Concealed V1 Installation?

A

Accumulator

Well-known member
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.
 
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
 
Accumulator said:
I have to get the antennas relocated so I can lose the "box looking through the windshield" thing
Click to expand...



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.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
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.
Click to expand...



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



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 :think:
 
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).
 
Accumulator said:
Setec Astronomy- Thanks for that link, and heh heh, yeah, I did check it out without looking at any other threads :D



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 :think:
Click to expand...



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.
 
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?
 
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 :D



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 :o Just wanted to throw the idea out there while I had it in mind.
 
YoMike- Ding Ding!! We have a winner :spot



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 :D (My accountant just called with good news about this year's tax bill)
 
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?



0_Install_PRS3-VV.bmp
TLP_V1Remote_Install_Diagram.bmp
 
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.
 
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.



V1ScanGauge.jpg




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.



V1Terminator.jpg




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.
 
Matt M, PA- That's a nice clean install! And unplugging at the connector box is smart :xyxthumbs 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 :nixweiss 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 :think:



I know, I know, I'm probably just stuck in my ways :o 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 :hairpull for me.
 
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!
 
Accumulator said:
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.
Click to expand...



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.
 
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