Not happy with my V1 location

so i have V1 mounted up by the rear view mirror. a few things make feel weird: 1) radar not it the line of sight of the road. basically means i have to look up to see it 2) when i am blinded by the sun and bring the visor down, i can't see what the radar says so i think my options at this point are: 1) mount it right below the rear view mirror 2) mount it right above the dash my question to anybody who done it - how do you wire it up in case of 1) so that the power wire is hidden from the view? double-sided tape? also i assume i can tuck the wire behind the dash in case of 2) - right?

You should buy the optional remote display and mount it on the top of the steering column.

For 1) I think the best you can do is to loop the wire around the arm on the back side of the mirror once or twice to keep it fairly taut between the mirror and headliner, which won't be in your view. When I don't have my V1 mounted, that's what I do with the loose wire, don't notice it since it's behind the rear view mirror from me. 2) no idea for sure, but I would think you could do it that way. But IMHO that's not a good mounting point since you want higher for greater sensitivity. How about option 3) getting the remote display? Will allow you to keep a higher mounting point, but find a flexible display location.

I use option 1, and the wire length is sufficiently short and behind the mirror not to annoy me.

I have an '04 Boxster I bought new. While I was having the CD changer installed at the dealer (part of the initial sale), I had them hard wire my V1 to the right of the rear view mirror and put the remote on the top of the steering column. Works great for me. With the remote attached, the main unit does not light up at all (which may be why the State cop didn't pull me over after I passed 4 cars last night, but that's a different story ). With no light to give its existence away, you get a lttle stealth. Also, you can put the right visor down to make it completely undetectable from the rear. My remote isn't actually mounted. I could velcro it there but I only have the velcro applied to the unit, not the steering column. It just "floats" but doesn't move at all.

Ditto. I have it mounted here in front of the warning lights and works great.

You also risk loosing laser detection by mounting the unit so high on the car. Officers will target high contrast areas on the vehicle with the lidar, namely the front plate (if you have one) or the headlights. Mounting the V1 high gives you a greater chance that the detector will not 'see' the laser, aimed much lower on the vehicle. Even Valentine state The supposed difference in RADAR sensitivity at lower positioning points is questionable science at best. Unlike the tight beam of the LASER, the RADAR scatters all over the place, so mounting high or low is unlikely to make any difference. Visibility between your seats for rear facting detection is probably the only factor to really worry about. I mount my detector central and low to maximise both LASER and RADAR detection, with very effective results. As you can see here: This keeps it in line of sight for faster reaction to potential threat alerts, without the need for additional remote displays or wiring in the car. I have detected and avoided tickets from both RADAR and LASER speed traps using this method. Check out this website RADAR BUSTERS for more details on low mounting your detector for best results. Chris.

ahh much better... rewired V1 to have it sit about 3 inches above the dash. one thing is kind of driving me crazy: the wire that runs behind the dash (next to the windshield) doens't seem to go all the way in no matter how much i push it in. any suggestions on making it stay down? i can see it a stick out a little when i look close.

That makes sense, but I suppose the question is whether we are trying to detect when we are being lasered, as opposed to picking up laser reflections/scatter coming off of cars in front. For the latter, Valentine's website seems to suggest higher mounting so the detector has greater forward visibility. If I mount the detector lower, I get a higher likelihood of knowing that I have been lasered - but at that point isn't it too late?

with laser its always too late. unlike radio waves, laser doesn't reflect/scatter - which is what makes it so hard (if not impossible) to detect ahead of time. i think you mis-read valentine's website - they mean "greater visibility" for X/K/Ka but not laser.

A laser signal just gives you advance warning that you just got a ticket, but the cop hasn't put it in your hand yet. Speed detection is immediate.

yup, exactly. i am actually thinking of turning Laser off. its useless and falses every once a while.

LASER is not useless - here's a real example from my experience Heading North out of Vegas in the Boxster, long straight road that passed through a 2 horse town. Noted as I came into town, that the speed limit was way low - tempted to speed through as the road was straight and I could see for miles. Slowed anyway, crusied through at speed limit. As I approached the next speed sign at the far edge of the town, I was tempted to accelerate early and hard and zip off down the road. Just as I hit the gas, my LASER detector went crazy! Backed off straight away. Got hit again in seconds - I still can't see the cops, but I'm keeping below the speed limit...... As I pass an old barn on the right, there they are - cops in their cruiser, with the LASER pointed down the road. The detector saved me a ticket for sure - I would have been doing 90 by the time I passed them! So leave it on - it can save you for sure. Chris.

I have 2 V-1 units. One in the Porsche, the other in my SUV. I bought mine before the POP 2 feature. Do you think it's worth upgrading to POP 2?

i just got one of my two v1's upgraded to the POP software. funny thing is, i'm reading a lot about disabling it....so far it hasn't caused issues (that i know of). this site has some interesting things... http://www.radardetector.net/viewforum.php?f=23

hmm ok, convinced me

I like my Valentine mounted like cdodkin's photo but would like to 'hard wire' it. Anybody know where to find a wire to tap into? Really tough on these 'computer cars'.... jVm