defroster as antenna - Toyota Yaris Forums

scape · 07-13-2009, 03:15 PM

I didn't readily find this on the forum, but I'm wondering if anyone has hooked up their defroster line in the rear window to act as an antenna too? I drove an s80 volvo and it used this principle or something similar, worked well enough too..

jonismyname · 07-13-2009, 03:30 PM

my understanding would be that car had a radio antenna embedded in the glass, seperate of the defroster. the defroster is a ultra thin wire, that has a specific resistance... another option would be epoxying your own antenna to the window glass? i doubt it would work well, as the metal on either side of the window frame would insulate weak FM signals from my understanding...

PatrickJohnson · 07-13-2009, 03:35 PM

that is correct. I had an audi 100 with the same thing. There is actually a small wire embedded in the FRONT glass that acts as the antenna.

scape · 07-13-2009, 03:40 PM

front being exterior? that makes sense
i'm trying to remember the pattern on the back window of that car, now that I think about it, the top portion had more going on than a standard defroster

jonismyname · 07-13-2009, 03:58 PM

the antenna would also need to be vertical from my understanding of FM signals...

Lafiro · 07-13-2009, 04:48 PM

I hate this because it does not pick up signals as well as exterior antennas and the other major problem is the static it picks up when the rear defroster is turned on. I hate how Toyota has made a car like this. I have to turn the radio off each time I use the defroster in the rear.

Brian · 07-13-2009, 05:10 PM

I've never had a problem with my reception. Just buy a satellite radio and you won't have to worry about the embedded antenna.

PatrickJohnson · 07-13-2009, 06:41 PM

yeah i'm not sure what you are talking about lafiro. There is a direct line from the antenna to the HU thru the pillars, nothing on the antenna ever touches the defroster lines...

Tamago · 07-13-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lafiro

I hate this because it does not pick up signals as well as exterior antennas and the other major problem is the static it picks up when the rear defroster is turned on. I hate how Toyota has made a car like this. I have to turn the radio off each time I use the defroster in the rear.

time to put a noise filter on the defrost line.

or ground your radio or amplifiers better?

Lafiro · 07-13-2009, 11:51 PM

It did this with the stock radio, and its doing this now with the new radio and amps.

I need to show you all a picture to see why one line on the defroster isn't working, maybe its just me? Maybe its damaged? I have to wait till it get foggy again.

But no, its been like this ever since I bought the car. They told me at the dealership a long time ago that it was normal that a line towards the top was not defogging anything(the other half of the line did) and that the interference was normal.

If you are all telling me different, then Im just getting upset now.

So basically no one here experiences the radio getting tons of static at times of turning on the rear defroster? Sometimes to the point of no sound just static when its being used? This sucks for me then.....

coffiend · 07-14-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatrickJohnson

that is correct. I had an audi 100 with the same thing. There is actually a small wire embedded in the FRONT glass that acts as the antenna.

I had an Audi 100 too.... The battery shorted out and sparked or something and started my back seat on fire.

Soon enough, my entire interior was engulfed in flames haha.

Which is why I now have a yaris ;)

Lafiro · 07-16-2009, 04:05 PM

Who said I did anything to it?

Everything was stock, and the only difference now is the cable that comes from the antenna which in my car are the lines right above the defroster, goes into my new headunit.

But I have never touched any wires that have to do with the antenna past the passenger seat area.

Maybe I should check it all out, I have noticed the radio reception has deterioirated. Some stations in most areas sound like garbled crap now. Sighs.....

PatrickJohnson · 07-16-2009, 04:36 PM

I will say that some head units have CRAPPY fm tuners, some worse than oem. That could be your issue right there...

Lafiro · 07-16-2009, 11:21 PM

Have the Kenwood DDX8019 with the old HD upgrade box(maybe this is causing the issues since the antenna cable goes there first?) ugh such a waste of time now to have to take out the passenger seat and test it all out.

severous01 · 07-18-2009, 03:19 PM

http://www.glaxissolutions.com/NA/OE...te_antenna.htm

i've seen some that are t-shaped paper thin stickies that mount on the inside of the windshield...and the end pieces are there and you have to crimp or solder on the ends of whatever you need. they would work the best, but this linky is the first i've seen of this solar shield/antenna

07-13-2009, 03:15 PM	#1
scape View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beaufort, South Carolina Posts: 388	defroster as antenna I didn't readily find this on the forum, but I'm wondering if anyone has hooked up their defroster line in the rear window to act as an antenna too? I drove an s80 volvo and it used this principle or something similar, worked well enough too..

07-13-2009, 05:10 PM	#7
Brian Drives: '07 Yaris turbo, '11 Juke Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 849	I've never had a problem with my reception. Just buy a satellite radio and you won't have to worry about the embedded antenna. __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3875996

07-13-2009, 11:51 PM	#10
Lafiro Drives: 06 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 694	It did this with the stock radio, and its doing this now with the new radio and amps. I need to show you all a picture to see why one line on the defroster isn't working, maybe its just me? Maybe its damaged? I have to wait till it get foggy again. But no, its been like this ever since I bought the car. They told me at the dealership a long time ago that it was normal that a line towards the top was not defogging anything(the other half of the line did) and that the interference was normal. If you are all telling me different, then Im just getting upset now. So basically no one here experiences the radio getting tons of static at times of turning on the rear defroster? Sometimes to the point of no sound just static when its being used? This sucks for me then..... Last edited by Lafiro; 07-13-2009 at 11:52 PM. Reason: spelling

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07-13-2009, 03:30 PM	#2
jonismyname Drives: 08 liftback 5spd Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: adirondacks, ny Posts: 220	my understanding would be that car had a radio antenna embedded in the glass, seperate of the defroster. the defroster is a ultra thin wire, that has a specific resistance... another option would be epoxying your own antenna to the window glass? i doubt it would work well, as the metal on either side of the window frame would insulate weak FM signals from my understanding...

07-13-2009, 03:35 PM	#3
PatrickJohnson Drives: 2008 Yaris LB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 198	that is correct. I had an audi 100 with the same thing. There is actually a small wire embedded in the FRONT glass that acts as the antenna.

07-13-2009, 03:40 PM	#4
scape View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Beaufort, South Carolina Posts: 388	front being exterior? that makes sense i'm trying to remember the pattern on the back window of that car, now that I think about it, the top portion had more going on than a standard defroster

07-13-2009, 03:58 PM	#5
jonismyname Drives: 08 liftback 5spd Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: adirondacks, ny Posts: 220	the antenna would also need to be vertical from my understanding of FM signals...

07-13-2009, 04:48 PM	#6
Lafiro Drives: 06 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 694	I hate this because it does not pick up signals as well as exterior antennas and the other major problem is the static it picks up when the rear defroster is turned on. I hate how Toyota has made a car like this. I have to turn the radio off each time I use the defroster in the rear.

07-13-2009, 06:41 PM	#8
PatrickJohnson Drives: 2008 Yaris LB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 198	yeah i'm not sure what you are talking about lafiro. There is a direct line from the antenna to the HU thru the pillars, nothing on the antenna ever touches the defroster lines...

07-16-2009, 04:05 PM	#12
Lafiro Drives: 06 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 694	Who said I did anything to it? Everything was stock, and the only difference now is the cable that comes from the antenna which in my car are the lines right above the defroster, goes into my new headunit. But I have never touched any wires that have to do with the antenna past the passenger seat area. Maybe I should check it all out, I have noticed the radio reception has deterioirated. Some stations in most areas sound like garbled crap now. Sighs.....

07-16-2009, 04:36 PM	#13
PatrickJohnson Drives: 2008 Yaris LB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 198	I will say that some head units have CRAPPY fm tuners, some worse than oem. That could be your issue right there...

07-16-2009, 11:21 PM	#14
Lafiro Drives: 06 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 694	Have the Kenwood DDX8019 with the old HD upgrade box(maybe this is causing the issues since the antenna cable goes there first?) ugh such a waste of time now to have to take out the passenger seat and test it all out.

07-18-2009, 03:19 PM	#15
severous01 Drives: 2008 yaris, stripped, red Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SE Texas Posts: 977	http://www.glaxissolutions.com/NA/OE...te_antenna.htm i've seen some that are t-shaped paper thin stickies that mount on the inside of the windshield...and the end pieces are there and you have to crimp or solder on the ends of whatever you need. they would work the best, but this linky is the first i've seen of this solar shield/antenna