GPS NAV with Window Tint

by **WXman** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:20 pm

Hey folks, got a ? for everyone...

The manual for the Nav states that tinting your windows may interfere with the nav to get accurate GPS fixes... something about the metallic particles in the tint film. Does anyone out there have a NAV unit and tinted windows? Have you seen any degradation at all? I would really like to put some light tint on the windows.

Thanks!

by **wiz2** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:25 pm

You cant use metallic tint with most Navigaiton systems.

by **cklinh** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:29 pm

You can get non-metallic tint... it's a little more, but IMO, it's worth it if you're worried about reception (not just GPS, cellular too).

(Having said that, I've never used metallic tint, so I can't really tell).

by **swindler** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 5:47 pm

My first 10 years or so I was a GPS system developer. They've done wonders with the sensitivity of receivers over the years, but the metallic film is really a hard hit on the receiver. I run with various GPS boxes in my cars, and the one I always had trouble with was one with metallic tint. It also caused trouble with my tolltag, and even cellular reception.

Metallic tint is generally better at rejecting heat, because it cuts down on solar radiation, and so it tends to be a favored tint for hot climates. But you can get a pretty good tint without buying a metallic film.

I don't know where they put the GPS antenna for the Nav units, because you may be okay. If it's on the front dash, or integrated with the rear view mirror, you may be okay, (unless you tint your windshield). But you're probably better off avoiding metallic tint.

by **slingshot** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:15 pm

The GPS antenna is under the front dash but I wouldn't mess around with metallic tint since the signal might have to go through the side or back windows first to get to the antenna depending on how your car is facing. I have non-metallic tint (Lumar material) and the NAV works perfectly.

by **cklinh** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:43 pm

PS... this is the tint I'm using...

"3M™ Color-Stable Automotive Window Films CS"

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en00 ... utput_html

as suggested by the installer.

heh... I just noticed... their brochure has a Gen 1.5 Solara...

http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebs ... 3YCOrrrrQ-

by **WXman** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:11 pm

Thank you for the info everyone!

by **slingshot** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:23 am

cklinh wrote:PS... this is the tint I'm using...

"3M™ Color-Stable Automotive Window Films CS"

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en00 ... utput_html

as suggested by the installer.

What percent tint do you have and what are the choices if you know with that film?

by **slingshot** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:24 am

WXman wrote:Thank you for the info everyone!

Is it just me or does that absolutely red car look orange in that photo?

by **swindler** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:59 am

What percent tint do you have and what are the choices if you know with that film?

The 3M film is a well-known quality film. There are a lot of films out there that are available. Some are good, like Huper Optic, but some not as good. If you don't know the brand, you might want to just stick with 3M.

If you follow the links to the next page, you'll see that the 3M CS film is available in 5, 20, 35, and 50 percent transmissiveness. These levels are pretty standard in all films.

What you can apply (and be legal) depends upon your state. TX recently changed to a 'net' law, which add the darkness of your film with the darkness of your existing windows and considers the overall darkness. They now allow down to 25% on the side windows, and as dark as you want on the rear window - as long as you have two side mirrors. Otherwise, the rear window must also allow at least 25%.

I went with 35% film on the side, and 20% on the rear.

by **cklinh** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:33 am

slingshot wrote:What percent tint do you have and what are the choices if you know with that film?

I had originally asked for 35% all around... but the installer pretty much guaranteed that I'd get pulled over for it (in Bay Area, Northern California)...

So, I got 50% in the front and 20% in the rear. He showed me a few tints, and the 3m tint looks a lot brighter when you're looking out (same looking in).

PS Pic of the tint one day after it was done...

by **WXman** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:51 am

slingshot wrote:
WXman wrote:Thank you for the info everyone!

Is it just me or does that absolutely red car look orange in that photo?

It may be... looks red to me though. This was taken from a camera phone though, so the quality may not be that great.

by **kingkakyle** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:25 pm

ya its looks a little orange....like a very deep orange
or more like the inside of a grapefruit

by **slingshot** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:54 pm

Yep, a cheap camera in a phone can't get the red right. A real digital camera would have shown the correct red.

Regarding tints, I'm pretty shocked you could have a chance of being pulled over in No. Cali from 35% tint. I have 35% tint and it isn't dark at all. Cops can easily through it to see who is in the car. I can understand 20% perhaps....

by **cklinh** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:59 pm

Well, I don't know about NY, but in Cali, you are not supposed to tint the front (side) windows at all...

I think when you get 35% all around, it's pretty noticeable that there's tint in the front when you compare to the back...

When you have the back being darker than the front, the contrast makes it less likely that the cop thinks you tinted the front?!? (I'm trying to come up with an argument... not working too well

GPS NAV with Window Tint

GPS NAV with Window Tint

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