Heated front screens

[dotty]

I'm thinking of getting satnav but my car has a heated front screen and I read an article in the press which said they interfere with sat nav. Anyone heard of this problem? Any advice welcome - I don't want to waste £200!

Thanks

Dotty

[RHCP]

Yep, it wouldn't work for one of my friends.

[ijd]

you can get external aerials, just check fleabay

[partyweb]

I've got a Galaxy with the heated front screen and a Navman iCN 530 and, although I was concerned about this problem too, I've not noticed and signal drop due to it.

[Matt_C]

A few heated screens have reported caused sat nav units to misbehave, but they aren't common

For the main, the problem appears to lie in "solar" screens. Solar screens have a reflective coating to the laminate between the glass sheets, and this does interfere with GPS reception. So much so, that Renault actually leave a 4x3 rectangle of clear laminate at the bottom of the screen for a GPS reciever in the Clio and Laguna (and I tihnk the Espace aswell) as they have had probs with GPS reception!

Only thing you can do is try it in your car - the only way you will know!

[conington]

I had a problem with Tom Tom because of a heated front screen, very basically it prevented me from getting a GPS signal. I attached an external aerial, by that I mean an extension receiver from the Tom Tom and stuck it on the dash (they are only small and not that expensive) all was OK once the extra receiver was attached.

[Logrus]

no problem with a Tom Tom 510 in a Puma with heated front screen

[craig777]

I've not got a heated windscreen, but I do have one of these heat reflective windscreens... and my TomTom 910 doesn't have any problems receiving a good signal.

[KeithO]

Originally Posted by conington

I had a problem with Tom Tom because of a heated front screen, very basically it prevented me from getting a GPS signal. I attached an external aerial, by that I mean an extension receiver from the Tom Tom and stuck it on the dash (they are only small and not that expensive) all was OK once the extra receiver was attached.

If you can't get a signal with the Tomtom attached to the screen, why would putting an external aeriel on the dash help? That would also be blocked by the screen surely?

I have a magnetic external aeriel and always clip it to the roof, otherwise there's not much point using one.

[John7]

I've got a Mondeo with heated front screen - no probs using TomTom 1 fixed to windscreen mount and it's own internal aerial.

[ijd]

I have a magnetic external aerial and where i used to lose signal is no longer a problem, north london used to be a nightmare, also it locate all the satelites much quicker

[dotty]

Thanks John - mine is a ford focus 06 reg so I guess the screen is very similar.

Maybe I'll have a go.

Dotty

[antoeknee]

The original units could have problems with heated screens though on cars like Mondeos mounting the device in the the bottom corner largely overcame the problem (no heating elements in that part of the screen).

I've had a TT500 and use an external antenna but mounted internally on the rear parcel shelf. Good signal strength and no drop outs.

Later units with the SIRF chipset are suppose to be less affected by heated screens.

Heat reflective screens such as those used by Renault have caused problems though I don't know if that is still the case.

[SeanT]

Brothers cossie has a heated front screen and he hasn't noticed any issues at all (he has a TT1) Pretty sure one or other of my boss' cars has too and tomtom and garmin units new and old work fine.

[TJNewton]

I've got a TT1 and an X reg Focus with heated front screen and have not experienced any probs.