Ford Blinks, AM radio returns

[Ashful]

Sorry to tell you but adding back the AM radio does not take up any additional space - as demonstrated by the fact that Ford kept the components in there all along and just re-enabled them by a software update.

I design radio components for a living. MSEE with a specialty in RF electronics. I can tell you they do take up space, and they do have cost, however small. What you call evidence is a misunderstanding, and the fact that Ford had the electronics already integrated does not mean the components have zero cost and size.

We often leave a function integrated, because the cost of subtracting it from the current generation of hardware may be greater than the cost of just leaving it there. But that does not mean they take up no space and have zero cost, or that they might not be deleted to reclaim both on a subsequent hardware generation. When you're laying out a board which will see millions of units of production, decisions on function groups often go beyond the factors of direct cost and space, such as the NRE and logistical costs of adding it back, if they knew this was a potential item for legislation.

 

[gthomas785]

I design radio components for a living. MSEE with a specialty in RF electronics. I can tell you they do take up space, and they do have cost, however small. What you call evidence is a misunderstanding, and the fact that Ford had the electronics already integrated does not mean the components have zero cost and size.

We often leave a function integrated, because the cost of subtracting it from the current generation of hardware may be greater than the cost of just leaving it there. But that does not mean they take up no space and have zero cost, or that they might not be deleted to reclaim both on a subsequent hardware generation. When you're laying out a board which will see millions of units of production, decisions on function groups often go beyond the factors of direct cost and space, such as the NRE and logistical costs of adding it back, if they knew this was a potential item for legislation.

I understand all of that - my work is a lot more similar to yours than you realize, evidently. Sorry if my post was a little snarky - Of course I realize that if the components take up physical space and cost money.
Still, I think the tiny savings that manufacturers gain by removing the AM radio from a car is never going to match the inconvenience caused to people who actually want to listen to AM radio, so I support the government intervention in this instance.

 

[Ashful]

Oh, I agree the direct component cost is so small that it's silly we're even debating it. I'd argue the cost of any real-estate it consumes in your head unit is the bigger issue, but maybe even that isn't a big deal. My issue is more fundamental, with the acceptance of allowing the government yet another mandate on our consumer products, which has no direct bearing on the performance or safety of that product. Maybe the next time this happens, it will be a feature of which you are less fond, or which has more impact on cost.

If the government wants to get busy with mandating features on cars, why are they still allowing car manufacturers to sell cars without a spare tire? Seems that has a higher probability of affecting the safety of the driver, than any AM radio ever will.

 

[gthomas785]

Oh, I agree the direct component cost is so small that it's silly we're even debating it. I'd argue the cost of any real-estate it consumes in your head unit is the bigger issue, but maybe even that isn't a big deal. My issue is more fundamental, with the acceptance of allowing the government yet another mandate on our consumer products, which has no direct bearing on the performance or safety of that product. Maybe the next time this happens, it will be a feature of which you are less fond, or which has more impact on cost.

If the government wants to get busy with mandating features on cars, why are they still allowing car manufacturers to sell cars without a spare tire? Seems that has a higher probability of affecting the safety of the driver, than any AM radio ever will.

And, it's ridiculous that the government needed to step in on something as silly as this. "Safety" was the technicality they used but we all know that's not the real reason. What are we supposed to do when companies refuse to provide a dirt cheap thing that people want?

I won't go on too long because I don't want to get the thread locked, but personally I wish the government would mandate all sorts of stuff. Spare tires would be a good start.

 

[fbelec]

I wish the government would mandate all sorts of stuff. Spare tires would be a good start.

and phone shut off's if the car is moving. but am radio is way more important

 

[stoveliker]

I googled and read the (Forbes) piece mentioning the 82 million folks still listening to am radio.

It also says that am radio only accounts for 20 percent of radio listening (terrestrial). 1/3 of them is older than 65.
Farmers listen a lot in spring and summer (local weather etc in rural areas).

 

[EbS-P]

I googled and read the (Forbes) piece mentioning the 82 million folks still listening to am radio.

It also says that am radio only accounts for 20 percent of radio listening (terrestrial). 1/3 of them is older than 65.
Farmers listen a lot in spring and summer (local weather etc in rural areas).

Turning on AM radio only once a month does not make one an AM listener in my book. More than once a week sure.

 

[stoveliker]

Turning on AM radio only once a month does not make one an AM listener in my book. More than once a week sure.

Hence my googling: I wanted to know the listening hours. That's the 20 percent. 1 in 5 hours of radio listening is to am, 4 in 5 is FM.

 

[old greybeard]

Hence my googling: I wanted to know the listening hours. That's the 20 percent. 1 in 5 hours of radio listening is to am, 4 in 5 is FM.

And I bet someone in Ford marketing saw the response and realized a large number of F150 buyers are older/rural and would actually consider another vehicle just for AM. Decisions made by bean counters on the coasts aren’t always the best move.

 

[stoveliker]

The decision to take out AM was not by bean counters on the coast, but by some guy in the (car building) mid-West...?

 

[EbS-P]

This is small peanuts. Ford and or Jim see the reality coming. EVs are digital products. They won’t make any money on the vehicle. They see a revenue stream from the second and third owners. (Skip to 38:00 below). So they can sell the third owner the AM radio access for a monthly fee. Would you pay $4.99 a month? How about $99.99 for the whole entertainment suite AM and FM and high speed internet. $250 a month might get you the Blue oval platinum package that includes “self driving”. Fords next generation EVs will make the more money after the sale than they did selling the car.

This is a pretty good interview.

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[begreen]

GM also has a plan for software as a service. OnStar was just the start.