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HD FM Radio in Cellphones.

K

Kevin

Guest
I have a few dumb phones for my business and they have an FM radio app that was already factory installed. One model is the Alcatel flip phone and the other is the Nokia 3310. The FM reception is fairly decent on both models, I’m just curious if at some point after the patent runs out for HD Radio in 2023, that we might see some of these cheaper model cellphones include an HD FM Radio chip. Could it be possible? Now, I know we wouldn’t see that in the smartphones because of the data thing, but I’m thinking it could happen in dumb phones where data is not so much a factor. What are your thoughts?
 
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It would be nice to see HD radio in phones. I've had the analog radio chips in a few phones. The only real hang-up is using earbuds for the antenna. I also noted some self noise issues with the screen on smart phones. Then again, some of my go-to stations are distant.
 
Kevin said:
I have a few dumb phones for my business and they have an FM radio app that was already factory installed. One model is the Alcatel flip phone and the other is the Nokia 3310. The FM reception is fairly decent on both models, I’m just curious if at some point after the patent runs out for HD Radio in 2023, that we might see some of these cheaper model cellphones include an HD FM Radio chip. Could it be possible? Now, I know we wouldn’t see that in the smartphones because of the data thing, but I’m thinking it could happen in dumb phones where data is not so much a factor. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
What do you mean by data thing? Anything that could be put into a basic phone could also be in a smartphone. FM tuners are quite common in Android phones, but not iPhones. There is a HD basic phone, the Beatboy HD101 that is seen here: Why HD Radio Makes Sense for India - Radio World
 
ente said:
What do you mean by data thing? Anything that could be put into a basic phone could also be in a smartphone. FM tuners are quite common in Android phones, but not iPhones. There is a HD basic phone, the Beatboy HD101 that is seen here: Why HD Radio Makes Sense for India - Radio World
Click to expand...
What I mean by the “data thing“ is that the providers don’t like the FM chip in smartphones because the providers make zero money from something that doesn’t use data. Therefore some smartphone manufacturers don’t activate the FM chip in most devices. Ente, Thanks for the read. Good article.
 
semoochie said:
It seems to me that there's a space issue.
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No, it is a power consumption issue. Possibly, the functionality could be added to one of the core chips but it would increase battery drain and that is a key sales point. Analog FM used to be "available" in come phones (but generally not the ones available in the US) but a DAC converter for digital to analog onboard the phone is apparently more power hungry.
 
Kevin said:
What I mean by the “data thing“ is that the providers don’t like the FM chip in smartphones because the providers make zero money from something that doesn’t use data. Therefore some smartphone manufacturers don’t activate the FM chip in most devices. Ente, Thanks for the read. Good article.
Click to expand...
As mentioned in another post, analog FM used less power than a digital to analog converter FM circuit would. And they need an antenna; since headphones are no mostly wireless, it would require an "indoors" antenna and that does require space unless they just use the case as an antenna.
 
I have an FM radio function in the Bluetooth communicator headset in my motorcycle helmet (Sena 20S, if anyone cares). It’s surprising how well that tuner picks up weaker stations around here. I suppose(?) it uses the speaker wires as an antenna. I haven’t tried to test that.

I’d love to have HD capability in it, but if battery drain is a problem then I’d require a bigger battery. I want that device to be able to run ALL day, for the days I’m on a trip or the like. It’s very awkward and difficult trying to string a mini-USB cable from a ‘lighter’ outlet up front to the back of this device on the side of my helmet, and having it stay there and not break the cord or outlet while riding down the road.
(-:
 
bulwnkl said:
I have an FM radio function in the Bluetooth communicator headset in my motorcycle helmet (Sena 20S, if anyone cares). It’s surprising how well that tuner picks up weaker stations around here. I suppose(?) it uses the speaker wires as an antenna. I haven’t tried to test that.
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Yes the headphone wires on your Sena 20S are the antenna. Since IPhones now have Bluetooth headphones, there is no more cord to make an antenna.

This whole FM-tuner-in-an IPhone thing was over ten years ago. It isn't going to happen, ever.
 
Gigaware (RadioShack) used an iPhone 30-pin dongle (tuner) back in 2009 (made specifically for the iPhone 3 and 3G) that used an HD Radio app to drive the dongle. One of the iOS releases about 5-6 years ago killed the app. It was an excellent app and had a great sensitive tuner.
 
Kevin said:
What I mean by the “data thing“ is that the providers don’t like the FM chip in smartphones because the providers make zero money from something that doesn’t use data.
Click to expand...

That would apply to the camera too, wouldn't it? Unless they then send the photo. The phone manufacturers are not in the telecom business. They don't sell service plans. That's a different function. It used to be that Apple was exclusive to AT&T, but that changed a long time ago. Today you buy a phone and a service plan. I've never bought them together.
 
No. Let’s break it down, If your phone has an FM chip and you listen to radio through it, the T-Mobile‘s and Verizon’s and any others providers make no money because there’s no data being used. This is why the providers are against the FM chip. As far as the manufacturers go, yes they are in the telecom business , they make a product that is used in the the telecom business.
 
Verizon apparently doesn't encourage FM chips in their phones, and my wife's new Samsung phone doesn't have it. But my Motorola phone from Verizon does have it, even though I almost never use it.
 
Yeah, my Moto G7 is quite versatile and has an FM app (haven't tried it). I would think FM vs data wouldn't be a big deal now since many month-to-month data plans are "unlimited" (until you hit the cap, then you get throttled). With those plans, you're already paying for the data whether you use it or not.

Contract plans with dedicated phones are still popular because most people acquire their new phones and pay them off monthly as part of the contract. Folks with the up-front resources can buy unlocked phones and jump between carriers or plans.

As long as phones have headphone jacks, good ole analog FM can be a viable option.
 
Huh? HD killed radio? I must have missed that. As I said above, I don't believe FM HD is going to find a place in cell phones (there's no reason for it, when analog FM is easier to receive and consumes less power for emergency purposes).
 
JBraddock said:
Huh? HD killed radio? I must have missed that. As I said above, I don't believe FM HD is going to find a place in cell phones (there's no reason for it, when analog FM is easier to receive and consumes less power for emergency purposes).
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HD Radio would never kill cellphones, but it will kill itself and has brought traditional radio down with it, especially AM radio. But again traditional radio is over 100 years old and has to compete with 5G technology. Just wait and see where radio will be in the next decade, my guess radio will be mostly streaming. Streaming is the true digital radio not HD Radio or should we say Hybrid Digital which is like fake bacon.
 
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