ClintonM3

Looking to set something up for my incoming spyder. Just want to see how you Boxster/Cayman/Spyder guys are setting up your radar.

I am open to any suggestions. But I prefer a clean install. I will not be doing the work myself.

I am considering:
1. K40 RL, seems to be the cleanest install. But not as advanced as Escort or Valentine. One installer told me that it is easy to install.

2. V1. I had a stealth mirror for a BMW before. If any of you have a hidden V1 install, i'd love to see it. Not sure where to hide the brain. Custom fabricating a mount can look bad. I've seen mount or housing deformed due to heat on the dash.

3. Escort 9500ci. One installer told me that it is the most complicated to install (ie taking apart lots of panels). Where do you hide the controls? Armrest, bottom center console?

4. Escort Solo S3 cordless. Cheapest, easiest way to go.

5. Hard wiring a dash mount unit. Not really looking to do this, unless there is a very good reason.

Thank you.

Z356

Clinton: I installed an Escort 'Passport 9500ci' on my MY2007 C2S in March. I had a professional shop do the install. Unit cost me $1600 and installation $400.

I have two Valentine One on my other vehicles, which I loved, except that California Highway Patrol and many local law enforcement cars are switching over to Laser. By the time the Valentine V1 alerts you, they already got your speed. So the next frontier in protection is 'jamming' (or shifting) these Laser radar signals - usually aimed at a targeted vehicle by an operator with hand held Laser gun on the side of road or via an open window on his police car. Targeting a PTS 'Signal Green' 911 is to be expected. Perhaps less so with a more 'modest' color on your sport car! But as the financial crisis for state, counties and municipalities gets worse, I expect more laser radar enforcement as a revenue source for all.

That is why I went with a more expensive product like Passport 9500ci since Valentine doesn't offer any laser diffusers or shifters as of this date. The RL360 by K40 is a similar product.

I would imagine that the installation on the Spyder would be similar to the 997. The wide lower front openings to let air cool brakes will fit nicely the two front diffusers (without standing out too much) and the rear one will be on the frame above the rear license bracket. My installer used existing factory wire conduits to add his additional wires front & rear. z356 (Carmel)

drcollie

The 9500ci is hands-down the most complete protection/jamming/camera system available, but also the most costly and difficult to install by far.

I have one in my Boxster and its totally concealed, did the work myself and this is all anyone can see of the system (note the custom panel where the sunglass holder pocket used to be). It works well - no tickets or even stops since I have installed it, and I've been lit up with laser four times at 20 mph over the posted limit.

Marine Blue

I'm planning on adding something next year as well so I will be following this thread closely.

Currently my first choice is the Solo S3 since it offers 70% of the range of Escort and Valentine wired detectors but with the ability to remove it and use it in other cars.

Carmel, did your installer splice into existing wires or did he run wires from the fuse panel directly to the locations on the front/rear bumpers? Was any driling or permanent modifications required?

Z356

Marine: No splicing. He added his wires inside existing factory conduits. I distinctly remember him removing the lens of the driver's side rear lights and accessing the conduit for wiring the rear diffuser via this way. They then went inside, under quarter windows somewhere behind driver's seat, and pulled wires in that location too for the front, moving them under the entry door sill - where pulls are for front and rear lids - which they also removed.

I didn't stay for the entire period of the installation (an all day affair) so I don't know how they managed the rest. He did wired to front fuse panel - he told me that is a 'must do' in his trade. The only drilling I asked him to do was to place the Passport's on/off & control panel on the center front console - between the factory 'Sport' button and the 'PSM Off' switch. He removed that under part of the console and came in from behind with the wire for that Passport control panel (see photo). z356 (Carmel)

ClintonM3

I like this one

Z356

Clinton: That installation in the ashtray is neat...except for this. The Passport control in question has the on/off switch at the top and there is no way to access that on/off switch in that location (or recessed into the panel in my set up). So that particular type of stealthier installation requires a separate on/off (aftermarket type) switch somewhere else in the cabin, so more wires and expense elsewhere.

The other display included in the Passport 9500ci can be placed anywhere. I had it mounted over the steering column. An alert to a Laser / Radar will be communicated to the driver mostly via noise (a speaker is provided to issue a warning) and the LED light going off. The display will inform you what kind of radar is targeting you - you don't need to know that to 'react'.

However, I found the GPS generated speedometer on the display (standard part of the Passport 9500ci) to be useful in comparing your actual speed to what is being shown on the Porsche factory-issued speedo. The latter's calibrations could be slightly off or distorted by different wheels & tires sizes in use. z356

TheKane

Like the rest of you, I did a lot of research, talked to many friends with other systems, then purchased the best system(s) that work for my application. I would go with a hardwired V1 hands down.

In California, I don't know of any law enforcement agency that uses anything but Ka and L. Oregon and other states I've driven in, use K. The customization allowed by the V1 is unparalleled, and renders most of the features of other detectors pointless. I can easily program my V1 to turn off any/all bands other than Ka and L. In my Spyder I use the V1 mounted high, at the top of the windshield, just to the right of the mirror. Replacing the mirror was not an option, as I have the dimming, rain sensor, etc. High up is better for long range, regardless of the detector. On the Spyder, the V1 is very difficult to spot from outside the car.

I hardwired (soldered, with hot glue sealant) the cable to the hardware board under the interior lights/garage door openers. It was pretty easy to do. With the suction mount, it's easy to leave the mount in place, unhook the short power RJ11 cable, and simple remove the V1 for other vehicles. I use the same V1 in my Subaru (built by LIC Motorsports), but in that vehicle I also use the V1 combined with Blinder Laser jammers. This setup is amazing, and I've been using it for 90K miles (since 2006), without incident. I recommend dual systems over an integrated system, simply to get the best of both worlds with no compromise.

I do realize my application is unique. I don't care about any of the GPS features of other detectors, such as:
- Red light camera locations, because I either don't run red lights, or don't run with a front license plate
- Location of false signals, because there are no false Ka band signals that I've found in California, and I can turn off all other bands.
etc.

I will be installing a Blinder system on my Spyder soon.

KS-CS

drcollie: How did you run the wires into that cubby space? I assume you had to remove one of the side panels, did you then drill a hole through some part?

TIA

VGM911

It seems to me that the Escort/Solo wireless design would permit easy removal of the unit for hiding and/or transfer from one vehicle to another.

It probably goes without saying that if you haven't had experience with detectors, be aware that one should drive judiciously even though radar detectors do provide a "protective shield" of sorts. Roads are still patrolled by cars without radar, pacing suspected speeders as surreptitiously as they can. A detector won't protect you in those cases, obviously.

However, a radar detector does give great peace of mind.

allegretto

Blinders are illegal in the Peoples Republik of Illinois. Nonetheless I had a retractable one on my Z 06 till I found that Laser will tell he operator when it's being jammed.

Gonna have my V1 installed right about where TheKane has his when my Voltphreaks come in. Get it all done at once.

66mustang

Has anyone taken apart a V1 to have it mounted stealthily?

ClintonM3

Here's one I found in a pepper


I heart stealth mirror


This is in a Panamera

I had something like this in a BMW before, but as said before, I don't think they work that well. The heat can deformed the housing. And I don't want to spend a lot of money and only to take the installer's word for it, that it won't melt.

I am leaning towards a K40 setup. No huge display, just 2 blue LED lights. All the controls are done by remote, which is cool. But there is one issue. The performance is good, but false alarms are definitely more than Escort's. I have the Escort 9500 now, and parked side by side with a K40, and a sliding door is about 200 yards away, and the K40 is going off like a christmas tree.


the LED lights usually are installed in the underside of the dome that covers the tach/speedo. Here is a pic with the lights on the gauges

And here is a pic showing the LED lights mounted at the bottom, shining up.

drcollie

Running the wires into what was the sunglass holder area was easy, there's lots of room there. No drilling required.

The difficult part of the install was:

1) mounting the radar unit behind the front bumper cover. Requires jacking up the car, removing the front wheels, the inner fender lines and radiator covers, and the bumper cover itself to gain access to mount the radar unit.

2) Getting the wires from the front trunk through the firewall was the most difficult of all. There is no access, the cars are TIGHT. There are two large main wiring harness plugs that are in the firewall, and I had to drill a hole into the rubber grommet holding that main harness VERY carefully to get access.

3) Finding a suitable location for the powered speaker. Anywhere near the instrument panel or footboards it gives off an alternator whine through the stereo system. I finally found that putting it behind the drivers seat was the perfect place.

-Duane