Valentine One or other permanent radar installations?
 

It may be a tad early for this, but I just ordered my C7 tonight
(3LT, Z51, Laguna Blue, Kalahari) and would like to figure out
how to permanently install a Valentine One radar detector so
that it's not in the windshield and it comes on automatically
every time I start the car. I have one in my M3, but not
permanently installed and every ticket I've gotten in the last
10 years was due to the fact that I was too lazy to take it out
and turn it on:mad0260:. I don't want to have that option in my new
flashy C7.

Has anyone done this yet with Valentine One? Older vette's
that might have the same mounting apparatus? If someone has
something nice to say about some other radar detector I'd
be interested in hearing it.

I use to use the Escort Passport 9500ix and LOVED it. I researched radar detectors for a very long time before I bought it and even asked all my friends and club members and discovered that it was the absolute best. I had to sell it because of a family member not liking that I had it but I will be buying it again when I get the C7.

Yes, that's the other one people seem to swear by. Based on other
comments I've read, I can confirm that I'm spoiled by the directional
arrows on the Valentine and I think I would be annoyed by a radar
detector that did not tell me where the signal was coming from.

I've seen plenty of hard mounts to the underside of the rearview
mirror, and I'm guessing someone will make one for the C7 before
I receive mine, and I'll probably wind up going that route, but I was
wondering if anyone has made an in-dash mount for the thing.

If you are looking for the best options for radar detectors, look no further than http://www.radarbusters.com/ The guy who runs that site is former LEO for over 20 years and brings his experience to the other side of the radar gun now. Very knowledgeable.

I also have a LOT of experience with different setups. Depends largely on your budget. If you don't mind spending 1600 and never getting a ticket again, you can remotely mount a radar detecter and laser jammers, and mount the small display module either on the rearview or under the dash. If you're not all about that, Escort has a brand new, best on the market technology model called the Max. HD Screen, comes with a cup that you clamp down, so it doesnt come off easily. If you are worried about theft, then the remote mount Escort 9500ci is the way to go, not to mention it gives you the laser jamming capability. Check out the site for full reviews on every model and good advice.

If you want to be invisible/nearly invincible, you can get a product called VEIL that you apply to your headlights and any chrome or the license plate on the front of the car. It is proven to absorb lasers up until about 200 feet away. At that point your 9500ix or ci would have told you you are getting lazed, and by the time his laser "punches through" you are going the speed limit.

Sorry for the ramble but... at 21 years old with 6 (2 over 100) speeding tickets, one reckless driving by speed (night in jail), and multiple other infractions, I have become a subject matter expert and haven't gotten a ticket in several years now. Feel free to ask me anything.

Awesome stuff! Thanks a bunch. I'll start digging in to this info. I suppose
someone will make aftermarket permanent mounts for the C7 so I'll just have
to wait for those.

No problem! Yeah it would be nice to have a high quality part to mount one.

I have the Passport 9500ix right now, but have ordered the Passport MAX for my new C7.

you should all check out dashtronix.com I dont know if it will work on the C7, but its great on the C6. Call them up for questions or support. They're really good at responding and I'm pretty sure that they will be updating for the C7.
I have one, and its been really nice- its a natural to see it in the HUD.

I have three V1's, one in the Bimmer (335) soon to be sold, one on the Beemer (GS), and the wifes 4runner. I am never without it while riding or driving. I owned a escort 9500 and will tell you in my experience its about a full second slower than a V1 with instant on radar comparing both back to back. That full second is a big deal at the speeds I ride/drive to bleed of the mph's. I've hard wired all my V1's so they come on with ingition power. Always ready for the man. ;)
Just my two cents between the V1 and the Escort. A $500 V1 is worth a lot more than $500 if you know what I mean...

Great question....I have the 9500ix, never had a problem with it. Actually it has saved me more than quite a few times. Regardless if you get a new detector or if you stick with the V1, let me know if you find something out because I would like to have mine permanently installed as well.

I also have the 9500 Escort (and have always had Escort models from the first ones). I have the new PASSPORT Max on order and intend on exploring permanent hard wire for it in my C7 as well as my XTS. It will depend on how difficult it is to get into and tap into the wires of the multipurpose mirrors. Like you the 9500 has saved my bacon quite a few times while enjoying 'invigorated' driving. :headbang:

Just found an old link talking about hard wiring on a C6
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...to-mirror.html :biggrin:

Hey guys, I just found these links to places that integrate Valentine One
and Escorts into the rearview mirror. They look pretty slick! anyone have
any experience with them? The HUD is probably better though I'm a little
nervous about hacking into the HUD of my new C7

http://www.radar-mirror.com/Store_V1_Mirrors.html
http://www.stealthmirror.com/index.html

you're not hacking your hud with the dashtronix. All it does is input data into the stream going to the HUD. It plugs directly into your OBDII port. You're more likely to do more damage by trying to put in a mirror with the remote display hacksawed into the mirror.
Once you've had the radar display on the hud, whether its Valentine or some other, you dont want to go back to the stand alone display. Especially when you're putting on some overage on the limit, its much easier to have the data in the HUD tracking Leos than to take your eyes off the road. Trust me from experience on that. Here in IL, between state leos gunning us with radar and lidar, its been much easier to have the bogies tracked in the HUD and I can pay attention to road conditions as I am making my slowdown rather than diverting eyes to the radar display that used to be concealed in the dash. As a side note, the funniest look I ever got was when a state leo using lidar couldnt believe that his gun couldnt lock on me and just as it did as I drove by at 55, thats only b/c I turned off the jammer about 100 yards out:happyanim:. He just looked at me and then looked at his gun as if-wtf it wasnt working right.

Haha that is an awesome feeling. There's a company making a jammer that automatically turns off the jamming after i think 6 seconds. Great design so you have plenty of time to slow down, and then not worry about or forget to turn it off so you dont get that unwanted attention of having a jammer, orrr you're jamming in a state that doesn't take so kindly to jammers..

Actually, that sounds great to me. I live in MD so laser is a concern (Maryland State Police, Howard County and other in state agencies). DC and Va, of course, outlaw detectors period. Right now I'm running an Escort 9500ix and love it. Thinking very seriously about a perm install for the 'Vette. I'm lazy and want the "it's already there you idiot" convenience factor. Plus, due to DC and Virginia considerations ( I commute to DC occasionally and go back to Richmond as well), I need to be invisible to RDD and as stealthy as possible not having the detector slapped up in the windscreen with a cord hanging down for the whole world to see. A C7 is going to scream 'give me a ticket' to every cop around anyway. :frusty:

I was stationed at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. for a couple years, I am very familiar with that area, and the nuances of getting away with speeding in the area. Keep in mind Virginia State Police have devices to detect the use of radar detectors. While I didn't know that at the time, and never got pulled over for using mine, I would be mighty careful operating one in Virginia in the future. Escort makes a model called the Redline, which is "stealthed" to the detector the police use, but I don't know if you can do a permanent install with it. Maryland just used lasers as far as the troopers go, so that's when the jammer would really come in handy. The GPS features on the 9500ix and the new Escort Max make staying clear of those speed cameras and red light cameras a breeze in D.C. It's just unfortunate you can't get the stealth features with a permanent install that also includes the gps features. Just not out there.

I know. :( The Escort 9500ci installed gives you the ability to mark a known location. But no, it's not going to have the database that the 9500ix does. Everything else though is covered - laser jamming, X, K, Ka protection, invisible to RDD (radar detector detector). The Spectre Elite is the model most used by VSP. Rule #1 of electronic warfare, know thy enemy. :D What I might end up doing is getting a rear view mirror mount, hardware a new Escort Max into a power source up there and then hope Dashtronix comes up with a C7 package soon (projects your alert displays onto either the HUD or DIC in the C6). That would hopefully cover all the existing threats. Don't really have to worry much about rear jammers because Maryland State Troopers (like most) are trained to use your front plate as their aiming point for LIDAR guns. Escort already has on their website that the ZR4 shifters will integrate with Passport Max so should be good to there.

And honestly, I might just stick with the 9500ci because red light cameras and speed cameras/trucks are primarily Montgomery County (Silver Spring) along with Columbia. I don't drive in the District if I can take Metro instead (Caps games, Georgetown, Nats, etc.). Have to see how the Max tests out once production units get into real motorists hands.

The following old article is still very valid (courtesy of Car & Driver). Please note that a brand new Corvette (by definition) violates Rule 1. Oh well -

http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/a-10fly.html

Looking for the power at the mirror for my C7 and Passport Max. Unlike my C6 where the mirror wires are in a fibergalss type sheath, in the C7 they are in the tube that holds ine mirror and not accessable. There is no plug visible. doen't look easy to remove the mirror and even if you could not sure how too get 2 wires out. If you or anyone finds a way to power it without going to a fuse blox or down the side, would like to know.

Almost any radar detector:
One C7 owner used the auxiliary power plug in the center console. (The console auxiliary power plug turns off with the car.) He plugged into it and ran the wire from inside the console. The wire went down and out from under the console door on the passenger side. This way the console door could stay shut. From there, he ran the wire under the molding in the passenger footwell area and eventually up the passenger side A pillar. Then the wire went across the top to just behind the rear view mirror. He said that it took him about 10 minutes. He was very happy!

That's my intent, as soon as I can find a mount. Valentine 1 & C7 are both in my garage, just not together. All hardware mounting suggestions are encouraged.

If you want the best get a V1 but that's only part of the picture. Lazer Jammers are the other part but very illeagal in most places. Also there is alot of sceptism about Lazer Jammers effectivness.

I think if anyone does their homework, they will find that almost every detector gives less false alarms than the V-1......I will say this....playing with the radar and laser on the C7 vs C6....C7 gives a strong signal further out than the C6....it may be the fact that the old radiator was tilted differently than the C-7....just guessing on that part but the signal return is stronger on the C7.....Just FYI

Thanks, if I could only learn to control myself!!!

The V-1 providing more false alarms is because it is more sensitive in general. That's one of the draws. You very quickly adapt and know what is a not signal and what is a real signal.

So which radar do you use in your C7? or which would you recommend?

I cant use or recommend one.......and I didnt know that you get accustom to the alerts on the V1 so I learned something- the guy that has a Lambo just installed that 9500 CI I think thats it....like 1400.00 plus install (he has 1800 in it) WOW. I know that had to hurt

I wondered about the radiator in the C7. I think you hit the nail on the head.

Laborsmith

Isn't radar pretty much 20th century these days? All the police departments around me are using Laser, not radar anymore. Last time I use one, I detected just about everything but a police car!

I think it depends on where you are at- very few Lidars here and the limitations are you have to be sitting still, and cant shoot through tinted glass, etc.....so "instant on" radar (if the officer uses it properly) is the death here.......

Using an Add-a-Circuit mini fuse tap...

http://crimpsupply.com/media/catalog...2008_2full.jpg

I used fuse 37 in the fusebox under the trunk mat, ran a single 16 ga. wire under the side trim along the passenger side, under the door trim and to the passenger footwell. Fuse 37 is the fuse for the "pop-up" accessory outlet in the front console and already has a 20 amp fuse. I used a 2 amp fuse in the second slot for the detector.

I ran the V1 wire tucked under the trim over the windshield next to the glass, down the A pillar tucked under the trim by the glass, tucked between the A pillar trim and the end of the dash and into the passenger footwell. A nylon "spudger" helps immensely with this task for atraumatically prying up the trim a bit and help in tucking in the wire...

http://interfusellc.com/images/sku-c...px-prysp-3.jpg

I ran a ground wire from a screw under the passenger, dash near the front, right beside the console over to the side of the passenger footwell.

I used the Valentine direct wiring accessory and hooked everything together, then tucked all the wire and the connections behind the side panel in the passenger footwell.

45 minutes, no exposed wiring, no plugs occupied.

I will make several points about radar detectors in general and the Valentine V1...

Radar detectors are fairly useful against instant on radar if one knows how to use them and has some experience and common sense. While it may not help you so much in the congested city area, if you're out on an interstate or country road and you aren't near other sources of radar, each blip on the detector should get your attention. Many times, these blips are from the instant on radar timing a car ahead of you. These should not be ignored. If you are out blasting along by yourself with no other cars around, you are probably a sitting duck however. The beauty of the Valentine V1 is that it can detect these stray "blips" with far greater range than most other detectors, identify their character and the direction from which they came.

Another item to consider...if you drive around your are with some frequency and are familiar with all the "false alarms", then you can usually separate out an unusual alarm that you're getting which doesn't correspond to one of your "indexed" false alarms. In this situation, you should pay attention to the alarm and drive accordingly. Also, I use some of the "false alarms" in my daily driving route as quality assurance on my detector.

At least in most communities in my area of the country, laser speed detection has not become commonplace. And as stated in a post above, the timing officer must be sitting still and it cannot be used through the tinted glass of most cars. In addition, the Valentine also has a front and rear laser detector which, on many occasions has detected stray laser radiation from the timing of cars in front of or behind me and given me adequate warning.

Well put :thumbsup: I have owned both the Escort 9500 and the V1. The V1 has far superior range and is faster to report. The Escort is a distant second in my personal testing.

OK, got the C7 and Valentine One
 

plus the Savvy kit. Based on the mounts provided I'm thinking the
best place to mount is actually the visor clip on the passenger
side. Nice and high, out of the way, good forward and rearward
visibility. Now I just need to run the Savvy from the wheel well
to the passenger visor. Anyone do this?

BTW the car is pretty special.

Heck, you have 'Badge America'...you don't need no stinkin' detector:sm0:

Unfortunately, my retired ID doesn't always have as much sway.

Hi - I am scheduled to have a remote installation of a Bel StiR Plus and AL Priority anti laser in my brand new C7. I am a bit nervous because the installation requires removal of the driver console (as well as the front bumper.) I would hate to invalidate my warranty and find myself with bothersome electrical glitches down the road. Do you have any experience / knowledge about this?
Thanx

I don't know about that particular set of equipment, but I can tell you about the console part a little. This past weekend I hard-wired my V1, which required removal of a number of trim items. My goal was to connect power at the retractable port in the console, figuring the circuit was already properly sized for the detector. I ended up removing the inside mirror trim, partially removing the windshield header trim, completely removed the glove box and center console lid, in addition to several other trim pieces at the passenger grab handle. I also removed the console to access the back of the power port.

I chose to remove the positive wire and contact from the harness connector, then solder the V1 positive to said contact, and reinserted the contact into the connector. The ground I attached to one of the screws that hold the grab handle trim on. With these connections there should be no electrical problems whatsoever as I did not tap into power just anywhere. That particular circuit is specifically for accessories like radar detectors and handheld GPS units.

As for warranty issues, the dealer has to prove that any problems you may have in the future are directly caused by your modification or aftermarket component before they can deny coverage. That said, obviously you're out of luck if you or your installer happen to break something in the process of installation, or if you tap the wrong wire for power and fry a computer, but generallt burden of proof rests on the dealer's shoulders. Also, they cannot by law void the entire warranty if they do find proof, just for that particular part or system.

I know this may not be the exact answer you're looking for, but I hope it helps some. If you have a good relationship with your dealer, perhaps they would be willing to print off the related service manual pages to aid part removal and installation. Mine is helpful in this way.

Sorry, but by the time you're zapped by a lazer... it's too late.

Lazers work on any surface of a car. They even work on animals.That's why a lot of hunters use lazer range finders.

Jammers of any sort are illegal and not one manufacturer has come forward to take the Million Dollar Challenge from RadarBusters.com to prove that their product is legal AND works.

Just got an Escort Max - It fits in the storage cubby behind the info screen - Too well - I put it in long ways - Went in easily but would not come out - Got pinned to the back and the front was just under the info screen lip - Had to force the info screen forward to get it up, over, and out the info screen lip - Fortunately, I did not break anything - Fits OK sideways.