Nicole

Ordered one remote display for now.

Hope I'll get it all by Thursday, before the Hooked on Driving track day in Buttonwillow. I'd like to fly down there without having to pay an extra toll...

DoubleNutz

I second Heinrich on this one. I had the SR-1 in the PRDATR and swear by it. It was very good to me and never once let me down...ZERO TICKETS with the Escort SR-1

Here is my link to the install in my 928 and there is an info link there about the Valentine One's decreased sensitivity in Porsche windshields and tinted windows (written by Valentine One). My radar detector link <CLICK HERE>

DoubleNutz

OOPS It appears my post here is a bit uhhhh....LATE. Sorry about that.

jcb928

I purchased a Escort 8500 X50 this week and I have been researching my purchase.

Here are the two best sites I found for info,

http://www.radardetector.net/index.php is a great forum with tons of info and some great videos.

http://www.speedzones.com/ does a annual test and compares detectors every year.

The V1 is a great detector for the highway but it picks up allot of false signals in the city. Everyone loves the arrows showing the radar threat. Price $399

The Escort 8500 X50- Is not as good as the V1 on X Band (not by much) but is equal or better on K & KA and filters false alarms better. Price $299

The Bel RX-65 is very similar to the Escort (owned by the same company) but also detects KU band (used in Europe, V1 & 8500 do not). It also has voice. Price $$329.95

For Installed units the Escort SR7 is the top dog http://www.passportsr1.com/sr7plus.htm but it is $1599 installed.

The new Speed zones test (05) will be out in about 2 weeks.

I talked with one dealer and he said on a group buy he could sell the Escort 8500 X50 for $260 each.

DoubleNutz

James, my man...my burtha...home slice... that site is moderated by the bacon (COPS)! Are you sure you can trust anything those guys say? What I mean is- these guys are talking about "radar jamming" and tihs which we all here know is bulltihs. That site could be a set up by cops to make you beleive that stuff works only to watch you go out on the street with some bogus bulltihs jamming equipment and bust yer sorry azz!

I have to believe if those guys are telling me to bet on red...I'm putting my bet on black.

jcb928

The site owner "RadarRoy" is a ex cop (retired) but does not promote radar jammers. This is also his site http://www.radarjammer.com/

AO

Nicole-
Just a tip on installation. I too have the remote display, but have found it hard to get it in just the right location. At first I tried it on the lower portion of the pod (right between the speedometer and the tach) but found that it was hard to see when making a turn (I have the "928" steering wheel which will cover it up some). So then I, too, tried the ashtray location, but find it's far too low to glance down at. So I'm back to using the main unit's display. I'm sure I'll find a place to mount it one of these days.

As for wiring, I ran the wire from the rearview mirror into the headliner where the sun visor "clip" is located. I had to drill a little hole here, but it's covered up by the clip. Then I snaked it over to the passenger A-pilar (it's easier if you take off the sunvisor and use the holes there to intert your fish) and down under the passenger knee shef where I made the final connection. Sorry I don't have pictures, but if you need any I can get them.

Fianlly to stem the tide of buyers remorse, when driving back from SITM this year I was driving with someone who had the new 8500 in their car. I would say we were pretty evenly warned, but the arrows and the bogey counter are IMHO the cat's ***!

DoubleNutz

Wow after reading that site my mind has changed... I like this guy!

Alan

Nicole,
I think the remote display should go into a liitle case to tidy it up - IMO it looks out of place in the car as it is... I realize Valentine probably just wanted to make is as small as possible but as a little cube thing it just doesnt fit in anyware and look right.

My favorite location spots are right at the top of the dash snugged under the window - if you put the display front panel in a slanted box (you need a bit of simple fabrication here) it not only looks much better but will pretty much stay in that position wedged by the glass and dash. This position is easy to see without completely taking your eyes off the road (peripheral vision still).

I have mine in the dead center of the dash - very symetrical - looks like it belongs. I once drove another 928 owner for 30 minutes before he noticed it (only then because it lit up!).
This of course is not a stealth location for alerts - although most would not recognize that is was related to a radar detector in passive mode.

The stealthier location is the same idea but at the driver A pillar, snugged up to the dash windshield join. In this position it is invisible to the passenger side due to the pod, invisible from the drivers window due to the pillar and invisible (alerts) from behind due to the driver. Its still quite visible to the driver and only slightly less easy to look at quickly while maintaining a peripheral view of the road.

For the box mount I disassembled the V1 remote display (easily unscrews), took an ABS case like you get from Radio Shack (incidentally you have to paint it for good UV protection) cut the case on a diagonal angle (sand smooth) and cut an opening in one end for the V1 electronics to pop through. I glued the electronics in with silicone caulk and clipped the V1 front panel back on - Voila!

It would even be possible to cover the case in vinyl to match the dash.

I'll post you a picture later, its a little work but it looks hugely improved and is very functional!

Alan

AO

Here's alan's installation:

I've got an idea to integrate the remote display into the seatbelt / "!" button part on the center console. One of many projects I've got kicking around in my head.

Alan

Andrew,
I think the V1 remote display panel "as is" is too tall for that spot - are you thinking about punching holes for the individual arrows etc? Phew a lot of detailed work to do that....

I still think its difficult to glance at quickly - not quite as bad as the ash tray location though.

It is possible to remove the LED's from the front of the remote display board. You can change them for different colors (tiny SMT style) or attach wire tails and route to bigger LED's. Its possible to buy panel mount LED's in triangular and rectangular shapes, even in multi segment bar form - these are bigger than the ones in the V1 display and may be easier to mount. Certain year switch panels also had the central light up seat belt warning window - you might be able to use one of those to conceal some of the indicators: bogey count, radar strength - reducing the number of cut-outs needed

I have such a panel if you are interested (but its minus the switches)...

Personally for all the work involved (despite that it could be made to look very very good) I'd consider it to be still a functional compromise.

Alan

kshipp

I just noticed this thread....but here's my $0.02. Radar detector preferences can be as bad as wheel preferences.

I did a lot of research when I was looking to buy about 6 months ago. I debated between two models: the V-1 and the Escort 8500-X50. I found over a dozen websites providing feedback and analysis of the units and my concensus was this:
V-1: more expensive, slightly better at long-range detection, more false alarms in the city, has directional lights.
8500: less expensive, better looking unit (pers preference), fewer false alarms than V-1.
Other than these notes, they 'basically' provide the same features.

I had decided to purchase the 8500-x50, with the blue display. Ironically, I often use it in the dim and sometimes dark mode (no lights are shown). In the 6 months I've had it, it has saved me many times. It works extremely well. It has caught radar from in-front and behind with great accuracy and warning time. I place it just above the rear-view mirror and it's easily moved between vehicles with the quick release button. More info: http://radar-detectors.com/products/escort/8500.asp

Personally, I think the two models are very close in functionality. Admittedly, the V-1 has more exposure and popularity, but my choice to purchase the Escort was based on price, looks, and false alarm analysis. I didn't care about the direction lights, because a radar is a radar and if I'm speeding there is only one response: slow down.

No offense to those who love the V-1. It was a close second choice.

AO

Alan-
I measuerd it in my OB which is just the seatbelt warning light (desn't work) and the "!" reset button only. I think there's enough room there, but barely. As for cutting the holes, I was thinking about using a dremel with a flush trim or pattern bit. I know they make them for routers, I assume there's one for a dremel.

I was actually thinking of starting with some vergain material, cutting it to size and going from there, but if you have a panel you're willing to donate to the cause... PM me and I'll see what I can come up with. It would be the ultimate in stealth technology for the V1.

Now one question I have for you is how you rigged up the remote pezio? Do you also have the remote sound adapter or whatever they call it? When I had the remote display in the ashtray, I still would look up at the radar detector when it beeped. Very annoying. Ideally, I'd like to get the sound to come from where the display is, but that might be pushing things too far.

SharkSkin

Another word or two about the arrows... Frequently, I will pick up a bogey ahead, with nothing but clear road ahead on my side. Then the arrow will point to the side and then the rear. This is my cue that the bear is feeding on the other side of the road, and I'm in the clear. I borrowed a car recently with another radar detector in it and I really missed the arrows. Since I couldn't tell which direction the radar was coming from, I had to exercise a lot more caution.

Also, regarding instant-on, I have picked up many bears using instant-on to zap cars well ahead of me. Gave me plenty of warning. Where instant-on will get you is the times where there are no cars ahead of you for the bear to zap. It comes down to just being aware of the situation in the moment and the risk factors at that time.

YMMV

doug928

Just thought I'd add my .02cents woth. Last week I purchased a V1 for my trip out to PA this past weekend. On my Sunday drive back to NY it saved me from at least 3 parked patrol cars with radar guns. (each time I was probably going 90+ not that I make it a habit of breaking the speed limit ). It worked great and my side and rear windows are all tinted. At this point it's never leaving my window