Radar Detector placement
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 225
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From: Auburndale Florida
Radar Detector placement
Was just reading a thread on detectors and am curious if anyone has found alternate locations to mount them like behind grill openings or in air cooling ducts or such. Would love to see what others have done.
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I have a Word file that discusses alternate mounting locations for GPS units in a C5. It's too big to do an attachment here, but if you PM me your e-mail address, I'd be glad to forward a copy to you.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 490
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From: Tampa Bay Area, U.S.A. (Zombie Nation)
Guidelines: Radar detectors are similar to headlights in that the lower and closer to the ground they are the less effective they are. Anything you put in front of one besides air or glass will also likely attenuate the signal. Most people put them high on the windshield as a compromise.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,412
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From: Richardson TX
I've done quite a bit of research on this.
I was surprised that there isn't much out there for "remote mounted" radar detectors.
There was 1 that I found, I forget now what it was, but it was easy to find. It basically has a sensor that you put in the front grille area, and then it has a small thing with indicator lights and audible alarm that you put in the cabin. I also remember it being pretty expensive.
Although I did read that radar detectors don't work as well when they're placed in the front of the car, that the top of the windshield is the best location to detect radar and laser signals. And it has the bonus that at that location it can detect from the rear and sides, whereas in the front it can only detect from the front.
Nevertheless, I want to install a remote mounted radar detector sometime in the next 2 years. If anything else, you can disassemble a radar detector, and place the bulk of it in the front, and then extend the wires to the light indicators and audible alarm and mount it tastefully somewhere in the cabin (like the ashtray cover or something).
I was surprised that there isn't much out there for "remote mounted" radar detectors.
There was 1 that I found, I forget now what it was, but it was easy to find. It basically has a sensor that you put in the front grille area, and then it has a small thing with indicator lights and audible alarm that you put in the cabin. I also remember it being pretty expensive.
Although I did read that radar detectors don't work as well when they're placed in the front of the car, that the top of the windshield is the best location to detect radar and laser signals. And it has the bonus that at that location it can detect from the rear and sides, whereas in the front it can only detect from the front.
Nevertheless, I want to install a remote mounted radar detector sometime in the next 2 years. If anything else, you can disassemble a radar detector, and place the bulk of it in the front, and then extend the wires to the light indicators and audible alarm and mount it tastefully somewhere in the cabin (like the ashtray cover or something).
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 376
Likes: 21
From: Coos Bay Oregon
[QUOTE=PhysicsDude55;1582945403]I've done quite a bit of research on this.
I was surprised that there isn't much out there for "remote mounted" radar detectors.
There was 1 that I found, I forget now what it was, but it was easy to find. It basically has a sensor that you put in the front grille area, and then it has a small thing with indicator lights and audible alarm that you put in the cabin. I also remember it being pretty expensive.
I think you are refering to Valentine detectors.
I was surprised that there isn't much out there for "remote mounted" radar detectors.
There was 1 that I found, I forget now what it was, but it was easy to find. It basically has a sensor that you put in the front grille area, and then it has a small thing with indicator lights and audible alarm that you put in the cabin. I also remember it being pretty expensive.
I think you are refering to Valentine detectors.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
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From: Odessa TX
No. He means a remote mount radar detector. Escort/Beltronics has a few, price starts at $700 and goes up from there I think. Also the K40, but those are even pricier.
I've never considered one because the radar detection capability is only marginally better than a windshield mounted unit, if at all. The extra money/install time spent just to have a "stealth" look doesn't add up for me. I have my V1 mounted high ont he front windshield, just on the tint strip, to the left of the mirror. You can't easily see it from the front of the car unless you're looking for it, and can't really be seen out the back either because the car sits so low plus the rear window is tinted.
I've never considered one because the radar detection capability is only marginally better than a windshield mounted unit, if at all. The extra money/install time spent just to have a "stealth" look doesn't add up for me. I have my V1 mounted high ont he front windshield, just on the tint strip, to the left of the mirror. You can't easily see it from the front of the car unless you're looking for it, and can't really be seen out the back either because the car sits so low plus the rear window is tinted.
