Well I got it done last night, 18% in the back half and 25% on the front doors. Came out really good, carbon tint, and no issues at all with the radio. Boo ya.

 

+1, I agree, I don't believe that the metallic in some of the tints would mess up your radio signal...i think this is a myth...

other metal shouldn't interfere with radio waves...i just don't see the logic to that...if that were true, then it would be fair to say that any metal inside the car such as metal trim pieces, jewelry could possibly mess up your radio signal.

 

It messes with the signal.... if your radio antenna is IN the rear window.


I'm telling, you, night and day difference for two of my radio stations before and after tinting.

Given, those two are the farthest away, and I don't have problems with any of the other stations. But, before tint, the car picked up the stations perfectly. Afterwards, I can't even listen to them. (too fuzzy) I drove the car 6 months listening to those two stations before tint. So, it was a good comparison.

 

^+1...from personal experience as well.

 

I'm not an EE, but I would think antennas that are enclosed by tint (e.g. Faraday cage?) would decrease reception, but since our antenna is on the glass and outside of the tint it would not be a problem.

Any experts out there?

 

This was an ongoing conversation in the Lexus forums for some time.... back when I was on the IS350 fence.
The GPS antenna was inside the car, and semi-matalic tints really screwed things up for some people and had no adverse affects with others.
It affects more than just FM reception, but it depends on the film and the car's electronics.

My personal opinion was, why chance it.
The ceramic offers more heat reflection and no chance for interference, but it looks lighter than most semi-metalic plastic films and is almost twice the price.

Only you can decide which is best for you.

 

^^^^^ well said

tg

 

Think about it this way: The antenna is a 360 degree antenna. When you block it on one side (tint), it'll hurt reception. Just a guess.


All I know is that there was a night and day difference for stations that are farther away. Stations that come in strong, won't be affected.

 

Ditto. go ceramic just to be safe.

 

nooooooooooooo........... lol

 

I'm an undergraduate EE at georgia tech and i honestly don't know the true answer to this question...although terrycs's explanation makes the most sense.

plus, engineers think about these kind of things before hand...

 

Engineers DO think about these things before hand.

Which is why they sell window tint that has "No hindrance to vehicle electronic systems" and "Will not interfere with radio frequencies."

http://www.formulaone.com/pinnacle.htm

The definitely don't/can't claim that with metallic tints.

 

+1..
Will never use anything else

 

I wish I had gone with ceramic. The stupid chick at the counter of the tinting place said, "you don't need that" when I asked about the better tint.

I even went on to ask, "how much" and she didn't even know.

 

Didn't you just pull your tint off? Are you looking at getting it put back on?