istundra

iTrader: (2)

Shark Fin is for SAT Radio and GPS.

This has been confirmed by other members.

Regarding your Radio Reception, it is on the REAR WINDOW. It may look like defroster lines, but the upper ones are the antenna.

How many attempts did they do for the rear window? The rear window is very very hard. My installer took 2 attempts to get it perfect.

I hope he didnt damage the antenna lines.

is4fsr

Ppl, correct me if I'm wrong but if I'm not mistaken we do have an integrated antenna. Hence, the shark fin is the booster antenna. So I believe what the dealer told me. I don't think my friend will BS me.

BounceNY

iTrader: (9)

The sharkfin is an XM antenna, nothing to do with AM/FM radio. People who did the XM radio install will tell you there is a connector which is in the trunk. That connector comes from the Sharkfin, and it is for the XM tuner. Again, not AM/FM radio. The AM/FM antenna is in the rear window at the top (looks like defroster lines). OP, check that you don't have metallic tint and that the installer did not damage those AM/FM antenna lines on the rear window...

onihc

iTrader: (1)

This is the most likely reason for poor reception. I have metallic tint and my AM reception is better than my CRV with retractable antenna.

danger4o5

I have no clue what percentage or if its metallic. I got it installed at a toyota dealership where my brother works. Is there any way I can find out if the antenna wire was cut? Or is it possible to go back and complain about my antenna signal not being good?

passnu2

iTrader: (33)

your shark fin is for GPS and XM radio reception. it has nothing to do with your am/fm radio. the antenna is in the back window and it sounds like eihter the tint is causing an issue or the installer may have accidentaly messed up your antenna? i just tinted my windows and i have no problems. my guess is check with the type of tint they used. Good luck and hope everything comes out okay for you and your car...

el3ctone

i got metallic films on my IS and i have no problem.

Evitzee

Shark Fin is definitely for XM radio, but I don't think the GPS antenna is there. My 2006 with NAV has no shark fin and I believe I remember reading that the receiver is located just under the front dash surface, on the right side.

joonsta

Well 2006's had the XM option as well, right?

So I guess they just moved the GPS antenna on the 2007's.

Evitzee

Sure, they could have moved the GPS function to the Shark Fin, but did they? Everybody assumes that that is where it is. But I can't find any reference to it on the Lexus website. Perhaps they actually moved it there for 2007, and maybe it is shown in the Owner's Manual. It's no big deal but this thread has all kinds of errors, it would be nice to come up with the definitive, and correct, answer. All that I can confirm is for 2006 models the GPS antenna is somewhere other than the roof since there is no shark fin.

joonsta

As I said before, Forbes Autos said "Other 2007 revisions include a more attractive “shark fin” antenna for the optional satellite radio receiver and navigation system."

These huge magazines definitely have inside info sources that we don't have access to, and I don't think there's a reason to BS about the shark fin here .

Also, it seems logical to me when all the satellite functions including XM and GPS are moved into one convenient place...

Evitzee

Don't believe everything you read. Forbes is good for listings of the worlds richest people, and an 'ok' business magazine (it was better when Malcolm was alive and running it), but it's not a stellar source of info for cars. I have found errors on that site before. I'm not saying Forbes is BS'ing, but mistakes can happen. As I said before it's no big deal and not worth getting into a debate over. If everybody agrees the Shark Fin is now the home of the GPS antenna, so be it. I'll go along with the concensus.