Got tint, now radio sucks

Quantum · 05-21-2007, 12:53 PM

Last weekend I finally got My Si tinted, 50% on rear and sides with metallic tint. Since then I've noticed my radio reception sucks, especially AM. FM sounds about the same, maybe slightly crackly, but my AM reception is terrible now. It sounds as if the radio stations that used to come in perfectly clear are 500 miles away and are barely audible. Is this due to the metallic tint on the rear window, or is it just something wrong with the antenna?

Ryd1ZZ · 05-21-2007, 01:29 PM

When I got my tint done the guys at the shop told me that because our antenna is built into the rear window, any tint with metal would mess up my reception and to go with a non-metallic brand (cost more). I thought it was some BS to get me to pay more but he gave it to me for the same price as the other stuff so I went for it. I still wasn't sure the other stuff would cause an issue but this may be proof. If it's really bad maybe you can go back and get it re-done with the non-metallic stuff for a discount?
Just my .02

NIGHTHAWKSI · 05-21-2007, 02:11 PM

it is the metallic tint...

***Excalibur*** · 05-21-2007, 02:13 PM

metallic tint is always bad. It also messes with radar detectors.

rmfa · 05-21-2007, 02:16 PM

Yep, I used carbon-based tint on my car. Everything is just as it was from factory. Its more expensive but it looks great and doesn't block anything but sun and some heat...

paakaula · 05-21-2007, 02:22 PM

honestly though....do you REALLY listen to am radio???

rmfa · 05-21-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paakaula

do you REALLY listen to am radio???

FusionSi11 · 05-21-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmfa

Yep, I used carbon-based tint on my car. Everything is just as it was from factory. Its more expensive but it looks great and doesn't block anything but sun and some heat...

+1 carbon-based is the way to go....no trouble with mine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paakaula

honestly though....do you REALLY listen to am radio???

i do....ESPN radio and Cubs games on the AM radio.

***Rems07si*** · 05-21-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryd1ZZ

When I got my tint done the guys at the shop told me that because our antenna is built into the rear window, any tint with metal would mess up my reception and to go with a non-metallic brand (cost more). I thought it was some BS to get me to pay more but he gave it to me for the same price as the other stuff so I went for it. I still wasn't sure the other stuff would cause an issue but this may be proof. If it's really bad maybe you can go back and get it re-done with the non-metallic stuff for a discount?
Just my .02

i never herd that before in my life i think he was blowing smoke up your you no what

mattSi · 05-21-2007, 02:42 PM

Get XM or Sirius... problem solved

rmfa · 05-21-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rems07si

i never herd that before in my life i think he was blowing smoke up your you no what

Its very true. There are a few threads on this already...

CrAsian · 05-21-2007, 03:00 PM

metallic tint is usually blamed for bad radio reception (urban legend, placebo effect, i don't know for sure). i believe that it would screw with reception and it would be extra bad for our civics since our antennas are built into the rear window. that being said, if you wanna read more about it, just search on google for metallic tint radio and you'll see a bunch of people compaining about the same thing.

Jardiniboy · 05-21-2007, 05:44 PM

Call mythbusters. Haha

***fiji06si13*** · 05-21-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quantum

Last weekend I finally got My Si tinted, 50% on rear and sides with metallic tint. Since then I've noticed my radio reception sucks, especially AM. FM sounds about the same, maybe slightly crackly, but my AM reception is terrible now. It sounds as if the radio stations that used to come in perfectly clear are 500 miles away and are barely audible. Is this due to the metallic tint on the rear window, or is it just something wrong with the antenna?

AM radio is a hard frequency to recieve from the get go. Every time you are near transformer or any electrical field that is emitted it can effect AM stations. The metalic tint can be playing a role. But the tint guy might have disconnected a wire to put the tint on or he could have dammaged the copper runs (antenna) on the glass with any kind of tool that he used to smooth or trim the tint to the glass. Take a look at things if all is intacked then the tint is the culpret.

Quantum · 05-22-2007, 02:06 PM

Well FM still sounds pretty good, it is only a little bit worse. FM is usually much more sensitive to bad reception, especially with stereo channels. So if the antenna was disconnected or damaged, I would think the FM would be inaudible. However because it is mainly AM that is not working, my guess is that the tint must be grounded to the car some how and is absorbing or interfering with the AM signals. And yes I do listen to AM all the time for news and traffic in the morning and the talk radio shows in the afternoon. The AM station that I listen to is located only a few miles away downtown and always came in perfectly clear before I got the tint.

I called the tint place and they said to come by any time and they would take a look at it. So hopefully they will offer me a different kind of tint.

***fiji06si13*** · 05-22-2007, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quantum

Well FM still sounds pretty good, it is only a little bit worse. FM is usually much more sensitive to bad reception, especially with stereo channels. So if the antenna was disconnected or damaged, I would think the FM would be inaudible. However because it is mainly AM that is not working, my guess is that the tint must be grounded to the car some how and is absorbing or interfering with the AM signals. And yes I do listen to AM all the time for news and traffic in the morning and the talk radio shows in the afternoon. The AM station that I listen to is located only a few miles away downtown and always came in perfectly clear before I got the tint.

I called the tint place and they said to come by any time and they would take a look at it. So hopefully they will offer me a different kind of tint.

AM and FM use different locations on the glass plus ever use tin foil on an old radio's antenna to get better FM reception...if anything the FM will come in better.....

TJ213 · 05-22-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattSi

Get XM

, probably cheaper than re-tinting your window, I got mine for $20, and you get more music and stuff too.

07civicex · 05-23-2007, 11:34 AM

Yeah, the metal tint helps to create a "faraday cage" - it blocks out incoming singals. you have to remeber that an AM signal is an amplitude modulated signal which means that is picked up by your car's lines in the glass window- the metalic tint unifies all of the metal lines, and it cant pick them up very well....

DetachmentBravo · 05-23-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur

metallic tint is always bad. It also messes with radar detectors.

Somehow I don't think that changing the electromagnetic characteristics of an automobile will effect its RCS (Radar Cross Section).

***fiji06si13*** · 05-23-2007, 08:03 PM

wow getting real technical here....basicly remove the tint and see if you get better reseption....

05-21-2007, 12:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Quantum Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 303 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Got tint, now radio sucks Last weekend I finally got My Si tinted, 50% on rear and sides with metallic tint. Since then I've noticed my radio reception sucks, especially AM. FM sounds about the same, maybe slightly crackly, but my AM reception is terrible now. It sounds as if the radio stations that used to come in perfectly clear are 500 miles away and are barely audible. Is this due to the metallic tint on the rear window, or is it just something wrong with the antenna?

05-23-2007, 08:03 PM	#20 (permalink)
*fiji06si13* VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jerz Age: 28 Posts: 9,453 Justin aka Mr. JT iTrader: 3 / 100%	wow getting real technical here....basicly remove the tint and see if you get better reseption.... __________________ RIP Bernie Mac RIP Andre Young Jr. http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/water...-young-jr.html

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05-21-2007, 01:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ryd1ZZ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: SoCal Age: 23 Posts: 540 Ryan iTrader: 1 / 100%	When I got my tint done the guys at the shop told me that because our antenna is built into the rear window, any tint with metal would mess up my reception and to go with a non-metallic brand (cost more). I thought it was some BS to get me to pay more but he gave it to me for the same price as the other stuff so I went for it. I still wasn't sure the other stuff would cause an issue but this may be proof. If it's really bad maybe you can go back and get it re-done with the non-metallic stuff for a discount? Just my .02

05-21-2007, 02:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
NIGHTHAWKSI Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: long island Age: 22 Posts: 13,582 Ian iTrader: 12 / 100%	it is the metallic tint...

05-21-2007, 02:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Excalibur* Blown at last Join Date: May 2007 Location: Converse, TX. Age: 25 Posts: 9,513 Jeremy iTrader: 24 / 100%	metallic tint is always bad. It also messes with radar detectors.

05-21-2007, 02:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
rmfa Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Austin, TX Age: 27 Posts: 3,463 Ronnie iTrader: 2 / 100%	Yep, I used carbon-based tint on my car. Everything is just as it was from factory. Its more expensive but it looks great and doesn't block anything but sun and some heat...

05-21-2007, 02:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
paakaula Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 68 iTrader: 0 / 0%	honestly though....do you REALLY listen to am radio???

05-21-2007, 02:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
mattSi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: AZ Age: 25 Posts: 777 Matt iTrader: 1 / 100%	Get XM or Sirius... problem solved

05-21-2007, 03:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
CrAsian Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: mckinney, tx Posts: 127 iTrader: 0 / 0%	metallic tint is usually blamed for bad radio reception (urban legend, placebo effect, i don't know for sure). i believe that it would screw with reception and it would be extra bad for our civics since our antennas are built into the rear window. that being said, if you wanna read more about it, just search on google for metallic tint radio and you'll see a bunch of people compaining about the same thing.

05-21-2007, 05:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
Jardiniboy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Waipahu, Hawaii Posts: 3,817 Jasten iTrader: 2 / 100%	Call mythbusters. Haha

05-22-2007, 02:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Quantum Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 303 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Well FM still sounds pretty good, it is only a little bit worse. FM is usually much more sensitive to bad reception, especially with stereo channels. So if the antenna was disconnected or damaged, I would think the FM would be inaudible. However because it is mainly AM that is not working, my guess is that the tint must be grounded to the car some how and is absorbing or interfering with the AM signals. And yes I do listen to AM all the time for news and traffic in the morning and the talk radio shows in the afternoon. The AM station that I listen to is located only a few miles away downtown and always came in perfectly clear before I got the tint. I called the tint place and they said to come by any time and they would take a look at it. So hopefully they will offer me a different kind of tint.

05-23-2007, 11:34 AM	#18 (permalink)
07civicex Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tri-Cities, WA Age: 25 Posts: 310 Matt iTrader: 0 / 0%	Yeah, the metal tint helps to create a "faraday cage" - it blocks out incoming singals. you have to remeber that an AM signal is an amplitude modulated signal which means that is picked up by your car's lines in the glass window- the metalic tint unifies all of the metal lines, and it cant pick them up very well....