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FM radio disabled by Verizon on LG v20 - safety issue

I recently purchased the LG v20, the VS995 Verizon for a potential replacement of my current phone.

I tried to install an FM radio app called NextRadio; only to find that Verizon has the FM radio chipset disabled. I called Verizon customer support and they were of little assistance; basically they just couldn't find out what was going on.

I then contacted LG who told me that all of the phones are sent with an FM radio chipset, and that Verizon either disabled it via software or they might have actually physically disconnected it from the motherboard.

I then contacted Roy A. Chestnutt through your automated system on the Verizon website leadership page. I received a form letter saying someone would contact me within a business day. That would've been Monday. Today is Wednesday, and no one has contacted me about the issue.

Therefore I am trying on the forum!

Being able to listen to emergency broadcasts, or even local FM radio in the event of any type of emergency might mean life or death; and most of us don't carry around an additional FM radio in the event that cellular networks are down.

AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile are all allowing access to their FM chipsets. As far as I can tell, Verizon is the only one that has disabled them.

I get it, I get it... You have the best network and that costs a lot of money to maintain. You have the best network, in part, because of your policies that make you more money. I pay you more money every month because your network works and when something is broken, you fix it fast. That is worth money to me, and apparently to every other Verizon customer.

But, this is a safety issue...

The irony of this situation? The only Verizon phone I currently have that gives me access to the FM chipset is my Samsung Galaxy Note 7...

You remember the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, yes? That's the phone you keep insisting I return... You know, for my own safety... <sigh>

Could we please get the FM chipsets turned on for both the galaxy note 5 and the Verizon LGV 20? If Verizon is that serious about the safety of their customers, surely they will see the wisdom in granting this simple SAFETY request.

Comments

Ann154

You should look into the FCC certification documents to see if LG paid for the certification of the FM chip for the Verizon Wireless model of the V20. My guess is that that LG didn't have it tested. Verizon Wireless has absolutely no say in what radios their models have unless LG is charging extra for the certification which would bring the cost of the phones higher than the equivalent T-Mobile Sprint or AT&T model. If that is the case, do you want to pay xx amount more than another carrier's model for a feature few people use? I wouldn't. So I don't blame Verizon Wireless for not including it. I would blame LG for not making it a standard feature and not charge extra for it.

Tidbits

IF it is enabled by default Verizon can't remove it. See BlackBerry Bluetooth for example. Now is a manufacturer charges to enable it, and the carrier doesn't buy in then the manufacturer is the one that removed the feature.

If you look at it every V20 has something missing and probably the reason why some have FM radio and some do not. The T-Mobile version is missing the Calculator from LG and uses the stock Android one. Sprint is missing the gallery as well as the AT&T version. Missing the LG calendar as well. There is so much software variation between models it screams of nickle and diming features by LG. Even overseas you see variations.

Tidbits

I would like to add there far better alternatives to having a FM radio on cell phone. As a person who have lived in Tornado Alley, and a person currently living in a state that has to watch for Hurricanes, and Tsunamis there are thousands of alternatives which last longer, are lightweight.

Momma23dogs

If FM radio was that important you should have checked the specs before purchase.

We have a hand crank rechargable battery radio for emergencies. 4 and 5 years ago when power was out for 9 days and cell towers were damaged the hand crank radio was our only media for the first few days.

Even without FM radio, there are apps to listen to your local emergency radio transmissions. Scanner radio is the one that I use.

jraines

LG told me (and of course the person I talked to there could be wrong...) that the phones were shipped fully functional, and Verizon has disabled it.

The maker of an FM app told me that all it needs to work is software, definitely from Verizon, and they are the one carrier that is dragging their feet.

Therefore, I'm surmising that the problem is *Verizon*... that, and they haven't answered my inquiry.

If they restrict FM radio, they force you to use more data to get FM radio; ridiculous. I get that they need to make money, but IMO they shouldn't make it this way.

jraines

You sound like a Verizon employee...

What I wanted to do is keep my Galaxy Note 7; which does have the FM chipset enabled, btw... pretty ironic, huh? If Verizon would just leave me alone about returning that phone, I wouldn't be having to deal with checking out all the specs of these other phones...

NOTHING in any of the literature I found told me they had disabled this... :-(

I wanted to get an unlocked version, but those specs did show that the unlocked version was missing quite a few LTE bands, and since I live in a more remote area, that wasn't good, either. It's always a trade-off, but Verizon is the WORST carrier for removing functionality.

Other than that; I like Verizon because it just works...

Yes, I understand I can still listen to FM radio - through using their data - ridiculous... and I don't always carry a hand-crank FM radio with me everywhere I go. In the ice storm of 2009 where I live, I was without power in the winter for 3 weeks, so I can relate to what you're talking about. And cell phone service was down, too for awhile... and if it is then you can't use those apps to listen to your local emergency radio stations - that's the point.

No, Verizon disabled this; and I would like an explanation from them 1.) why they did it, and more importantly, 2.) Who do I have to gripe to for fixing it?

jraines

Agreed... and I have those things at home; but am unlikely to be carrying them with me all the time.

What I DO carry all the time is my cell phone, like a lot of people. And the cell phone I'm currently carrying with me is the ONLY one that has the FM radio enabled, ironically... the one they want me to return on the recall... supposedly for my safety!

It's just frustrating... it seems like the only reason for disabling it is to force us to use more data. I understand they're a business, and the good network costs mega-bucks; but this is a little ridiculous!

With my 4 lines, and paying them an average of $200/month over 10+ years, and buying phones, and everything else - Verizon has easily earned $30,000 from me. I'm thinking that should maybe be worth not trying to nickel & dime me to death over something like disabling FM radio that could actually be really helpful in an emergency... Do you see my point?

Tidbits

Then it will last about a day what happens when the power is out longer than a week? There are so many things that battery from the cellphone can do for you than be your radio. There are items out there that'll last days and are no larger than your finger :smileyhappy: Your phone depending when you bought it can charge that device in about 10 minutes about 30 times over. If the battery is removable it can help start a fire for example. There's a lot more out there.

I am pointing out the fact LG is lying to you. Back in 1999 CA courts Manufacturers and carriers talked about agreements that was set forth and found that carriers buy into a set of options set up by manufacturers. If the carrier doesn't buy in then it is disabled or removed. Also the Blackberry lawsuit happened because BT was a standard feature which was later removed by Verizon's request to BB and the courts deemed that was wrong and Verizon lost.

So keep this in mind. Manufacturer options does not mean carriers disabled it. It means they chose not to buy in. Manufacturers are the ones that disabled it. If it was standard and was put in then carriers can't remove it. See Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Note 7 which Samsung made it a standard feature and they do have it :smileyhappy:

Ann154

jraines wrote:
The maker of an FM app told me that all it needs to work is software, definitely from Verizon, and they are the one carrier that is dragging their feet.
Therefore, I'm surmising that the problem is *Verizon*... that, and they haven't answered my inquiry.

Verizon Wireless doesn't touch the code. LG is the company responsible for writing the software. LG is the company that has to send the device through the FCC certification testing process.

Tidbits

jraines wrote:
With my 4 lines, and paying them an average of $200/month over 10+ years, and buying phones, and everything else - Verizon has easily earned $30,000 from me. I'm thinking that should maybe be worth not trying to nickel & dime me to death over something like disabling FM radio that could actually be really helpful in an emergency... Do you see my point?

The problem is Verizon isn't the ones doing it. Manufacturers are the ones that are doing it.

Let's say Verizon took every option. Keep in mind court documents show and manufacturers admitted carriers make at most $10 per device manufacturers make all that money. Now with that in mind. Say Verizon took every option are you willing to pay possibly $75-100 more than what you are paying right now? Last time Verizon tried that everyone said no they wouldn't and said they'd rather buy it from their competition even when things were missing from them and was that much cheaper.

Another tidbit(no pun intended) of information. Carriers only do so because most people don't understand the technology or wanting to bother with it. They also don't want to spend time, and full price for devices. If one carrier offered all those options and they don't then they'll lose that customer. If consumers finally decided to do their own homework and all carriers were open access(Verizon is this due to Block C) networks then carriers wouldn't have to sell devices, and all options would be up to manufacturers. Manufacturers don't want this because of the money they can make with the options and also easier to get devices into consumer hands having carriers do it for them.

jraines

Let me be more specific - the holdup is Verizon... Quote from NextRadio below:

"NextRadio requires an integration with the phone manufacturer to receive and send commands to the FM chip inside the phone. That integration requires a software library that many manufacturers have provided through Sprint, and coming in 2016, AT&T phones as well. Verizon has been dragging their feet."

jraines

A quote from the NextRadio App... Yes, it is Verizon dragging their feet by refusing to provide something...

So, in a followup email, just to be sure I was bugging the right folks, they told me definitely keep asking Verizon... not LG.

I'm sure it's a complex song and dance between them, but the holdup IS Verizon. This IS enabled on other models of the LG v20 because those carriers have provided what is necessary...

We can sit here and speculate all we want, but unless anyone does work for Verizon and can say that this information is wrong, I'm really wondering why Verizon is the only one that is not answering my question...???

jraines

In response to the statement, "So keep this in mind. Manufacturer options does not mean carriers disabled it. It means they chose not to buy in. Manufacturers are the ones that disabled it. If it was standard and was put in then carriers can't remove it. See Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Note 7 which Samsung made it a standard feature and they do have it"

Regardless of the logistics of turning something on, it works something like this... Verizon says we're gonna turn it on. LG and Verizon work together to push out an update of this software library. Then app makers can use it. Then my app works. Then I'm happy.

The S7 Edge did *not* come out with FM radio turned on at Verizon, btw. People griped. Verizon worked with Sammy. An update was pushed out. Magic happened. FM radio. Just because something wasn't offered in a phone at it's initial offering doesn't mean they can't come in after the fact and enable it.

jraines

Tidbits - I do thank you for sharing; want to address the other part of your post, too...

Tidbits - "Then it will last about a day what happens when the power is out longer than a week?"

Answer - I hope to have made it home, where I have generators, fuel, and a hand-crank radio, too. I can also recharge small devices with my solar recharging panel.

Tidbits - "There are so many things that battery from the cellphone can do for you than be your radio."
Answer - agreed, but once I get home I'll probably be in a better position. A temporary measure at best.

Tidbits - "I am pointing out the fact LG is lying to you. Back in 1999 CA courts Manufacturers and carriers talked about agreements that was set forth and found that carriers buy into a set of options set up by manufacturers. If the carrier doesn't buy in then it is disabled or removed."

Answer - Really? maybe sometimes, but apparently not all the time... If so, then explain why all it took for Galaxy s7 customers to get FM radio turned on was to gripe to Verizon? Yes, it can be done, and apparently it's not that big of a deal to do it.

Tidbits - "Also the Blackberry lawsuit happened because BT was a standard feature which was later removed by Verizon's request to BB and the courts deemed that was wrong and Verizon lost."
Answer - Verizon lost... so maybe they learned from their mistake that any "removed functionality" should be easily restored via software so they don't get sued again.

I do love the conversation!

veryfrustrated0118

You are one of exactly 4 people in 4 years that I have seen in this community that started a thread asking for this feature. I am currently (maybe not in the future) an LG user. I don't want to pay extra for an FM chip to enabled when I don't use it. It has been pointed out that there are better options to receive an FM signal than your mobile phone. A hand-crank radio is probably the best. IMO, if you were truly concerned about your safety, you'd have one of these all ready to go in a survival kit. If you don't, then I suspect the reason that you're so upset is because you want to be able to listen to a local FM broadcast for entertainment. There are lots of small FM receivers that you can get for this purpose.

jraines

sprmankalel - "You are one of exactly 4 people in 4 years that I have seen in this community that started a thread asking for this feature. I am currently (maybe not in the future) an LG user. I don't want to pay extra for an FM chip to enabled when I don't use it. It has been pointed out that there are better options to receive an FM signal than your mobile phone. A hand-crank radio is probably the best. IMO, if you were truly concerned about your safety, you'd have one of these all ready to go in a survival kit. If you don't, then I suspect the reason that you're so upset is because you want to be able to listen to a local FM broadcast for entertainment. There are lots of small FM receivers that you can get for this purpose."

Since you don't know me at all, those are some very bold statements... let me try to address that.

I live in a somewhat rural area of the Arkansas Ozarks, and there is not a single radio station I listen to. I'm more of an iTunes girl myself, and use Doubletwist player and have all my music on my phone.

My reasons for wanting FM radio are exactly as stated.

My reasons for not wanting features and/or functionality turned off on my phone in general are exactly as stated.

(I didn't even know of this forum until it was pointed out to me recently. I want Verizon to hear me, so I have no idea why others aren't griping. They are griping on AndroidCentral about it, so I'm not the only one by any stretch of the imagination.)

And even though this has all got me thinking I DO need to add another hand-crank FM radio to my "get-home" kit, <all y'all are absolutely correct here!> it is STILL highly likely that I may not be able to get to it if I'm not actually IN my truck... my phone is nearly always on my person, however.

For the record:

I am equally annoyed that Verizon has removed Google In Apps Search widget. I was really looking forward to this... worthy of returning the phone upset about this one.I am equally annoyed that they removed Smart Settings.

I am less annoyed, but still annoyed, they limited Themes, but supposedly there is a way to sideload an apk from LG - got to check into that.

I didn't mention those things in this post as I didn't want to dilute the post, but No, you *assume* too much.

I do appreciate your input, but you're completely off-base about my reasoning.

veryfrustrated0118

Again, if safety was your concern these would have been in place. If you carry a bag then add a hand-crank radio to it. Taking safety measure have been around long before the advent of mobile phones. Even still, mobile phones (smartphones in particular) have been in use for almost 10 years. Why is it just 10 years later that people want this? It is almost like, if I don't want my head to go through the windshield in a car crash I put my seat-belt on. It is a terrible analogy, I know. However my point is that if having an FM receiver is that important to you, you'd have taken the steps to have one long before you bought the LG V20. However, what you are asking for is a feature that will drive up the price of the device. That goes into effect for all consumers. Even the ones who don't want it. Do you think that is fair? Especially as someone has pointed out the three other major carrier's pricing on this device?

As far as the Smart Settings:

You can try an app called Quick Shortcut Maker.

Use this app and scroll to Smart Settings with the Cog icon, Tap to expand and then use the first option under there. Then select Try. Voila! Your Smart Settings. You can select the Create button at the bottom of the screen in Quick Shortcut Maker to create a Smart Setting shortcut.

jraines

Still disagree...

my phone should not be gimped so others can afford it.

We all need to buy phones we can afford - or not.

Yes, that's fair.

I can't go to a Jaguar dealership and expect them to have gimped their cars so I can afford one (and not tell me they were gimped either!) and expect all other Jaguar purchasers to be happy with the gimped model... that is ridiculous.

No - I need to go to the Chevy dealership and get a Chevy - as advertised.

Your point is valid; should have already had the extra hand-cranks... recent events have made me consider these things more seriously...

I will be trying Quick Shortcut maker today, however... Thank you for that.

side note... back to the irony of my situation. I want to keep my Galaxy Note 7 that lists for nearly $900. But they won't let me... they want me to return it... for my "safety"... <deep sigh>

Tidbits

Here is an example it's the manufacturer.

HTC 10... Does not support it on ANY carrier. The Pixel or any Nexus does not support it. Carriers have no control like you assume they do. If you look at what Next radio says the HTC 10 will give the exact same message so that isn't so forth telling as you think it is.

fm RADIO | HTC 10 This is for ALL versions including their unlocked version. Your Note 7 has it STANDARD and you can use it right now. That alone tells you what I said is correct. If it's a standard feature you will have it. If the manufacturer is going to charge for it and the carrier doesn't pick it up simply because YOU are unwilling to pay for it then that's on the manufacturer not the carrier. The S7 Samsung had it as a standard feature, BUT like even with the other carriers there had to be an update for it as Samsung during that time didn't have it out of the box support(plenty of documentation on this from Samsung during that time from the higher ups).

Courts made it very clear that if the manufacturer charges for features it not the carriers removal since they don't make money like the general public thinks they do. If it was a STANDARD feature and then the carriers had it removed then the carrier is in the wrong.

veryfrustrated0118

I have said it numerous times that I will not pay extra simply because it has a feature that I would NEVER think of using. I don't use FM radio in my car, I sure as heck wouldn't use it on my cell phone.

jraines has already admitted that having an FM radio is cheaper and a better option.

I have already said that this discussion should have been over a long time ago.

I wish a moderator would just come and lock it already.

Momma23dogs

well that might do it....

or a year from now it will be revived, then locked.

ATT included the radio, but no earbud, which you need to start using it. LOL

jraines

sprmankalel - a cheaper option, but not a better one to me, anyway.

I am still engaging in this conversation to a degree in the hope that someone from Verizon will chime in... but, maybe they already have... hard to say.

Also... in Smart settings... looks like Big Red got me again... in order to actually USE the Smart settings, you have to set your home location in "My Places"... apparently removed exclusively by Big Red. It doesn't set itself in 5 days, as I've had high accuracy on under location since I've had the phone... but probably something else you'd never use... so therefore unimportant to anyone else... <deep sigh>

Momma23dogs

I don't have the phone, so not familiar with Smart settings. Explain?

Tidbits

It's a think where the phone does certain things when certain actions or locations are set.

jraines

Hi, mama23dogs.

Smart settings are things you can set your phone to do automatically. 2 of those settings are called "At Home" and "Away from Home".

For example, you can turn wi-fi off when you leave your house so you don't get annoying popups when away from home to connect to random wi-fi networks. When you get home, you will automatically turn wi-fi back on and re-connect to your home network. You can do the same thing with bluetooth. And you can set different sound profiles, too.

In order for those 2 main smart settings to work, you have to set your home location in a setting called "My Places". Exclusively removed by Verizon. They say it will "set itself in 5 days" if location is set to high accuracy... but I've had mine set there since I got the phone, and it won't set.

Or, as I'm sure others will insist... don't blame Verizon, Blame Society... not a "standard feature" by the letter of the law probably. <sigh>

I've had phones by Verizon for 10+ years w/ multiple lines & devices. I've never had a device have so much "unsupported/removed/no-buy-in" functionality, for lack of a better term. Shortcut to Google In Apps Search is missing, too... another Verizon exclusive.

It just bums me out.

jraines

Hi, Tidbits... do you have any references on the Blackberry/Bluetooth/Verizon lawsuit? I can't seem to come up with anything on a Google search. Did you mean Motorola? Thanks!

Lenj

I'll make sure that the next phone system I buy into, and every smartphone I purchase, has direct FM service. I thought I was getting it last time. Sad.

veryfrustrated0118

This thread is still alive?

Weth

Lenj wrote:
I'll make sure that the next phone system I buy into, and every smartphone I purchase, has direct FM service. I thought I was getting it last time. Sad.

I doubt for most, FM service ranks way down on the list of requirements, if it registers at all. I know for me, it makes no bearing on whether I want the phone or not. Two absolutely equal phones except one has FM radio and the other doesn't - sure then maybe but short of that, not on my need list. There is radio in the car, wind up emergency radios at home.

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