Concealed V1 Installation?

[Accumulator]

I once rode in a vehicle that had a true concealed-V1-conversion, with the antennas mounted at either end of the vehicle and the rest of it mounted in the dash...so I *know* it can be done.

What I don't know is where I can find somebody to do it. Any ideas?

And no, the people who did that install aren't an option.

[themightytimmah]

This guy builds kits for that sort of thing - drop him an e-mail and he could probably build you a custom kit that you could install in 45 minutes or so.

eBay Motors: VALENTINE 1 RADAR LOCATOR " IN REAR VIEW MIRROR" (item 260200561024 end time Jan-13-08 08:00:07 PST)

E-mail is at the bottom of the link, they'll set you up with a mirror install and a custom enclosure, it's an easy install for a local car audio shop.

[todd@bsaw]

I loved the custom install in this Aston Martin:
http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...+martin+hidden

[Accumulator]

todd@bsaw- Ah, thanks, I missed that one.

themightytimmah- Cool, thanks for that link! This is for a possible future project...I'm usually happy with the V1 just hardwired and on the windshield, but, well...I'm planning If I get the car I'll drop him a line.

I'd have to see if he'd one-off what I need; his regular package isn't what I'm after as he still uses the basic V1 unit and just relocates the display. I have to get the antennas relocated so I can lose the "box looking through the windshield" thing and I don't want the display in the mirror either :think

[Setec Astronomy]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

I have to get the antennas relocated so I can lose the "box looking through the windshield" thing

If I recall my V1 construction properly (and I don't even know how I think I know this) the antennas aren't separate, but are part of the same casting. They might have had a disassembly picture on that radar detector forum.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

If I recall my V1 construction properly (and I don't even know how I think I know this) the antennas aren't separate, but are part of the same casting. They might have had a disassembly picture on that radar detector forum.

That could be about the single block for the antennas. The install I saw was done by some mighty bright electronics guys in a cost-no-object situation.

Heh heh, I try to avoid radar detector forums as, well, I can end up spending some time there But yeah, if I don't find somebody to just do it for me I might educate myself a little more.

Somebody had advertised this service a long time ago...I sorta think it was the same guy who used to do this for the original (metal case) Escorts, but this was so long ago that I have only the faintest memory of it

[Setec Astronomy]

Ok...I'll post this link if you promise not to look at the rest of the forum: Radar detector jammer forum: View topic - INTERNAL PICTURES OF THE VALENTINE ONE

Edit: You could always use two V1's, one for the front and one for the back...just hooking to the appropriate antenna to maintain the arrow function (I'm presuming that hacking the wave guide in half won't do good things for its performance).

[Accumulator]

Setec Astronomy- Thanks for that link, and heh heh, yeah, I did check it out without looking at any other threads

Hmm...I suspect this might not be easy, finding somebody to cobble up what I have in mind. I'd bet my life that the guy doing the mirror installs won't touch this, but we'll see if I get that far.

If I weren't so stubborn where the V1s are concerned I'd just go with a hidden system from somebody else...might oughta give that some thought

[Setec Astronomy]

I'm pretty partial to my V1 also. In that Aston thread, it was in a box looking out the *back* window; perhaps there is some sort of overhead console installation possible that will look more natural (I guess the laser reception was compromised in that Aston).

[themightytimmah]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Setec Astronomy- Thanks for that link, and heh heh, yeah, I did check it out without looking at any other threads

Hmm...I suspect this might not be easy, finding somebody to cobble up what I have in mind. I'd bet my life that the guy doing the mirror installs won't touch this, but we'll see if I get that far.

If I weren't so stubborn where the V1s are concerned I'd just go with a hidden system from somebody else...might oughta give that some thought

If you're not dead set on the arrows, the Escort SRX's are amazing, and you could get one installed with the full laser jammer setup for about what this V1 project would cost.

[itb76]

Accumulator - if you find a way to make this happen please keep us posted. For me the ideal situation would be an E60 535i with the V1 alert built into the heads up display, and the controls operated through the iDrive menu. Just a pipe dream unfortunately.

My hunch is that the laser receiver is more easily relocated than the radar horns are, and consequently it's the radar reception from ahead that's compromised. The laser antenna could have been relocated into the mirror?

[Accumulator]

themightytimmah- Choosing a hidden system would be tough for me...I'm just *SO* into the V1 in every possible way. Just having a different tone/display/anything would be a huge adjustment for me after all my years of running V1s. I can't even imagine having the display outside of my peripheral vision...I've driven cars with the displays in the usual hidden-system positions and I simply hated it.

itb76- Yeah, and remounting the radar horn(s) lower than windshield height will compromise things anyhow, both front and back. It's just not as good a location.

Heh heh, the guys who did the system I saw could probably integrate it into the HUD/
idrive, but hey, if you have a electronics skunkworks at your disposal you can get most anything

And again, this is just something I might look into *if* I do a certain vehicle project...all in the very tentative look-see phase at this point. I'm still way behind on the projects I've already started Just wanted to throw the idea out there while I had it in mind.