Recommend an easy to install and use radar detector
08-17-17, 09:09 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Recommend an easy to install and use radar detector
..for one who doesn't need it except for roadtrips and lives in So FL.
Price inc install under $500.
Ease of use, effectiveness, dismount, and esthetics very important.
Thank you.
If I posted in the wrong forum, moderator please move.
Price inc install under $500.
Ease of use, effectiveness, dismount, and esthetics very important.
Thank you.
If I posted in the wrong forum, moderator please move.
The following users liked this post:
tjarado (08-18-17)
08-19-17, 07:29 AM
#3
Lexus Champion
08-19-17, 09:05 AM
#4
Moderator
SMOKED: A V-1 mount is not a necessary expense at all. I have been using a V-1 since it came out many years and many updates ago, and have always used either the visor mount or the windshield mount, both of which are supplied with the unit. If he also buys the Savvy accessory, there will be no need to splice wires or tap into the car's electrical system; I used it in my RC and installed the V-1 in about 10 minutes (I have spent hours on this job in the past: finding the correct wires and tapping into them).
I think the V-1 meets the criteria he established for himself: cost, ease of use, effectiveness, and appearance. Of course, as I noted, my experience with radar detectors is limited, but from my reading, the general consensus is that the Valentine is still generally regarded as the best of the detectors in terms of its primary function: detecting radar and giving useful warnings. For these reasons, I would recommend that he consider the V-1; in my highway driving it has saved me from countless stops and tickets.
I think the V-1 meets the criteria he established for himself: cost, ease of use, effectiveness, and appearance. Of course, as I noted, my experience with radar detectors is limited, but from my reading, the general consensus is that the Valentine is still generally regarded as the best of the detectors in terms of its primary function: detecting radar and giving useful warnings. For these reasons, I would recommend that he consider the V-1; in my highway driving it has saved me from countless stops and tickets.
Last edited by tfischer; 08-19-17 at 09:15 AM. Reason: Removed references to Total Eclipse of the Sun.
08-19-17, 06:05 PM
#5
Driver School Candidate
kind of vague what OP meant by "install". if it's only going to be used for road trips, any radar detector can just plug and play. otherwise, hardwiring will all be pretty much the same. and prety much the same mounts are made for all detectors.
08-19-17, 07:37 PM
#6
Driver School Candidate
The V1 is a great choice and the arrows are awesome, but for complete performance and filtering capabilities, you're going to want to pair it to a phone and do some advanced programming.
For highway driving, the Uniden R1 will be pretty fantastic. Best level of performance you can get and good filtering too. It's $300.
If you also do any driving in the city, the R3 would be an even better choice. It adds a GPS chip so you can get low speed muting, redlight camera alerts, and (perhaps my favorite feature), teach it where false alerts are located around town so it remembers them and mutes them for you in the future. This one's $400. I've got info about the R1 and R3 here.
Escort has the ability to learn those false alerts and filter them out for you automatically, but their detectors are more expensive (the cheapest one that can do that is the Escort iX and it's already $500) and the performance and filtering is subpar compared to what you'll see compared to the competition.
Installing these is a simple matter of putting the suction cup mount on your windshield and plugging it into your cigarette lighter. However, since you're also concerned about aesthetics (good man), you'll want to hardwire it for a clean install with no cables hanging down your dash. You can pay most any stereo installer to do it for you (it's a pretty straightforward process) or you can do it yourself (here's a tutorial for you).
For highway driving, the Uniden R1 will be pretty fantastic. Best level of performance you can get and good filtering too. It's $300.
If you also do any driving in the city, the R3 would be an even better choice. It adds a GPS chip so you can get low speed muting, redlight camera alerts, and (perhaps my favorite feature), teach it where false alerts are located around town so it remembers them and mutes them for you in the future. This one's $400. I've got info about the R1 and R3 here.
Escort has the ability to learn those false alerts and filter them out for you automatically, but their detectors are more expensive (the cheapest one that can do that is the Escort iX and it's already $500) and the performance and filtering is subpar compared to what you'll see compared to the competition.
Installing these is a simple matter of putting the suction cup mount on your windshield and plugging it into your cigarette lighter. However, since you're also concerned about aesthetics (good man), you'll want to hardwire it for a clean install with no cables hanging down your dash. You can pay most any stereo installer to do it for you (it's a pretty straightforward process) or you can do it yourself (here's a tutorial for you).
08-20-17, 02:03 PM
#7
Lexus Champion
SMOKED: A V-1 mount is not a necessary expense at all. I have been using a V-1 since it came out many years and many updates ago, and have always used either the visor mount or the windshield mount, both of which are supplied with the unit. If he also buys the Savvy accessory, there will be no need to splice wires or tap into the car's electrical system; I used it in my RC and installed the V-1 in about 10 minutes (I have spent hours on this job in the past: finding the correct wires and tapping into them).
I think the V-1 meets the criteria he established for himself: cost, ease of use, effectiveness, and appearance. Of course, as I noted, my experience with radar detectors is limited, but from my reading, the general consensus is that the Valentine is still generally regarded as the best of the detectors in terms of its primary function: detecting radar and giving useful warnings. For these reasons, I would recommend that he consider the V-1; in my highway driving it has saved me from countless stops and tickets.
I think the V-1 meets the criteria he established for himself: cost, ease of use, effectiveness, and appearance. Of course, as I noted, my experience with radar detectors is limited, but from my reading, the general consensus is that the Valentine is still generally regarded as the best of the detectors in terms of its primary function: detecting radar and giving useful warnings. For these reasons, I would recommend that he consider the V-1; in my highway driving it has saved me from countless stops and tickets.
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08-20-17, 02:54 PM
#8
Moderator
Let's don't confuse the OP. If he buys a V1 new, he will pay $400.00 and get with the detector a visor mount and a windshield mount, as well as a lighter adapter, a coiled cord, a straight cord, a wiring harness connector and a direct wire power adapter (and some other stuff). For someone who expects to use it only for road trips (or roadtrips, as he calls them), this should be enough. Even if he adds in the Savvy device, he is still under his $500.00 budget.
If he wants some other type of mount, he can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $100.00. The Blendmount seems to be considered by many as the premiere mount, and it's $98.00.
For these reasons, I think he can use the V1 and its included accessories for the occasional road trip, and pay $400.00. If he wants to add in the Savvy to provide a quick and easy way to run a permanent cord up around the windshield to the detector's location, he can buy that also and still come in under $500.00. (I have had a V1 for many, many years, using only the windshield mount because I can place the detector high and to the right of the mirror, which is the best place - I bought a Savvy when I got the RC because it simplifies and speeds installation and eliminates the need to splice into wires.)
There are a lot of various accessories, both from Valentine and from independent sources, if he wants to customize his installation, which he might want to do, depending on the frequency of use. I suggest this to him because it is my understanding that, for highway use, the V1 remains very highly regarded for its long range detection.
If he wants some other type of mount, he can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $100.00. The Blendmount seems to be considered by many as the premiere mount, and it's $98.00.
For these reasons, I think he can use the V1 and its included accessories for the occasional road trip, and pay $400.00. If he wants to add in the Savvy to provide a quick and easy way to run a permanent cord up around the windshield to the detector's location, he can buy that also and still come in under $500.00. (I have had a V1 for many, many years, using only the windshield mount because I can place the detector high and to the right of the mirror, which is the best place - I bought a Savvy when I got the RC because it simplifies and speeds installation and eliminates the need to splice into wires.)
There are a lot of various accessories, both from Valentine and from independent sources, if he wants to customize his installation, which he might want to do, depending on the frequency of use. I suggest this to him because it is my understanding that, for highway use, the V1 remains very highly regarded for its long range detection.
08-22-17, 08:55 AM
#9
08-22-17, 06:29 PM
#10
Lexus Champion
Let's don't confuse the OP. If he buys a V1 new, he will pay $400.00 and get with the detector a visor mount and a windshield mount, as well as a lighter adapter, a coiled cord, a straight cord, a wiring harness connector and a direct wire power adapter (and some other stuff). For someone who expects to use it only for road trips (or roadtrips, as he calls them), this should be enough. Even if he adds in the Savvy device, he is still under his $500.00 budget.
If he wants some other type of mount, he can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $100.00. The Blendmount seems to be considered by many as the premiere mount, and it's $98.00.
For these reasons, I think he can use the V1 and its included accessories for the occasional road trip, and pay $400.00. If he wants to add in the Savvy to provide a quick and easy way to run a permanent cord up around the windshield to the detector's location, he can buy that also and still come in under $500.00. (I have had a V1 for many, many years, using only the windshield mount because I can place the detector high and to the right of the mirror, which is the best place - I bought a Savvy when I got the RC because it simplifies and speeds installation and eliminates the need to splice into wires.)
There are a lot of various accessories, both from Valentine and from independent sources, if he wants to customize his installation, which he might want to do, depending on the frequency of use. I suggest this to him because it is my understanding that, for highway use, the V1 remains very highly regarded for its long range detection.
If he wants some other type of mount, he can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $100.00. The Blendmount seems to be considered by many as the premiere mount, and it's $98.00.
For these reasons, I think he can use the V1 and its included accessories for the occasional road trip, and pay $400.00. If he wants to add in the Savvy to provide a quick and easy way to run a permanent cord up around the windshield to the detector's location, he can buy that also and still come in under $500.00. (I have had a V1 for many, many years, using only the windshield mount because I can place the detector high and to the right of the mirror, which is the best place - I bought a Savvy when I got the RC because it simplifies and speeds installation and eliminates the need to splice into wires.)
There are a lot of various accessories, both from Valentine and from independent sources, if he wants to customize his installation, which he might want to do, depending on the frequency of use. I suggest this to him because it is my understanding that, for highway use, the V1 remains very highly regarded for its long range detection.
08-23-17, 08:50 AM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Thanks to ALL who have replied, and, yes, I need to clarify what I meant by install.
Because of the excellent level of info I decided to get an easily mounted, suction cup unit that plugs into power directly, i.e. not 'hardwired', to see how and when I use it.. and if my usage warrants it, only then will I proceed to effect a hardwire 'install' at the additional cost.
Since my post was unclear - because I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted or what I could do - everyone is correct.
I decided to get the Valentine 1, which seems perfect, but I'll check out a coupla others, 'cause I'm a girl and I need to shop!!
Because of the excellent level of info I decided to get an easily mounted, suction cup unit that plugs into power directly, i.e. not 'hardwired', to see how and when I use it.. and if my usage warrants it, only then will I proceed to effect a hardwire 'install' at the additional cost.
Since my post was unclear - because I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted or what I could do - everyone is correct.
I decided to get the Valentine 1, which seems perfect, but I'll check out a coupla others, 'cause I'm a girl and I need to shop!!
08-24-17, 12:07 PM
#12
This was an informative thread. I'm definitely considering the V1 now with a savvy mount since its the same as a 'professional hidden' installation without actually needing to splice into any wires! I like the black and red color scheme as well.
06-29-23, 07:59 AM
#14
Moderator
First, you want to find a wire that carries current only when the car is running. This is called a "switched" circuit. This will turn off the detector when you shut off the engine so you don't have to (forgetting could drain the battery). Around the upper windshield, the best spot to find these circuits in modern cars is in the wire harness that powers the sensors in the rear view mirror, although you can run a wire from almost anywhere (glove box, center console) to your mounting location. (Leave some extra wire for when you have to replace the plastic plug when the locking tab looses its spring.)
Searching will probably give you some tips on which color wires are good for this, but you need to check them out with a tester to be sure. I have had trouble in the past finding the right wire, so I always advise testing first before you attach anything. I mount my V1Gen2 detector high on the windshield to the right of the mirror (so it's out of the way) with a remote readout on the dash more in my direct line of sight, and it's a bit easier to hit the mute button.
Good Luck.
Searching will probably give you some tips on which color wires are good for this, but you need to check them out with a tester to be sure. I have had trouble in the past finding the right wire, so I always advise testing first before you attach anything. I mount my V1Gen2 detector high on the windshield to the right of the mirror (so it's out of the way) with a remote readout on the dash more in my direct line of sight, and it's a bit easier to hit the mute button.
Good Luck.
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