Radar Detectors

[MikeHTally]

thanks for the help so far guys! im debating rather to hardwire from the cig lighter or fuse box! im gonna mount it on the bottom left of the windshield! any suggestions?

Make sure your record is clean. If you mount it low, it won't go off soon enough.

 

[MikeHTally]

ok, Im not trying to start a debate on the subject. Im just saying for some reason, my radar stills works just as it would on the windshield. There was absolutely no change in its performance at all.

Sorry, hoss. Ain't no way. Radar is line-of-sight, an' it cain't see through metal.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

You can mount it any where on the windshield you want. All tests show dominantly that in the middle with clear sight forward and rearward are the best. If you are going to go the route of a radar detector you might as well have it where it works best! Any other way is a roll of the dice and your fault if it doesnt warn you in time. I also have mine hardwired to the fuse box, seems easiest for me.

 

[MikeHTally]

I would just mount it @ the bottom of the glass and wire it to the cig lighter, personally. Don't know why you would want the radar detector @ the top of the windshield...

Radar is line-of-sight. So is laser. The higher it's mounted, the better. I've seen some articles saying center of the windshield, but it'll get too hot there and also block some of the view.

I see so many detectors placed so they're pointed at the sky or so they're "looking" through the wipers. My RX-65 goes off when the bear is still several hills away. It's placed just below the tint eyebrow, so it has a clear view and is still shaded by the eyebrow. I use the same location in my Ram.

Two of my recent tickets were laser-generated. The only way a laser detector will save you is if there is some bounce off the true victim's car and your detector sees it. Otherwise, you're toast.

 

[Cloud_Walker]

Coincidentally, I just did this yesterday:

It's secured with velcro strips and hardwired to the back of the cigarette lighter. No "kit" needed. I just chopped off the cigarette lighter plug and stripped some of the wire to expose it. I unhooked the harness on the back of the cigarette lighter, then, using a probe, took out the wires themselves from the harness. Then I just reinserted them with the corresponding exposed wires of my radar detector. I had to remove the radio and the pieces around the cigarette lighter to run the wire, of course. The big round covering over the guages just snaps off from the center near the windshield.

 

[Ty07allstar]

Radar is line-of-sight. So is laser. The higher it's mounted, the better. I've seen some articles saying center of the windshield, but it'll get too hot there and also block some of the view.

I see so many detectors placed so they're pointed at the sky or so they're "looking" through the wipers. My RX-65 goes off when the bear is still several hills away. It's placed just below the tint eyebrow, so it has a clear view and is still shaded by the eyebrow. I use the same location in my Ram.

Two of my recent tickets were laser-generated. The only way a laser detector will save you is if there is some bounce off the true victim's car and your detector sees it. Otherwise, you're toast.

When you say you placed it below the eyebrow, did you put the suction on the tint or did you place the suction cups below the eyebrow? I ask because I would like to place the suction cups on the tint to hide the marks but have heard that it can leave marks on the tint. If you did place on the tint has it left any marks? I plan to remove when done using so it will only be on for a maximum of a couple of hours.

 

[MikeHTally]

Yep, the suction cups are on the tint. The marks they leave are easily removable. Just cleaning the glass makes 'em go right away. Our detectors are always up. They're taken down only if we're driving through Virginia (which is very seldom), or we're leaving the vehicle unguarded somewhere.

 

[Ty07allstar]

Yep, the suction cups are on the tint. The marks they leave are easily removable. Just cleaning the glass makes 'em go right away. Our detectors are always up. They're taken down only if we're driving through Virginia (which is very seldom), or we're leaving the vehicle unguarded somewhere.

Nice, I guess I'll leave on the tint now. Do you let the front of the detector, the sensor part, hang below the tint or is that too blocked by the tint too? I was going to do this to hide it completely but have heard that it can hurt the range.

 

[MikeHTally]

The detector's sensor is below the eyebrow. The eyebrow ends right at the top front of the unit, so the sensitivity is not affected, but it doesn't bake in full sunlight. Yes, putting tint between the radar gun and the detector will reduce its affectiveness, which means the rear-facing sensor is probably radically affected by the 15% tint on the back window.

 

[Ty07allstar]

The detector's sensor is below the eyebrow. The eyebrow ends right at the top front of the unit, so the sensitivity is not affected, but it doesn't bake in full sunlight. Yes, putting tint between the radar gun and the detector will reduce its affectiveness, which means the rear-facing sensor is probably radically affected by the 15% tint on the back window.

I have the Vector 995 so mine doesn't have the rear facing detector so I don't have to worry about my 5% tint blocking that.

 

[leadf00t]

Op - Here is what you're after if it will work with your model of detector.

http://www.blendmount.com/products.html

Hard wire guide
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123712940&highlight=hard+wire+a+radar

more good info
http://guysoflidar.com/

 

[Cloud_Walker]

Lookin' clean.

 

[MikeHTally]

Well, you're set if the bear is on your left.

 

[MZ3SPORTRUE]

Well, you're set if the bear is on your left.

i talked to a whistler rep (someone from the main hq) and he said placement there it will work just fine with no problems. he said just make sure the unit is level and "not facing the stars".

Lookin' clean.

thanks bro!