Questions on Mounting the Valentine 1?

[pbs911]

Decided on an early Christmas present for myself and ordered a Valentine 1. Now questions on mounting. I just spent about an hour going through the archives and couldn't find a definitive answer.

Does anyone have any insites to the posts below as they pretty much sum up what i am working with: 78SC Targa, fiberglass F&R bumpers and hood, and an Autopower Roll bar.

any thoughts on mounting the v1 high in the car w/ an autopower roll bar? i currently am running it just below the rear view mirror w/ the cigarette adapter but i am looking at doing a hard wire in the near future. my only concern is that if i mount it at the top (above the mirror) that the rearward view of the detector would be impaired by the top part of the roll bar. do you think that i could mount it there and not lose rear "view" and protection?

The Valentine One detector has the front detector mounted under the hood. (He has a fiberglass hood.) The rear detector is housed in a functional third brake light mounted inside the car at the top of the window. The main unit is custom mounted in the console space in a fabricated leather upholstered plate covering the opening. It looks stock. The small secondary radar indicator is flush mounted in the dash. Very slick installation. If only I had the time to tackle that project.

This seems to resolve my roll bar problems and further utilize the benefits of a fiberglass hood, but would this require me to "break up" the detector?

Any insight is appreciated.

[RSupdate]

Sorry I can't help you directly, but as you probably already know, NBPD uses exclusively LASER.

So don't expect it to be of too much an asset around town.

Cheers!

[Wayne 962]

Search the classifieds - Umitza sells a product that will integrate the V1 with the 911 rear view mirror - very cool...

-Wayne

[Jgordon]

It sounds good, but it doesn't solve the 'where to mount it' part. I like the idea of the mirror display unit, and might actually pay that much.

Other ideas for mounting include building it into the center brake light mount (for later cars). I guess you could mount it to a roll bar, better still to mount it just to the right (facing forward) of a hotlap timer or a camera (something to block the cop's view).

I also thought about putting it behind, or in, a plexiglass shield right behind the air intake between the hood and the windshield. Wiring and waterproofing would be interesting, and rear detection non existent (aside from a bounced signal) but it would be cool.

I'd be interested in hearing other clever mounting strategies.

Jared

[RallyJon]

Hopefully, the V1 is a lot better at filtering out false alarms.

Only if you never drive near shopping centers. You'd think that with $400 worth of electronics they could program a bit of AI to figure out that four identical strength, identical source K-band signals might be a supermarket door.

[cstreit]

I don't know about remote sensors for the V1, but I have mine mounted with suction cups above the rear view mirror. The power line runs in the window seal, under the dash, and to the remote display that is mounted where I can see it through the steering wheel.

Remember with radar detectors, the higher they are mounted the better. You want the detector to see the radar, before the radar can see your whole car.

[surflvr911sc]

Nice x-mas present, you may have to lead back down on BBRIII. Are there any issues w/ CA law concerning Radar Detectors? Before I get one I want to make sure I know when/if I need to hide it.

[bento]

okay, here's the way i played it. i ended up mounting the v1 above the rear view mirror with the suction cups and then routed the wire from the underside of the stereo underneath the right side of the dash to the door. then i snaked the cord up to the bottom right hand portion of the windshield. i used a light adhesive to get the cord to stay flush with the lowest part of the right edge of the windshield and worked it in underneath the windshield rubber about four inches off the bottom right hand corner. i then ran it under the rubber around the 90 degree bend with the cord exiting the rubber right to the right of the v1 with a small section of cord protruding to connect power. it's easily removed for auto-x and de, it's clean and i haven't noticed any decreased coverage (the type that i was worried about) of the unit and i would saw that if anyting, having it mounted nice and high on the dash help front vision as radar fans out and up. i also entertained doing the underside of the top hoop of the roll bar with the remote display but i decided since rearward vision is already partially impared i didn't want anything else in that area.

hope this helps.

db

[Randy Webb]

Mounting the unit above the rear view mirror will likely block many radar signals from the rear -- not a good idea. Call Valentine for ideas (they will tell you the above among other things). Mine is just above the dash -- be sure the wiper arm doesn't block it. You need a clear shot to the front and rear and that is hard to do on the 911 as the rear roof slopes down.

[Amac]

I ran my hard wire up the windshield post under the
headliner over to the pressure vent,
out the vent hole above the rearview mirror.
I had just enought room between the mirror and roof with
the windshield mount.
Mine works in all directions from this location, and is hard to
see from outside the car.
My V1 saved my butt countless times, but when you hear the
laser tone it's too late.
Run it on the big "L" it works best for me.

[Mike Feinstein]

Also, mounting it behind the blue windshield tint will reduce effectiveness.

[cstreit]

I've never had range problems mounting it in this location... Higher mounting means farther range. In a traight section of highway I've picked them up from over 7 miles! REarward radar need no be so sensitive because the greatly reduced rate of closure means you have a lot more time to figure it out.

Plus, if you ever travel through an area where they are not permitted, it makes them much harder to see. Not that I am condoning use of radar in restricted areas.

[dean]

I made a bracket that mounts to the headliner and tie wrapped the V1 to that bracket. I have no problems getting the signal from that postion. The unit is hard to see from the outside except if the sunroof is open. I liked it when I had it clipped to the sunvisor but it made that sunvisor useless.

[RoninLB]

My turn...V1 mounted on pass visor, wire behind rubber molding, etc.. it's behind window tinting/never a problem.. central and S. Calif. PD/HP use the K or Ka on Interstates comming from behind you/no problem w/V1. what was interesting was on I-5, N. of LA.. the HP was on right, in front of a broken down truck shooting cars that passed him. I must have gotten weak reflected sig on the V1 off the cars being hit. have also gotten weak reflected sig in twistie mountain roads, have to be ready to slam on brakes, not much warning... the X band could be completely disabled in V1, check their site. the only X I ever got hit with was in a small town in Georgia... the detector SHOULD be mounted for a quick disconnect, before the PD walks up to your car, IMHO.. 911 factory windshield upper band tinting is wider than PPG or other aftermarket shields/no hidding V1 in aftermarket shields.. the shopping center wild radar sig can be used by PD to hide their shooting/special caution.. the V1 might pick up reflected laser scatter if following directly behind a target/may get the Blinder M-10 laser jammer. Nat'l Mot. Ass. just did an article on laser jammers/good stuff... I don't have a roll bar.. and PD only glance at my non-descript humble looking 911.. and I only follow the fastest bait on the road, back 1/8 - 1/4 mi.. the V1 sings, I raise the right foot, the bait is bear food. I'm never the point man. happened 4X thru Fla. from the north to the Keys.. usually watch bait being eated 5X a week on big rides.. If big rigs are doing the speed limit on big roads there is a reason.. If big rigs are limit+, coooll ................Ron

[carter_gordon]

I never cease to be amazed to hear people talk about radar detectors being illegal in their state. Driving 56 miles an hour is also illegal! I'll take my chance with a high quality detector any day.

Bud Gordon
(in Virginia with 2 detectors)

[surflvr911sc]

Very True but what happens when you get pulled over AND you have a detector? Don't tell me you wont get pulled over w/ a detector, look what happened to Sam.

Hmm, Sam, Did the CHP see your V1?

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by RoninLB
My turn...V1 mounted on pass visor, wire behind rubber molding, etc.. it's behind window tinting/never a problem.. central and S. Calif. PD/HP use the K or Ka on Interstates comming from behind you/no problem w/V1. what was interesting was on I-5, N. of LA.. the HP was on right, in front of a broken down truck shooting cars that passed him. I must have gotten weak reflected sig on the V1 off the cars being hit. have also gotten weak reflected sig in twistie mountain roads, have to be ready to slam on brakes, not much warning... the X band could be completely disabled in V1, check their site. the only X I ever got hit with was in a small town in Georgia... the detector SHOULD be mounted for a quick disconnect, before the PD walks up to your car, IMHO.. 911 factory windshield upper band tinting is wider than PPG or other aftermarket shields/no hidding V1 in aftermarket shields.. the shopping center wild radar sig can be used by PD to hide their shooting/special caution.. the V1 might pick up reflected laser scatter if following directly behind a target/may get the Blinder M-10 laser jammer. Nat'l Mot. Ass. just did an article on laser jammers/good stuff... I don't have a roll bar.. and PD only glance at my non-descript humble looking 911.. and I only follow the fastest bait on the road, back 1/8 - 1/4 mi.. the V1 sings, I raise the right foot, the bait is bear food. I'm never the point man. happened 4X thru Fla. from the north to the Keys.. usually watch bait being eated 5X a week on big rides.. If big rigs are doing the speed limit on big roads there is a reason.. If big rigs are limit+, coooll ................Ron

Why did I quote this??? Because I feel Ron's advice bears repeating and is well worth heeding. That said, in Virginia, where detectors are illegal, I hear a rumor of a certain red 356 running around with a fatter than usual sunvisor. Wiring hidden, and a rocker switch for a fast shut-off of the V-1 beeps and lights...visor can be closed around the detector before the officer reaches the car. Can anybody list other states that outlaw detectors?

[carter_gordon]

Virginia radar detector lessons learned:
Maybe 5 years ago I had a cheap detector located in my pickup (X band only). I had wired up the window post so there was no wire visible from the outside. I was traveling down the highway and passed a radar trap, so I snatched the detector off the visor. I was pulled over and the officer said “nice setup, I would have never been able to know it was you without seeing you reach for the detector.” The officer went on to tell me that the “detector locator” does not pinpoint who has a detector if you are in a pack of cars. He also wanted to know why I had a radar detector on when I was driving 60 MPH! Now I have a VG2 (invisible) detector, I have passed many a radar trap with more than enough warning and have never had a problem. I have also installed a toggle switch to turn the detector off just in case. For the record I paid a $75 dollar ticket and received no points on the driver’s license. It seemed like a good trade off for the information.

Bud Gordon

[pbs911]

Thanks for the replies.

Ryan, the Valentine 1 web site states that radar detectors are legal in 48 or 49 of the 52 states, citing Virginia and the District of Columbia. No problem in CA.

Bento, thanks i believe your past post caused me some concern w/ effectiveness and the Autopower roll bar. I'm glad to hear it hasn't inhibitied its effectiveness.

I also contacted Umitza and for $200 you get a mirror, with the concealed unit mounted. They supply the concealed unit as well. So it looks like I may go that way for a clean install after finding a good mounting location for the unit.

As for laser, I know I am dead in the water if hit, but does anyone know the effectiveness of the laser in hitting a car when the entire front of the car is fiberglass? Doesn't the laser require a solid metal surface for a reading? I'm hoping that my RUF bumper and f/g hood will give stealth-like qualities to the car.

[RoninLB]

[i]Originally posted by pbs911


As for laser, I know I am dead in the water if hit, but does anyone know the effectiveness of the laser in hitting a car when the entire front of the car is fiberglass? Doesn't the laser require a solid metal surface for a reading? I'm hoping that my RUF bumper and f/g hood will give stealth-like qualities to the car. [/B]

you ain't dead in the water w/laser. read my earlier thread here.. and the shooter aims for your plate.. then goes after your headlites.. I removed the plate but left a dark plastic in plate holder.. V-1 sings when shooting at front plastic.. right foot up.. they may hit me many times till they figure it out............Ron