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FM Radio on Galaxy S3 - does this incur Data Charges


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Old 12-02-2015, 19:54
spiidey
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g/f has app installed on Galaxy S3 called "FM Radio" - see screenshot below (relevant app in top right corner).

She's had quite a large data MB usage on her last few bills and we're unclear whether this app is using internet MB usage or is actually just pulling this from a standard FM radio connection.

Please help!

http://i60.tinypic.com/oqcd37.png
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Old 12-02-2015, 20:56
Stiggles
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Its a standard FM Radio.

No data is used whatsoever.
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Old 12-02-2015, 20:57
Ben_Fisher
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Yeah, it will only work with headphones in as they act as the antennae.

It's not that app using data, on the phone you can also go into the data useage screen and see what app has been using it.
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Old 12-02-2015, 21:08
oilman
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You can buy a mobile phone fm aerial which plugs in 3.5 mm socket which should be better than using earphones. Of course you would need a Bluetooth headset or speaker to listen
The moto g can certainly do this, but may only be possible on others if radio software supports Bluetooth listening.
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Old 13-02-2015, 16:40
spiidey
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Yeah, it will only work with headphones in as they act as the antennae.

It's not that app using data, on the phone you can also go into the data useage screen and see what app has been using it.
Ok, a little bit confused. For the app to work, do the headphone need to have some sort of "antennae" on them in order to receive the signal?

If not, how on earth is the signal actually received by the phone?
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Old 13-02-2015, 16:48
WelshBluebird
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Ok, a little bit confused. For the app to work, do the headphone need to have some sort of "antennae" on them in order to receive the signal?

If not, how on earth is the signal actually received by the phone?
An antenna is essentially just a length of metal wire / cable / rod.
A pair of headphones is essentially a length of metal cable, insulated with a plastic or rubber cover, with a speaker connected at one end.
See the similarity? The headphones act as the antenna because it is pretty much the same thing (a length of metal cable).
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Old 13-02-2015, 16:50
spiidey
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An antenna is essentially just a length of metal wire / cable / rod.
A pair of headphones is essentially a length of metal cable, insulated with a plastic or rubber cover, with a speaker connected at one end.
See the similarity? The headphones act as the antenna because it is pretty much the same thing (a length of metal cable).
I think so. So the headphones don't need to be adapted in any particular way - bog standard headphones will act as the antennae for the FM radio signals? And the app simply converts them to the audio of the stations?
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Old 13-02-2015, 18:45
david16
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A highly valuable app if you are on a low data limit, or you have run out of data for the month, or you can't pick up a 3G or wifi signal on your phone.
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Old 13-02-2015, 19:30
The Lord Lucan
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Most headphones work fine, you do get a few that cause problems due to the way they are setup.
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Old 15-02-2015, 09:02
blueacid
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I think so. So the headphones don't need to be adapted in any particular way - bog standard headphones will act as the antennae for the FM radio signals? And the app simply converts them to the audio of the stations?
Absolutely got it in one. No mobile data is used, nor even required, it's entirely down to just the handset and the headphone cable.
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Old 16-02-2015, 20:20
swb1964
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I think so. So the headphones don't need to be adapted in any particular way - bog standard headphones will act as the antennae for the FM radio signals?

Yes. This has been common since the Walkman in the 1980s. Using headphones as a aerial isn't ideal by any means, but in practice they work well enough on strong local signals.

And the alternative- a separate aerial on your head- would look a bit silly
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