tmushy

I just bought my Escort 8500 x50 and decided I was going to hardwire it myself. I took it to my friends house (whos a mechanic and knows these things). We sat there for about 2 hours and could not find a power source up there that would work correctly. According to my friend the wires up there are mostly data wires and we couldnt find a power source that would turn on and off with the car. We gave up and I decided to give Best Buy a call. Im usually the most anti best buy person there is but I thought I would give them a shot. They quoted my $30 which is really inexpensive for Best Buy pricing.

Took my car in and they finished in an hour. They did an amazing job. I dont even see the wire.

Darknessph

Oh... I always wanted to do it the same way.(I use same Passport 8500 X50 blue LED one, rev 6.1 I think..) I am thinking, wouldn't it disgrade the laser detection performance since the front of the radar detector is covered by the black coatings on the glass?.. I guess the best buy people used regular telephone line w/ 4 internal lines designed to be used w/ two different phone lines. Do you know where they found the source of power?

NEAT & NICE installation anyways! congrats!

tmushy

I have the same detector as you rev 6.1. The whole glass on a mercedes is covered with a coating that disrupts laser detection. I beleive that black coating is the only area that does not have it. its made just for a radar detector. I supplied best buy with the direct wire which i got for 10 bucks made just for my escort. I really do not know where they got the radar detector buttt it turns off right when my command system turns off so I think its connected to something around there

fusion2007

it looks like u mounted ur radar dectector tooo high.you wont get laser alerts and ur intenna is blocked by the roof.for the best place to mount it is as low as u can on the dash with out the windshield wipers in the way..

tmushy

The rules for detectors
For laser detection mount it low but if you want the best radar detection mount it as high as possible. Laser detection is not my main concern because if the detector detect lasers your already out of luck you have been hit. I bought this laser detector for highway use mostly and they dont use laser.

fusion2007

yeah ur right. once ur hit ur screwed.. thats why i think its a good idea to invest in a laser jammer which are 100%legal. i have it on my car and iv been hit like 8 times in the past 4mnths and its jammed them everytime.. i use the blinder m40 top of the line. for the best security

tmushy

Do you have pictures of that installation. I was interested in getting it but wasnt sure where they would install it. Im mainly concerned with the back of the car. Good decision buyin that m40 what price you get it for? I think there going for 350 installed but not sure

Darknessph

If you read your owner's manual, it shows the location of the un-coated area of windshield. It is located at lower center-right. You can see the trapzoid from outside of the car at a certain angle, with a indoor light (maybe flash light, too). ugh.. I am planning to do the hard wiring as yours on tomorrow, but on the lower uncoated trapzoid area of the windshield. I guess it would take some time figuring out the source of power under the dash or around the footwell.

tmushy

also Dark another good reason for having it high up there is because of the sun.
the sun can damage the detector, many people have ruined theres because they leave them in the sun

Darknessph

Never knew that the sun could damage a detector..!!

thx for the information.. never thought that it would be your reply since it was like lightning quick reply

Btw, I'm new to MBWorld.. but had my car for since it was new. Should I start new "Hello" thread with some pics of my car ? lolz

lloyds

Luckely here in the U.K. we have the Origin b2 unit which has remote sensors. I have the radar detector behind the front grill and the laser jammer, ans detector located just under the front number plate. The unit inside the car operates the radar detector, the laser detector, the laser jammer and also uses GPS to locate all fixed speed camera locations here.

tmushy

Nice installation on that jammer

fusion2007

yeah il take some pics of it il post them up soon

eirpr

Anyone knows how How thread the wire from the main cabin to the motor area. So I can connect the cables to the fuse box there. The one inside the cabin the radar stays on even when the car is Off. The fuse box in the motor area will do the trick. Tks in advanced.