Radar detector placement

[d0nk3x]

just trying to go around and see what the consensus with our higher up suv's are compared to maybe a sedan's optimal placement.

where do you guys mount it, and have you run into any problems, such as frequent false warnings or frequent misses resulting in tickets etc.. share your story!

 

[Jason94sport]

In the middle of the windshield right under the rear view mirror. In my X & my lowered Acura. A good detector, good eyes, & alot of common sense will keep you ticket free.
I use a V1.

 

[MadScotsMan]

I have a Whistler mounted just below the rearview. It does its job and is unobtrusive.

 

[Afboy143]

i had my detector right above the rearview, hard wired to the ignition and the cables ran through the headliner. No problems at all, kept out of site for anti-theft issues and cops not able to see it. No wires were seen at all also

 

[celly]

I haven't actually used my detector since I got my Eddie in November. I never use them except for road trips. In town our cops use laser and cameras so no matter what anyone tells you, a detector is pretty much useless. We are allowed by law to use them on highway and they're much more effective there because our cops tend to use more traditional methods of busting speeders (still no defense from the "Bear in the Air" which is used from time to time, especially in a major National Park nearby). Haven't really done any road trips in my new ride.

In my Sport, I had a strip of velcro on my rearview mirror and the mating velcro on the detector. Holds it up there fine. I run the power cable into my supplemental lighter socket on the passenger side. Works great. When parked, I just disconnect the cable and it's pretty much out of sight on the mirror.

 

[Flounder]

Celly's right. Most laser guns are quick-ons (opposed to old technology still floating around), so that by the time your detector goes off, you have already been beamed.

 

[Shadow71]

ya, here in IL they can't use laser unless they are parked so keeping a good watch helps more then anything.

Mine is actaully mounted low, but make sure that the rear eye is able to see passed the rear of the truck. I have a S/T. I use only Escort 8500's, in all my rides.

Almost 1.5 mile range. low end detectors only have about half a mile range. So that's a big deal.

Even have the Solo, battery power one no my sport bike. Only a mile range due to being battery powered.

 

[beach]

Each of our cars/suv's has an V1. One of the V1's is from when they originally came out as well, we've had it that long, still works excellent. Love our V1's

 

[MONMIX]

mine is up above the mirror, hard wired into the over head console.

 

[TTG]

Around here, keeping a keen eye out works best. At least one cop around here has some kinda gun that no detector can see, at least yet. We had a guy with one of those Solo S2s come in after being puled over by that guy and try to get a refund because "the best detector we have is a POS and didn't detect the cop who gave him a ticket". They kindly told him that it wasn't their problem and refused to give him his money back. The cop also happens to have an '05 Mustang GT in undercover specs, so he gets all the toys it seems.

Funny story, apparently the guy who drives that car likes to pick races with vettes, camaros, and other 'stangs, then pull them over. I find this hilarious, and want his job.

Wonder why no car company has put a radar detector in a car OEM. Even if it was just an option, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would buy it.

Back on topic, I'd put it either just above or just below the rearview mirror.

 

[Jason94sport]

Around here, keeping a keen eye out works best. At least one cop around here has some kinda gun that no detector can see, at least yet

That's not the case. If it was something new there would have been news on it. And it would be illegal to use unless it was approved. The only thing new is POP, & that can't be used to give you a ticket. The cop can use it to clock you, but then needs to verify your speed with a standard radar signal or laser to ticket you.

They might have been using laser, or his detector didn't pick up an instant on signal, & the cop shut it off before the detector could get close to pick it up,(hence no warning at all) or he turn X band off & he was using x band.
In FL X band isn't use by major departments, but a stray small town my still use it on occasion. I have X turned off on my V1 & have had it that way for 3+ years.

The cops on this side of FL have a few GT's along with a corvette, & some other hi performance cars.

 

[Rick]

Funny story, apparently the guy who drives that car likes to pick races with vettes, camaros, and other 'stangs, then pull them over. I find this hilarious, and want his job.

Wonder why no car company has put a radar detector in a car OEM. Even if it was just an option, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would buy it.

Radar detectors aren't legal in all states. That's probably why they won't equip cars with them. That and the fact that it looks like they are condoning breaking the law.

When I had sport bikes, I used to race motorcycle cops up to the speed limit. As soon as I would hit the limit they would continue to pull away. No fair!

I run the Valentine detector. Those arrrows have saved my ass. When a standard detector goes off I assume the radar source is going to be ahead of me. With the Valentine you know if they are coming up behind you and from a longer distance than you can see in your rear view mirror.

The display that shows you how many radar sources are being picked up is nice too. We have cops sit in strip mall parking lots where the detector will throw a false signal because of the Ka band automatic door openers at the stores. When you take the same route every day you know how many radar sources are normal. If a cop is there taking radar it will show one extra source and you know for sure he's up there.

 

[TTG]

I originally grew up in West Palm, I have some very vivid memories of the Z28s, the vette, and the Marauders over there. I think they had a Camaro SS they confiscated too. I moved over here before they could get the new Mustangs.

It's not legal to go above 80 in probably any state, but mostacrs can still go in excess of that. The car companies have had the position in my eyes of "do what you will with our stuff". They build cars capable of extreme speeding and accelleration warranting a reckless driving ticket, if that's not considered condoning illegal activities, I don't see how having a radar detector option could be.

The fact that they aren't legal in some states makes sense though. That's probably why.

I don't know what the cop was using but it's happened a few times. Even our $300+ Escort detectors are useless with him. Maybe he's just really really fast with the laser.