I'm kind of sad the more I learn about Teslas

Now don't get me wrong, I think Tesla is a great company and they make great cars and such. I also enjoy learning more about their technology. I could go on and on about how I like how they're using different battery chemistries in different vehicles, how they've done it right with their induction motors and IPM-SynRM's and such.

But then there are things they do that just hit me where it hurts. For an example, my family and I enjoy a couple AM radio stations, moreso than any of the FM stations. We live out in the country where LTE signals are sparse and so enjoy FM, AM and even SW radio. We've tried web music apps such as Pandora and Spotify, but really don't do these anymore since, for an example, I don't get an LTE signal between home and work.

But I found out the other day that Tesla and others don't include AM radio. Ok, so at least there's FM and I can probably get some sort of AM radio and plug it into the aux port if I ever get a Tesla. But there's no aux port either, and some have said they can't get a bluetooth device other than a cell phone to connect to a Tesla...

Ok, so if we get a Tesla we can't get all our radio stations until they put in more cellphone towers so we can have some sort of radio app. But why?! I can get why there's no spare tire, no FWD option, no tow rating, etc. But I feel like they designed the radio on purpose just to put salt in my wounds. I'm already distrot that no smartphone manufacturer is putting radio in their smartphones*, and hence now have to walk around with yet another pocket bulge (pocket-sized radio). I already hate touchscreens with a passion and yet everything comes with a touchscreen anymore. I hate having to rely on the internet for everything. We've been hit with storms that have left us without power, internet and phonelines, including cellphones, for days, even up to a week. I also still use other equipment that uses a standard audio jack. Why does the world have to be bent on abandoning what works for me and replacing it with what I don't like, and then remove any practical means of sticking with my old ways and habits just to spite me?

So if I want AM radio, or any other audio device, in a Tesla, I guess my only option would be to get an FM transmitter. I don't like the idea of adding more radio waves, be it FM or Bluetooth, when trying to tune in to AM in a car that's already producing a lot of electromagnetic noise. But I don't want to rule out ever owning a Tesla nor rule out abandoning things I like, like AM radio. But things like this make me sad.

Please, someone tell me that Teslas actually do have at least an aux audio port on them!

*In some countries there are smartphones with FM radio. But my provider does not offer any and is now apparently not accepting phones that don't meet their VoLTE specifications. So far I haven't been able to verify a single new smartphone with FM capability that will work with my provider. Maybe I should stick with a flip phone.

 

Yes and no. The AM radio interference by the car itself is a result of little wire/inverter/motor shielding and few, if any, RF chokes. Ham radio operators will often go through a car and add more shielding to all the wires as well as add RF chokes. It's more work, more cost, but possible, and just something Tesla and others don't want to do themselves. I installed a few RF chokes in the Avalon and plan on puting some more shielding on the battery and inverter and it does pretty well without them (if only the infotainment center weren't so glitch on the Avalon.) I also have an SW radio I plug into the aux on the Avalon that works pretty well.

It's not the cutting out the AM feature so much as making it nearlly impossible to add it back in any way shape or form, even an ugly radio hanging out of an aux port or plugged into a Bluetooth transmitter, what really bothers me.

And what if I want do listen with my car parked??? I can get a radio like you said, but won't be able to push it out over the car's speakers without some hacking.

But I digress. An FM transmitter will still work. It's just a painful workaround, almost making it worth cutting a Tesla off from its speakers and bolting an AM/FM radio (maybe with a cassette tape player just because) to the dash and attaching the speakers to that.

 

I disagree. Not only is it possible, there is also noise cancelation technology that could be used on an EV without a problem. And if purpose built, noise cancelation could be directly interfaced with the motor controls and could actively cancel any RF noise.

There's post noise cancelation technology that uses a single mic that can cancel the noise of a jet taking off behind the person speaking.

 

The thing is

• Tesla isn't the only one getting rid of AM radio.
• AM radio isn't the only thing I'd miss. Maybe I'm just too nostalgic, but I see things like having a spare tire, clutch pedal and other such things as being more practical than the alternatives. (Of course my current car doesn't have a clutch pedal, which is why it's impossible to rock out of deep snow.)
• I'm just not one to care for or trust a data conection of any sort. Yes I can carry along an AM/FM radio for emergencies, but how does that promote the use of AM radio to begin with? Last time our valley was hit by a disaster about 15,000 people were without phones and internet (and power) for three days, at 70 or more miles away from where there were any such services. I didn't hear of anyone having success with satelite conections either during the storm. Ditchin FM and AM radio may be inevitable, but I don't feel it's wise. At the time I had just swapped out my LG G3 with FM radio for my first phone without FM radio and I felt pretty stupid, especially when the only place for me to listen to radio was in the car and the authorities were telling everyone on radio to not go sit out in their cars that the storm was too dangerous.
• How long has the internet been out and I still don't like using it for radio. What chances are there I'll ever get used to it? I kind of liked the Google Play Music app, and then they killed it. I tried some other third party stuff, but I didn't like any of them.
• Everything that's Bluetooth never works for me, except my Surface pen and mouse. But audio, forget it. I got some Beats ear buds I can't for the life of me figure out how to use. I had Bluetooth going in the Avalon and then it glitched and won't let me connect via Bluetooth any more.
• First cell phones get rid of FM radio, now cars get rid of AM and FM may be next. What else is next?