Has anyone had any experience with cordless detectors such as the Passport "Solo"? I would be happy not to have a cord hanging down from the windshield to the cigarrette lighter. Thanks.

 

If your primary reason for wanting a cordless detector is due to the power cord, you can easily hardwire a corded detector (V1, Passport 8500 X50, Bel RX65, etc.) into the back of the rear view mirror using a pre-cut cord: Invisicord (or you can make your own).

I'm using a Passport 8500 X50, this is what it looks like in my Vette (I have a little slack in my cord; you can order one that's even shorter):



I don't have any experience with the Solo but I've heard that it performs real well (I'm sure someone will chime in here for ya ).

 

Great tip. Thanks. How do you like the Passport?

 

I've been very pleased with it thus far (has saved me a few times ).

I've had several models of Passports over the years, even have a red LED version of the 8500 X50 in another vehicle (they're both functionally identical except for the color of the LEDs).

I was all set to buy a V1 when I noticed the 8500 X50 w/blue LEDs; decided that the blue LEDs would look in the Vette since the instrumentation lighting is blue (close match but not quite 100%!).

 

I personally have the passport solo and got it for multivehicle usage and absolutely love it... it has saved me a many times especially in the vette

 

I have the RX65 and move it between three vehicles including my Vette. It works very well.

Prior to buying it last spring I considered several options including a wireless detector but decided against it for a couple reasons. The first and most obvious is that the batteries will die and you'll be without coverage at an inopportune time. The other advantage of a wired unit is that it will turn on when you start the car - you can't forget to turn it on.

Good luck!

 

The Passport can also be plugged in as well as it is in my vehicle... it will also tell u as the batterys are starting to get low

 

LarryW: What is the process for connecting the Invisicord? Can you easily connect and disconnect it for taking it off the windshield when parking etc? I am a certifeid klutz, and given enough time, can screw up anything.

 

Wingrider,

Yes, you can easily detach the InvisiCord from the Passport (the Passport uses a connector very similar to a telephone jack, aka RJ11; you simply depress a tab and slide the connector out). Then you can remove your Passport from the windshield mount.

Once you get the InvisiCord connected to the rear view mirror, however, I would not mess with these connections (this would be a PITA to remove/reconnect on a regular basis and would be asking for trouble in my opinion ).

Here's a link to the instructions that TeamSpeed provides on his website: Connecting the Invisicord

Connecting the InvisiCord to the rear view mirror is simply a matter of locating the two wires (+12V and Ground) on the rear view mirror power connector and pushing in the two wires from the InvisiCord using push-pins (see instructions for a picture). The wires are color-coded as well (see instructions for an installation chart).

To make the job easier, you'll want to remove the power connector from the rear view mirror (there's a small tab that you depress and then you should be able to slide/wiggle the connector off the socket); like with most connectors/sockets, it's always a PITA the first time but if you play with it a little I think you'll figure it out

And as TeamSpeed mentions in the instructions, it will help to pull the mirror around as far as possible to get a good look at the rear side of the mirror and connector.

Hope this helps...

 

Larry, thanks for all your help.

 

Invisicord's webpage doesnt list C4's. Anyone use it on a C4?

 

Somebody on modvette.com was looking into installing my cords on C4 vettes, but we believe that there were no wiring harnesses that were accessible with switched power on the C4s. They might have a constant power line, so you would have to manually turn the detectors on/off, like the standard mirrors on the C5s.

 

Battery powered radar detectors are not on 100% of the time to save battery life. This causes them to have reduced sensitivity. The reason why you have a radar detector is to inform you as early as possible that traffic radar is in use and that cannot happen if you have a reduced sensitivity detector. The current Solo made by Escort is not as sensitive as my 12 year old Solo made by the defunct Cincinnati Microwave, but then the new Solo includes Ka band, and this is why its sensitivity is reduced. The more frequency bands you have to cover, the lower the sensitivity.

 

Where did you get your certification from?

David

 

HAHA

Hmm, you think its one of those mail order certs or maybe one must take a class??? Hmm

Those Invisicords are awesome!!! Easy to install too!!!

 

Yechi: Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. I have a hard time understanding this computer thing.

You asked about my Klutz certification. Certifications are granted by the International Insutute of Klutzes, headquartered in Paris, France. Its history is fairly interesting. It was started in the early sixties by a group of French miltary experts from World War I, World War II, Algeria, and Vietnam.

The testing is quite rigorous. For me, I was tested in five areas.

1. Programming a VCR
2. Programming a microwave oven
3. Retrieving voice mail from an answering machine
4. Using the "auto setting" for car headlights
5. Changing a burned out light bulp on a table lamp.

There are three levels of certification that are granted. The first is that of Basic Klutz. That requires that you demonstrate your inability to accomplish three out of the five tasks presented. Master Klutz requries your inability to accomplish four out of the five tasks. The last, Master Klutz With Distinction, obviously requires your inability to do any of the tasks presented.

I was certified as a Master Klutz, in that I failed the fifth test, and in fact did successfully change the lightbulb (on third try).

If you are interested in your own certification, you will have to go to France to get it, as there is no telephone number to call. No one there can figure out how to use the phone. Best of luck.

 

Now,thats funny.I love it.

 

Regarding inquiries to France for their Klutz Certification: Figuring out how to use the phone is not the problem. The problem is: They don't understand the question.

David