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I have a perplexing issue that I hope the brain trust here can help with. I installed an aftermarket rear view mirror camera on my Tesla Model Y. The video mirror replaces the analog mirror that comes with the car. Now that it's installed, my GPS antenna (located right above the rear view mirror) constantly loses GPS satellite signal.

First, I thought it might be the power cable to the video camera/display mirror so I shielded it with copper tape and tinned copper braided sleeve but that didn't solve the issue. After a lot of tinkering, I think it's the rear view mirror display itself causing the GPS interference.

The GPS antenna is located in a plastic housing above the rear view mirror on the windshield. I'm thinking about lining the plastic housing with something to cut down in the interference from mirror display. Any suggestions as what to use to shield? Thanks for any suggestions.

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Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
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Theo
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1 Answers1

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You've shielded the power cable, but if you haven't grounded the shield, it's not a shield at all; it will simply re-radiate whatever signals are being given off by the power cable. So ground the shield before anything else.

You might reduce the interference with a ferrite bead on the power cable as close to the mirror as possible.

I suggest you not try to shield the interior side of the GPS antenna housing, because that will attenuate the GPS signal. The wavelength of GPS signals is about 7-10 inches (19-25 cm). If you put something large, conductive and grounded on the interior side of the antenna within half the wavelength, it will reduce the strength of the received signal.

Better to concentrate on shielding the mirror housing. If feasible, some grounded copper foil lining the inside of the mirror housing may help. If shielding the inside is not feasible, you might spray-paint some copper foil black, then apply it to the outside of the mirror housing. It has to be grounded.

MTA
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