Does the Rivian R2 have: SiriusXM and Walk-Away Lock

[DukeofArmchair]

I could forgive the lack of AM/FM/XM receivers if they didn't also get rid of the ability to use a suction cup mount to put a Starlink Mini dish under the sunroof. That works great in my Gen 1 R1S and I can often get 100 Mbps even while in motion. From what I understand it no longer works in the Gen 2 R1S or in R2 due to changes in the sunroof glass.

Are we sure it won’t work in the R2? Possibly the issue with the R1 is the Electrochromic glass?

Sponsored

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Are we sure it won’t work in the R2? Possibly the issue with the R1 is the Electrochromic glass?

It’s believed to be cause. But it’s an option. And the R1S’ third row roof glass is not a problem. The R2 does not have electrochromic roof option.

 

[kanefsky]

Are we sure it won’t work in the R2? Possibly the issue with the R1 is the Electrochromic glass?

You might be right. It would be great if it works. I tried to research it online and it seemed like it was related to IR/UV coatings and not just the dynamic glass option. But I see now that there are varying reports. I'm tempted to schedule another demo drive just to test that without even taking the car off the lot.

 

[kanefsky]

I could forgive the lack of AM/FM/XM receivers if they didn't also get rid of the ability to use a suction cup mount to put a Starlink Mini dish under the sunroof. That works great in my Gen 1 R1S and I can often get 100 Mbps even while in motion. From what I understand it no longer works in the Gen 2 R1S or in R2 due to changes in the sunroof glass.

Are we sure it won’t work in the R2? Possibly the issue with the R1 is the Electrochromic glass?

I just did a second R2 demo drive with the primary goal of testing Starlink. I drove my R1S (gen1) there with my Starlink Mini mounted under the sunroof with a suction-cup mount as usual. When I got there I verified in the parking lot that it was working and did a few speed tests. I got around 80-120 Mbps download speeds.

Next I got the keys for the R2 and moved the Starlink Mini dish into the R2 using the same suction cup mount under the sunroof. NO SIGNAL. It was unable to locate any satellites and it didn't work at all.

Lastly I unmounted the dish from beneath the R2 sunroof and set it on top of the car. Naturally this worked great. I got 150 Mbps download on the speed test.

 

[Mos Eisley]

I just did a second R2 demo drive with the primary goal of testing Starlink. I drove my R1S (gen1) there with my Starlink Mini mounted under the sunroof with a suction-cup mount as usual. When I got there I verified in the parking lot that it was working and did a few speed tests. I got around 80-120 Mbps download speeds.

Next I got the keys for the R2 and moved the Starlink Mini dish into the R2 using the same suction cup mount under the sunroof. NO SIGNAL. It was unable to locate any satellites and it didn't work at all.

Lastly I unmounted the dish from beneath the R2 sunroof and set it on top of the car. Naturally this worked great. I got 150 Mbps download on the speed test.

Interesting - anything metallic in glass can act something like a Faraday Cage and readily confound Ku and Ka bands. Could be in the UV coating or the IR coating.

 

[NY_Rob]

Sirius makes sure that using the app over Bluetooth is a subpar experience.

Roger that! Even their sat feeds are poor quality now due to too many channels which means low bitrate and compression on too few sat transponders. My Jeep has a pretty decent sound system with a good size factory subwoofer. It has real sat based SXM.. and the sound quality of that feed sucks, worse than FM radio. I tried it one time for a full day, that was enough to make me go back to playing music off my plugged in USB flash drive.. permanently.

 

[rfkxyz]

No real satellite antenna may be a deal breaker for me. I’ve has this for over 10 years and found it a must have. Cellular service is poor in many places in large cities like where I live. It’s nonexistent on many parts of highways and remote areas. Cell towers have been “coming” for decades. What would be good in addition to a real satellite antenna would be an antenna to get low orbit satellites WiFi.

Yeah it’s great when “adventure vehicles” support adventuring in remote areas.

BMW, Viasat debut satellite emergency calling to reach drivers without cellular coverage

“The satellite voice calling is integrated into a vehicle, enabling emergency calls where cellular networks don't reach… Drivers stranded in remote areas without cellular coverage may soon be able to call for help via satellite, thanks to technology demonstrated by BMW, Viasat and Cubic.”

 

[Jeffvisor]

No Highway for the wife or Howard Stern for me is disappointing for sure.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Yeah it’s great when “adventure vehicles” support adventuring in remote areas.

BMW, Viasat debut satellite emergency calling to reach drivers without cellular coverage

“The satellite voice calling is integrated into a vehicle, enabling emergency calls where cellular networks don't reach… Drivers stranded in remote areas without cellular coverage may soon be able to call for help via satellite, thanks to technology demonstrated by BMW, Viasat and Cubic.”

Or, you know, just use the satellite SOS feature on your phone.

 

[kanefsky]

There's a lot of options for emergency communications when you're stranded on the side of the road, but it's really nice to have some kind of continuous, non-emergency connection to the world when you're on some lonely trip in a remote area in the middle of the night with no cell coverage. It could be terrestrial or satellite broadcast radio, but a 2-way connection (like Starlink, hopefully with other alternatives coming) is even better.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Or, you know, just use the satellite SOS feature on your phone.

Yup. Or one of many already existing satellite connected emergency communication devices on the market, like Garmin InReach. The car doesn’t have to be the only thing to solve a perceived problem. Such a tiresome flawed excuse/criticism.

 

[Mos Eisley]

Yup. Or one of many already existing satellite connected emergency communication devices on the market, like Garmin InReach. The car doesn’t have to be the only thing to solve a perceived problem. Such a tiresome flawed excuse/criticism.

agreed.
The software creep is bad enough… let’s lard on another $10k in technology in an effort to make the car do everything.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

agreed.
The software creep is bad enough… let’s lard on another $10k in technology in an effort to make the car do everything.

And then complain the car is too expensive and buggy.

 

[Mos Eisley]

And then complain the car is too expensive and buggy.

 

[tivoboy]

There's a lot of options for emergency communications when you're stranded on the side of the road, but it's really nice to have some kind of continuous, non-emergency connection to the world when you're on some lonely trip in a remote area in the middle of the night with no cell coverage. It could be terrestrial or satellite broadcast radio, but a 2-way connection (like Starlink, hopefully with other alternatives coming) is even better.

Any iphone after iphone 14, or samsung after I think S24? Have emergency 911 messaging and messaging via satellite in NA at least.. and at this point with ios 26, actual messaging access.

Sponsored