LAMAY123

I just got my very first speeding ticket ....and hopefully last. I NEED a good "cop" detector to remind me to slow down.

Any recommendations? Where do you put your radar detector? Post picture if you can please!!!!

brianw430

Lamay123,

I have used the Escort and Valentine1 and my preference is the V1. The arrows are a great addition as well as the number of bogeys. After some time getting used to the readout, it is a great piece of equipment.

I still have mine mounted high in the windshield as I have not had time to hard wire it yet.

I too would like to see a picture of a hard wire install.

LAMAY123

I did a quick 10 minute research...

Valentine One seems to be the best thing out there and most people recommend V1, but is it worth $400??? Reading them also seem to be a task that needs to be learned......I am planning to get 3 sets, I am sure they won't give me group buy discounts on that!

Also, there doesn't seem to be a right place to put those things. I'll have to leave my cigarette tray cover open and connect the power cord thru that. Is there any other way to do this...I know some people hot-wire their detectors onto their dash? Any of you try this route?

Van_CLK430

hey Valentine 1 is my best bet it saves me lots of tickets but.........you need to upgrade the firmware every 2 years or the cops radar will get ahead of you. The 400 is much worth the money.!!

mmgrad

Lamay- sorry about the ticket, but these things will happen to everyone at least once in their lifetime.

I hard wired my Valentine 1, and it was pretty easy.

And nope, no discounts. And there is only 1 source to get them, straight through the Mfr. Its a great unit, but it won't always save you cause some cops pace you rather than use radar. But it has saved me many times, practically paying for itself.

mmgrad

This is where my V1 is mounted...

mmgrad

And this is where my concealed display unit resides...

russdog

I have a Passport and very happy with it. I have never tried the V1, but I am a loyal Passport user. Saved me many, many times.

Where did you find the power to hard wire the unit in. Can you post some instructions? I am very good with electronics, but i haven't had a chance to play around with it yet. Your help would save me tons of time!

I would like to find switched power up in the sunroof controls instead of running a power cord around the windshield.

THANKS!!!!

Russ

LAMAY123

Mmgrad-you did it yourself? That looked so much better than have all the wires hanging out

Will you be looking for a weekend job anytime soon??? ***hint hint, hardwire V1***

mmgrad

haha... I don't think anyone would pay me to do it for them... it is quite easy to do. If I had a camera when I did it, I would have taken pictures to document instructions, but i can try my best to describe it with pics and lines... gimme a few minutes and I'll make something in photoshop.

mmgrad

First, you want open up your center console.
1. remove the trim
2. remove the surrounding wood piece
3. remove the cigarette assembly
4. remove the storage piece
5. connect the wires.

between steps 4 & 5, you need to do the following:

you start off by mounting the V1 where you want it to be, then leave enough slack for the wire incase you want to relocate it a little or whatever. follow the headliner and tuck the line in and then feed it through the opening from the passenger side door. You need to remove the panel under the dash to feed the wire under the glove compartment. Then, feed the wire through the air duct and up into the center console. connect that wire to the fuse holder, and connect that to the concealed display unit.

from the fuse box, connect the power wire to the cigarette lights using a T-Tap adapter, and then ground the connection to the car's body (there are a few screws inside the console you can use). test it out by turning your keys to the start position, if everything works, then reassemble in the reverse order.

After doing it once, it will probably take me like 30-40 min to do it again.. For your first time, it may take over an hour. If you really need help, send me an email. And if you want to pay me to do it for you, I'd be glad to do that too I'll put that in the 'replace my rims fund'.

mmgrad

here is the other pictur of where the wires should run....

oh yeah, before you start anything, shift your car to "D" and set the parking brakes... it will make the removal of some pieces a little easier.

LowRydeR

V1 is the only way to go, do not expect to detect cops, it only works sometimes, you will be driving next to a cop car and the radar wouldn't go off, it's a radar detector, not "cop" detector. It works good on freeways when cops are hiding on the side with his radar/laser.

-Bruce

ach7ung

it detects laser too?


btw nice pic of your car lowryder, i like the EU plate... is it legal though?
im a naive foreigner so i dont know sorry

mmgrad

yep... it detects X, K, Ka, and Laser from both FRONT & REAR!!! very cool...

and those plates are not necessarily legal or illegal. As long as you have a valid state issued license plate in the rear and in the front, you can place whatever you want where Bruce put the EU plate.

LowRydeR

Putting an Euro plate is the same as not having front license plate, I never had my front license plate put on since I bought the car, luckly I haven't gotten pulled over for it. But I did get busted for tinted window last year.

-Bruce

Timster

V1 is the best Radar Detector hands down.
It's paid for it self many times over.
I have them in all my cars, just knowing the police are out there is a good thing. The local police here, leave there radar on full blast all the time. I can pick them up at least 2 miles away even in the hills.
Best of luck to ya,
Tim

Ted Baldwin

.........I think the Passport SRX is absolutely, by far the best radar dectector on the planet. With it, you get a built in laser Jammer too.


Ted

a5a80901

Hi.I am not familiar with radar detector. I just wonder what is the function of laser jammer? Is there a different between radar jammer and laser jammer? Since Passport SRX costs over $1500, do you guys think it's worth it? Peace

mmgrad

laser jammers jams laser frequencies, while radar jammers jam radar (radio) frequencies.

here is more technical information about jammers: Here

pigman

If a cop pulls you over and sees a radar detector, you're gettin a ticket no matter what you try to say. Suction cup it to the windshield and if you see flashing blue lights behind you, covertly rip it from the glass and toss it under the seat.

BTW, without a front license plate, Bruce, you could get a $10 fix-it ticket. With it, you could get a $300 photo red light ticket. I like them odds.

nickm

There should be no debate about which radar detector is the best. Radar detectors work well when the cop has a radar gun, but even so with the latest radar instant ons and with the new laser guns they are USELESS. Why? Because when you hear the beep beep you are already dead, the cop got your speed and hitting on the brake won't do you any good.
Your ONLY protection for laser guns is a laser jammer which can be mounted in the front license plate, is perfectly legal from the sense that it only emits light to interfere with the laser gun's reading. Radar Jammers are ILLEGAL in every state because they transmit radio waves and you will have problems with the FCC, plus they are not easily found.
Most states have (will) pass legislation which makes ANY device interfering with a police officer trying to measure your speed illegal.
Until then, have a radar detector for those "old" radar guns and a laser jammer for the new lasers.

LowRydeR

I got lasered last year then my passport goes off, nickm is right, if the cop is using a laser gun V1 is useless.

-Bruce

eee

I will post some pics when I get the time. I mounted mine in the rear. My windows are tinted so you can't really see it from the outside that way. Then I put the remote viewer on the steering column, it's directly in-line with the digital speedo display but not in the way. Finally, I hardwired a toggle switch below the seat on the left side, so if i do get pulled over I can shut it off in a hurry. I've had it since I bought my car one and a half years ago and haven't been pulled over once (knock on wood). I will try and take some pics tomorrow if you would like me too.

LAMAY123

Pictures would be great! I liked how Mmgrad set up his detector and put the display below his radio. But I have comand and I don't have any space in the center dash.

Now if I put it in the rear like yours, my rear sunshade will definitely hit it. This is what happens when your car is loaded w/ factory options and don't give any room for other "aftermarket" stuff.