Radar detector tips/ suggestions? | Page 2 | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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Radar detector tips/ suggestions?

You can tap right into the 12+ wire going to the mirror. This is switched with ignition so that you don't have to run a 12v+ wire all the way back to the fuse block.
Thats good to know - my 2013 is buing built so I get to try it out in a few weeks.

Alan
 



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Be careful what you read - there is a lot of very biassed junk out there...

I can assure you that they actually still work well. There are newer features on other models including many with GPS based features. However most Valentine One owners find the directional arrows & hit counters to be an interface feature they don't want to live without...

Valentine does continue to improve the same design (you can send your unit in for upgrades).

It may in fact be time for a major upgrade - but that doesn't mean the current version is totally obsolete nor that is isn't still one of the best detectors available

Alan
 






Powering radar detector with mirror

The only other thread I can find on here is in the stock forum so I thought I'd post it here. (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316759)

Here is what I have: http://store.blendmount.com/mirrort...se-ford-explorer-p474.aspx?ShowQuestions=True

Here is where it plugs in:
3-8F92-43BE-BAA4-3A44DC5BB881-376-00000024E3B3551C.jpg


The other thread tells me to plug the red wire into where the top left wire is. The black to go nto where the bottom right one is.

How do I plug these into spots where wires are already at?
 






The only other thread I can find on here is in the stock forum so I thought I'd post it here. (http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316759)

Here is what I have: http://store.blendmount.com/mirrort...se-ford-explorer-p474.aspx?ShowQuestions=True

Here is where it plugs in:
3-8F92-43BE-BAA4-3A44DC5BB881-376-00000024E3B3551C.jpg


The other thread tells me to plug the red wire into where the top left wire is. The black to go nto where the bottom right one is.

How do I plug these into spots where wires are already at?

Do they mean "tap" into those wires?
 






Not sure. I'm a bit of an idiot when it come to electrical.
 






The harness has tiny little spades that you push in next to where the existing wires go. It,s a pretty tight fit, other wise you have to pop off the cover on the windshield and splice them in. I saw a tutorial on youtube explaining it pretty good. Hope that helps.
 






Wow, that's gonna be tight but I'll give it another try.
 






Yea it is, I used needle nose pliers and gently wiggled them in. I couldn,t get them in all the way but it works.
 






Looks like I'll be splicing into the existing wires.

I tried putting them in with needle nose and broke off the tab on the end. My RadioShack didn't have anything smaller either.
 






Radar hardwire power sources...

I am new here, just purchased a 13 Explorer sport.

I am trying to hard wire my V1 in. I bought the mirror tap, however it just does not seem to stay too secure in the terminals. I would prefer to tap and splice direct to a 12V power.

Does anyone have a wire to recommend? I was just going to pull down the head liner and tap into the 12V acc wire and ground that go to the mirror.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated...

TIA
 






i tapped into the black and black and yellow. from the plug coming from my rear view.
 






This is the most appropriate spot: Accessory purple/green + ignition switch, black 7 pin plug, pin 6
 






new EX Sport

Just picked up my EX Sport.

Was going to hardwire my radar detector. Anyone have any recommendations on where/what wire to tap into?

I saw a very short walkthrough on youtube of a guy using the power supply going to the rearview mirror but it was somewhat vague.
 






everyone should get the app waze on your phone. you can spot a cop miles away
 






[B said:
Brett19648[/B];3206504]Just picked up my EX Sport.

Was going to hardwire my radar detector. Anyone have any recommendations on where/what wire to tap into?

I saw a very short walkthrough on youtube of a guy using the power supply going to the rearview mirror but it was somewhat vague.
Welcome to the Forum Brett19648.:wavey:
As I mentioned in my PM, I have moved your post to this existing one on the same topic. Perhaps you can find the info you are looking for here in the previous posts.
Good luck.

Peter
 






Valentine 1 for me. Have used it for over 10 years and "knock on wood" never had a ticket. It has saved my butt many times! If you read all about it on the Valentine 1 page and research the forums, very few people dislike them.
 






everyone should get the app waze on your phone. you can spot a cop miles away

I Agree. I just started using this. Around boston there are so many users. I rarely get the opportunity to even report a car in the breakdown lane since someone beat me to it.

I stopped using my 8500 X50 a while ago.
 






I opted for Escorts "Redline" for its superior range coupled with their Livewire system for Social Radar Support via my IPhone.
 



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It all depends on how you use it. I've been using a Valentine 1 for over 20 years and and have 3 tickets in that span. 2 were on a motorcycle where I didn't have it with me, and the other was VASCAR (no radar zone - PA is weird with radar restrictions...). On the interstate, my strategy is to find some other idiot who wants to tempt fate and then tail him about a quarter mile back. That should give me enough time to react, even in the case of instant-on Ka (or in some cases laser). If you're fool enough to lead that pack at break neck speeds, eventually your number will come up regardless of how good your detector is.

The reality is that the police can write as many tickets as they want, all day long, and all the really need is VASCAR or K-band. They will get more than their fair share of stupid drivers with even the most mundane methods. Plus, Ka and Laser actually require WORK. The bands are narrow, and you generally have to point and shoot, and not suck. It's a skill, and who really wants to be bothered with that? I used to think the PA State Troopers were neanderthals the way they standardized on old fashioned K-band, but now I see the genius of it. Sit back in the cruiser, relax, and wait for the idiots to fly by. Even better, just compute times between toll booths on toll roads and hand out the tickets at your leisure. I'm pretty sure you could train a monkey to do that job. Either way, you can still rung up plenty of numbers without breaking the bank.

Aircraft enforcement is a sad joke. Any public official who tries to justify the budget for such and operation should be strung up at city hall IMO. How much does it cost to fly a plane per hour? A helicopter? How many tickets do you need to write to cover that absurdity??? :eek:

Please don't misunderstand my rant. Cops do a hard, dangerous job that I don't have the guts or patience to do. Traffic enforcement, unfortunately, is a necessary evil - it's a part of the job and they are required to do it. It's not even safe - we've all seen the videos of these guys getting mowed down during a "routine" stop by some clueless, half baked imbecile. That said, from a revenue perspective, it's a game. Play smart, and if you get caught, it pays to play nice. :)
 






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