No real AM or FM radio in the R2

[Dark-Fx]

I'm glad I don't have to compete with a sharkfin antenna for roof space.

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[ksumnole]

Yes, page 21! Suckers

 

[SwampNut]

Yes, page 21! Suckers

 

[Longreach]

I'm glad I don't have to compete with a sharkfin antenna for roof space.

I believe the shark fin antenna mainly became popular because it combines the radio and satellite functions in one. Prior to the satellite requirement, the preferred solution was to print the antenna on glass in the same fashion as the defrost wires. Costs nothing extra if printed with the defrost wires, although some manufacturers printed it on the windshield or quarter glass.

A printed antenna would keep the roof clear.

 

[Zoidz]

It’s a lot more than $35 all in

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/no-real-am-or-fm-radio-in-the-r2.60060/post-1019566

Yes it is more. We know that the R1 is an SDR (Software Defined Radio) because of the way it tunes, scanning and displaying only stronger channels dynamically, supports HD FM, etc. etc. That's not a $2 chip. NXP is a supplier of automotive chips, so using them as a typical supplier, their HD FM SDR chips range from $28 to $38 each in 1,000 piece lots. Even if it is integrated on the base infotainment board, there are supporting electronic devices required that can add $10 - $20 or more. Don't forget antenna, antenna cable, connectors, etc. All in, it's likely at least $75 with the cheapest design, more with a premium design.

"The SAF9000 is an automotive radio and audio single-chip solution enabling car infotainment for the software-defined car. It includes five built-in tuners for multistandard analog and digital radio processing, two advanced audio processing cores, an embedded MCU and comprehensive connectivity including PCIe and Gbit-Ethernet. Based on a new software control approach, the SAF9000 covers worldwide radio and audio requirements for vehicles with a single hardware variant."

 

[tivoboy]

Yes it is more. We know that the R1 is an SDR (Software Defined Radio) because of the way it tunes, scanning and displaying only stronger channels dynamically, supports HD FM, etc. etc. That's not a $2 chip. NXP is a supplier of automotive chips, so using them as a typical supplier, their HD FM SDR chips range from $28 to $38 each in 1,000 piece lots. Even if it is integrated on the base infotainment board, there are supporting electronic devices required that can add $10 - $20 or more. Don't forget antenna, antenna cable, connectors, etc. All in, it's likely at least $75 with the cheapest design, more with a premium design.

"The SAF9000 is an automotive radio and audio single-chip solution enabling car infotainment for the software-defined car. It includes five built-in tuners for multistandard analog and digital radio processing, two advanced audio processing cores, an embedded MCU and comprehensive connectivity including PCIe and Gbit-Ethernet. Based on a new software control approach, the SAF9000 covers worldwide radio and audio requirements for vehicles with a single hardware variant."

I’ll requote the text

As for AM in EV cars.. oem really don’t like to do it as the EMI frequencies that the EV motors and wiring operate at significantly interfere with AM modulation. Not so much or at all with FM.

So, in order to protect the radio signal and output, they need more shielding around motor, wiring, cable harnesses, inverters, probably some ferrite cores here and there, not sure about battery pack. That’s a lot of shield for just ONE purpose. That is not only COSt, but more importantly WEIGHT all of which are bad for EV’s.

So, much easier to not have to engineer for something that really isn’t very high on the MAJORITY of buyers list of features required or desired, and does only ONE thing - reduces AM radio interference.

There are good Bluetooth receivers that will do either Satellite, for SiriusXM, or FM digital. And even some for analogue digital if you’re really out in the boonies..

I always take a Bluetooth enabled Sirius radio on longer roadtrips for mostly talk radio, but some music radio too. It’s got a little half dollar sized hockey puck magnetic receiver that would plop onto the roof and lead into the glove box, but honestly I’ve never had to put it anyone other than in the corner of the dash of the passenger side of the car, then the receiver goes usually in the glove box where most of the AUX in are located, or just Bluetooth to a head unit.

 

[SwampNut]

I wonder what the Venn diagram of anti-CarPlay and pro-FM people would look like. Does this forum support polls?

 

[Zathras]

I wonder what the Venn diagram of anti-CarPlay and pro-FM people would look like. Does this forum support polls?

Wouldn’t overlap for me. Apple CarPlay is a big nope for me and I’ve been an Apple fan since ‘83.

It would take Rivian resources for their software engineers to learn the API to slap Apple’s lipstick on their entertainment system and I don’t expect them to waste time like that. They are living on the edge as it is.

 

[ksumnole]

Wouldn’t overlap for me. Apple CarPlay is a big nope for me and I’ve been an Apple fan since ‘83.

It would take Rivian resources for their software engineers to learn the API to slap Apple’s lipstick on their entertainment system and I don’t expect them to waste time like that. They are living on the edge as it is.

Yeah... on the edge of bankruptcy.

 

[ksumnole]

I wonder what the Venn diagram of anti-CarPlay and pro-FM people would look like. Does this forum support polls?

A poll would be nice. For me no FM and no CarPlay means a new Subaru when my wife's car ages, not an R2.

 

[Yamazaki]

A poll would be nice. For me no FM and no CarPlay means a new Subaru when my wife's car ages, not an R2.

We are test driving the Trailseeker this weekend... But I still expect that we'll be getting the R2 in the end, despite the cost difference and desired conveniences included in the Trailseeker.

 

[ksumnole]

We are test driving the Trailseeker this weekend... But I still expect that we'll be getting the R2 in the end, despite the cost difference and desired conveniences included in the Trailseeker.

Cool. Let me know how you like it. We were comparing the Trailseeker Touring to the R2, ~$10K difference. We've been very satisfied with our 2020 Ascent Touring. It's a workhorse that crossed the country multiple times at this point with zero issues.

 

[MajorVex]

IMO, it's more due to the fact that they have 20 something year olds designing vehicles nowadays. We have quite a few family members (including my own kids) between 20-30 years of age and I've never been in one of their vehicles where they were listening to FM radio. It's always a streaming service 100% of the time. It's like they don't even know FM radio exists, so if there was ever a design discussion on "do we need FM radio?" we already know how that meeting ended.

I said is one buck. Someone replied it was $37 or something. I was ordering some parts for my PLC programmer today (industrial computers in simple terms) and checked US/EU AM/FM receivers mini boards that have both digital/analog inputs/outputs. They run a total of 4 to 7 bucks for a single one.. Order over a 1000 and they start dropping to close to a buck. Not including a buck part that even a 1/1000 people want is idiotic. Not sure why other peeps are acting like this is same as wanting an 8 track.

 

[chrismc]

Just to throw it out there- do we actually definitely know that the R2 doesn’t have FM radio tuner hardware in it, or is it possible that it’s there and they just didn’t use it in software? So far, the only references I’ve see to it are shitty Rivian AI chatbots and notoriously unreliable customer service reps. I’d love to hear an actual hardware or software engineering exec chime in.

 

[MajorVex]

You mean Milton? He's in basement, I could go down and ask but I have to go through 20 app links before corporate allows us to ask him.
Ok we good.
Crap he babbling something about a red stapler.

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