Yeah, that's the risk when you run late at night. You gotta hope that the cop pings someone else while you are in detector range.

Dave

 

Yep, often your only hope is to catch some of the splatter from cars in front getting zapped to indicate a radar in use.

However here in Texas where the roads are long, straight, and flat I have been able to pick up radar activity as much as 2 miles away. When that K/Ka band starts binging I start looking. Often I'm only going 75 or 80 in a 65 zone, but with 6% window tint up front they'll prolly pull me over for doing 70 in a 65 zone.

Ox

 

I ran mine across the headliner, gap between the headliner and windshield and down the pillar to the fuse box. I picked up a hardwire fron Best Buy...

 

im not sure exactley how my dad did it but on his corvette he hard wired the radar detector to the rearview mirror wiring harness using some metal pins that plugged into the plastic part of the harness, it looks real sharp and you can bareley tell there is a wire at all.

 

i did the same thing cept i ran my cord to the fuse for the radio. Put it in the dash where the tray is( there's just enough room) and then ran it behind the glove box.

Caution - I originally had mine up under the rear view mirror but then my compass stopped working.

 

anybody know the best place to place a radar detector, low by the dash or up high by the mirror? I would guess up high. Also I seen some people with their detectors facing the sky dont know if thats how it works better or if thats how they want it or just how the detectors is.

 

Have to be careful, sometimes the upper tint will throw it off. I have mine up high and had no problems so far...

 

Added a couple of pics to the gallery.

The logic to the high mount is that as you crest a hill, it may give you a couple of moments advantage before the radar can lock on to the front of the vehicle. (that's my story & I'm sticking to it)

Dave

 

Placement will depend on the vehicle and detector. On the F150, below F150 screening on the windshield to avoid any interference, and if your detector also picks up from the rear, so it has a clear "view" through the back window.

 

Did mine up a little different.

Took the glass mount off the plastic clip, put some velcro on it to keep it from moving around, and put it on the bottom of the compas unit under the mirror. Put a small thin black wire tie to keep it from comming lose in the heat. Ran the power wire up to the dome light.

It beeps and greets every time I open the door if I've left the truck alone to long... LOL

I'd add a pick if someone would tell me how???

 

Remember, the tint at at the top of the windshield only affects laser reception. It does not affect radar reception. Since you're pretty much dead meat when even the best laser detector goes off, I mounted my Valentine One right up at the top of the windshield. This also does something else important. It makes the detector harder to see from the rear. Want to guess what your chances of getting let off with a warning are after the cop spots the detector? Yup, zero.

 

Aren't V1s like $400? And where did you get yours may I ask?

 

I have the suction cups on the darker tint, with the unit just below it. Hard to see from the outside. (I have a toll pass on the other side of the mirror. It is white and really draws the eye away from the V-1 mounting area.)

I may try the "under the compass" mounting, to see how it looks/performs.

Bought mine direct from the manufacturer. http://www.valentine1.com/

Added the remote display to prevent tailgaters from benefiting from the coverage.

Dave

 

I also run a V1 set-up. The main unit just clips to the driver's sunvisor. The hard wire (RJ11 type jacks used ... i.e. phone type jacks) runs down the driver's pillar under the dash and the remote readout unit sits atop the steering column on a velcro strip. Power is applied from under the dash via a separate fused power block I installed (much easier than getting at the fuse block on the passenger side wall). With the remote readout, the main unit on the visor is "dark" at all times, which is really nice at night since the police can't sneek up behind you (with their radar off) and see the unit in operation. I never travel anywhere without my cousin "Vinny".

 

Ummm, Mr. Phish:

As I recall, the communist state of VA is one which prohibits the use (and possession?) of radar detectors. Surely, you don't turn it on & violate the reasonable letter of the law?

Dave