Nocturnal

It's odd, I plugged in my V1 the other day and it just started blaring at me and wouldn't stop. I think it does this when the input voltage isn't high enough. This happened on acc. power and while driving. I used the power outlet in the front.

Anyone else notice this? My V1 was hardwired in my S4 and always worked fine.

vp911

Yes - the problem is the navi screen. Move the V1 around a little - I have mine at the top of the windshield directly behind the pass. sun visor and it works great. There is another thread on the laser alert going off from the navi screen.

Nocturnal

Egh, I now remember reading something like that but forgot when it mattered

I actually moved the V1 around quite a bit but it didn't matter. I'll probably turn the laser detector off then. It's pretty useless anyway. DIDDLEDIDDLEDIDDLE congrats, you just got a ticket

vp911

This can resolve your laser concerns http://www.passportsr1.com/zr3.htm

Illegal in some states, but not most - as of yet at least. I love mine

stokdgs

I place it to the right of the rear view mirror, a little higher, but not into the tinted band at top of windshield. Made sure it was level to detect behind me. Never had a problem with it and the Navi. It saved me alot of times. Of course with Instant On that would not be the case depending on circumstances. Read something called Lidatek helps that out? DanF

Nocturnal

I'm not really worried about laser. I don't speed in residential areas and the CHP uses radar. I checked out the current Escort offerings. Nice systems but who in their right minds would build a system like that and have only radar detection in the front? Insane. Here on the freeway the danger is mostly from the back with CHP cruising along trying to catch you from behind. Very very rarely do I see a motor-mouse (CHP on bike) parked in some semi hidden spot while radaring oncoming traffic.

vp911

Lidatek is laser. So you are screwed unless you get a laser shifter (which there is some doubt if they work or not - but I drove by a cop using laser at 15 over and my laser shifter started buzzing like all holy hell and the cop didn't pull me over. )

Raddoc

Mine was installed by circuitcity for $30 on the windsheild just right of the rearview mirror. nEver had any issue. However, has anyone installed the remote display and where is the best place to install it. Mine is installed to the right of the steeringwheel on the dash but its not in a great position to be able to see it.

vp911

In my TL I had disassembled the remote display and integrated it into the guages - I have not had time to look at the RL to see if I can put it there again or not. It was a great location though.

Nocturnal

In my S4 I had a super stealth install:

http://stuff.tungstentech.com/Cars/G...1_install.html

It was mounted under the beanie:

vp911

I was a big fan of your stealth install.

Nocturnal

Flattered!

crazytsxmods

Hey Nocturnal I was thinking about doing the V1 in my RL. That install in your S4 with the benie is awsome. I'd like to be creative like that with my install.
My Inlaws live in PA so I travel there often and think it is well worth the investment.

Nocturnal

Appreciate the compliment crazy!

Of course I've been scoping the landscape it it doesn't look too good. The hidden kiddy-seat hooks are nice but they don't provide much room to mount any equiment. The only thing I've come up with so far is to use the seatbelt clip for the middle position. Check that plastic 'C' shaped piece. It's attached with 2 screws that should be easy to remove. I could mount an aluminum support between the seat and the clip. Not sure how/if it would interfere with XM/GPS over there. I should really get the Helm manual to see where everything is.

crazytsxmods

You should design it,PDF it and charge 30 bucks a copy. I will buy. Is there any good ones with an accurate detachable laser with enough wire to go through the firewall and to the front grill. And hide the unit in the top glove box compartment. Or is that just crazy talk.

Nocturnal

It'll be simple enough that I won't charge for it but thanks for the encouragement. I'll put up a donation button next to the article

Well the escort detector referenced above has wired laser detectors for front and back but i'll set you back $1500 or so. And no rear-radar protection. You could conceivably open up your V1 and remove the laser detector diode and mount it elsewhere. But you'd blow away your V1 warranty of course. Is laser really that big a deal outside CA?

crazytsxmods

I am not sure. I need to do more research. I am ignorant on radar/laser detectors but am interested in installing a good one. In Va they are illegal but for instance 20 minutes from me in MD they are not so I want to be able to leave it in all the time without it being to visible.

bluemule

I've not yet installed the V1 or the remote display permanently. I'll again mention a problem I'm having with the lighter adapter that comes with the new V1...it wobbles in the receptacle. Valentine sent me another one that does the same. So, I'm using my 10 year old V1 lighter adapter out of the Honda and only use the new one when I use the remote display at night.

Am I the only one with a wobbly lighter adapter?

Fred

bkw

I was thinking about this the other day. What about mounting it near the third brake light? It's high enough so that it'll detect all oncoming radar, and all that would be needed is a 20' telephone cord extension for remote audio and display.

Nocturnal, sweet install in the S4! I'm sure I've seen that in aw.com.

Nocturnal

bkw, installing it at the brake light would be nice except forward sensitivity may be reduced. Not sure about that, depends on angels of the roof line etc. Any ideas if there are easy mount points there?

Yeah, I was pretty active on aw.com. I still have the S4 Wheel repository on one of my sites. The place just got too rowdy after the car got older and every kid on the block could afford one. Plus I wasn't so thrilled with the car anymore so I haven't been there in a long time.

vp911

My concern with mounting it by the brake light would be - what you are involved in an accident and there are people (especially children) in your back seat? It would cause serious injury - I guess the same is true about it being mounted on the windshield in the front thouhg.

Nocturnal

One of the reasons I strapped down the V1 was exactly because of those concerns vp911. I didn't want a 1/2 Lb piece of aluminum loose in the cabin in case of an accident. By the time it tore itself loose from this mount there'd be plenty of other things to worry about.

I drive my son to school 4 days/week so it's definately a concern to me.

vp911

HAGENDAS

I have an s2 and if you have it anywhere near the nav screen it will go off lilke crazy.

BBRL

The Valentine 1 does get triggered by the NAV 'screen' at start up: with the screen display off the alarming does stop. I have found that the system settles
down after a while sometimes (mounted on visor).
I consistently mute from the remote instaled by the shifter at start up; employ the use of the NAV system if needed then turn the screen off.
.....ok, when utilizing the NAV en route locally just mute the V : at such times you would be treading water anyway.
There are a lot of spurious frequencies within the cabin, that entertain visitors (....still verifying, having left windows open after dark -almost positive!!) mosquitos.

.....still having FUN. SWeeet Ride

Nocturnal

I disabled laser on the V1 and now it works just fine.

vp911

I'm still confused as to why people are having the laser problem... mine doesn't

neuronbob

That is AWESOME! Further, it doesn't look too difficult. Brilliant thinking. Did you consider cutting just a tiny enough hold in the hat, or thinning it out in the front, to increase sensitivity?

vp911

ooo. That is a good idea...

1HOT NSX

Why don't you just get the power off the rearview mirror like I did and place the V1 at the top of the windshield to the passenger side of the rearview mirror?
Here is what I posted on the install a while back:

"Here are the instructions to hard wire your V1 using the power from the mirror:

First remove a plastic cover above the rearview mirror, it's like a 2x2 inch square, then remove another small plastic cover at the top of the mirror mount - now you have the wire with the connector exposed. Detach the connector by pushing down on the tab above the connector and pulling out. Connect the green wire of the phone cord to the grey wire on the connector (middle wire) and the red wire of the phone cord to the white wire on the connector (my detector is a Valentine V1 that uses a regular phone cord). Yo do not have to molest the existing wires, just push the peeled green and red wires into the back of the connector. Secure the phone wire to the mirror wire with a small plastic tie. Run the detector (phone) wire under the trim to your chosen location. This is tricky because the roof lining will not allow you to simply push the wire under it, you first need to lift the corner of the trim next to the cover you just removed and slip the wire under that corner, then carefully push the rest of the wire with a flat screwdriver under the trim. You need a little patience but the results are great! You will not see the wire at all and it will not interfere with any existing covers. Plug in the connector and replace the two covers

A curious note: the power to your detector will go off when you put the car in reverse. I don't know why the power to the mirror is somehow connected to the transmission I hope this is helpful to you."

Nocturnal

Radar waves couldn't care less about a little fleece so no, I never considered that Glad you like it though!

vp911

From neuronbob's idea - why not cut out a little bit so it can get notice of laser.

Nocturnal

I never quite got the appeal of a laser detector so I didn't bother. It would only be effective from the rear anyway and I doubt that's where you get lasered from. Maybe if I move to an area where lasers are a concern I'll reconsider. For now I'm mostly concerned with K and Ka on the freeway. I may disable X as well to get rid of falsies.