Conv_GSDriver

Hey everyone, was hoping to get some good info on current radar detector setups the members are using. I was trying to see if there is a blendmount setup for our cars, which radar you are using and so forth. provide pictures as well. I found this https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...-detector.html and I'm also aware of the www.midcityengineering.com OEM integration stuff. I have a Passport 9500ix blendmounted under the rearview mirror of my Corvette with a mirror tap wire. I've had experience with other radar detectors, beltronics, Valentine, etc. I really like the GPS features of the Passport with the camera database and other items, has been a great detector so far and has more than paid for itself already. I may get another 9500ix to keep same features but the new Passport Max looks pretty sweet too. any owners of that one? Please provide the following info:

Radar Detector:
Setup: (mirror tap, hard wired, sticky cups, console mounted)
Pictures: (whether DIY or professionally done by whom)

ld63

Sorry no pics at the moment, but have a fully hard-wired Passport 9500ci.

The install was pretty stealth. The receiver is mounted behind the star and the shifters are mounted flush with the lower grill (which required a bit of cutting). Rear shifter is above the license plate.

Control module is in the center console and the display is tucked in by the dials.

I've certainly been saved countless times by the radar detector, always getting plenty of notice to slow down..

And, though I can't truly tell, I believe I've been saved a bunch by the shifters too. One time it was one-on-one with a cop running laser - I was crushing it down a hill at maybe 90mph (45mph zone), saw the cop, shifter started screaming, slowed way down and disabled shifting ('Jam to Kill' procedure). Cruised away at 45 with heart pounding.. lol

w204nyc

I have a 9500ix and i must say its always late and sometimes goes off after i pass the cop. I do get the updates and everything. Been thinking about getting the shifters. Do they help the radar work better?

chrisridebike8

Here is my setup. The V1 is hardwired to the cig lighter fuse in the trunk using an add a circuit fuse tap. I used two 25 foot phone cables and tucked them along the headliner. For the display, I spent a couple hours dremeling that panel after removing it.

Conv_GSDriver

Pretty sweet setup.

ld63

I have passed cops before without a chirp, but I always assume it's because they aren't actively using radar. Otherwise I get plenty of annoying notice. I borrowed a friends 9500ix to test when I first installed the ci - both performed the same. I would run a few more tests and maybe call passport..

I don't think shifters will help radar work better.

chrisridebike8

Keep in mind that an RD is only half the protection. You need a Laser Interceptor or at a minimum the new Blinder HP-905.

w204nyc

Thanks, i called them once before but no luck on getting a replacement. I think next time I'll go with the valentine. I noticed in areas with a lot of trees, or on a turn the radar comes on late

SaphGreyC63

I have seen people who integrated into the dash itself, like on the dial in the screen.

-Marlin-

Fellas (and ladies)

I could use a little knowledge on radar detectors. Not to hi jack the thread, but what is the better (reasonably priced) detector you folks are running? Valentine, Passport, Escort?

bhamg

IMO you have two choices right now that are the best performers by a considerable margin, the V1 and the Escort Redline. Neither are "reasonably priced" but when you consider the average speeding ticket over a three year span ends up costing over $1K what is a top-level detector worth? My detectors have paid for themselves many times over. The feature set of the Escort Max would have made it the ideal detector but for the limitations of the current hardware platform. The next-gen Max version will likely be when I switch over from the Redline.

ld63

Check out radardetector.net for all the R&D (w/ occasional religious war) you can handle

I'm of the opinion that if you go with a fairly recent model of Escort, Bel STiR, Valentine, and/or Laser Interceptor, you'll be in good shape. The edge-case testing they do is a bit esoteric for me, and a diminishing return. I went for a solid brand, with integrated radar and jamming, and 'fisher-price' usability. Easy breezy and plenty of saves so far. YMMV

jcfay

I did a little R&D and what I'm wondering is if you need both a RADAR detector and laser blocker these days? Or can you just get away with a single unit?

-Marlin-

Thanks guys. I've always wanted a Valentine but a few mentioned it gave MANY false alerts and always seemed to be going off.....kind of a boy who cried wolf thing. Eventually you ignored it then whammmo! I think I'll try and get a used one.

Sorry to hi jack the thread.

DVC

Look into the YaV1 app for the V1. It uses the phone's GPS to block or mute the many falses the V1 is known for.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...kyl.yav1&hl=en

dbldpr

Left blue light for front and right for rear




Laser difuser under plate and radar to right




Satalite box for radar system so it remembers where red light cameras are


===I have K40 RL360 front and rear with laser diffuser under the front license plate

rediesel

I have some mid city accessories in my e (autostart and Bluetooth). They integrate seamlessly with the command, steering controls, and instrument cluster display). Thankfully I don't live in an area with lots of enforcement so I don't use any radar laser detectors. Laser jammers are worthwhile if you locals use it.

w204nyc

How much did you guys pay for hard wiring it? Or did you do it yourselves?

dbldpr

total installed was $1,400. Dealer wanted $2,650 went to a local car sterio salon. The dealer would have used this shop to install it anyway.

Conv_GSDriver

That's most likely the mid city engineering stuff.

Conv_GSDriver

I have to say with the varied input on here, radars can be very personality driven. I do like the V1 bogey arrows, but fairly often those arrows are pointing at something not necessarily engaged in ticketing me, hence the false alarms and then if you drive by that area often, you just ignore it and then one day, a LEO gets you. I've always seen that when these comparisons come out, usually the thread is fairly evenly divided between the Valentine and the Escort camps with Beltronics having a smaller following. I guess if you spend $400+ on a radar detector, you're sticking to your guns no matter what.

Never used the redline, but I read it's top rated for distance, so I guess if you are a highway traveler it makes sense. I did a cross country trip from Ca to FL and back to CA (5,026 miles) using my 9500ix and it performed great. Gave me plenty of notice on the highway. It did pick up false alarms here and there as I drove through major cities, pointed out all the known speed camera locations, pointed them with an arrow and distance, so plenty of time to react, great feature when driving in an area you are not familiar with. And on my way back those false alarms, it memorized them and cleared them on my way back, took the same route back.

as far as laser, most motorcycle LEOs do not engage the laser until they see a car they want to target, so most lasers are passive and these detectors won't pick them up until it is pointed your way and activated. The sound the radar gives is one of a kind and going through FL it picked up laser, I saw the LEO on the side of the road just ahead. All I did was let off the gas and coast as I was only doing 10 over the posted limit, I passed him and he never followed, but the notice it gave me was very short. This one was on a car, so most likely a system that runs all the time when its turned on, vice the radar guns motorcycle cops use.

So if i were to pick between the 9500ix or V1, i would go with the 9500ix due to the many great features it has, and proven. Having used the V1 before as well, I do like the bogey display but being a false, it's easy to ignore some of the signals from the V1 and discount them as not a real threat. Either way, no matter what radar you decide to use, good judgement always proves to be a better deterrent when combined with the radar.

chrisridebike8

Here is my take on radar detectors. I fly F-18s in the navy and we use similar equipment to not die. In the aircraft there can be false alarms from different things. But ultimate I want to know that there's a radar looking my direction, know how much of a threat that radar is (strength and type), and know where it's coming from. I'd rather have a few false alarms and interpret the info on my own than have no indications and just be screwed. As a result, I chose the V1. And in all honesty, it's not really very chatty in everyday driving. Turn off x-band if it's not used in your area. V1s are for people that want to stay protected and actually use an RD the way it was meant to be used. 9500ix (IMO) is for someone that wants to play with a toy.

Conv_GSDriver

Lol come on man, a toy? Both radars are great and unique in delivering great information to the driver, information the driver must still act upon based on the signal, strength, etc. Having the V1 was great, it paid for itself like most radars do in the hands of attentive drivers. The 9500 however, you can't discount the database, the speed trap apps. In my neighborhood there's a known location for speed traps close to the casino. I logged that in and now everyone has access to that spot as long as they have a similar passport radar. I have also been the beneficiary of that feature driving on the I-10, I passed several known spots for speed traps. Some there was no one there, other spots the radar picked up the ka band coming to it. As a pilot, you are used to having a HUD, and this acts similar to that IMO as it provides info I can act upon.

Both are great detectors on their own regard, but now I feel I have a little more info at my hands when it comes to avoiding a threat.

Ezec63

Redline is KING

BLKROKT

I just picked up my car in Newport Beach in May and drove back to NYC over the course of 2mos (7000mi). Bought a V1 prior to the trip, and hard wired to the dome light and suction cupped right up above the left side of the rv mirror. Not one ticket, which is definitely some kind of record for me. The V1 performed flawlessly and saved my *** quite a few times.