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01-19-2005, 11:02 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 56340
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Iowa City, IA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Blue |
Radar detector location
Hi,
I just bought a Bel 925 and am going to install it in the WRX. The bets two options I see for install are on the windshield or on the dash. If I put it on the dash above the clock, are there any issues with the hood scoop obstructing the view? If on the windshield, where have people been mounting them (midway, or higher or lower?) Pictures would be great. I've searched on this but seems like everyone has a V1 hardwired! Lucky! Thanks!
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01-19-2005, 11:04 PM | #2 |
Trust no one
Moderator Member#: 11170
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NYC
Vehicle:02 RAV4 MT 15 WRX/11 CRZ |
The higher the better. If you can, secure it up by the rearview mirror. You will get the best range on both radar and laser with no obstructions.
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01-19-2005, 11:06 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 63218
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NJ
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Have my V1 hardwired up above the rear-view mirror, and the remote display set-up in the pocket above my aftermarket head unit.
Works like a dream. |
01-19-2005, 11:22 PM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 60316
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: un-ghetto part of Pasadena
Vehicle:2004 STi WRB |
hardwier your detector above the rear view mirror.
I have a passport X50 myself, and it's just as good as the V1, we did a side by side comparison from SoCal to NorCal and back this past xmas... =) use the compass mirror switched 12v to hardwire your detector. |
01-19-2005, 11:42 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 64674
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
TXIC
Location: Austin, TX
Vehicle:2008 EVO X 2011 ZX10r |
i put mine a little above the hoodscoop. I notice that my metal tint blocks any detection from the rear, so i would watch out if your windows r tinted.
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01-20-2005, 12:31 AM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 8023
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Way-upstate , NY
Vehicle:2019 Crosstrek white |
I try for a bit more stealth than the rear view mirror.
Not that it's illegal but i dont want to make the police mad either. This cannot really be seen from outside the car. It may not be mazimized but it has yet to fail me either. remote on/off switch and display are in my din pocket. |
01-20-2005, 07:53 AM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 23426
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: NH USA
Vehicle:2010 Forester Streetfighter |
I believe that most manufacturers recommend lower is better.
passport just for example I mount mine just to the right of the round console for the sdeedo cluster and and to the left of the clock. not noticeable from behind, and very hard to see from the front if I am moving. It even picks up rear radar, not sure about laser. IGGY |
01-20-2005, 08:32 AM | #8 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 71233
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Boston
Vehicle:2006 Evo IX MR one step closer to 101 |
Quote:
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01-20-2005, 12:07 PM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 13410
Join Date: Dec 2001
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Under the bridge
Vehicle:2004 STi Black |
The reason they tell you the lower the better is because they include laser detection. The spread on the LIDAR beam may not be wide enough to reach the top of your windshield if the cop has it pointed at your license plate. Escort and Bel want your detector to go off when you get hit with LIDAR, so they tell you to put it lower.
Keeping in mind the fact that LIDAR detection is almost completely worthless (your radar detector is basically laughing at you if it detects LIDAR, because you've already been clocked), I'd recommend you mount the radar detector as high as possible so that you get the best range on radar detection. I've put my Passport 8500 both above the rearview and "as low as possible while maintaining a clear view" (or whatever they recommend) and it works MUCH better when it's higher up. It also worked better in my truck than in my STi because it was even higher when it was in the truck... Try it both ways before hardwiring it and see for yourself. The best way to test it is to find one of those big yellow or orange digital highway signs that's emitting K band and drive by a couple of times, making note of where it first goes off in each position. (Make sure that the traffic around you isn't in the way - best time would be when there is no traffic.) -rj |
01-20-2005, 12:12 PM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 41918
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: indy, in
Vehicle:2002 WRX wagon blue |
I used a level to mount my Whistler DE-1770 as high-left as possible.
Mounted high, it can "see" over hills before I can... Mounted left, I can "peek" out from behind semis Also... I can validate alerts easier as well. Plus... it's not as obvious as a dash or middle-low mount. Middle mounts just don't make sense.. .you spend most of the time obstructing the radar with cars in front/behind of you. And it's within easy reach for controls and to check the display when on silent. Last edited by geshtolt; 01-20-2005 at 01:32 PM. Reason: i think too fast for typing |
01-20-2005, 01:14 PM | #11 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 50646
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Bothell, WA
Vehicle:2004 WRX STi Java Black |
I mount mine above the rear view mirror. One benefit is that if you get pulled over, it's less likely that a cop will see the detector, they can get even more of an attitude if they detect a detector.
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01-20-2005, 02:40 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 56340
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Iowa City, IA
Vehicle:2004 WRX Blue |
So...
Consensus seems that if I don't want to hardwire it..., I should put it up as high as possible on the windshield? Seems like the dash is sub-optimal, maybe because the block from the hood scoop? |
01-20-2005, 02:53 PM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 41918
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: indy, in
Vehicle:2002 WRX wagon blue |
I actually want to take mine apart and mount the front sensor right where the headliner meets the windshield and do the same for the rear sensor except in the back obviously...
kinda like turning it into a V1, as far as install goes... but yes.. that seems to be the consensus. |
01-20-2005, 04:54 PM | #14 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 63477
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: CT Shoreline
Vehicle:04 WRX Wagon San Remo Red |
Quote:
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01-20-2005, 05:15 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 57264
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Aurora, OH
Vehicle:2004 18g Wagon - WRB PDX Tuned - 329whp/315wtq |
i put mine up high
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01-20-2005, 05:17 PM | #16 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56826
Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Worcester, MA
Vehicle:2006 Subaru Evo IX Cute & FABULOUS Miata |
I have my escort 8500 X50 mounted a little bit above and just a inch of two to the right of the rear view mirror.
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01-20-2005, 06:53 PM | #17 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 41597
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chicago
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Quote:
Couldn't possibly agree more. That's really all you need to know... Stick it above your rear view |
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01-20-2005, 07:06 PM | #18 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 9624
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Vehicle:2002 ImprezaWRXsedan Platinum Silver Metallic |
Tall antennas are better, so I agree with above the rearview.
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01-20-2005, 09:59 PM | #19 | |
Trust no one
Moderator Member#: 11170
Join Date: Oct 2001
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: NYC
Vehicle:02 RAV4 MT 15 WRX/11 CRZ |
Quote:
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01-20-2005, 11:08 PM | #20 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 41597
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chicago
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Quote:
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01-21-2005, 02:42 AM | #21 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 41918
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: indy, in
Vehicle:2002 WRX wagon blue |
I was afraid of that... and that's what's been keeping me from doing so far...
I love the whistler... good radar.. adequate laser.. .weather radio.. and highway safety radio... I'm thinking of getting another one to mount the back and somehow tie them into a carputer... I have some friends that are heavy into the electronics scene.. and I was going to rely upon them to help me out.. but I don't think it is going to be possible realisticly. god i can't spell past 1am. |
01-21-2005, 02:42 AM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 41918
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: indy, in
Vehicle:2002 WRX wagon blue |
long live jager bombs!
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01-24-2005, 08:51 PM | #23 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 79242
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Richmond, BC
Vehicle:2002 WRX Silver |
All you guys that hardwired you detectors, aren't you afraid of theft?
Especially if it's something pricey like V1? |
01-24-2005, 08:55 PM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 50646
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Bothell, WA
Vehicle:2004 WRX STi Java Black |
A hardwired one is just as easy to remove, you can unplug the wire from the unit. =)
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01-24-2005, 08:57 PM | #25 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 9624
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Vehicle:2002 ImprezaWRXsedan Platinum Silver Metallic |
^ Yup, hardwired just means the power comes from a wire under/in the dash rather than the cigarette lighter socket.
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