Do you have a Valentine 1?

If so, where did you mount the concealed display unit? Thanks, Mark P.S. And how do you rate the V1 overall?? Thx.

Mark, Here's a previous thread that discussed this.

I did the hardwire install. Took about 40minutes with no tools other than a credit card...Here is a pic of what I did: More pics and info here I've only had it for 2 weeks so can't really comment on the effectiveness yet. One thing that worries me is that I've driven past several cops in speed traps and it did not go off at all. My guess is they all use instant on in this area only when they see someone going fast visually, making it that much hard to detect them.

I have seen the same thing ("My guess is they all use instant on in this area only when they see someone going fast visually"). If you're the "lone wolf", you're gonna' get caught. Your only chance in that situation, is the presence of other traffic so that when the cop triggers his radar, your V1 will detect it, hopefully before you get there. Charlie

I have gotten to the point of not even turning on the detector any more, in any of my vehicles, due almost completely to the instant on tactics now widely used by law enforcement. I make a 120 mile one way commute twice a week between Boston and the white mountains of NH. On this trip the detector is almost useless. The only tactic that seems to work is to "hide" in the radar shadow of other traffic and pick your timing for getting around slower vehicles. It also helps to let some other hotshot take "the point" a quarter mile ahead of you. Finally, In NH on the major highways there are only a few places a cruiser can safely sit and watch traffic, (usually at the median turnarounds, which are marked by a sign about an eigth of a mile ahead of the turn out). So you can usually figure out where they are likely to be. I make trips up to Canada on occasions, where detectors are illegal, (at least in Quebec) and subject to forfiture, so I have not seriously considered a "permanent" install..... I wonder how they would take a permanently installed unit away from you?

V1 rules. a buddy of mine did the gumball a couple of years ago, and said that 90% of the gumballers had one. i installed the concealed display unit on top of the steering wheel, it's the best place in terms of visibility. this way, i turn down the sound completely around town, and can still see the concealed display flashing. in terms of effectiveness, you will get busted if you're the only car on the road. you need smokey to be clocking people ahead of you in order to detect the instant-on radar signal sufficiently in advance. around la, i've found that the cops tend to leave the thing on all the time...

A big problem I have with the V1 and what has prevented me from purchasing it is that if your windows are tinted, it greatly reduces the effectiveness of radar detectors. I have 20% 3M panther tint all around which is supposed to be better because its lack of metallic materials, but, it still inhibits effectiveness. That leaves me with one choice which is the externally mounted K40, but at $1200, that seems excessive. Any comments/suggestions appreciated -Lou

Gents, In VA where detectors are illegal, where do you actually mount the V1 main unit? I think the remote display unit mounted on the steering column is a pretty good place. Thanks, Mark

I got my windows tinted with Huper Optik Ceramic Tint (no Metals) and the range on my V1 is still that same. I can tell because it still detects that little trailer the Cops leave on the street warning you how fast you go from many blocks away.

Thanks for info Kirby, that is helpful. How dark tint is on your windows? I also had one other concern, I know that is a conceal mode, however that still leaves the big bulky box in the middle of your windshield and what about all the wires dangling everywhere? -Lou

I've seen two other places for remote mounts. One is embedded in the batwing. The other mount I saw a pic of was hidden n the ashtray.

Don W, Hidden in the ashtray -- now that's very cool.

I have 50% all around, but they make it darker and that won't affect the V1. In fact I was told that it's good if you have a Radar Detector, aftermarket GPS, Cell phone. Doesn't affect any of those units. Here's a pic of my tint

hidden in the ashtray is good for hiding the remote unit from the cops... when you get stopped, which is what the darn*d thing is meant to help you avoid in the first place frankly, anywhere out of direct eyesight (center console, ashtray, etc.) is pretty useless and i can't imagine the arrows will be easy to interpret with the display twisted sideways

hidden in the ashtray is good for hiding the remote unit from the cops... when you get stopped, which is what the darn*d thing is meant to help you avoid in the first place frankly, anywhere out of direct eyesight (center console, ashtray, etc.) is pretty useless and i can't imagine the arrows will be easy to interpret with the display twisted sideways

I've got mine hidden way up by the passenger side next to the rearview mirror, ran the cables and everything else up the pass side of the car, behind the glovebox....concealed display above the steering wheel just like the pics above me in this post/thread. So far it works exactly the same way it did before! However, as everyone knows, you've still gotta be driving defensively if you're gonna speed! The V1 is awesome as long as you know how to really interpret the info it offers. Itzkirb...i thought you had another kind of detector.....its nice to know that the V1 works thru that great tint on your car

I hear ya ... and quite frankly I thought it would suck too, but I hate the look of it {wires and all} on my steering wheel. And when you get pulled over the cop can see the wires VERY easily ... so what's the point?? Might as well just skip the remote unit all together! So after installing it in the ashtray and using it for about a week like that, I learned that it is very easy to read {just a quick glance you get very use to making} and it is VERY easy to mute in that position. Which is what I spend most of my time doing anyway. Also makes it easy for you passenger to read and mute. Guess I'm just an ash man... Here's the pic again:

Guess I have some questions. How involved/difficult is it to conceal all the wires? How is it done? -Lou

[QUOTE] Originally posted by Itzkirb [B]I have 50% all around, but they make it darker and that won't affect the V1. In fact I was told that it's good if you have a Radar Detector, aftermarket GPS, Cell phone. Doesn't affect any of those units. Funny, I heard the exact opposite. Wouldn't make sence that the darker the tint the more the interference? I mean how will the V1 detect behind me when it is going through a rear view mirrior and then 20% tint. I can't see how that won't affect its range. -Lou

yes I have one mounted in the usual spot on the windshield works great!

Here are some pics of my invisible V1 install... remotr display in mirror and volume/controler in knockout next to headlight switch. The guts are in the headliner in the rear.

For everyone who has concealed their V1, where do you mount the main unit? On the sun visor?? Seems like that's not very concealed?? Anywhere else would negatively effect the range... Comments please. Thanks. Mark

I have the stealth V1 install. The remote disply is in the rearview mirror. The volume/contoller is in the knockout nex to the headlight switch and the guts are in the headliner in the rear. All the convienece of the K40 with the performance of the V!. I've had the K40 in 2 cars and their is no comparison, the V1 blows it away. Here is a link with some pics of the install (theirs not much to see as everything is hidden) http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=...21b32aa5c3a449

TME, How in the heck did you get the remote in the rear view mirror. Did you buy a special mirrow to install? Thanks. Mark

It's sort of like putting the ship in a bottle.......... A guy in Little Falls NJ did the whole thing for me..... [email removed] is his email. I think you can buy the mirror seperate if you want or do the whole thing.

InV1si-Mirror...available from: http://www.umnitza.com they are $399. Basically replaces the remote option. VERY slick looking, has the RJ11 jack on the back, so you just run the wire from there to your unit. The biggest issue is where to put the main unit.... The V1 is not THAT big (Anymore), if someone had some free time, I'd bet there was a way to install the whole unit into the right side of the mirror...its the perfect height to 'look' front and rear. Since you tilt the mirror to left (in the US) there is enough room from the mirror face to the windsheild to fit all the guts...maybe we could just get V1 to make the whole unit in the mirror...then just hardwire the mirror....