[afi292]

So, back when i was 16 i decided to hard wire my radar detector in my car (99 GA) because the dumb thing kept falling off the windsheild every time the bass hit from my system (dumb suction cup holder)...

So here is some pics, and instructions of how it all was done

I am considering doing a similar project in my 03 Taurus

This is a picture of the radar detector itself. The off white color wire leads to a button that turns on/off the VG-2 protection. The wire below leads to a LED (Light Emitting Diode) panel.

The picture above displays a button that controls the VG-2 protection and also the speaker. The speaker was strategically placed where the seat belt rolls into the side of my car, for its the closest place to my ear. Loud music frequently covers up the ticket-saving beeps the radar detector emits. (pic of my friends hand holding it -- mine arent that pudgy

)

The LED panel was placed on top of the dash. Note that since it was a leased car, i couldnt mount the LED panel in the dash, or any other better, less conspicuous areas.

The radar dector unit itself was placed in the front grill of my car.

Things id do differently would be of course make it more inconspicuous, hide wires bettter, integrate the LED panel, etc etc

 

[Schimmel_98]

Thats pretty cool, but my question would be... what about the rear? The reason they have you mount it in the middle of the window is so that you can detect radar behind you as well as infront of you.

I wonder if it is 2 different sensors, that could maybe be wired on both sides? I think it'd be neat to wire the display into your gauge console. I too have thought about doing this, but I can't get caught speeding PERIOD for 12 months or I lose my license for 90 days and have to pay like $200 to get it back, then I get put on SR-22. So, I have A LOT of incentive not to speed.

 

[Guest]

With the detector in the grill, how did you keep it from getting wet and ruined?

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by Schimmel_98@Dec 16 2003, 01:00 PM
Thats pretty cool, but my question would be... what about the rear? The reason they have you mount it in the middle of the window is so that you can detect radar behind you as well as infront of you.

I wonder if it is 2 different sensors, that could maybe be wired on both sides? I think it'd be neat to wire the display into your gauge console. I too have thought about doing this, but I can't get caught speeding PERIOD for 12 months or I lose my license for 90 days and have to pay like $200 to get it back, then I get put on SR-22. So, I have A LOT of incentive not to speed.

Well, i did consider this before taking on the project, i was going to buy two and mount one in the rear, or even 4 ... one on each face of the car.... and make a panel with just 4 LED lights in the shape of arrows to show which side of the car the radar is being detected from...

but when i took apart the radar detector unit, it was amazing to see how they make it a 3D detector... they have a peice of clear plastic that "directs" the radar to the front detection unit... litterally a peice of plastic that goes from the back of the detector to the front... i think they were aiming for a fiber optics affect..... so that didnt have me too concerened about missing the rear detection

and as for mounting 4 of them...it was too much money, and it worked well enough with the one in the front

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by jason8225@Dec 16 2003, 01:28 PM
With the detector in the grill, how did you keep it from getting wet and ruined?

The detector itself wasplaced back into it's origional shell, and where the wires were coming out the back, i cut a hole and made a type of graumet out of silicon for them to come out of... then i took some silicon caulk to make the rest of the seals.....it worked great through rain and snow for 2 years that i had the car

 

[afi292]

bump--thought more people would be interested in this

 

[americasfuture]

i like the idea, maybe put the sesor on the end my antenna....i need that 360* or warning for my driving.

 

[sfblacksel]

I personally think it is cool to do this, but I think most people find it much, much easier to just mount it in the windshield. I kind of love the look of mine as it is. If I did have a problem with it falling off I would of fabricated a mount that would mount it directly to the ceiling. Kind of like a visor clip, but clip on the ceiling where it meats the windsheild. I do give you credit though for doing a custom install and getting to see how these things really work.

 

[Speedy]

I took mine and cut the cig lighter off it and jumped it to my radio fuse and to a ground. ran it up my a pillar. if ya'll want I can take pics of how it's mounted...it took me just over 15 min to hard wire my radar..

 

[Gtrman]

If you REALLY want to know where the radar came from, the valentine one detector has those 4-way LED arrows built in to the detector. It also has a seperate rear antenna instead of the little peice of plastic to get closer to "real 360 degree" detection that so many manufacturers claim to have. Some think it's the best in the world.

BUT it retails for $399...not exactly cost-efficient! Not exactly worth it in my opinion. It doesn't really matter where the cop is parked; all that matters is how much time the detector will give you to slow down. It could be a cool thing to have though.

 

[shoz123]

Cost effective? What does a ticket cost and what does it do to your insurance rates? FWIW the arrows are very effective with moving radar. And the VAL1 comes with a power adapter to make permanent installation easy. Only thing needed is a phone cord.

 

[mk7]

the valentine detector isn't all it's worked up to be really, they're pretty scandalous for allegedly paying magazine editors etc to give them good reviews. go to radartest.com.

 

[DeJaVu]

Originally posted by mk7@Feb 3 2004, 06:13 PM
the valentine detector isn't all it's worked up to be really, they're pretty scandalous for allegedly paying magazine editors etc to give them good reviews. go to radartest.com.

Mind you I am no radar guru, I've never even owned a detector myself (i just don't speed =p) but I did have a friend who had a val in his car. Everytime i rode in that car it would go off, everytime it went off there was a cop. It was always dead on except for like one or two times that i can ever remember.

 

[shoz123]

Originally posted by mk7@Feb 3 2004, 06:13 PM
the valentine detector isn't all it's worked up to be really, they're pretty scandalous for allegedly paying magazine editors etc to give them good reviews. go to radartest.com.

Personally I will not have any other detector but the VAL 1. Unless someone else comes out with directional arrows. I will say I use mine in rural situations and there is a big difference between that and city driving. IMHO in the city there are very few detectors that are effective due to all the false signals.

 

[mk7]

yes the valentine one works, but there are a few others that work much better (and about $100 cheaper). as far as the side arrows go, radar uses the doppler effect and that can't work from the side, only head on, so there is no reason to need side arrows, that is a marketing ploy. i have 2 bel 985's, less than 5% of the time its a false signal. in the last 4 yrs that i've had my bel 985's, i've never been pulled over once, i drive about 15 to 30 over in the city (at all times) and 30+ over in the country, and i drive over 20k miles a year.

 

[shoz123]

QUOTE

as far as the side arrows go, radar uses the doppler effect and that can't work from the side, only head on, so there is no reason to need side arrows[/b]

True but if at an angle radar will work. And it is always nice to know where the opposition is. Especially at night on an interstate when the bogey is coming from behind. Or if you get an indication that there is more than one coming from different directions.

$100 is chump change compared to a ticket and the insurance premiums you will pay out.

 

[2000SlvrTaurus]

i have my good ole whislter paid 50 bucks at walmart. it works and i'm happy with it , no tickets no pull overs
:banana:

 

[shoz123]

I just sent my Val 1 in to get an exchange. I've had it for over 4 years and it has been giving me a lot of false alarms. With your old one sent in they will give you a new one with all the current updates for half price. Still $200 but worth ever penny IMHO.

 

[Frugle]

what happens when the cop has a laser gun instead of a radar? do they still work?

don't cops use something else also to fool the radar detectors?



Edit: daaaannngg,, I just noticed... talk about a dead thread revival... this is an old one.

 

[afi292]

Originally posted by Frugle@Jul 26 2005, 12:56 AM
what happens when the cop has a laser gun instead of a radar? do they still work?

don't cops use something else also to fool the radar detectors?



Edit: daaaannngg,, I just noticed... talk about a dead thread revival... this is an old one.

most radar detectors have a laser detector too. Most cops do not turn on their radar guns until they are right in front of you.. kinda makingthe detectors pointless now.