phamilton Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Great advice. I consider myself a very attentive driver who's more affraid of the insurance penalty associated with a ticket/tickets than the fine itself. That being said, the speed traps in Denver usually consist of multiple motorcyles and cruisers parked in the medians and shoulders clocking cars coming towards them. I don't consider myself a "speeder", I commute 35 miles each direction to work and half of that is highway driving. The flow of traffic in the two out left lanes is usually traveling 70-75mph, which is fast enough to get a ticket. From what I've seen if it's your day to get the ticket out of several cars going that speed then it's your day. I would like to avoid that situation. Just last week I thought it was "my day" and the officer picked the Mustang a few cars back. I guess the "sleeper" wagon paid off! Thanks for the advice. Any suggestions on web sites to check out features and reviews? Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 Pat, Definitely, it sounds like you're -not- a "speeder." And I totally agree with you that in the case of such speed-traps, it's often "your day when it's just your day." :( To define my purchase parameters, the questions I asked myself were (in no particular order): - What radar bands are my local and typical commute route's enforcers running (this will tremendously impact exactly which detector you choose, and often will be a huge determinant of cost, too) - What are their trap habits - Do I need simple laser detection, or do I need active laser jamming - Do I need "radar-detector detector" cloaking - Do I need a remote switch and/or display - Do I need the convenience of a cordless w/trade-off for inferior range/detection - Which side of the detection sensitivity versus falsing line am I wiling to be on - Do I need a multi-band display or spectrum display or directional display (which ties in a lot with enforcement trap habits and exactly what they're using) As with your situation, I, too, was more worried about insurance impact over the long run rather than the short-term cost of the detector, so I took that out of the equation. I am a scientist by training and schooling, so I went the nerd way, and basically just Googled "radar detector tests" and "laser jammer tests" (I opted for active laser jamming, as my budget allowed this option and also as OH Highway Patrol and several of my local-commute townships and cities have started to rely heavily on laser enforcement), and read just about *_everything_* I could. One thing to pay special attention to is the date of the report...as with anything else technological, detectors - even high-end units - have an expiration date on their performance. ;) My best-compromise came out to be the Escort Passport X50 plus Shifter ZR3 combo. This was arrived at based on my need to register more than one radar signal (as I do plenty of city driving), have good Ka, Ka instant-on (heavily used in my area), and POP performance, as well as the ability to integrate a superior active front and rear laser jammer with the main unit. An almost equally attractive alternative for me was the pairing of the V1 with a Blinder system, but at the time, my plans were to integrate the radar and laser control units in to one (which the V1/Blinder pairing would not have offered), and the Escort offered a superior performance compromise, in terms of my detection preferences, to the integrated Bel pairing. Had I known that I would have eventually separated the two units, I may have looked more closely at the V1 and Blinder pairing, despite the higher cost as well as the compromise in less effective laser jamming (since the vast majority of time I spend driving are on surface streets). -A <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxerGT2.5 Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 [quote name='phamilton'] I MUST speed to work so I'm not late and there are multiple speed traps along the way. Have your detectors saved you?[/QUOTE] Ever try leaving a little earlier? :D OBAMA......One Big Ass Mistake America! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phamilton Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 If it was that easy everybody would do it. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoxerGT2.5 Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 [quote name='phamilton']If it was that easy everybody would do it. :lol:[/QUOTE] True...:lol: OBAMA......One Big Ass Mistake America! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phamilton Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 A, excellent post. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted May 12, 2005 Share Posted May 12, 2005 [quote name='BoxerGT2.5']Every try leaving a little earlier? :D[/QUOTE] :lol: I think there's a time-warp or something in my bathroom that only manifests itself in the AM...... -A PS: Pat, NP. Glad to be of assistance! BTW, I realized I never really answered your question! Duh! :redface: I used Google, of course, but focused on RadarTest.com, SpeedZones.com.com, ConsumerSearch.com, RadarBusters.com and the usual print sources such as _Car&Driver_ and _Motor Trend_. With each, again, please be aware of any potential biases (sponsorship, products sold/not sold, etc.) as well as the date of the test. If you're looking for a detector now, it may be worth it to wait for SpeedZones' updated SML 2005 comparo. <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted December 7, 2005 Share Posted December 7, 2005 I recently did a hardwire install of my V1, running the wires down the A-pillar. Instead of suction cups on the windshield I am using the sun visor clip. This places the detector itself slightly lower so that it is obscured by only the bottom fringe of the window tint. I've used the visor mount method in two prior cars and have never had a problem with diminished sensitivity of either the radar or laser detection. I have not yet hooked up the remote display. I suppose I could build a mount in front of the instrument cluster. Alternatively I have the factory guage package and I might modify the housing immediatley above the guages so that the remote could be recessed into the dash. I will post a picture either way. I'd like to see pictures of other remote displays. I think the ashtray mount is very slick but unfortunately puts the display completely out of the line of sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted December 8, 2005 Share Posted December 8, 2005 [quote name='BoxerGT2.5']Is the Valentine that good compared to others....I have the Solo 2.???[/quote] Valentine is the best detector out there, case closed. Mine has saved me sooooo many times. Until the other day when I got clocked by a Statey in some Chrysler dump-bucket. 85 in a 65 in the pooring rain. Hey it's a Subaru, you can do that without blinking. $200 later I am realizing I am not invincable even though I have a V1. The V1 is the way to go bro. Front and rear, nice chassis, great range. I have picked off every cop ever using radar waaayyy before they could get me. Then I drive by going the exact speed limit and they see the radar. :mad: So far it is me 30 cops 1. Well worth the $$ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwinn Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Just FYI for future readers: On my 2006 Legacy GT, the 3-pin connector in the map light area is located on the passenger side of the opening, as seen below. The cable also has some pink tape wrapped around the cable, which I cut off prior to taking the pictures below (some pink is still evident). In addition, the 3-pin wire has 3 different colored wires: yellow with a blue stripe; black; brown: [URL="http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=maplightwires5au.jpg"][IMG]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5540/maplightwires5au.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=maplightwiresclose1rx.jpg"][IMG]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5282/maplightwiresclose1rx.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] In my installation, yellow gave me 12VDC, and black gave me ground... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted December 27, 2005 Share Posted December 27, 2005 [quote name='schwinn']Just FYI for future readers: On my 2006 Legacy GT, the 3-pin connector in the map light area is located on the passenger side of the opening, as seen below. The cable also has some pink tape wrapped around the cable, which I cut off prior to taking the pictures below (some pink is still evident). In addition, the 3-pin wire has 3 different colored wires: yellow with a blue stripe; black; brown: [URL="http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=maplightwires5au.jpg"][IMG]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5540/maplightwires5au.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=maplightwiresclose1rx.jpg"][IMG]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/5282/maplightwiresclose1rx.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] In my installation, yellow gave me 12VDC, and black gave me ground...[/quote] So which wire did you spike off of to get power to your V1? Do you have an pictures that are closer up that show the connection? I think I want to do this so I don't have to have my stupid ass tray open all the time. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwinn Posted December 28, 2005 Share Posted December 28, 2005 As I mentioned, I took the yellow-blue for the 12V supply, and black for the ground... was that not clear? I have more pictures, but the only thing the other picture shows is the blue wire-tap connectors on the yellow/blue and black wires. Nothing too fancy to show, but I could put it up if necessary. Oh, I don't have a V1 - I have a Bel 845STi that has served me well... only needs +12 and ground (I'm not sure if the V1 needs more than this?) I'm not sure if I understand you correctly - I assume you have the radar detector plugged into the power port near the ashtray? Please tell me you don't have that stupid coil-cable running from the dash down to that point... makes it pretty obvious that you have a detector, which makes it that much more likely to get a ticket. Make it a clean install, and "hide" the detector as best you can... any chance you can get to improve your chances of getting let go on the roadside is well worth the effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted December 28, 2005 Share Posted December 28, 2005 Whether that stupid wire is there or not a V1 is better than a bel clunker. Either way I can find the hot wires for my application. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 In case anyone is interested, I wired my V1 up today as Trent suggested and it was a great success. Only thing I did differently is I used Fuse Taps instead of soldering to tie into the fuse panel. I spliced off the male end on the V1 wiring harness and put a female on in order to connect to the Fuse Tap, grounded to some bare metal under a screw, and VOILA Power! I ran the phone wire up the A-pillar, tucked it in with my BJ's card and tucked in it in up between the windshield and the roof, left myself enough slack for connection to the V1 by the mirror. Used Trents' idea with the packing tape on the black dotted part of the windshield-worked perfectly. Adjusted it so the mirror could still be adjusted without hitting the Detector, there is still a few centimeters to between the two to play with. Nice fit. I am very pleased with this install, it looks clean, and the radar detector should operate better since V1 suggests putting it as high on the windshield as you can. Can't get any higher than this. :) Kudos to Trent on this. Good luck to anyone doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwinn Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 [quote name='jc51373']Whether that stupid wire is there or not a V1 is better than a bel clunker.[/quote]The arrows are certainly a great addition. And, the new V1s are probably more sensitive than my old Bel 855, but overall, the new Bel and Passport X50 are still VERY competitive. From [URL="http://www.speedzones.com"]www.speedzones.com[/URL]: [LIST] [*]Bels provide faster response to radar, as does the X50 (only slightly) [*]Sensitivity (over the hill) is comparable among them all [*]V1 is better for hiding from RDDs, if that's important to you [*]Bel and V1 were comparable for POP radar, but X50 was better than both [*]X50 had longest radar detection range (more than 50% better than others) [*]Laser detection was best with V1, but what's the point - you're hit already![/LIST]From [URL="http://www.radartest.com"]www.radartest.com[/URL] Bel had best overall performance and POP detection, X50 had best instant-on detection, and V1 had best laser. Bottom line, the arrows are great, but the V1 isn't the "best" performer overall for radar. Laser performance is rather pointless, since if you detect it, you're already too late... instead, take a look at the Blinder for laser jamming... Don't get me wrong, the V1 is an excellent detector... but so are the top of the line Bel and Passport models... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 Blah, blah, blah.... This is a thread for a V1 no? Not a debate on which is the best detector. Glad you like yours, best of luck with it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreoSTi Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 [quote name='jc51373'] This is a thread for a V1 no? Not a debate on which is the best detector.[/quote] Then you really shouldn't instigate with comments like, "Whether that stupid wire is there or not a V1 is better than a bel clunker." :icon_tong Thanks for the update on the '06 wiring, schwinn. I just hardwired my V1 yesterday. :) -Mike- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted January 3, 2006 Share Posted January 3, 2006 [quote name='CreoSTi']Then you really shouldn't instigate with comments like, "Whether that stupid wire is there or not a V1 is better than a bel clunker." :icon_tong Thanks for the update on the '06 wiring, schwinn. I just hardwired my V1 yesterday. :) -Mike-[/quote] Whatever. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwinn Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 [quote name='jc51373']Blah, blah, blah.... This is a thread for a V1 no? Not a debate on which is the best detector. Glad you like yours, best of luck with it. :)[/quote] Not really, as the OP says, "I hope this is of some use to anyone wanting to power a detector." You are correct, this isn't a post about detector comparisons, but I just wanted to defend the other brands, since anyone reading this thread may think the V1 is the "only best" detector out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc51373 Posted January 4, 2006 Share Posted January 4, 2006 [quote name='schwinn']Not really, as the OP says, "I hope this is of some use to anyone wanting to power a detector." You are correct, this isn't a post about detector comparisons, but I just wanted to defend the other brands, since anyone reading this thread may think the V1 is the "only best" detector out there.[/quote] I know man...I agree with you completely, the V1 is not the best or only detector out there. In fact Bel was my second choice. Like I said, best of luck with it. As long as it saves your butt from tickets is all that matter anyway. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
froggert Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 just hardwired my v1 last night. it's mounted above the mirror and the remote display is on the steering column. ran a cord from the detector down the a-pillar to underneath the steering column where there's plenty of space to stuff all the wires. hardest part was snaking the wires. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2006Specb122 Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 To all the detector experts. Someone in another thread said that after dark all detectors are pretty much worthless. Why would they say this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwinn Posted July 6, 2006 Share Posted July 6, 2006 [quote name='2006Specb122']To all the detector experts. Someone in another thread said that after dark all detectors are pretty much worthless. Why would they say this?[/quote]Because they are clueless? Radar works day or night. I've been saved by my detector day and night. Although, at night, cops can be a little more sneaky and run an instant-on based on your headlights coming around the corner more easily... but that's not the detector's fault. Laser is less effective at night, as the headlights will often "jam" the laser gun for some distance, and it's also pretty dangerous to have to jump in the car and take off at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCoffee Posted July 9, 2006 Share Posted July 9, 2006 I did a v1 install on my 2005 legacy gt several months ago. I cleaned it up and moved the breakout box in the roof and added a wire down the a-pillar for the remote display but this should show you wires to tap and all. You can also use a retracting phone cable piece from radio shack so the cable disappears when not in use. Very cool Hope the pictures help those that were asking for closer ups. [url=http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=654166]NASIOC - Valentine 1 Hardwire 05 Legacy GT[/url] Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSiWRX Posted July 10, 2006 Share Posted July 10, 2006 [quote name='MrCoffee']You can also use a retracting phone cable piece from radio shack so the cable disappears when not in use. Very cool [/quote] ^ Awesome idea! Cool! :icon_cool <-- I love Winky, my "periwinkle" (ABP) LGT! - Allen / Usual Suspect "DumboRAT" / One of the Three Stooges '16 Outback, '16 WRX, 7th Subaru Family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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