Native AM Radio

[rkmoray]

I keep on waiting for native AM radio to join FM and SiriusXM on my sync4 screen.
My Mach-E is a 2023 premium. Does any idea what update will bring me my AM radio?

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[Maquis]

I don’t think there’s an update (OTA) for that. I seem to remember someone enabling AM by changing a setting with ForScan.

 

[Mark Hassa]

I thought the ACM module update was supposed to restore AM functionality. It is also true that it can be enabled in Forscan. A complaint to the dealer might also get it enabled too since Ford reversed their decision.
https://apnews.com/article/am-radio-ford-cars-congress-bill-aec6e6405d33ff95cff3dd31bef617db

 

[ReverendPete]

The underlying problem is that EV's tend to generate electromagnetic interference that can negatively impact AM signals. So rather than putting the necessary shielding needed around the batteries and power lines in the cars, many EV manufacturers are ditching AM radio instead. So keep in mind that if you do ultimately get AM radio enabled in your MME, it will likely not be a great experience...

 

[Maquis]

The underlying problem is that EV's tend to generate electromagnetic interference that can negatively impact AM signals. So rather than putting the necessary shielding needed around the batteries and power lines in the cars, many EV manufacturers are ditching AM radio instead. So keep in mind that if you do ultimately get AM radio enabled in your MME, it will likely not be a great experience...

My 21 has AM. The reception and sound quality don’t suck any worse than AM in my ICE.

 

[rkmoray]

The underlying problem is that EV's tend to generate electromagnetic interference that can negatively impact AM signals. So rather than putting the necessary shielding needed around the batteries and power lines in the cars, many EV manufacturers are ditching AM radio instead. So keep in mind that if you do ultimately get AM radio enabled in your MME, it will likely not be a great experience...

Thanks for the info, but that did not answer the question of when.

 

[briankwest]

I keep on waiting for native AM radio to join FM and SiriusXM on my sync4 screen.
My Mach-E is a 2023 premium. Does any idea what update will bring me my AM radio?

My 2023 GTPE Aug 2023 build has AM.

 

[Fins160]

If I understand, it was already re-enabled via software update, so you may have an issue with your vehicle?

For the record, I use the AM radio in my 2022 to listen to baseball and it works fine - no complaints

https://electrek.co/2023/05/23/ford-saves-am-radio-all-ev-owners-will-have-access/

https://www.teslaownersonline.com/t...-to-mustang-mach-e-and-f-150-lightning.29002/

 

[Raisin_Bran]

I keep on waiting for native AM radio to join FM and SiriusXM on my sync4 screen.
My Mach-E is a 2023 premium. Does any idea what update will bring me my AM radio?

I have a 2023 Select and I have never been able to manually select AM radio, but three times when I’ve started the car the AM radio started playing on its own and then after a few seconds switches back to FM radio. The screen even shows AM and the station on the little button and then changes.

When I go to the Radio screen, it still only shows FM and Sirius XM. I’m on 6.1.0 for updates.

 

[Space_Pony]

My April 2023 build Premium also only has FM and Sirius available. Is there something I need to do to get AM?

 

[mpshizzle]

My 21 has AM. The reception and sound quality don’t suck any worse than AM in my ICE.

Never have listened to AM on purpose in my Mach E. Never will. One time it did come on while I was at a fast charger... That was a wild experience.

 

[Space_Pony]

Never have listened to AM on purpose in my Mach E. Never will. One time it did come on while I was at a fast charger... That was a wild experience.

Thanks for the helpful info!

 

[mpshizzle]

Thanks for the helpful info!

haha yeah I could've connected the dots a little better. That is to say, the AM radio in the car is not shielded well at all, and DC fast charging especially makes the AM radio experience very poor.

 

[LaFong]

My April 2023 build Premium also only has FM and Sirius available. Is there something I need to do to get AM?

You can do it in Forscan or wait for the OTA (not sure which OTA).
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/enabling-am-radio-in-forscan-for-‘23-mme.28496/

 

[RedMME23]

I got tired of waiting for Farley's promised AM radio activation, so I followed LaFong's process and it worked out great. Once I installed Forscan and obtained the extended license (it's free for two months and necessary to perform the upgrade) it took only a few minutes.

AM radio is important to me for two reasons:
1. Streaming is a PITA. Depending on the provider, I often need to listen to several minutes of additional ads each time I start it up, including when returning to streaming after taking a phone call.
2. In the event of a disaster, the cellular networks may be out of service and streaming unavailable. Furthermore, there are many isolated areas (canyons, typically) with no cell service and limited or no FM coverage. AM is the best and possibly the only communications that will be usable in case of a disaster.

With regard to the claim that AM doesn't work in an EV, that's bull. My wife's Bolt, and the Bolts, Volts, and even the Ford Focus EV we drove previously worked just fine with AM radio. And my MME does now, too

Thank you LaFong!

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