alphasubzero949
07-24-2003, 09:42 PM
Well, today I finally got my V1.
Beforehand I had already hardwired my car for my Bel 940 using a Radio Shack Adaptaplug adapter and some auto wiring. The unit itself sat just behind the mirror; however the clunky windshield mounting couldn't keep the detector high enough out of view from curious cops. Another problem I have is the lack of space between my auto-dimming mirror and the dome light (my car is equipped with a sunroof).
So I opened the V1 box and what do I find??? PHONE JACKS. Argggh!!! I sat perplexed for about five minutes wondering how I would install this detector with a strange "plug." Then it dawned on me. Why not use the straight-cord that came with the V1? It's long enough.
So here's what I did...
MOUNTING
I chose to mount the V1 high on the windshield just adjacent to the mirror on the driver's side but just under the visor. The top of the suction cups touch the black strip. It's high enough to the point where if the officer walks up to your car (and the detector is off) he won't see it unless he knows where to look. Mike Valentine recommends mounting the unit high anyway, as it provides greater "visibility."
RUNNING THE WIRE TO THE CIG ADAPTER
Before doing this, I had a Radio Shack "Y" adapter to begin with. I would recommend having this adapter in your car (also great for charging your cell phone).
Because I did not want unsightly wires (not much you can do about the spot where it plugs in to the unit), I chose to snake the wiring around the passenger side. With my fingers I pried the roofliner enough to shove the wiring underneath. Then, I removed the plastic pillar along the passenger side door and snaked the wire through there. The tricky part was getting the plug through this hole to the floor. That required going underneath the glovebox and reaching for the plug as my other hand fed the wiring down. Once I got the wire through there, I pulled hard enough to make sure it was "straight" as possible then resecured the plastic. Then, I gently shoved the wiring back into the area behind the glovebox. Lastly, I tucked the remaining wire up to the cigarette adapter under the center console plastic next to the floor carpeting. No more unsightly wires!
The straight cord is so long I could have had the unit all the way over in the corner of the driver's side if I wanted to! (not that I would) So, yeah, it's perfect.
Some people have already seen the install, and have complemented me on its cleanliness. Very sneaky. Now if I can only do something about the suction cups being visible. :rolleyes:
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I immediately reprogrammed the V1 to not pick up X-band and to mute for a fixed time period for K-band alerts (as K-band falses a lot where I live). The V1 is a godsend. It has already paid for itself by telling me I was shot from the behind by Ka-band radar...turns out it was a Chippie (CHP). I don't know how all this time, after owning an el cheapo Radio Shack detector, a Cobra ESD 9210 (that my gf now has), and a Bel Vector 940, how I was able to drive without having a counter and the arrows to tell me where exactly to look. I don't see myself going back to my Bel anytime soon. I know in the past I bashed the V1 for falsing a lot, but I was also unaware that it could be programmed to minimize the falsing. I leave it in A mode all of the time, and it kept quiet.
The $400 was a little steep, but now I see what everyone else has been saying about the V1.
:thumbup:
Follow-up: I've already run into a few speed traps...this thing is on the money. Warns well in advance...long enough where someone else may be nabbed before the cop ever picks you off.
Now that it's my everyday lookout partner, I'll be driving responsibly. ;) No, really. :D
EDIT: What did I edit? I added a follow-up.
Beforehand I had already hardwired my car for my Bel 940 using a Radio Shack Adaptaplug adapter and some auto wiring. The unit itself sat just behind the mirror; however the clunky windshield mounting couldn't keep the detector high enough out of view from curious cops. Another problem I have is the lack of space between my auto-dimming mirror and the dome light (my car is equipped with a sunroof).
So I opened the V1 box and what do I find??? PHONE JACKS. Argggh!!! I sat perplexed for about five minutes wondering how I would install this detector with a strange "plug." Then it dawned on me. Why not use the straight-cord that came with the V1? It's long enough.
So here's what I did...
MOUNTING
I chose to mount the V1 high on the windshield just adjacent to the mirror on the driver's side but just under the visor. The top of the suction cups touch the black strip. It's high enough to the point where if the officer walks up to your car (and the detector is off) he won't see it unless he knows where to look. Mike Valentine recommends mounting the unit high anyway, as it provides greater "visibility."
RUNNING THE WIRE TO THE CIG ADAPTER
Before doing this, I had a Radio Shack "Y" adapter to begin with. I would recommend having this adapter in your car (also great for charging your cell phone).
Because I did not want unsightly wires (not much you can do about the spot where it plugs in to the unit), I chose to snake the wiring around the passenger side. With my fingers I pried the roofliner enough to shove the wiring underneath. Then, I removed the plastic pillar along the passenger side door and snaked the wire through there. The tricky part was getting the plug through this hole to the floor. That required going underneath the glovebox and reaching for the plug as my other hand fed the wiring down. Once I got the wire through there, I pulled hard enough to make sure it was "straight" as possible then resecured the plastic. Then, I gently shoved the wiring back into the area behind the glovebox. Lastly, I tucked the remaining wire up to the cigarette adapter under the center console plastic next to the floor carpeting. No more unsightly wires!
The straight cord is so long I could have had the unit all the way over in the corner of the driver's side if I wanted to! (not that I would) So, yeah, it's perfect.
Some people have already seen the install, and have complemented me on its cleanliness. Very sneaky. Now if I can only do something about the suction cups being visible. :rolleyes:
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I immediately reprogrammed the V1 to not pick up X-band and to mute for a fixed time period for K-band alerts (as K-band falses a lot where I live). The V1 is a godsend. It has already paid for itself by telling me I was shot from the behind by Ka-band radar...turns out it was a Chippie (CHP). I don't know how all this time, after owning an el cheapo Radio Shack detector, a Cobra ESD 9210 (that my gf now has), and a Bel Vector 940, how I was able to drive without having a counter and the arrows to tell me where exactly to look. I don't see myself going back to my Bel anytime soon. I know in the past I bashed the V1 for falsing a lot, but I was also unaware that it could be programmed to minimize the falsing. I leave it in A mode all of the time, and it kept quiet.
The $400 was a little steep, but now I see what everyone else has been saying about the V1.
:thumbup:
Follow-up: I've already run into a few speed traps...this thing is on the money. Warns well in advance...long enough where someone else may be nabbed before the cop ever picks you off.
Now that it's my everyday lookout partner, I'll be driving responsibly. ;) No, really. :D
EDIT: What did I edit? I added a follow-up.