Alan

Erling - I don't think you can really do total stealth with a V1. It has to have a view of the road ahead & behind. Mine is behind the mirror (mostly) and has a remote display. From the drivers window its invisble - with some blackout between the visors and the display off is fairly invisible from behind & in front too - but not totally. From the passenger wondow its quite visible..

So probably too risky for you..

I've seen folks mount their V1's into plastic boxes - but it all looks like crap of course and laser detection is severely compromised... plus where do you put it in a 928?

A remote detector mount escort is probably the way to go here.

Alan

VWaddict

Yup. me too!

My setup is sort of as Alan described: although mine is not quite so 'concealed'. The wiring is sneaked up through the dome light (on my 944) and it's exactly this wiring (I think) which is making it hard to install the VW dome light... -I'm still juggling that one...



I'm also looking into losing the tell-tale 'suction cups' on the windshield, and either clip or screw-mounting it to the far (hidden in this photo) side of the ceiling trim. -There's an angle which coincidentally 'meets' the two angled parts (the nearer one of which is visible in the picture) of the V1 bracket.

The way it is now, you really only see the suction cups as you look from the outside (due to reflections on the windshield and a graduated tint-band at the top)

Keith

Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net

What is this, if not concealed?
http://valentine1.com/moreinfo/Conce...ay_pg18-19.pdf

VWaddict

That's what I have. I have it mounted in the dash, hardwired.

That's JUST the display.

The DETECTOR unit still has to be located with a clear line-of-sight of the front AND rear of the vehicle (either through windows or outside) in order for the LIDAR (Laser) detection to work. It also has to have no metallic or shielded obstacles front AND rear for the dual RADAR detection system to function.

That's a partial solution... -and it's the one I use.

The Escort system (assuming I understand correctly) allows you to mount the detection horn antenna/antennae behind plastic trim at the front/rear of the vehicle, which will allow it to detect RADAR from the front. If you also have line-of-sight to an infra-red detector cell, it will also allow LIDAR detection, though you would have to have detector cells with line-of-sight to the front AND rear in order to get full 360° protection.

Then and ONLY then can you mount the 'brain' completely invisibly inside the glove compartment/under the seat/ in the engine bay or wherever... and run a remote display on the dash, together with a "KILL" switch for when the highway patrol trooper comes to the window to ask why you were doing 15 over the posted limit, ask you if you knew that your taillight is intermittent or whatever...

....Let's face it, if he's talking to you and he's left his speed detection swiched on, all he's going to hear from the inside of your car is:
"bip-bip-bip-bip-bip-bip-bip-bip-bip-bip....."

And that's a dead giveaway... makes concealing the detector a bit of a waste of time!

Erling G-P

Thanks for the input guys.

VWaddict, very true about the kill-switch

I was wondering btw about the LIDAR detection. Is it really any good ? I would assume that when the detector registers the laser, it's already too late, as the trooper will have obtained his reading by then. Is this incorrect ?

Cheers,
Erling

Marine Blue

Ok I'm not overly familiar with the V1 but I would think that with today's technology they can easily provide some type of output to connect to newer radio decks which can relay any messages. This would be completely hidden and sensors could be mounted in the front/rear windows

VWaddict

That's more or less right... to a point...

However, there have been numerous times when it's saved my bacon:

Let's face it, they don't usually KNOW that you're coming, and they tend to fire at the lead car in any group. There's usually enough 'scatter' and reflection/bounce to alert the detector some time before you get there. You're round a gentle curve and the LIDAR starts beeping, you slow down and you see the cop as you round the corner. -They were beaming at a vehicle at the front of the previous grouping to go round the curve, and the detector picked up the 'scatter'.

Now: -and this is a BIG deal- I shoudl point out that Florida is a state which doesn't require the use of front license plates.

This may not seem to be relevant, but license plates in most countries nowadays are coated with a reflective paint which reflects light mainly back along the axis of incidence... (It's a principle also known as "Heiligenschein"). Because of this, troopers can use lower power settings in countries or states with front license plates, and still get a nice clean beam of light reflected back to the detector. -Yes, they really do "aim" the beam like a rifle-sight, and it 'paints' the car with a coded, pulsed 'dot' which -if you looked at it through a viewer- would look just like a dot from a laser pointer (just not actually red... -because that's a specific wavelength distinction).

In states or countries where a front plate is not required, they have to use a little more output power, and aim at whatever they can, to get a decent reflection... and strong sunlight can interfere with the pickup, so they like to aim in shaded spots, like under tree canopies, in the shadow of buildings etc. -Again, however, this is in a state which has NO front plate requirement, and LOTS and lots of strong sunlight, year-round. -I'm fully aware that of how very fortunate I am in that respect.

I also have a fellow band-member (30-piece brass band) who is an officer with the local Police Dept, and I've been steadily probing him and his buddies when they're off-duty, over a few beers. -They LOVE to share how they have all sorts of sneaky tricks, and how dumb some motorists are... muahahahaha! -It's all adding to my list of "things to watch out for"!

In the end, the BEST system to keep you out of trouble is a combination of a good, reliable detector from a manufacturer who understands the need to maintain their good reputation, and AWARENESS. -Anyone who thinks a beeping box is all it takes to protect them (while they make phone calls, speed, ignore the rear-view mirror, apply makeup and hunt for that 'choon' on their iPod) deserves every ticket that they get.

Keith

Alan

They (Valentine) could indeed easily do this - but they don't...

They have the serial connected remote display and remote audio options (both of which I have) - but they dont have the remote detectors. The V1 unit is not designed for outdoor use either

I do actually have a remote kill switch - the remote audio has a remote on/off too. I have this custom mounted into the front of the handbrake cover so volume/mute volume & on/off are right to hand... this works well - but you can still see the main V1 unit if you look hard. I don't need to conceal it from the law - but concealing it from thieves and making it more ergonomic, fully functional (detection) and allowing full range of movement for the visors were my motivations.

I also have a remote mute - on the small left pod stalk - implemented via the remote audio - really nice feature (particularly since the V1 falses so much)

Alan

VWaddict

Oooooooooh! -Clever!

-Daddy like!!!

Is that just a mod that you did to the wiring, or is that something I can also do to mine?

Details! -We demand details!

Keith

JHowell37

Why the need for stealth in the US? Unless you're in DC or VA why go through the hassle of these elaborate installations? Why do you need a remote kill switch in the middle of the desert? Most cops are going to laugh at you if they bust you for speeding and you've got a V-1.

Alan

I said why - for ergonomic reasons - not for stealth... but thats a partial side effect.

My V1 is tight behind my rear view mirror so I needed controls somewere I can reach.

Why do an elaborate installation - because I want it to look good and work well. Most 'installations' I have seen don't come close to meeting my standards. I drive it every day & maybe I'm still too picky - but suctions cups, dangling wires & visibility or visor impairment are quite unacceptable to me. The rest of the car has (mostly) great ergonomics - why mess it up?

I'm thinking I may need to upgrade mine its about 5 years old now - no POP (just becoming a threat here)

Alan

AO

Here's my remote display... Stereo is different now. Boost guage on the left, AFR on the right.

VWaddict

To quote Yngwie Malmsteen:
"That's it... -you've unleashed the f#@*ing FURY!!!

Nice... nice... Lovely, tidy install!

-Doesn't that look S-O-O-O-O much better than this:


-And I hope that the new stereo colour-matches the LEDs at night! -otherwise I'd be replacing the LED displays!

I'm with both of you... I can't abide radar detectors where they're just slung in there, with curly cigarette-lighter-socket power cables strewn across the dash, cables everywhere. -I like a nice, tidy, clean, factory-looking install, whether it's a sound system, a radar detector, a remote button for a concealed garage door opener, or a sunglasses-holder... it HAS to look tidy, or I'm just not happy.

Alan, my suction cups are going just as soon as I can seek out a path to re-route the cable... I think it'll then let me put the dome light which we talked about in there, also. (...And since this is the ONLY dome light in my humble car, I'll probably also put in a single delay/dim circuit tucked in behind it.)

Keith

Alan

Well - you could do it... you'd need to buy a V1 remote audio module and take it apart - it needs some minor mods (e.g. add a wire to the circuit board and a diode. Then you have to wire this to the cancel switch. This switch just grounds in cancel mode - but is hard to get to... may not exist on a 944 (or a non-digi dash 928).

For me it was fairly easy to do - the hardest part was getting to the car side wiring. But this was just part of a much more involved project for me.

Alan

jetrainor

Just got off the phone to Valentine....didn't realize they are mail order only......i was looking for a retailer north of the border but guess if i want one ill have to pay duty.

87 euro auto