"Does Lack of FM Support On Phones Increase Your Chances of Dying In a Disaster?"

Discussion in 'Survival Communications' started by sec_monkey, Apr 20, 2015.


  1. sec_monkey

    sec_monkey SM Security Administrator

    ""You may not know it," reports NPR's Emma Bowman, "but most of today's smartphones have FM radios inside of them. But the FM chip is not activated on two-thirds of devices. That's because mobile makers have the FM capability switched off. The National Association of Broadcasters has been asking mobile makers to change this. But the mobile industry, which profits from selling data to smartphone users, says that with the consumer's move toward mobile streaming apps, the demand for radio simply isn't there." But FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate says radio-enabled smartphones could sure come in handy during times of emergency. So, is it irresponsible not to activate the FM chips? And should it's-the-app-way-or-the-highway Apple follow Microsoft's lead and make no-static-at-all FM available on iPhones?"


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    chelloveck likes this.
  2. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    I find it quite interesting that when you buy a phone they have the tracking on but not the radio. I think half the people or more that own phones could care less about the radio. They would find it annoying. If it comes in a tweet then it is news. I think radio will be gone in the future. People like their Sirus and stuff like that. Radio has commercials which many dislike.
     
    Marck likes this.
  3. Airtime

    Airtime Monkey+++

    I put up with commercials to get some music and info at no cost.
     
    Motomom34, oldawg and Yard Dart like this.
  4. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Actually, the technology in modern Cellphones, is such, that the SAME ChipSet, that runs the Cellular Radio, is used to access the FM Radio Band, if desired. What is missing, is the Firmware, that defines the FM Radio Band, and Protocol, as Operational. ALL these ChipSets are really, is just SDRs and what they need, is to define the FM Band and Modulation, in the firmware, that drives that ChipSet.
     
    Georgia_Boy likes this.
  5. Motomom34

    Motomom34 Monkey+++

    Can someone explain why transistor radios are so expensive? Occasionally I will find an old one cheap at a yard sale but if you go to buy a new one they are pricey compared to a regular radio.
     
  6. madmax

    madmax Far right. Bipolar. Veteran. Don't push me.

    Wife and dog know where I am. Come together. And we're outa here. If need be.
     
  7. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Mostly they are more expensive, for two reasons:
    1. It takes MUCH more, and bigger computing Power to decode Digital Audio from the newer digital AM, and the coming digital FM, than the old Analog Systems.
    2. Al the manufacturing of these products has left the USA, and the market has pretty much dried up for just a Plain Jane Pocket Radio, when an iPod iPad, or iPhone (or MP3 Player. Android Phone, or whatever) carry all the tunes one could want.
     
    stg58 and Motomom34 like this.
  8. bpaintx

    bpaintx Monkey+++

    My Galaxy S5 shipped with "Next Radio" pre installed. It uses the headphone cords as an antenna.
     
  9. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    ...while my Galaxy S5 did not. Fine by me, as rain fade with digital signals is a huge problem.
     
  10. William Warren

    William Warren Monkey+++

    No offense, but I think there's always a cost. Not only do you have to listen to the commercials, which are all programmed to make listeners feel inferior if they don't buy things all the time, but you're also bearing a hidden cost, which is that the music and news and the DJ's patter are also programmed to make you want to buy things all the time.

    The biggest cost is that the whole broadcasting system is set up to make you believe that other people know more than you and are happier than you and smarter than you - and once the listeners accept that notion, they lose the ability to think for themselves and act for themselves.

    My 2 cents.

    William Warren
     
  11. Airtime

    Airtime Monkey+++

    Well, one of the beauties of getting older, we reach a point where one really doesn't care what other people may think, we are arrogant enough to know we actually do know more than most of them. Furthermore, we simply do not buy stuff the advertisers are hawking because we actually are wise enough to know we really don't need it.

    And lastly, we have become curmudgeonly enough that it actually is enjoyable to tell the advertisers, "f*ck you" by not buying.... wait maybe that's enjoyable because that's about the only F'ing we get anymore...no... wait... hmmm... I'll have to ponder that some more. Nevermind.

    Happy shopping.
    AT
     
    Yard Dart, oldawg, techsar and 2 others like this.
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