CT03911

Took them off my trade and was waiting to see others locations for install of sensors and the head unit. I have a 2003 C2 996. See pic, standard front bumper. Thanks.

evolvedaz

I will post pics for you tomorrow. I installed the Valentine discreet unit with laser jammers as well. Or email me.

marlinspike

Dan, V1 doesn't make a laser jammer.
Also, just FYI, unlike with radar where it's basically passport/bel/valenting your choice depending on if you want arrows or filtering, with laser jamming the best is the blinder since it's the only one that can jam the laser atlanta stealth type s...actually not sure if the one that can do that is on the market yet so might want to check with them first.

BuddyK

I would be very interested to see how the BEL or the Escort high end systems install in a 996. RX75 or the Escort package looked pretty much the same.

I checked my local stereo shop and they have both in stock, but I wasn't that impressed with the size of the modules. The LED arrays are quite bulky, and the angle brackets for mounting didn't really look like they were going to install nicely on the nose of the 996. Tons of cords and I am not really looking forward to cleaning bugs off of those LED arrays all the time. The rear one above the license plate could work I suppose, but I'd like to see a good install on a 996 before going for this. For sure I want the best laser countermeasures and I'd like a permanent radar detector installed, but I don't want unreliable modules and electronics that are going to fail and cause headaches, right?

I have a Passport 8500 X50 and I guess that's the best available, but I sure don't like having to plug it into the lighter, and I also don't like having to mess around hiding it under the seat when I park on the street. I want a discreet installed system and laser jamming.

It seems to me like there is a very large risk that the installer might mess up the dashboard and carpet etc. I'd want some assurance that the car won't be negatively affected by such an install. I'd like to get a Porsche dealer to install a system for me - anyone have that done at their Porsche dealer?

marlinspike

You dont have to plug it into the lighter. Buy a hardwire kit from passport if it didn't come with it (V1 comes with it, I know passport at the very least offers it), find a 12V source (typically an overhead light) and wire it into that.

BuddyK

Yes, that's what I am thinking of doing - at least as a temporary solution.

Still though, I'd like a discreet, built-in solution so I don't have to have this box on my dash as a dust collector and thief magnet.

Everything I have seen has some major compromises to it. I used to have an Escort Solo, and it was good, but that one is 6 years old or so, so I decided to upgrade to the latest technology, and unfortunately, that meant a "corded" system. The Solo S2 is cordless, but it doesn't have the latest brains in it for "POP" radar etc. I don't fully understand why a cordless radar detector cannot outperform one that is wired in. The only thing that I can think of would be the ground plane that you get when you use the vehicle's 13V power. Why not use a 3 cell lithium polymer rechargeable battery pack to power the radar detector? Maybe there is a reason for this that I don't understand other than that ground plane issue? RF engineering does have a lot of voodoo to it I understand - lots of heavy physics.

Probably all the radar detection companies could do better, but they probably don't have to do better to continue making profits, so we are stuck with these bulky boxes and old style chunky electronics - (and I say this about the Escort with "blue LED's" (woohoo) and Bell products - as for Valentine, well that's retro style!).

Porsche should have a "Build To Order" custom radar installation - who wouldn't pay $1000.00 more to have a really nice system from the factory?

marlinspike

I don't know too much about battery packs, but I know the reason the cordless ones aren't as good is because they just don't have as much juice, plus they go into a standby kind of mode to save battery power which increases their reaction time. Don't put the box on your dash btw, put it on the windsheild as high as you can go while being below the tint strip.

BuddyK

The current draw of the radar detector could be supplied with ordinary lithium polymer cells. (pretty easily I think unless they are pulling more than 1 Amp).

A voltage doubler circuit would be quite easy too - many parts out there to do DC-DC conversion if that would help the design.

The Voltage can also be had in a small package. 3 Lithium polymer cells in series will give you about 12 Volts DC - about the same as the 12 - 14V from the car.

With modern electronics it would seem that the current draw and voltage requirements could come down too - in fact that is what the cordless detectors have done - but is there a reason why the best detectors are not cordless then? I'll assume there is a reason, but I don't know what it could be. The manufacturers don't seem to post the facts very well - I see mostly marketing hype.


Thanks for the info about placement of the radar detector. Higher is better for radio receivers - if possible. How's that going to work for a discreet 996 radar installation? If we install the radar receiver antenna in the front grill it will be about 10 inches from the ground! Lot's of tough choices to make.

Sorry to Hi-Jack this thread about this - I'd love to see those pictures of the discreet detector install on the 996

marlinspike

Well, higher is better, and concealed units just aren't as good, that's just the way it goes. My friend has had both, he went with the discreet just to have it be discreet (passport sr7 IIRC) but he said the V1 was substantially better (gave it to his brother who doesn't care for discreet). Unless you're in VA or DC what do you need discreet for anyways?

jchamlee

I'm between going with the V1 and Blinder laser jammers, or the Escort SRX/SR7. Right now I am leaning towards the Escort because it is concealed. I just don't like the look of having a brick hanging on my front windshiled. The SR7 or SRX can be installed and completely concealed. I have even heard that the display unit can be mounted inside the rear view mirror. Anyone ever seen that or had experience? But I would like to hear more about the V1 concealed option. How did you do that? I have considered mounting a V1 behind my back seat and carpeting the unit so it would look stock. This would probably require building a box to increase the height. But that might be a good option for the Valentine.

Riad

Here's my solution... the actual radar detector is right under the center front grill...

CT03911

I was thinking of installing the head unit lower on the console where there is a storage slot. Yours looks like it's mounted into the cup holder. Interesting. Not a whole lot of options on the grill. Your spot in the intake is not bad but there are two of the jammers and one radar as well.
Thanks.

Riad

yup, one laser on the front right, one on the front left, one over the rear plate.

actual radar detector is under the front grill dead center.

sorry about the punctuation, I'm responding from my Treo.

rob

gcohen

that's where mine is. I'll try and remember to take some pics.