Window Tints and Radio Reception
 

I put on HP window tint (metallized) about a month ago and of course it affects my radio reception. Particularly AM radio.

Is there anything I can do (workaround or mod) to boost the reception?

Thanks!

______________________
2003
Stype 3.0

Not that it helps you now but the carbon base tints don't affect the signal. I have always used 3M carbon films and never had it affect my reception on many cars. Just for the info.

Do you really listen to AM radio?

... Sports talk....

my fm reception sucks too. Does it effect that too?

Unfortunately it does... before I put in the tints my FM reception was the best I've ever had and post tints... there is definetly interference with many stations...

wow. Mine is so bad I can't even get a station based about 30 minutes away. So if I redo my tint, do I only need to redo the back window or do I need to do all the windows? If the fm antennae on the rear window too?

From everything I've read on this forum and the JTIS the antenna is in the back window and look like the rear defrost strips. Top portion of the rear glass is where they are located.

I think it is, but FM reception is pretty much straight line from the mast so if the waves need to pass through any other window to reach the car's antenna then the tint can be an issue.

When I bought my car, there was already tint on it so I don't know what it had, but I never noticed any reception problems.

reception
 

I just purchased my 2003 S-type R, it's the all black and got dark around with the solar guard on the windshield. I'm not sure if this is the kind that would interfere with my reception, but it seems to be working alright for me. Not sure if locations would vary, but I am in Orange County, CA.

I'm in Oc too. I usually like to listen to 99.1 which is an ie station. With my old cars I could get it allright (although not crystal clear). With this car, I can't get any reception with that station.

I had ZERO AM reception before I got my windows tinted. It is a non-metallic and did not affect the FM reception.

Radio reception for the S Type (and X Type for that matter) isn't great to start with. The antenna is indeed in the back glass and doesn't really work all that well. Adding metallic tint will likely worsen what is already fairly bad to start with.

Here's something interesting I found on this subject.....

AM Radio Reception and Tint

Radio Reception Problem
 

I have had bad radio reception and wondered how to correct it. I need to change my window tinting anyway and will try to replace it with non-metalized film.... may be seek out carbon-based film. It may take a couple of weeks but I will report back.

I get reception when close to population, but it is always scratchy and not good to listen to.

I thought there were signal boosters installed and thought mine might not be working. Is this the only thing I can do to fix the reception?

Thanks for your assistance.