| Author | Message | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1818 Registered: 9-2002 |
Dennis, In highschool we called a friend of mine Dah-to, which, apparently in Chinese, means Big Head.  Thanks for the info about splitting a V1 - this has always been a question. I guess that also messes up my idea of using two V1s and two sets of side arrows. --Dan | ||
| Dennis (Bighead)
Member Username: Bighead Post Number: 271 Registered: 2-2003 |
Sigh.... Drew, there is a LOT of info on this very topic. Search the archives, using "Valentine" or "radartest.com" as the keywords. I've also written extensively on the SR7 and ZR3. To summarize: 1. Valentine 1 is hands down, the best. 2. V1s are available only from the manufacturer. No discounts, none, zip, nada. No group buys, no wholesale prices, nothing. You can buy used ones on eBay, but that's it. 3. The reason that V1 does not offer hidden installation units, and the reason you can't do it yourself, is because of the V1's unique Location Directional arrows. It has sensors pointing front and rear, to tell you from where the source of the signal originates. But it does this by using calculations dependent on the relative strengths received front and rear; hence the need for a FIXED distance between the two sensors. Thus, no way to split apart, and no way to offer kits, as installations will always vary. 4. "Passive" Radar jammers DO NOT WORK. RIP-OFF. "Active" radar jammers MAY work, but are ILLEGAL, generally unavailable, and expensive if you can find one. 5. Laser jammers DO work. Not always, but a worthwhile investment to accompany a GOOD radar/laser detector. vty, --Dennis | ||
| Drewh (Drewh)
New member Username: Drewh Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thomas, Thanks for the picture and tip! DrewH | ||
| Thomas Bergstraesser (Thomas_b)
New member Username: Thomas_b Post Number: 8 Registered: 9-2003 |
No the LED comes with the SR7. It is simply the LED with a long wire attached and the RJ <whatever> connector they use. All the wiring goes into a connector box, i.e. is plugged together with the phone line type connectors � it is under the dash to the right of the steering wheel - pretty clean. The SR7 unit itself is also plugged into this box. The LED is attached to the back of a hole, which is drilled into the control panel � see attached picture. I did not do this right away because I don't like folks to drill anywhere in my car. Note also that I found on a BMW forum someone who had the SR7 display installed in his rear view mirror similar to the V1. The unit is very small and if taken out of its enclosing could fit easily into the 360 rear view mirror. At the moment the SR7 unit is velcroed (sp?) to the connector box under the dash and programmed into dark mode - well next project.  | ||
| Drewh (Drewh)
New member Username: Drewh Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thomas, Great advice, thanks! Is the LED an "Escort" option? DrewH | ||
| Thomas Bergstraesser (Thomas_b)
New member Username: Thomas_b Post Number: 7 Registered: 9-2003 |
I have an Escort SR7 radar detector / ZR3 laser shifter in the 360 Modena and a K40 radar / laser detector in the 996 TT. The K40 is two years old so there might be a better version, but the one I have gives a lot of false alarms and I never had the laser detection go off. I would not install it again. My criteria for a detector are that it has to be completely concealed, no add-on switches, no visible wires, no visible boxes, � and it has to be professionally installed. Innovative Audio in Bellevue did mine and they did a great job with the wiring and the mounting of the detector / shifters. No drilling or visible wires and everything follows the normal wiring harness. Only odd thing is the shifter in the rear, which is attached to the upper mounts of the plate and blocks the light/makes it hard to clean. For the volume control, mute and laser shifter off button we used the standard defrost switch in the control panel left to the steering wheel. My car had an empty slot there, which anyhow looked ugly � switch ~ $60. I opted for not installing the LED for power on indication and if the detector is active, which was an error. The Escort pipes down the buzzer volume a few seconds after an alarm making the sound hardly audible with window open and Tubi music. The mute is a good feature but makes it hard to figure out when one can relax again. So I added the indicator LED to the left of the two buttons for temperature/trip miles symmetrical to the alarm LED. This works perfect since it is just in my lower peripheral vision. Can�t compare the Escort to the V1, but so far it has worked great for me and I like that it pipes down quickly after one has passed a radar source. The Laser detector works too; it scared the death out of me this weekend on I5. Escort suggest to adjust speed and hit the off button after 5 seconds so that the cop can get a read with his laser gun with his second try � well next time for me. Two tips a.) you can check the Laser detector with your IR remote controls � I tried several of mine � the Pioneer Plasma TV remote control triggers it and b.) don�t search for �Escort� on the Web with your wife / girlfriend close by. | ||
| ryan (Ferrari_kid)
Junior Member Username: Ferrari_kid Post Number: 65 Registered: 7-2003 |
didn't they have a top gear video where they tricked out a volvo t5 to be the ultimate stealth car? it included an array of laser and radar jammers and detectors. actually if i remember right they didn't put the laser jammer in because it was too controversial. when they tested it themselves it seemed to work well. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1706 Registered: 12-2001 |
This is an old topic. The RadarTest conclusions have been treated as suspect, because the reviewer was in the pay of the company that owns Escort, as a consultant. I've had most of them and like the Valentine best. You can stealth mount it in the rearview; i believe one of our sponsors offers a prewired mirror that is already etched. There are others, too, and if you do a search, one referred to a similar and even cheaper v-1 stealth mount that was posted to the BMW board. I had mine done by AI Design here in New York, not cheap, but beautifully done. Its the only way to go. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 428 Registered: 6-2003 |
Be careful with accessory wiring...I was just listening to a guy with a 308 lament about the dash fire he had in his car. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 427 Registered: 6-2003 |
Either way, laser can get you since the moment it goes off, you are already shot! Vascar has no radar or laser signal... it is a timing method- Use your eyes and slam on the brakes when you see a cop! | ||
| rick ramage (720)
Junior Member Username: 720 Post Number: 118 Registered: 7-2003 |
i also like valentine one. i have one in each of my cars. in my 360's i like to place the unit low and in the center of the dashboard up close to the windshield. in fact, it sits so low to the dash that it looks like it is sitting right on the dash. it actually looks "clean" mounted there. rather than running the power cord to the lighter i had an auto stereo company in los angeles (who specialize in high end cars) wire the power to the car's electric system and then feed the wire up through the defroster vent close to the windshield close to the radar detector. this way the unit is automatically powered on/off with the ignition switch and you don't have long power cords draped all over the place. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 426 Registered: 6-2003 |
To be sure, the best units have laser detectors mounted on the front and rear bumpers on the license plate brackets, since that is where the troops are taught to aim the laser gun...it is pointless to have on the mirror. | ||
| Jim Avery (Boxer12)
Member Username: Boxer12 Post Number: 425 Registered: 6-2003 |
I need a jammer or detector that interrupts my phone calls! (I was on the phone and ran thru a radar trap with the thing beeping and lights flashing...first ticket since '96...Geez.) | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1772 Registered: 9-2002 |
Frank, Pictures are not clear. So do they actually take the radar detection units and house them in the mirror? If so - where does the rearward facing detector go? If not - this doesn't solve Drew's problem, which is to avoid having the unit hanging on the window / visor --Dan | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Advanced Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 3142 Registered: 9-2001 |
Check out www.m3motorwerks.com . Click on interior accessories. I'm sure you can get them to modify a Ferrari rearview mirrow the same way. | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1771 Registered: 9-2002 |
Even used on ebay, they go for at most, 50-75 off of retail. --Dan | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 795 Registered: 4-2002 |
I'd be surprised if there are any good deals unless you buy from an individual. And the ones I know don't want to part with theirs, myself included. | ||
| Dr. I. M. Ibrahim (Coachi)
Member Username: Coachi Post Number: 474 Registered: 5-2002 |
ok, where do you buy your V-1....anyone know where to get a good deal on one? | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1767 Registered: 9-2002 |
Drew: why not buy a V1, mount it high up (below the tint band, to the right of the mirror), and then run the remote display to the dash? Other than that, I think the V1 is out for you? I have always wanted to split one of them into two separate units, mount them discreetly and front and rear, and then use the remote display. The other alternative is wiring two of them to the same display (make two sets of side-arrows and then keep the rear for the reat and front for front) --Dan | ||
| Drewh (Drewh)
New member Username: Drewh Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2003 |
I contacted Valentine who informed me that they do not make a built in unit? Why I do not know as who wants something stuck to the dash or visor? I like the idea of something discreetly mounted under the dash. Saying that: which detector would you buy? DrewH | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Intermediate Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 1234 Registered: 4-2002 |
"The V1 does not "false", it is reading some form of radar." It is reading a signal in the band used by car radar systems. There are lots of ancilary signals on the Xband, and a few on the Kband. It is better to be informed of ancilary signals and slow down thatn to filter ancilary signals and eat a ticket. Jammers either a) emit too small of a signal to blind the radar, or b) emit enough signal to violate FCC license requirements. | ||
| Joe Bennett (Formula1joe)
New member Username: Formula1joe Post Number: 21 Registered: 7-2003 |
The V-1 is the only way to go. Our road warriers at my office swear by them. If you looking for a "jammer" though, save your money. There is no such thing as real jammer that will fit in the size of your palm. The basis of which these things are suppose to work are also built upon a false pretense that will work in conjunction with your radar detector. If that was true, then your detector would constantly being going off because the "jammer" would be sending the waves the detector is looking for. I could be wrong about the jammers though, but I have not found/heard of anybody who knows one to actually to work that is not the size of a home PC with an antenna the size of an air horn on an 18-wheeler. | ||
| Tyler (Bahiaau)
Intermediate Member Username: Bahiaau Post Number: 1144 Registered: 12-2001 |
V1, no question. You can program it to ignore X-band if you choose. | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 908 Registered: 4-2002 |
Drew, The V1 does not "false", it is reading some form of radar. Unlike most other detectors, the V1 is VERY user programmable (see http://www.valentine1.com/lab/mikeslabrpt3.asp ). Once programmed you will be all set :-) V1 or NOTHING... and i have bought, sold, used, etc more detectors over the years than i care or dare to BEGIN to mention PLUS i go to court and BEAT tickets (laser included). Enjoy the Drive, Steven R. Rochlin | ||
| Dan (Bobafett)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobafett Post Number: 1766 Registered: 9-2002 |
I would take a V1 over anything else. Once you have directional arrows (program out X-band), you will never buy another detector. --Dan | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 2164 Registered: 5-2001 |
I believe the reason for the V-1 "falsing" more is not that it is "old technology". The problem, as I understand it, is that the sources that cause the falsing (intrusion alarms, automatic door openers), share the same, exact frequencies as radar guns. There is no way to make the unit more discrete and filter those signals w/o affecting the sensitivity of the unit to actual radar gun signals. The one advantage to the V-1 is the programming function so you can control how you filter and de-sensitize the unit to the various radar signals. I don't believe any of the other brands allow that much customization. | ||
| Drewh (Drewh)
New member Username: Drewh Post Number: 10 Registered: 10-2003 |
After my first ticket in 5-6 years I am committed to purchasing a "radar detector" and a "laser jammer". I have read the advice from past threads and done a lot of research to date but keep getting conflicting stories. I want a built in unit and have been considering the Escort SR7 detector and the Escort ZR3 jammer. (www.radartest.com) said their the best. Speed Measurement Labs (www.speedzones.com)site says that Valentine One is better at some things but not at others. I have been told that Valentine is old technology that picks up a lot of false alarms? I have read on this site that a lot of people are happy with their Valentine. Does anybody have anything to say about the Escort SR7 or the ZR3? Any advice about anything to do with the topic would be appreciated. DrewH |