Heated windscreen

[inkey]

I'm thinking of purchasing a cheap sat nav system to use with my Focus. However i've read that my heated windscreen might cause problems for the built in antennas. Has anyone had tried a Garmin I3 or Tom Tom One with a heated screen? If so does it work OK? Cheers

[DennisTheMenace]

It shouldnt do but if you do notice poor gps lock stick it in the corner of the dash by the A pillar , no heating elements in the way there .

[a2z]

I'm using Tom Tom Navigator on a PDA with a compact flash gps receiver plugged into the top. I use it in my Mondeo with a heated screen with no problems at all. As said above, if you do struggle, try placing it a the edge of the screen (if you look at the screen closely the heating elements don't run to the bottom corners of the screen)

IIRC the screen problems can occur with heat reflective screens such as the "silvery" types used on some Renaults

[Liszt]

I have no problems with either a hard wire GPS on TT5 for my Ipaq 3630 or my Blue tooth GPS for TT5 on my phone

[sixpot]

I had a friend ask me the same question just the other day. I stuck my TT one into his Focus (with heated screeen) and it worked fine, better than fine in fact, it had full satelite signal. I think it is one of those myths circulated by the manufacturers to seel more 'add ons'

[ehasler]

sixpot said:

I think it is one of those myths circulated by the manufacturers to seel more 'add ons'

Nope - not a myth. My Garmin unit barely gets any reception when I use it on the dash in my Dad's Freelander which has a heated screen, however it works OKish if I move it to the edge of the screen. I've got a similar screen in my Range Rover, so will need an additional aerial extension to sort this out properly.

[Podie]

ehasler said:

sixpot said: I think it is one of those myths circulated by the manufacturers to seel more 'add ons' Nope - not a myth. My Garmin unit barely gets any reception when I use it on the dash in my Dad's Freelander which has a heated screen, however it works OKish if I move it to the edge of the screen. I've got a similar screen in my Range Rover, so will need an additional aerial extension to sort this out properly.

Ed's right... the heated screen elements seem to work like a Faraday cage

[sixpot]

Podie said:

ehasler said: sixpot said: I think it is one of those myths circulated by the manufacturers to seel more 'add ons' Nope - not a myth. My Garmin unit barely gets any reception when I use it on the dash in my Dad's Freelander which has a heated screen, however it works OKish if I move it to the edge of the screen. I've got a similar screen in my Range Rover, so will need an additional aerial extension to sort this out properly. Ed's right... the heated screen elements seem to work like a Faraday cage

Strange - May be a Ford thing or indeed a TT thing. All I know is my TT one works fine in my Mates Focus (with heated screen).

[arcturus]

Our Peugeot 307 also completely blocks the GPS signal - and that's without a heated screen.

An external GPS antenna has completely solved the problem, and we are happy again.

[oe_cosgrove]

For info my Snooper radar detectors do not work in one of my cars but the Tom Tom 1 gets a full GPS signal! When I bought it I advised that I needed an aerial but on fitting we were both amazed it wasn't needed. Best reception of all units I have found regardless of screen coating.

[puggit]

arcturus said:

Our Peugeot 307 also completely blocks the GPS signal - and that's without a heated screen. An external GPS antenna has completely solved the problem, and we are happy again.

Pugs have heat reflecting films - even worse then heated screens.

I find that my GPS does work, it's the GlobalSat III thingy (ie think...)

[mroad]

The problem is not necessarily heated screens but Athermic screens (heated screens don't help though)
Athermic or "comfort" screens contain an ultra thin film of silver across them to reflect UV rays. The film can block or reduce the amount of GPS signal reception.

Currently the following cars have Athermic screens although they may not be across the entire range or model years:

BMW 3 Series
BMW 5 Series
BMW 7 Series
BMW X5
Citreon C5
Citreon Picasso
Citreon Xsara
Citreon Xantia
Fiat Multipla
Ford Galaxy
Ford Mondeo
Mercedes Vaneo
Mercedes W220-S Class
Peugeot 206
Peugeot 306
Peugeot 307
Peugeot 607
Renault Clio
Renault Espace
Renault Kangoo
Renault Laguna
Renault Master
Renault Megane
Renault Scenic
Renault Safrane
Renault Traffic
Vauxhall Zafira

www.inforadgps.com/about/windscreens/search.php
Tells you the probability on whether you have an Athermic screen or not, in most cases you need to check with the manufacturer.

I know a friends Zafria was a bugger with his Tom Tom, he had to hold it under the sun roof until he got an extension kit!

[Focus2.0Zetec]

Both satnav and roadangel both work fine in my focus with heated screen, if it comes to it you can always position it near the A-Pillar as someone else stated.

Regards

Chris

[DennisTheMenace]

Right if you have a solar reflecting screen or what ever its called this week , look up in the dotted area by the rear view mirror you can double side the gps antenna up there , the area is left clear on ALL cars with solar screens for mounting bridge tags etc , also RTFM it will tell you in there .

[notthehamster]

I use TT on a PDA with a bluetooth Holox GPS. GPS sits on top of dash in middle and it works fine in both Mondeo and Discovery with heated screens. Suggest if anyone is having probs then their GPS sensitivity is too low.

[PaClampet]

Garmin I3 works fine on my Mondeo despite heated screen. As someone said earlier I tuck mine in the bottom corner near the A Pillar. Picks up a signal in about 30 secs and rarely loses it (usual probs with high buildings etc).
Can't recommend this little unit enough.
Cheers
Richard

[jvaughan]

Dads TT One works though the screen of his 2002 Mondeo

[waremark]

I have personal experience of both heated screens and heat reflecting screens blocking the signal from several units. However, none of them were the new Sirf Star 3 GPS receivers, and I suspect that Sirf Star 3 GPS receivers (including TT One) can cope in spite of these windscreens.