radar detectors

[ukchris]

I just did this as a mock-up for a remote display mirror for someone to make it more stealth... I suppose I might call it "the Virginian". The idea is to make it look like a compass rather than a radar detector display.

[Wonko The Sane]

I've been using the Beltronics 915r for about 6 years now. The current gen model # is 975r I believe. I chose this one over the V1 because I could not figure out any way to make the V1 installed stealth, and all of the detection/falsing/etc were pretty much the same between the two units. Honestly, I can't see how the arrows would be that beneficial to the way I drive, since when my detector says "Cops!", I slow my ass down I have upgraded my receiver 1 time, just like you can do with the V1

I just got done installing this detector in my (new to me) 97 Box. I think this install is rather sweet, and definitely stealth as far as detectors go. Enough with the yappin', more pictures

[ukchris]

Personally I really liek the arrows, I like knowing if I'm heading towards the threat or away from it. I even had them save me once, I was driving in traffic towards the end of rush hour maybe a little over the limit when I got a blip from behind. I eased over to the middle lane and a couple of minutes later a trooper came by then cut across two lanes to exit the highway. The curious thing was the V1 still showed the threat as being behind then low and behold a black Crown Vic appears that had been trailing him.

I assume it's some sort of decoy trick where people are supposed to feel reassured after they see the trooper exit and pick up speed again, really made me smile at the time.

Each to their own.

Chris.

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by ukchris

Personally I really [like] the arrows, I like knowing if I'm heading towards the threat or away from it. I even had them save me once...

Technially, the arrows didn't save you, it was the detection. Arrows satisfy a curiosity.

When it indicates Ka band is near, is there ever a direction it points to that prohibits one from slowing down?

[ukchris]

Originally Posted by Jeph

Technially, the arrows didn't save you, it was the detection. Arrows satisfy a curiosity.

When it indicates Ka band is near, is there ever a direction it points to that prohibits one from slowing down?

Without the arrows I might have reasonably assumed the alert was from the cruiser that exited the highway and might have accelerated, with the arrows it was clear the alert was still behind me.

[RandallNeighbour]

The rear arrow really came in handy yesterday with me too. I got a forward reading that was just a beep or two and then it went dead. I slowed to the speed limit, and he was sitting on my right side on the shoulder. I crept past him with everyone else and maintained my speed, thinking he might be pacing me back a bit without the radar to get me "the old fashioned way."

Then he started turning his radar on and off to monitor the oncoming traffic, which I saw had a rear arrow lit.

Now if I didn't have those arrows, I would have been looking for another threat ahead of me because he was out of sight in my rear view mirror.

After seeing Wonko's pictures, I wonder if I could tear down my V1 and solder wires to the front and rear sensors and move them the front sensor to the back of my mirror and the rear sensor to the top of my mirror and put the remote down to the top of my shift column and the rest of the box under the dash. Anyone thought of this, tried this, or decided it was a crappy idea?

[Wonko The Sane]

That is exactly the kind of thing that I planning on doing if I bought a V1... what I came up with:

Obviously, this void any and all warranties from valentine. Not that this is a huge concern, normally, but one of the selling points of a valentine was that they get to be upgraded. This wouldn't allow that to happen, which could potentially get you stuck with an outdated detector.

The other thing that I couldn't verify at the time: How sensitive are these devices to external interference? I would imagine that extending the antenna to the reciever like that would open it up to all kinds of interference. In the Beltronics one, the whole sensor assembly is actually built into the front radar detector, and then only the output (that triggers the band and led displays) is run back to a very small display piece. I don't believe that the display piece in the dash does any of the processing.

Just some food for thought...

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

Then he started turning his radar on and off to monitor the oncoming traffic, which I saw had a rear arrow lit.

Now if I didn't have those arrows, I would have been looking for another threat ahead of me because he was out of sight in my rear view mirror.

Since the arrow was pointing behind you, did you speed back up to your cruising speed? No, you probably waited until the signal was gone, right?

Again, it satisfies curiosity. Arrows aren't saving. If you are in range of a threat, you lay low -regardless of where the signal was.

Think of a smoke detector and imagine if it had arrows. It goes off. Do you exit the burning building, or do you check forward, to the sides, or behind for smoke?

I dig the V1. I'd probably have one if it wasn't so ugly (what can I say, I'm a designer -and my X50 hasn't let me down yet). I'm curious as to the source of the signal. But the fact is, it alerts, you slow down. Not "where is it, should I slow down." Maybe my point is one of semantics. Is this making sense to anyone?