First of, I apologize if this topic was already discussed...

Does it really matter where you put your radar detector? For radar, I would think not. For laser, once you get the signal, its too late anyway.

Also, has anyone figured out a neat way to hide the cord?

 

What kind of radar detector do you have? You should place it so it has a clear view out your front windshield and your rear one. The tint band on top may hinder the performance of the laser detection, but as you said above if you get hit with laser you are pretty much dead. I figure I will put mine in clear view and just maybe, just maybe it will save my a$$. Laser is line of sight, and I believe radar is to a point also. That is why if you are going over a hill or if you are in a pack of cars you may not get a early warning as you would if you were in the open.

 

BEL Express 936 Radar/Laser Detector

Had it for a couple years. Right now, I have it center-mounted on the dash, secured to the window.

I don't mind the placement so much, as the wire, which is strung directly from the unit, down to the outlet (would-be cig lighter).

 

I hardwired my valentine and the wire is almost totally not visible. I spliced into the center console 12V accessory outlet and ran the wire under the center console, under the glove box, and tucked it under the passenger side window pillar all the way to the headliner. From there, the wire pops out right into the detector, which is clipped to the passenger visor. I then placed the remote display down by where the heated seat buttons are and it works great! Again, as previously mentioned, positioning does matter.

Radar isn't truly line of site in terms of detecting that they exist. A good radar detector will pick up even the slightest hints of radar waves over hills, around corners, and in traffic.

 

You can do all that wire running or you can just simply tap into the home link unit (right next to the reading lights) for power.

 

I like that idea of tapping into the power supply at the home link. One question though, do you have to then turn your detector off so as to not drain the battery? I.e. Is the feed to the homelink panel always on?

The way I have it set up now, in the power outlet, the detector turns off when I turn the car off.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I also wired a hidden switch inside of the cup holder in the center console so that whenever I don't want it on, like city driving and such, I can switch the power to the detector off. Also, if I tapped into the reading light switch, I would still have had to find a location for the small converter. So for my situation, I think what I did was the best thus far.

If you want to see if the reading lamps are ignition switched, just try and turn them on when the car is off, if they come on, then no good for your application unless you wire in a switch.

 

i have a valentine mounted a few inches below my rear view mirror and had it hard wired through the celing so the wire goes up and its wired to a remote turn on somehow i think for my amps id have to ask my installer

 

Quote:

i have a valentine mounted a few inches below my rear view mirror and had it hard wired through the celing

Any pics?

 

coming soon

 

I mounted the radar slightly to the left of the mirror and as high as I could go without putting it into my aftermarket tint of my windshield. I have a eyebrow across the top. The wire goes along the top to the left down the A pillar into the fuse box. As you can see the picture of the fuse box, I velcro the hard wire connection box to the metal plate in the fuse box area, and tied up the wires neatly. Grounded the wire on the one 10mm bolt, and tapped into switched 12v wire I found. I won't just stick the wire into a fuse, that isn't safe and not recommended.

http://www.5thgenmaximas.com/Speedy/...%20v1/v1-1.jpg

http://www.5thgenmaximas.com/Speedy/...%20v1/v1-2.jpg

 

Not bad speedy Where did you put the optional remote, that is if you got it?

 

Don't have one just yet. I plan on getting one soon though.

 

I'd like to hardwire my V1 also, but am not sure if homelink is a switched circuit. Will take delivery of '03 S-Type in next 2 days.

 

Just bought a Cobra ESD9110, and am wondering if this is a quality product? Also, I'm thinking about mounting it on the windshield, to the right of the rear view mirror, so that it is behind the mirror and I can't see it when I'm driving. Is this a good idea? THanks

 

My V-1 is hardwired to the left and a smidge below the rear view mirror, and i got a great performance increase from it being center mounted. the wire is routed through the headliner, down the A piller, in to the fuse box. ill never move it