can your car get signals below us frequency

[Norman]

Yes, your car can receive signals below the frequencies commonly used in the United States, but its built-in radio may not be programmed to tune to them automatically. Standard car radios in the U.S. are designed for the FM band (88-108 MHz) and the AM band (540-1700 kHz). Signals "below" the AM band, such as Longwave (LW) which operates from 153-279 kHz, are used for broadcasting and navigation in other parts of the world, like Europe.

The primary limitation is hardware and software. While the fundamental components of a radio can receive a wide spectrum of frequencies, the tuner in a U.S.-market car is typically locked to the standard AM/FM ranges. To access these lower frequencies, you would need specialized equipment. Aftermarket shortwave radios or software-defined radios (SDRs) that connect to a mobile device are popular solutions. These devices can receive a vast range of frequencies, including LW, as well as aviation weather bands and maritime communications.

It's important to distinguish between entertainment radio signals and other types of low-frequency transmissions. For example, Very Low Frequency (VLF) bands (3-30 kHz) are used for military communication and submarine navigation. Receiving these requires highly specialized, sensitive antennas and receivers that are far beyond the capability of any standard car audio system.

Signal Type	Frequency Range	Common Uses	Can a Standard U.S. Car Radio Receive It?
FM Radio	88 - 108 MHz	Music, News Broadcasting	Yes
AM Radio	540 - 1700 kHz	Talk Radio, Sports	Yes
Longwave (LW)	153 - 279 kHz	Broadcasting (Europe)	No, without modified hardware
Aviation Band	108 - 137 MHz	Air Traffic Control	No
Marine VHF	156 - 174 MHz	Ship-to-Ship Communication	No
Shortwave (SW)	3 - 30 MHz	International Broadcasting	No, without specialized radio

If you're interested in exploring these signals, your best bet is an aftermarket receiver designed for hobbyists. Simply driving near an airport or a coast will not allow your car's factory radio to pick up those specific communications.

[ONathan]

Nope, not with the radio that came with your car. It's basically hardwired for AM and FM stations. Think of it like a TV that only gets channels 2 through 13; anything else is just static. If you really want to listen to those lower frequencies, like the longwave stations they have overseas, you'd have to get a different radio unit entirely. It's a hobbyist thing for sure.

[HaydenLynn]

Technically, the antenna might be capable, but the radio's tuner is the real gatekeeper. Car manufacturers limit the tunable frequencies to what's legally and commercially relevant for the country where the car is sold. In the U.S., that's AM and FM. To unlock a wider spectrum, including frequencies below AM, you'd need to install a more versatile receiver. This isn't a simple software update; it requires new hardware designed for multi-band reception.