Radar detector location
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2004 S500
Radar detector location
I read in one of the posts that there are a few clear spots in the windshield designed to let signals in. They said to look in the manual under "windshield" for the locations. My book does not list any locations. Does anyone know where the clear spots are for a 2004 S500?
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01 S500, 01 BMW M3 Convertible, 98 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
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From: Houston, Texas
2003 S600 ; 1999 E55 (sold)
Put suction cups on Black masked area???
Hi, Skylaw -
do you mean, put the suction cups actually on the black masked area?
I just bought a new Valentine One and have been experimenting with the location. Sunil hardwired it for me so no dangling cord, location seems to work just to the left of the black area (I have not tried it *on* the black area since I "thought" that the black masked area would actually interfere MORE than the clear part)...
I have read the manual too...and used the small 'box' area in the right lower part of windshield (when looking at it from within the car). It works but too visible...gets me nervous when parking downtown.
Detector is good...I guess I am just a bit disappointed there is no 'stealth' location for the V1 (besides mega $$$ for the etched mirror solution).
Would a visor mount work?
I am coming from the E55 where i had a stealth K40 solution...awesome but definitely got much more false alarms than the V1. Thats the tradeoff I guess...
Aaron
do you mean, put the suction cups actually on the black masked area?
I just bought a new Valentine One and have been experimenting with the location. Sunil hardwired it for me so no dangling cord, location seems to work just to the left of the black area (I have not tried it *on* the black area since I "thought" that the black masked area would actually interfere MORE than the clear part)...
I have read the manual too...and used the small 'box' area in the right lower part of windshield (when looking at it from within the car). It works but too visible...gets me nervous when parking downtown.
Detector is good...I guess I am just a bit disappointed there is no 'stealth' location for the V1 (besides mega $$$ for the etched mirror solution).
Would a visor mount work?
I am coming from the E55 where i had a stealth K40 solution...awesome but definitely got much more false alarms than the V1. Thats the tradeoff I guess...
Aaron
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From: Saint Louis
CLS 63 S AMG , s500,clk550
does that mean that...that is the only location of the transparent area for radar detector. the manual only shows 3 areas... left and and right side of rearview mirrors. and the 3rd spot is in the middle of the windshield below the rearview mirrors..where should we mount the v1 for the best ka. detection??
i know lower is better for laser.. but i want bettter ka. so is the best place that lower spot at the bottem of the windshield?
i know lower is better for laser.. but i want bettter ka. so is the best place that lower spot at the bottem of the windshield?
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2004 S500
There is no good place for laser. When the laser warning goes off, pull over and prepare to be taxed. I have never had mine go off without getting blasted. People say you can get reflections from someone else, but I have never seen this happen. It is like relying on him shooting his rifle at someone else and the ricochet hitting your detector. Not very likely.
does that mean that...that is the only location of the transparent area for radar detector. the manual only shows 3 areas... left and and right side of rearview mirrors. and the 3rd spot is in the middle of the windshield below the rearview mirrors..where should we mount the v1 for the best ka. detection??
i know lower is better for laser.. but i want bettter ka. so is the best place that lower spot at the bottem of the windshield?
i know lower is better for laser.. but i want bettter ka. so is the best place that lower spot at the bottem of the windshield?
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From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
Fusion2007: I don't know if the IR-clear locations are exactly the same on the '00 and the '05 - but I do recall that the owner's manual gave the location (with measurements) in my '00, and also does so for my '05. I see that you found that in yours as well. I do not know that you will get better Ka (or any other RF band) detection in either location; but obviously, the black mask would interfere with laser detection.
The reason that lower is better for laser is that the officer will aim it for the greater mass of the car, not the top of the windshield. Because it is a beam of coherent light, it will not spread much - it stays in a narrow "beam." Sheltonn is correct about picking up a laser beam being largely a matter of luck.
RF energy is not coherent, and spreads; it easily covers the whole front of your car when aimed from ahead of you. It also produces stray (undirected) energy that will trip the detector when the gun is simply nearby.
Abenner5 : Yes, you can put the suction cups directly on the black masked area. Note that unlike some cars, it is not raised or "dimpled." I place my SunPass (toll transponder) there and use it very successfully. Note, however, the comments above on laser detection (I don't use a radar or laser detector, so I don't keep up with the different features of each to know if it's a factor for you).
The reason that lower is better for laser is that the officer will aim it for the greater mass of the car, not the top of the windshield. Because it is a beam of coherent light, it will not spread much - it stays in a narrow "beam." Sheltonn is correct about picking up a laser beam being largely a matter of luck.
RF energy is not coherent, and spreads; it easily covers the whole front of your car when aimed from ahead of you. It also produces stray (undirected) energy that will trip the detector when the gun is simply nearby.
Abenner5 : Yes, you can put the suction cups directly on the black masked area. Note that unlike some cars, it is not raised or "dimpled." I place my SunPass (toll transponder) there and use it very successfully. Note, however, the comments above on laser detection (I don't use a radar or laser detector, so I don't keep up with the different features of each to know if it's a factor for you).
Last edited by Skylaw; Apr 15, 2008 at 07:17 AM.
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2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
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From: Houston, Texas
2003 S600 ; 1999 E55 (sold)
Thanks for the summary
Skylaw, thanks for the info, very helpful as usual!
I agree with the laser comments...I've read that you have to get a laser jammer (Blinder seems to get the best reviews) in order to avoid getting tagged by the laser...just detecting it (via the V1) is worthless...FWIW.
I agree with the laser comments...I've read that you have to get a laser jammer (Blinder seems to get the best reviews) in order to avoid getting tagged by the laser...just detecting it (via the V1) is worthless...FWIW.
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1998 E430; 2007 Porsche 911 C4S Cabriolet; 2011 Expedition EL Limited; 2014 E350 Estate
Laser detection is worthwhile for the same reason that radar detection is. Your detector will sense the strays after it hits another car. Otherwise, you're probably screwed without a defuser.
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From: Saint Louis
CLS 63 S AMG , s500,clk550
so the best place is above and to the left or right of the rearview mirror for the best ka detection? or down low in the middle of the dash in the wierd faded area? im still a little confused? sry i know im retarted..
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This area behind the mirror has worked well for me but you have to understand that a detector is just that. It only detects and allows you to correct. If you plan on driving 30-50 m/hr above the speed limit, I dont think you'll have enough time to react and correct once you are tagged and by the time you correct that you have a pissed off cop coming after you. At 100 mhr it's hard to avoid getting tagged.
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From: Saint Louis
CLS 63 S AMG , s500,clk550
This area behind the mirror has worked well for me but you have to understand that a detector is just that. It only detects and allows you to correct. If you plan on driving 30-50 m/hr above the speed limit, I dont think you'll have enough time to react and correct once you are tagged and by the time you correct that you have a pissed off cop coming after you. At 100 mhr it's hard to avoid getting tagged.
