Concealed V1 Installation?

[YoMike]

Remote V1
Valentine 1 Remote Radar Detector. Hidden Valentine One radar detector reviews by the Countermeasures Expert.

[Accumulator]

YoMike- Ding Ding!! We have a winner

Thanks for that, if I do this I'll call 'em.

Yeah...this is just what I was after.

Still stuff to figure out (mounting locations, rear coverage) but at least now I know the basic idea is a go.

Second best news I've had all day (My accountant just called with good news about this year's tax bill)

[YoMike]

I don't get why the price is so high at that site.
If you go direct to valentine1 store all the parts you need total,
Valentine One $399.00
Concealed Display $39.00
Remote Audio Adapter $49.00
total: $487.00
https://store.valentine1.com/store/

Am I missing something here, what's the missing $512.00 for?

[Accumulator]

YoMike- In that diagram, the V1 icon says "Valentine 1 *REMOTE* " The "remote" part is what costs the big bucks- they take it apart and hook up the receiver via a cable so that part of it can be mounted in the grill/etc. (other part of diagram, the icon on the car's front end near the word "front") instead of looking through the windshield. You're basically paying them to hook up the receiver to a cable. No way I'd want to disassemble a V1 and try to do that myself!

It still leaves me wondering if I'd need a second unit for rear coverage, and the loss of performance from having the receivers down low makes it not worth it to me unless I'm doing this specific (potential) project where I don't want it visible. In most cases I truly believe it's an answer in search of a question, but then I don't live somewhere where detectors are illegal either.

[Matt M, PA]

Here's what I did in my daily drivers.

I used the hardwiring kit, and then use a Radio Shack phone extension cord with the female "boxed" end. It came in white, so I sprayed it black. This was emblem taped to the very top of the windshield by the headliner.



Then, I made a short phone cord pigtail to go between the V1 and this "box". If the V1 is removed, simply unplug at the box and leave the pigtail on the V1.

The V1 is now suction cupped to the very top of the windshield, which is the best place for it. I next installed the remote display in the console of the Cobra, and by the instrument cluster in the Ex.



On the Cobra, the V1 looks just under that matrix portion of the window...it's hardly visible from the outside. However, as well as the matrix stuff shields it from view...it also keeps the suction cups from sticking. I cut a piece of plexiglass from a license plate cover, and emblem taped that to the windshield.

[Accumulator]

Matt M, PA- That's a nice clean install! And unplugging at the connector box is smart It's frustrating to wear out the phone cord's male end/clip on a hardwire install...which reminds me that I need to buy some male ends and a crimping tool one of these days.

One thing I don't get though (and please don't take this as my calling your baby ugly!): since you have a display above the mirror already, why do you want the V1 display down out of your line of sight?

I guess I just never really got the whole idea behind the remote display when the V1 is usually/optimally mounted up where your peripheral vision can see the "regular" display The arguments that other people/LEOs won't see it as readily always just struck me as ad-copy hooey to sell the concealed display. Yet people must like that approach, or guys like you wouldn't go to the trouble of setting it up so well

I know, I know, I'm probably just stuck in my ways I've been running detectors in (more or less) the same location ever since I replaced my original "FuzzBuster", which *had* to sit on the dashboard, with the first version of the Escort. Whenever I've driven cars with the displays in other locations it's been a for me.

[Matt M, PA]

Accumulator...the main reason for the remote display was because when you are hooked up to the remote display...the main display does not light...only the remote one does.

So, at night...it's not screaming bright in your eyes....and whoever is following also does not even realize it is there. I too wondered about the logic of it...and basically installed this simply because I thought it would be cool. Now that it's there...I liked it well enough to do the same in my Excursion.

Once I glance at the arrows to see where the threat is...the sound is how I know how close I am...so being lower in the car is not an issue.

One more note for Mustang coupe guys...I installed a convertible top switch where the worthless little coin holder thing is in the console....now I use that as a "mute" switch.

And..thanks for the kind word!

[tquill]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

YoMike- In that diagram, the V1 icon says "Valentine 1 *REMOTE* " The "remote" part is what costs the big bucks- they take it apart and hook up the receiver via a cable so that part of it can be mounted in the grill/etc. (other part of diagram, the icon on the car's front end near the word "front") instead of looking through the windshield. You're basically paying them to hook up the receiver to a cable. No way I'd want to disassemble a V1 and try to do that myself!

It still leaves me wondering if I'd need a second unit for rear coverage, and the loss of performance from having the receivers down low makes it not worth it to me unless I'm doing this specific (potential) project where I don't want it visible. In most cases I truly believe it's an answer in search of a question, but then I don't live somewhere where detectors are illegal either.

Actually it looks like they just put the whole detector up front in a water tight box. They didn't take it apart at all. The remote unit is just another accessory you can by from Valentine.

Hardly worth the addition 500 dollars IMO.