V1 Install Question

My V1 is hardwired to sit under the passenger visor, but I don't really like the location because it's difficult for me to see the directional arrows. Anyone have a good location [good = discrete but easy for driverto see] for a V1? If so, can you post a pic? Thanks. GBG

I'd suggest a remote display - run wire around windshield header, under dash, mount in dash cubby. My car is in storage for a couple more weeks or Iwould post pics.

I think Dutchie just posted some pics about running wires around the A piller and the windshield for a redar detector. He has a cab so he needed to tap into the power source on the upper console. Do an advanced search and look for threads started by Dutchie. You sould find it in about two minutes..

Actually I followed Dutchie's DIY for the V1 hardwire on my '00 Cab today everything went super well exactly as he said in his Step-by-Step instructions. The only difference is that I tried to avoid removing the side ventilation so I tucked the wire around it and it worked perfectly. I did it on the driver side too and tap to the phone connector to get juice. You should get the "Concealed display" that you can place anywhere you want for best visual and discretion, very nice option...

sorry, if the question is obvious, but why not under the driver's side visor? my is suction cupped basically as far up the windshield as possible-- and if i need to go stealth, all i do is lower the visor, but the rear radar part still pokes out to the right of the visor. and at the end, the arrows are helpful, but once familiar, it's the sound that let you know it's not a bogie.

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/335015-radar-detector-hardwiring-for-dummies.html Here is he link to my 'radar install for dummies'. I have an Escort, but should be roughly the same for V1.

You guys do realize that mounting the unit high under the visor, or by the rear view mirror, pretty much guarantees that the unit would be too high to detect LASER. http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...detector/2.asp Your choice - but you just spent a whole lot of $$$ on a detector, only to mount it in a location that almost guarantees that it will fail.

theoretically, you are correct. but we all know laser detection is at most false security-- that once your V1 goes off, it's too late b/c that means the pig already has you. i'm not yet convinced either of laser diffusion-- which is why i forewent the K40 installation at the dealer. the best guard for laser is knowing the cops' fave locales-- otherwise, it's open season unfortunately.

Yeah I'm not worried about laser - at all really. I've crisscrossed the US several times, in this car and others, and it's good old radar that is always in use. If I detect laser, it's prob too late anyway. Luckily, I've NEVER detected it.

Thanks Dutchie!

You're welcome.

I detect it very often with my V1.......

I just ran the power cord from the that extra connector in the center console and then using some plastic thing with a thin rounded edge, tucked it up through the A pillar and then tucked it behind the headliner, and popped the end out near the sunroof/lights piece. As far as laser, everytime I have been hit with that, the cops are usually in a nice spot as you come around the corner or over a crest. So advance warning is non-existant. One time I happened to see the guy on the shoulder, sitting on his bike trying to draw a bead, so it was just luck that I lifted before he lit me up.

I was planning on hard installing the V1 with remote display but I was trying to figure out where to put the remote display. I came to the conclusion that just plugging the remote display in the cig lighter worked fine and I was able to route the cable to the V1 underneath. Easy and is totally stealth. Pics attached.

I'll call BS on that from personal experience. I've been hit by LASER, leaving town on a nice straight empty road, and just before I crossed to the higher speed limit. Cop gunned me once before the speed sign, and then again shortly after. The LASER detection in my X50 from the first hit stopped me from nailing the throttle, and saved me a ticket. So if you want to **** away your LASER detector, you're welcome - but trying to convince people that it never saves you is totally bogus. Why the hell even buy one if you believed that?

well, you highlight the distinguishing fact yourself in your own story. you got hit while accelerlating within the legal speed limit. how often does one get lasered (1) while accelerating and (2) under ths speed limit? most laser is on the highway where you're already crusing at above the speed limit. from my personal experience, it's generally only state cops who use laser so, yes, under your scenario, which might account for 2% of all times one can get hit with laser, a laser detector actually works. i'm not pissing away my laser detector, i have a VI where's it's included. it works better on smaller roads and some state highways where cops still use radar. all this being said, you should think a bit before throwing out words like "bogus" and "bs."

Go ahead, convince yourself that you won't need Laser detection. It saved me $150 and traffic school out of state - great investment. Of course, I mounted my detector correctly to give myself a chance. But hey, it's your life.

Where is the best location to mount the damn thing? Thx

I have the Passport SRX with the both front and rear laser detection/diffusion, and I have to agree that although I don't care it's there, it will generally not save you from a ticket if you should be speeding... you're kind of toast once it goes off.

Check out: http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...detector/2.asp or listen to what Mike Valentine has to say:

oh, you mean mike valentine, the guy who's trying to sell you the radar? the only value in having a laser detector (other than, as you deftly pointed out, while accelerating under the speed limit with the intention of surpassing it and the cop intending to hit you several times while accelerating) is knowing which cops use laser and which use radar. knock on wood, my VI has never detected laser with cops around. if i see plenty of cops and my V1 does not detect laser or radar, but i know they're pulling people over, i can reasonably deduce they are using laser. i can further deduce that my V1 will be of little help while i speed through that area, and therefore i should be much more careful and/or not speed so much. that's the value for me. no detector is 100% and should only be used to facilitate your awareness of the road and where speed traps may be.

You are of course discounting the chance of picking up LASER scatter from the cops hitting vehicles in front of you on the road, giving you time to slow down. Now if your V1 doesn't trigger - this may be because 1) It is mounted too high to 'see' the LASER 2) Is mounted to look through the tint at the top of your windshield, thus drastically reducing sensitivity to LASER 3) Just doesn't work as a LASER detector for some reason If you want to ignore Mike, and assume it's all sales BS - why even buy his detector at all? How about listening to an ex-speed cop - here's why you should always give yourself a fighting chance http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...r/mistakes.asp And although you for some reason want to discount my experience with LASER detection. It saved me a ticket, a fine, and traffic school. What else could I want from running a LASER detector?

man o' man, i would've thought the socal sun would've cheered up your no-nonsense brit sensibility just a little bit (sorry, bad joke). i understand there's no such thing as laser scatter unless perhaps the cop is shooting his laser gun all over the place, but i'm admittedly no expert. in the end, all i'm suggesting is that it's a false security believing that a laser detector will protect you in 98% of the circumstances where one is likely to encounter laser-- cruising at 90mph and cresting a hill or coming around a turn and seeing the cop on the shoulder with the gun pointing right at you with your E-like symbol and "J" flasihing like crazy.

If it saves me from one ticket - it's worth having IMHO. If you mount it in a sub-optimal location, you increase your chances of missing the trigger, and increase your chances of getting that ticket. As for scatter - If the officer is not steady while targeting vehicles, scatter laser signals can result, giving a possible signal to detect. They are only human - it's not a 'done deal' as you seem to want to portray. I never said having working LASER detection would provide 98% protection. I'm simply saying, that after spending the $$$ on a detector, just take the time to read-up on where to mount it to make the best use of your investment, and give yourself the best chance of avoiding a ticket. It's common sense. If you just don't like how it looks mounted low on the windshield, then say it. Don't try to justify mounting high with pointless scenarios.

geez, did i miss the facist idealogue meeting today? just adding a little context to the conversation. not pretext. i don't disagree with you on the above. i did read my valentine manual and did indy research on the subject, and after i made what i thought was an informed decision, wasn't so concerned with the benefits of laser protection. i believe some call this an opinion. you added what appears to be yours. and, hey look, it's a discussion board! what a novel concept.

I like to mount it high because it looks pretty...sometimes I don't even turn it on and just stare at it.

I noticed you did try to bring my race into the discussion earlier - does that count?

heh? perhaps nationality, but not race. unless you mean the anglo-saxon, imperialistic, god-save-the queen, princess diana-who?, perhaps-Thatcher-was-right, race, then, sure, i guess so.

hehe. ah, someone sensible to put this discussion into perspective.

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sorry, i forgot my monty python joke book today (oh crap, i did it again).

This thread makes my soul cry.

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you are absolutely correct. cdodkin, we can agree that we disagree, no?

I think we've established that beyond any reasonable doubt!

ahh, now i can get some work done today

Gents, this is excellent entertainment for what otherwise is a VERY CRAPPY day at the office. Thanks a lot, and please keep going!!!

uh, oh, i'm getting that wierd urge again . . . .

Blij om van de dienst te zijn! Kijkt als de andere kerel ophouden met de race Or something like that!

hmm, is that what our V1 flashes when it detects laser? i don't recognize it. sorry, couldn't resist, bad joke

Not bad for a non-native speaker!!

come on guys, keep going... we are all enjoying this (at least I am)!

Here's another listing for Valentine installation considerations. https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ight=Valentine I elected to install based upon my local threat, which is RF and not laser.

I was hit by laser two weeks ago while driving my SUV. Had the radar in the car and turned on, never went off. It was in the middle of my windshield, and I was an SUV. I've driven by cops two other times who were pointing guns at me and the damn thing never went off either, but again, I was in the SUV. Much higher up. I read that Radar Roy's article and things are starting to make sense.... I guess I need to lower it. Assuming I get my car back, I'll have to figure this out. It's hard wired now in front of the driver's sun visor and above the rear view mirror. I only have about 4" of wire to move it also.