it removed???

The bean counters have figured out it saves .47 cents per vehicle and the only people listening to AM really is those pesky "talk radio" folks .......... Ill stop there as not to get "political" and banned - LOL

 

[fossil]

My cable includes basketball, football, baseball and GOLF!!! GOLF?!?!?!? Who the hell wants to watch somebody play Cow Pasture Pool? Or the other children's games? I DO NOT. But, I am forced to pay for them.
Don't want AM radio? Do what I do with sports on TV. DON'T TUNE IN!!

Problem solved.

KISS

that's why I cut the cord years ago, not to pay for what I don't want

 

[fossil]

You miss the point:

It costs almost nothing....pennies.... to add AM capability to an existing radio.

I scratch built an AM radio on the kitchen table when I was 10 years old for like a dollar. One of those science learning kits where you get 20 projects for $20.

So dang simple.

The question is: Do YOU want to pay extra to have it removed???

nope, not missing the point. If it's so important, pay for it, it's just pennies

 

[commadorebob]

The EV excuse is not completely invalid as in a suburban setting, AM goes to crap when you get near power lines. But that said, there have been plenty of EVs where AM works fine. So, it is more laziness on the part of manufacturers.

AM still serves a purpose and not just for political talk radio. Because AM is lower power, in emergencies it makes more sense for officials to broadcast messages over AM than FM.

 

[B2000]

I do occasionally listen to baseball on AM and would use it when travelling but now will listen to Sirius or something on my phone. I'm pretty sure there is app that would let me listen to baseball on my phone if needed.

 

[Maverick Life]

In a widespread catastrophe I'd be glad to have AM. It sounds like one of the least technically complex methods for addressing the public and one that reaches farther than FM. For (apocalyptic?) disaster scenarios alone it's worth it to me even if I otherwise never use it over the life of the vehicle. ...kind of like my insurance policy I hope I never need. Sounds a lot cheaper too.

 

[GPSMan]

It's a no brainer to leave well enough alone.

As stated, as long as AM continues to be broadcast, there's no reason to have a basically cost-free receiver.

The money is in the buttons, dials, amplifiers, and speakers. Assuming you have that for other purposes, having ability to receive AM is almost free.

 

[TomD]

It might not go anywhere but it's interesting that the death of AM radio might not be strictly left up to car manufacturers.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate...-legislation-requiring-am-radios-in-new-cars/

They’re politics involved because most of the talk radio programs are on AM.
In a more positive vane I think that if there was some sort of national emergency AM might be your only source of information. Of course I might a little naive.

 

[SR-71]

AM reaches many (perhaps most?) areas that have no cellular coverage. During an emergency AM may be the only available source of information for many, so it should be considered a vehicle safety feature. For those who think 47 cents is far too great a cost (LOL), you should be able to recoup half that cost at the time of re-sale

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