IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present) Discussion about the 2014+ model IS models

How to simply play the radio

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Old 10-26-18 | 12:30 PM
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Question How to simply play the radio

So I'm running down the road at a good clip and I want to turn on the radio and select/play a preset FM station. I press Radio on the dash and I end up in audio hell, and can't get off the system wanting to use Pandora (which is not configured.) Working with the multiple prompt screen is unsafe IMHO. I just want to turn on the radio, like I do in my old Subaru. And then select a station. But I can't figure out how. Help!!! I can't believe there isn't a simple way to do this.
Old 10-26-18 | 12:32 PM
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Jab the "mode" button on your steering wheel to switch between sources til you hit "FM" then use your steering wheel up and down arrows to select your presets.

My CT has 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 like a normal car but for the IS they wanted to get fancy on you.
Old 10-26-18 | 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by dickbeck
So I'm running down the road at a good clip and I want to turn on the radio and select/play a preset FM station. I press Radio on the dash and I end up in audio hell, and can't get off the system wanting to use Pandora (which is not configured.) Working with the multiple prompt screen is unsafe IMHO. I just want to turn on the radio, like I do in my old Subaru. And then select a station. But I can't figure out how. Help!!! I can't believe there isn't a simple way to do this.
Fortunately, there is, but it's not intuitive.
  1. While audio is off, hit the "RADIO" button just below the CD player slot.
  2. You should see an "Audio Off" screen. Select "Source".
  3. From there, select the radio audio source you want (I assume FM).
Doing this will get you around the Pandora app.

edit: It is likely worth noting that once you have done this, you won't need to re-select the FM radio again unless you have switched to a different audio source.

What E46CT said will also work. Not sure what warning messages it's displaying and whether they are more time-consuming than what I said above.
Old 10-26-18 | 01:44 PM
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I can make it work once I can play with the screen. But at 60 MPH I really don't want to have to look at the screen to get to FM -- although I do agree that it tries to go back to the prior source. But I was amazed that the old standard radio interface has been improved to the point of complexity that requires a forum.
Old 10-26-18 | 02:12 PM
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I was recently in a 2018 NX loaner and it took forever to learn how to play the music i wanted. then for the life of me could not figure out how to change the base/treble.

I do like a simple preset 1 2 3 4 5 button arrangement and not have to go through menus to do what should be a one push task.
Old 10-26-18 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by dickbeck
I can make it work once I can play with the screen. But at 60 MPH I really don't want to have to look at the screen to get to FM -- although I do agree that it tries to go back to the prior source. But I was amazed that the old standard radio interface has been improved to the point of complexity that requires a forum.
... But yeah, once you select FM, you should be fine for the next time you want to turn on the radio. Personally I have had no issues with it. My wife seems to have the same issue you do, and I have to remind her the easier way to do it every time.
Old 10-27-18 | 08:16 PM
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If you were last using radio (and not a different music app), if you click on the "Home" button in the center console by the remote controller, you should be able to "click" on the section on the right and it'll take you to the radio screen where you can select of your presets.
Old 10-29-18 | 09:19 PM
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u guys do know the next update removes pandora entirely from the navi system!!
Old 10-29-18 | 09:56 PM
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Might just be a force of habit at this point/muscle memory, but if I'm not on the Radio source, I just press the hard physical radio button twice (below the cd slot on the center console) and I recall always ending up on Radio.
Hope it helps

Last edited by LexSense; 10-29-18 at 09:57 PM. Reason: typo
Old 10-30-18 | 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by DJSpeed
u guys do know the next update removes pandora entirely from the navi system!!
Yes. And I am planning to use it till the very end! It was the only Enform app I regularly used, sadly.
Old 10-31-18 | 07:28 PM
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Originally Posted by DJSpeed
u guys do know the next update removes pandora entirely from the navi system!!
Yep! Only used it a couple times when I first got the car. Couldn't get it to load the stations I had on my phone and it was easier to just use my phone over bluetooth.
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