Radio reception after tint

[th3w0rm]

So I just had my windows tinted Friday and now my radio reception is really bad, AM stations are pretty much gone so no local sportstalk radio. And even my FM Modulator on my XM radio is getting alot of static. Isn't the antenna in the back glass somewhere? Is there anything he may have disconnected? I know he was in the trunk and he dropped the 3rd brakelight out during the tint. Any ideas what I could look for?

Thanks for any help.

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[BraveUlysses]

Did you get metallic tint? That can interfere with radio reception since we have our antennas mounted inside the windshield.

[Tkacik]

Check and see if the installer unhooked the antenna plug from the glass while installing your tint.

[Monsito]

Originally Posted by BraveUlysses

Did you get metallic tint? That can interfere with radio reception since we have our antennas mounted inside the windshield.

I agree, most likely that's it.

[th3w0rm]

No metallic. Don't really like how that looks. Where does the antenna plug into the glass?

[Picard]

The same problem happened to me. I got Huper Optik ceramic tint installed and lost my AM reception. FM still comes in strong and clear, but AM is really bad. If I touch the antenna wire (or even the defroster lines) on the glass from inside reception improves. Even if I wave my hand near the glass without touching it, reception improves.

A portable AM radio plays clearly resting underneath the tint. Something happens to the antenna once the tint touches the glass--metallic or not.

Anyone know how to attach an external AM antenna to the OEM head unit? (I tried taping an AM anntenna loop to the wires on the back window, but that didn't work )

[!gno]

that sucks ... should i be worried about getting tints now?

[th3w0rm]

I went back and checked. It was metallic based tint. Gotta decide what direction to go now.

[super-ru]

CDs? ipod?

[REVNU]

Maybe an inline antenna booster? Not sure if that would work, but maybe it would...

~REVNU

[th3w0rm]

Mount my XM radio near the rear window?

[complacent]

Originally Posted by REVNU

Maybe an inline antenna booster? Not sure if that would work, but maybe it would...

~REVNU

Most modern head units front ends' can't take a boost of signal by more than 1db or so. They're the cheapest part of the unit and are overloaded easily.

And given the freq response of most tuners anyways I'd say now is a good time to look at upgrading to sat radio or at least some other source to quench your audio needs.

my .02usd.

(Does anyone else remember when Alpine separated the tuner packs for their units?)

[hendo2.5]

omg what a pita

[couchflambeau]

I might be wrong but here's what I think is the problem....

The signal is not being "Blocked" by the tint since the tint is actually behind the antenna element. Because the tint is metallic it conducts.... the element in your window is also a metal trace on glass. Ordinary car antennas are of a specific length (34" I think) since that supposedly recieves radio waves (¼ wavelength I think) Anyway, somehow the length of the antenna determines how good it recieves.

If you look at the back window, the 3 or 4 lines at the top are the antenna element. The tint is probably shorting them together, and depending how the film is applied might even be shorting them to ground.

Might not be any signal to boost to begin with, so any kind of antenna adapter would be pointless.....

What might work better is this.....

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-dpxryRI...0&I=12044UA200

A universal window mount antenna may get decent enough antenna reception, though most likely not as good as the original. Should also allow you to keep the tint on too... Anyhow, for $20 might be a last resort to try before peeling all that tint off.....

[Picard]

Originally Posted by couchflambeau

The signal is not being "Blocked" by the tint since the tint is actually behind the antenna element. Because the tint is metallic it conducts.... the element in your window is also a metal trace on glass. Ordinary car antennas are of a specific length (34" I think) since that supposedly recieves radio waves (¼ wavelength I think) Anyway, somehow the length of the antenna determines how good it recieves.

If you look at the back window, the 3 or 4 lines at the top are the antenna element. The tint is probably shorting them together, and depending how the film is applied might even be shorting them to ground.

I don't think it matters if it's metallic tint or not. In my case, I don't have metallic, I have ceramic. Also, my tint doesn't cover the entire antenna. The top two lines (first inch or so) are still exposed. Regardless, you're right that it still affects reception. I think it's much like the way that your own body can affect radio reception (ever notice how reception changes when you physically touch the antenna on a portable radio? I'm pretty sure I'm not metallic ).

Thanks for the Crutchfield link. It looks like a viable option.

I've been trying to listen to more CDs but it's just impossible to get traffic reports and hockey games on them .

[REVNU]

I used to have my Sirius Satellite antenna where the 3rd brake light was and the reception was good. After I got it tinted with a 50% (really light) SolarGard HP True Grey which is a semi-metallic, the reception from the satellite wasn't so great. So for now I've moved it outside the car and attached it onto the window with some 3M double sided tape just above the trunk and the reception is great! I'm going to try moving it back inside the car onto the dash right behind the clock and see how that works also. I'd rather have it inside the car if possible.

As far as FM reception I didn't notice any degradation in the quality... still sounds crappy as ever. I really don't listen to it much thanks to Sirius. I flip it on for my drive home and listen to Tom Leykis and that's about it.

~REVNU

[couchflambeau]

Originally Posted by Picard

I'm pretty sure I'm not metallic

Well... I'm willing to bet you have salt in your body..... which according to the periodic table sodium is an alkali metal which under the right circumstances is quite conductive.... (ex. douse yourself in salt water and stick your finger in a light socket..... bad idea, so don't do it....lol)

Want proof? Next time your remote for your car alarm isn't working well range-wise, stick the remote to the tip of your chin and press the button.... you should see increased range in many cases (since you are using your head as an antenna).....

Perhaps the ceramic based tints still conduct? Not sure, I'm not a chemist.... I just hunt illegal aliens for a living....

At least your heart is in the right place (GO REDWINGS!!!!)

[Bbasso]

they might have cut the thin att line in the glass when they cut the tint to fit...

[jblaze5579]

Originally Posted by couchflambeau

Well... I'm willing to bet you have salt in your body..... which according to the periodic table sodium is an alkali metal which under the right circumstances is quite conductive.... (ex. douse yourself in salt water and stick your finger in a light socket..... bad idea, so don't do it....lol)

Want proof? Next time your remote for your car alarm isn't working well range-wise, stick the remote to the tip of your chin and press the button.... you should see increased range in many cases (since you are using your head as an antenna).....

Perhaps the ceramic based tints still conduct? Not sure, I'm not a chemist.... I just hunt illegal aliens for a living....

At least your heart is in the right place (GO REDWINGS!!!!)

reception on just about anything improves when you touch the antenna... notice if you have rabbit ears on your tv and crappy reception you cna touch the antenna and it generally improves. The same thing is true with radio antennas. Think I read an article online that awhile ago that actually explains this situation scientifically.

[th3w0rm]

Originally Posted by Bbasso

they might have cut the thin att line in the glass when they cut the tint to fit...

This was definitly a concern. I haven't gotten in there yet to look very close.

[couchflambeau]

If so... they owe you a new rear window....

[ducmaan748]

It's new window time!

[Nipper77]

I don't know about that theory. I have 8% on the whole car including the rear window and my radio reception is crystal clear AM & FM. Even my sirius sat. radio comes in great and that antenna is in the back ledge against the window. Must be the type of tint used or botched job.
'05 RS

[4wdrift]

Originally Posted by couchflambeau

I might be wrong but here's what I think is the problem....

The signal is not being "Blocked" by the tint since the tint is actually behind the antenna element. Because the tint is metallic it conducts.... the element in your window is also a metal trace on glass. Ordinary car antennas are of a specific length (34" I think) since that supposedly recieves radio waves (¼ wavelength I think) Anyway, somehow the length of the antenna determines how good it recieves.

If you look at the back window, the 3 or 4 lines at the top are the antenna element. The tint is probably shorting them together, and depending how the film is applied might even be shorting them to ground.

Might not be any signal to boost to begin with, so any kind of antenna adapter would be pointless..........

This is a classic issue with the the Subaru's in-glass antannae. Tint=poorer reception. Did you try a search? I chose to install an aftermarket antannae behind my rear view mirror. Can't see it, works great.

[Bbasso]

I have my rear window tinted for a few months now and no noticable difference in radio reception. Just had to make an update