How to listen to the radio on Android Auto

The car’s audio system already includes an FM radio tuner as standard, but it may not be sufficient in situations where we want more stations beyond those available. Or for these areas where a specific station is not well tuned: With Android Auto and its applications, all these problems can be fixed.

Getting into the car and listening to a radio is one of the most classic combinations in history, who has not heard all the hits of the moment, or who has vibrated from a sporty afternoon, while gripping the steering wheel . And this is something that the new infotainment systems will not lose, quite the contrary: With Android Auto you have access to any station in the world. And that’s literal.

Listen to any station in the world with Android Auto

Systems like Google’s expand the native possibilities of vehicles to go beyond listening to the radio in the places we pass through or the music we have on physical media. Because Android Auto gives us access to any playlist through applications like Spotify or YouTube Music, it allows us listen to YouTube songs or connect to any station with essential apps like TuneIn.

To listen to the radio in Android Auto, beyond tuning the stations offered by the audio system, we must meet two essential requirements:

• We need a stable internet connection. Since apps like FM radio download streaming content, Android Auto needs constant access to the Internet.
• You need unlimited data speed or, at least, several gigabytes. Audio streaming, even in the form of radio stations, consumes a lot of mobile data: if we do not have a comfortable rate, we can consume this data while traveling.

In general, and since the car will connect to the mobile services of the smartphone, there will not be too much problem listening to Internet radio beyond some reading cuts in case of coverage failure. Because what we will do is access the FM radios that broadcast live on the Internet, for the rest of the stations we already have the radio that is mounted in the car itself.

To listen to the radio anywhere, whether in our country or elsewhere, we will have to have our cell phone and the car connected via Android Auto and have the corresponding applications installed on the phone. In our experience, the best ones for listening to the radio in the car are the following.

Tune the radio

It’s essential, this application that covers all needs. Because on TuneIn you can find almost all stations in the world: Simply search and store your favorite radios, making driving more enjoyable with a simple tap on the vehicle console.

Over 100,000 stations from around the world with music, live news, all sports and even podcasts on demand: TuneIn is wonderful. It is free, contains advertisements, and has subscription options to expand the app’s functions.

Open radio

An application to tune to stations that broadcast on the Internet. It’s simple, complete for what we’re looking for and without more advertising than the radios themselves include. Additionally, it has a built-in equalizer.

VRadio

Very complete and high quality: with this application we will have access to tens of thousands of stations around the world with real-time information about the music they broadcast. Categorization by themes, countries, favorites… and even alarm clocks to get up with the morning program. Obviously, it works perfectly on Android Auto.

Cover image | Ivan Linares

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