MrSteak

Just wondering if you placed a radar detector above the rear view mirror, would the dot matrix interfere with the detector’s range or anything?



*I’m looking at either a 8500 x50 or V1, and would rather it as high and discrete as possible. (The Mike's mount looks great, but I still feel like it's too visible under the rear view.)

TurboTrey

I have mine clipped onto the headliner. It gets good enough reception there.

sixsigmalarry

iTrader: (8)

How much, I'm not sure, but check this out from Crutchfield (I think I read something similar on the Valentine website too)....

Factors Affecting Range
According to a Car & Driver study, a significant loss in detection range occurs when vehicles contain windshields with metallic film embedded, and when commercially available tint films are applied.

Radar detection range is most affected by windshields with metallic film solar-barrier treatments, found in Ford products with Instaclear windshields, GM products with PPG and Everclear windshields, and in some high-end imports. In these vehicles, detection capability drops by a startling 95 percent!

Laser detection range is always affected by glass, sometimes losing up to 80% of its sensitivity. It's also affected by tint films — the darker the tint, the more loss. Some tint films contain a metallic layer, and these can reduce radar detection capability by as much as 37 percent.

That being said, I'm not sure what those dots are made of, but they are pretty solid, so, mine is mounted to the left of them and the top of the detector almost hits the headlines (limited to my Escort's bracket).

My rule of thumb has always been to keep a clear line of sight to/from my detector.

Also...I've got an Escort X50 that I might want to get rid of....

Just my $0.02,
Larry

Takhteh

iTrader: (18)

I wonder if we could mount these in a way, say, as opposed to straight up holding it in your hand and sticking your arm out of the window to get clearer range!

Somebody must've done some custom work and looked into this..

MrSteak

Thanks a lot for the info...

-Why are you thinking about getting rid of your X50?

-I've been reading about detectors/mounting for a while now... gonna go with a V1. Plus I'm either gonna see if I can have those dots removed, or I'll have to compare the RVM Mike's mount vs where you had it (to the left).

mahont

I had my V1 hardwired directly above and to the left of the mirror close to the headboard. I want to say that was behind the dots but I cannot remember, I do remember however my V1 working fine. Who knows though...maybe it wasn't detecting as well as it could? Interesting ... I never knew tint could distract the detection. Would placing the V1 somehow in the grill of the car and using the mini display inside the vehicle be a cool solution or just a waste of time? Anyone tried it?

Takhteh

iTrader: (18)

Yep, wondering the same thing. It would probably get jacked, though, unless you did an "extremely" good stealth install. But there's gotta be some ppl that have tried something along these lines, anybody??

mahont

I don't think it would be that hard to pull off a stealth job. It's not like people are walking around looking for radars in grills to gank.

Plus at night it would be almost impossible to see.

saqib55

actually....there are kits available that do that for you. when i was looking for a secret spot since i live in VA, they would send you a special weather proof box that you would put behind the grill, the V1 inside and run the external display into the interior, i decided against it because the whole kit cost around 650ish dollars and with laser jammers it was around 1k...ill try finding a link

MrSteak

The only thing I'd "install" in my grill would be a laser jammer. (Blinder M20*)

The V1 is supposed to be installed as high up in the vehicle as possible. Installing it low will help laser detection slightly, and above the rear view mirror will help radar.

ALTHOUGH... you can always go for something like the passport SR7, which would have units installed in the bumpers. http://www.escortradar.com/sr7plus.htm

Takhteh

iTrader: (18)

See, I would think somewhere in the grill, behind, or around that license plate area would actually be more 'ideal.' I mean isn't this exactly where COPS are aiming their radar/laser guns towards?

Thinking about a 'stealth' install now.. hmmm...

MrSteak

Thats just laser. They aim the laser at your plates, and if that doesn't get a good read then they aim at your headlights. Thats why Laser Jammers are mounted by the license plate (front & back). That, and people use "Veil" to paint their license plates and headlights.... to dull down the laser's effectiveness.

Radar is kinda vague compared to lasers, so it can cover a broader area. So with a radar detector, you want the antenna (detector) mounted as high as possible so you increase your detection range.


Personally.... I'm set on a V1 for radar, just want it mounted high around the rear view mirror, so I can cover it and cops won't notice it. (Plus it won't be in the sun as much, and I can remove/hide it if necessary.) But if I had a extra few hundred... I'd probably get a laser jammer system installed in my bumper grill also.

It's just tricky in our cars cause, above the rear view mirror, those dots are in the way...

JokerDev

iTrader: (43)

If it was mounted in the grill, I don't think it would get any reception from behind-one of the best features of a V1.

Takhteh

iTrader: (18)

..ummm...what are those 'dots' for anyways in the front windshield? defroster?

maybe some nailpolish remover like they use to get tint off, atleast that's how I got it off my old car. But I like the V1, too, and mounting location should probably be high-up I assumed anyways. I will probably hard-wire it like my old junky radar I had installed so it can be turned on and off with the flick of a switch .

mahont

Or the turn of a key