Ceramic/Mettalic Tint
03-19-2008, 11:34 AM
#1
Drive FAst and Swirve
Thread Starter
Ceramic/Mettalic Tint
So I really need to get my windows tinted, too damn bright w/o it. My question is, the dealer tried to feed this bs that I really need to get ceramic based film b/c metallic will interfere with the Navi. Is this true? what type of film do yall have? The whole interference thing doesnt really makes sense to me b/c the gps antenna is on the outside of the car.
03-19-2008, 11:53 AM
#2
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Your thread is being moved from the Performance Parts & Modifications subforum into the main 3GTL forum. Please read the rules before posting in this subforum. The rules can be found here: https://acurazine.com/forums/announc...nouncementid=7
03-19-2008, 12:22 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
I believe a lot of memebers who have navi have applied a metallic tint onto their cars. Most of which, i believe, have not noticed any ill effects to their navi, but rather some distortion to their AM radio? Anyways, i didnt want to risk it, I put on SolarGard Extruded Tint. Looks good, has held up well (~7 months now, but thats not a long enuff span to make any sort of judgment off of), and comes with a lifetime warranty (like any other tint out there). My navi works perfectly (aside from occastionally telling me to drive into lake michigan when im in downtown, wth! 
)
Hope this helps!
)Hope this helps!
03-19-2008, 05:34 PM
#5
AZ Community Team
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I've got a metallic. 35%.
NO navi problems. NO XM problems.
Far away FM stations don't come in (~90 miles away). They do in my other cars - although spotty/inconsistent.
NO navi problems. NO XM problems.
Far away FM stations don't come in (~90 miles away). They do in my other cars - although spotty/inconsistent.
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03-19-2008, 06:19 PM
#8
Your Friendly Canadian
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tint that blocks radio signals? this is too weird.
03-19-2008, 07:28 PM
#10
Drifting
Originally Posted by Fyre Man
tint that blocks radio signals? this is too weird.
When I was testing some equipment in there, one of the contractors forgot to use optical isolation taps on the network wires, which caused RF to leak into the "vault". I knew this, becuase my cell phone rang while I was in there, despite the door being shut and properly grounded.
We had the company come back out to look at it, and they said that RF leaked into the room through the Cat-5 cables whch were not optically isolated like they were supposed to be.
03-19-2008, 08:06 PM
#12
More Than Meets The Eye
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Originally Posted by avs007
If metallic tints were all it takes to block RF signals, we wouldn't have spent over $100,000 to build a faraday cage in our wireless lab.
When I was testing some equipment in there, one of the contractors forgot to use optical isolation taps on the network wires, which caused RF to leak into the "vault". I knew this, becuase my cell phone rang while I was in there, despite the door being shut and properly grounded.
We had the company come back out to look at it, and they said that RF leaked into the room through the Cat-5 cables whch were not optically isolated like they were supposed to be.
When I was testing some equipment in there, one of the contractors forgot to use optical isolation taps on the network wires, which caused RF to leak into the "vault". I knew this, becuase my cell phone rang while I was in there, despite the door being shut and properly grounded.
We had the company come back out to look at it, and they said that RF leaked into the room through the Cat-5 cables whch were not optically isolated like they were supposed to be.
03-19-2008, 11:44 PM
#14
Originally Posted by phambam
Sorry on threadjacking but nice ride bro. Got any more pics?
To the OP, the only reason you want ceramic over metallic is that, at the same tint %, ceramic will be darker than the metallic. Metallics are ligher and reflective, ceramics are darker and absorbing.
03-20-2008, 10:58 AM
#15
10th Gear
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Based upon Acurazine members feedback, it looks like either metallic or ceramic film will work fine. But before you beat up on the dealership too badly, keep a couple of things in mind. First, the GPS antenna is actually inside the car. It's located between the subwoofer and the rear window. Second, the service manual cautions against using metallic window tint as it "may" reduce the accuracy of the Navi system. Sounds like the dealer is telling you what they've been told.
RF is funny stuff. Conductive films do impede or block RF transmissions, which is the basis for the recommendation to not use metallic tint. I'm not sure how conductive metallic tint really is, but as previously posted, if there is a way to get inside an enclosure (such as the interior of a car) RF will find it.
Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn't. For what it's worth, I have Huper Optik ceramic tint, and I've had no issues with the GPS.
RF is funny stuff. Conductive films do impede or block RF transmissions, which is the basis for the recommendation to not use metallic tint. I'm not sure how conductive metallic tint really is, but as previously posted, if there is a way to get inside an enclosure (such as the interior of a car) RF will find it.
Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn't. For what it's worth, I have Huper Optik ceramic tint, and I've had no issues with the GPS.
03-20-2008, 11:06 AM
#16
Drive FAst and Swirve
Thread Starter
Thnx for all the advice guys appreciate.....I think I'm not going to risk it and go for ceramic, and since someone above mentioned that ceramic actually ends up looking darker that is music to my ears, ceramic it is hopefully this weekend!!!
03-20-2008, 11:26 AM
#17
Well, the way I also see it, metallic tints probably dont hurt your navi signal, but they most certainly do not help.. My navi has enough problems as it is on cloudy days, and heavy trees...
But yeah, like I said, I have 35% ceramic tint and it looks nearly 20%
Pinnacle F1, which I have, is good shit. Huper Optic is supposedly one of the best, but also most expensive...
But yeah, like I said, I have 35% ceramic tint and it looks nearly 20%
Pinnacle F1, which I have, is good shit. Huper Optic is supposedly one of the best, but also most expensive...
03-20-2008, 12:43 PM
#19
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I got mines tinted about a week ago with Metallic tint N no problems so FAR "Knock On Wood" everything seems to be working 100% navi, XM, FM i dont listen to AM so i dunno LOL..
Pictures of my car with the tint will be up soon, is too dirty to take pics right now but i will once I give her a nice wash this weekend.
Pictures of my car with the tint will be up soon, is too dirty to take pics right now but i will once I give her a nice wash this weekend.
03-20-2008, 02:59 PM
#21
Burning Brakes
Originally Posted by leolebo28
The shop I'm going to uses Solar Guard I believe and I'm getting 20% all around so hopefully it'll look dope
Not sure if you are particular about ceramic or extruded film, but I believe this is what will go on your car.
http://solargard.com/index./fuseacti...to-Supreme.htm
Just make sure you know which SolarGard film they will apply. I dont belive SolarGard makes ceramic films. The Supreme (and levels higher) come with lifetime warranties, whereas the cheap stuff like Charcoal and Smoke Plus come with 5 year warranties.
03-20-2008, 03:08 PM
#22
Drifting
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Originally Posted by avs007
If metallic tints were all it takes to block RF signals, we wouldn't have spent over $100,000 to build a faraday cage in our wireless lab.
Metallic tints have the potential to degrade the GPS signal to the point where the receiver could no longer get any meaningful information from it. In practice, whats most likely to happen is that you'll lose the signal marginally sooner in places you would have lost it before (cities or other places with lots of stuff over your head).
The AM and FM antennas are printed on the rear windshield so if there is enough conductivity across the film between the traces on the glass, it could cause problems there as well. Again, it's mostly going to be in the places where you had problems before.
03-20-2008, 03:21 PM
#23
Drive FAst and Swirve
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by ankur914
Not sure if you are particular about ceramic or extruded film, but I believe this is what will go on your car.
http://solargard.com/index./fuseacti...to-Supreme.htm
Just make sure you know which SolarGard film they will apply. I dont belive SolarGard makes ceramic films. The Supreme (and levels higher) come with lifetime warranties, whereas the cheap stuff like Charcoal and Smoke Plus come with 5 year warranties.
http://solargard.com/index./fuseacti...to-Supreme.htm
Just make sure you know which SolarGard film they will apply. I dont belive SolarGard makes ceramic films. The Supreme (and levels higher) come with lifetime warranties, whereas the cheap stuff like Charcoal and Smoke Plus come with 5 year warranties.
03-20-2008, 05:00 PM
#25
Drive FAst and Swirve
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by trancemission
So I guess my buddy isnt in the business anymore huh?
04-27-2008, 07:56 PM
#26
Burning Brakes
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Originally Posted by Bearcat94
I've got a metallic. 35%.
NO navi problems. NO XM problems.
Far away FM stations don't come in (~90 miles away). They do in my other cars - although spotty/inconsistent.
NO navi problems. NO XM problems.
Far away FM stations don't come in (~90 miles away). They do in my other cars - although spotty/inconsistent.
Good to know....Llumar ATR for me.
I don't listen to AM anyways...
05-14-2008, 02:54 PM
#28
Drifting
Originally Posted by LukeaTron
There's a world of difference between degrading a signal (easy) and eliminating a signal (hard, very). I assume you know this given that you work somewhere that has a Faraday cage. In the first case all you have to do lower the signal to noise ratio whereas in the second case you need to lower the energy level reasonably close to the standard background level (or even below it depending on the application).
Metallic tints have the potential to degrade the GPS signal to the point where the receiver could no longer get any meaningful information from it. In practice, whats most likely to happen is that you'll lose the signal marginally sooner in places you would have lost it before (cities or other places with lots of stuff over your head).
Metallic tints have the potential to degrade the GPS signal to the point where the receiver could no longer get any meaningful information from it. In practice, whats most likely to happen is that you'll lose the signal marginally sooner in places you would have lost it before (cities or other places with lots of stuff over your head).
Just for grins and giggles, I took a signal analyser into my car, and measured the signal strength as well as signal to noise ratio of a 2.4 and 5ghz network connection. The tints made zero difference, as when I rolled down the windows, the signal strength and signal to noise ratio did not change.
05-14-2008, 03:33 PM
#29
Burning Brakes
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Originally Posted by avs007
That's all fine and dandy, but in order to create an RF-Shield, the conductive material must be grounded. Your window tints are not grounded, so it would have no way to dissapate any RF energy.
Just for grins and giggles, I took a signal analyser into my car, and measured the signal strength as well as signal to noise ratio of a 2.4 and 5ghz network connection. The tints made zero difference, as when I rolled down the windows, the signal strength and signal to noise ratio did not change.
Just for grins and giggles, I took a signal analyser into my car, and measured the signal strength as well as signal to noise ratio of a 2.4 and 5ghz network connection. The tints made zero difference, as when I rolled down the windows, the signal strength and signal to noise ratio did not change.
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