Been expermenting with the V1 radar detector (borrowed from a friend with a Porsche and says best unit he has had), but want to know others experience.
Good, bad indifferent?
How about a hard wired installation?
Any tips, ideas, best location for the detector and easiest way to run the wire and harness to tie into?

Summer is almost here in the Pac NW so top down and ready to do a bit of V-teching, but need to keep an eye out for the bogeys !

Cheers

 

Here's mine.... the install is definitely not for the squeamish (or for states where detectors are illegal).
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...?threadid=93439
Gimme a sec, while I fix the pic links..

 

Check in the "library". I believe there is a hard wiring guide for the V1 in there.

 

Okay, pics are fixed.

Also, I don't have any experience with other detectors, but I can tell you the V1 has paid for itself on several occasions for me (including just yesterday). I love having the arrows and the counter.

There's even an article in this month's Maxim that ranks the V1 as the best of the detectors they tested.

 

Wow, Maxim huh. They are my first choice for electronics reviews! :-) J/K.

I went with the MUCH cheaper Passport 8500. I was able to find it new for $250USD. I was going to hard wire as described in the library, but convinced my alarm installers to do it for free while they were working on the alarm. I had them mount the "smart cord" indicator and mute switch just below the environemtnal controls. I will post pix soon, been busy with school. (OT: Go to school when you are young and have nothing else to do.)

BTW -- The 8500 gets listed as #1 about as often as the V1 by independant resources. As far as I can tell the actuall detector bits are equal. The V1 has the directional arrows to point you to the radar source, but it runs $150 more than mine did. I have been definatly saved TWICE already by my 8500. It has been completly paid for then.

Example: I was getting annoyed by traffic, saw an opening and shot through it. Was accellerating when the 8500 went off so I backed off and reached the speed limit. I would have easily gone 20-30 over the speed limit if the 8500 hadn't gone off. Cop was hidden behind some bushes about 40 feet to my left.

 

The V1 is definitely worth it IMO, but I've never used the 8500. My understanding is that you can't go wrong either way.

As for the hardwire, follow the instructions in the library. Very easy; takes maybe an hour at a careful pace. I mounted mine on the passenger side visor using the clip supplied by Valentine and was very happy with it. I ran the wire behind the upper trim piece, and the cut the hole for the visor peg a little bigger and ran the phone cord directly through the hole. I also had the remote display that I mounted just under the A/C controls as mentioned previously.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by munckee
[B]The V1 is definitely worth it IMO, but I've never used the 8500.

 

I think it means "I'm Mouthing Off".







(it means "In My Opinion")

 

HOT, thanks qube.
you still want to do my audio controls?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jimbo69ny
[B]HOT, thanks qube.