I maaaay have taken my phone on an accidental trip in a pool and was given an old phone to use as temporary. Has a headphone port. Saw the radio app and realized how do many of my smart phones even had radio access even though they all are capable. Bastards

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[–] PostProcess@lemmy.world 56 points 3 days ago (6 children)

I may be wrong here, but it sounds like it's using the wire in the headphones as an antenna. Hence the specific need and the general absence on modern phones as they don't have a means of reliably receiving that form of signal.

[–] bobs_monkey@lemmy.zip 12 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Bongo. It used to be that when phones had the 3.5mm jack, many included the FM module because it was cheap and easy. But with the disappearing of the jack and the headphone wire with it, there's no viable way to receive that FM signal. Most OTA analog wireless signals need a wire to propagate along in order to (for lack of a better term) collect enough of the signal to reproduce. It's the same reason old analog cell phones had the antenna and extending it while wandering around or climbing up on something helped the call come in clearer. Digital signals don't have that same issue, the signal is either on or off.

[–] RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I still can receive a few clearer stations without the headphones plugged in. But just barely. The app I tested on allows you to listen to radio without plugging headphones in.

[–] pftbest@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You must be close to a station. I think normal fm stations are expected to work at least 40km away, but I doubt you can receive it without a good antenna at that distance.

[–] RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

It's not very far but it's also a national broadcaster with especially strong signal I think

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