I know that everyone here enjoys modifying their cars, and some (like myself) enjoy going fast. I have been looking into getting a radar detector that is very reliable so that I can enjoy going fast and not have to deal with 200+ dollar tickets. I think I have made my mind to go with the Valentine 1.....but when I was on the site checking out the info on the detector I found that tint will drastically reduce the lasers effectiveness. So my question is has anyone had a problem with this??? From the #s they are showing it makes me think that tint will really take away from how well it workS
heres the link to check out the #s
http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt2.asp

 

No offense, but how does this have to do with tinting being dangerous? The only thing I see dangerous in the above is thinking you can drive fast with a radar detector.

 

Lol, I was just changing the title.

 

i think you should be OK as long as you don't tint the front wndshield. Often times, you get radar/laser shoot from the side or the back, but if that happens, there is higher chanceto get busted even without tinted windows.. Just my opinion..

 

I'm confused? His question is in regards to how affective a radar detector will be with tinted windows, not the dangers of tinted windows...

I've heard similar complaints about how tinted windows affects the signal strength of GPS devices, I assume this would be the same thing...

 

the reason i thought tint to be dangerous was if you get tint on the back window and spend 400.00 for a radar that is supposed to be top of the line, and by doing this you drastically reduce the radars ability to function properly seems a little dangerous (money wise) sorry for the intense title ....but i guess you can hopefully see my point

 

you could get one that is built into the car....that is if u have the extra cash...my frined did that to his IS 250 in atl....he has two sensers for both his diffuser and radar in the front grill and one above the license plate...but i dont know exactly how well or how it works

 

I wouldn't be concerned about it too much for several reasons. When it comes to laser, the detector is really just a ticket detector, and isn't very helpfull. Also, most laser attacks come from the front, so unless you tint the front windshield, it won't be effected.

BTW, no speed detection devices will detect speed from the side since they only measure closing speed (change in distance over time between the target and the device).

 

Wait for the new Escort 9500i. It is supposed to offer some new features that could be very beneficial, such as GPS, among other things.

 

The issue is with metallic (or semi-metallic) tint films: for the same reason they make your cell phone reception suck, they make detecting radar waves difficult.

Its really only an issue if you tint the back window, though.

PS -- My V1 has saved my *** more than enough times to pay for itself. Great stuff.

 

Don't worry about lasers, it rarely happens *knock on wood. I am pretty sure my V1 has saved me at least $2000 in tickets.

 

Any links?

 

I just bought a Valentine 1 to put into my new S4. I am going to mount it above the rear view mirror and hard wire install it. I did plan to put 5% tint on all the windows, but I planned on leaving the windshield clear with no tint at all. I hope my tint plans won't interfere with the affectiveness of this detector.

 

Unless you live in Ohio, where I've been lasered in various cars at least 5 times. 3 times in my PT (going fast, even, but I got lucky), once in a c5 corvette (with no front plate, and the lights down, they actually have no flat surface to reflect a beam off of, so they can't get a reading!), and once in an e46 m3...

 

The flat surface isn't as important as you think. They can still get a reading, but maybe not from as far away. The same is true with Radar.