Valentine 1 Radar Detector Installation

I finally got around to installing my Valentine One radar detector today. I've used the V1 for years and I have never received a ticket in all that time. In my opinion it's the best consumer detector on the market... but that's another discussion.

The V1 comes with an optional remote display. It allows you to blank the main detector unit lights so other drivers are unable to see them while keeping the actual detector receiver installed high on the windshield for best detection sensitivity and visibility.

I didn't want to cut any holes in dash components to mount the remote display. But I also don't want a power wire drooping from the windshield to a power outlet.

I came up with a fairly quick and tidy install that meets all my needs. See what you think in the pics below.

Here's the main unit installation...


The V1 remote display is conveniently designed to physically attach to the 12V power plug that comes with the main unit. Power and remote signals are routed from the power plug via 4-wire phone wire with RJ-11 connectors on either end.

The V1 remote display kit also provided the 8-foot RJ-11 cord that I used. And it installed perfectly with very little slack. Here's how it's routed...

I started at the main unit end to give enough cord for my deisred mount location...



Then tucked the cord under headliner and over to the A-pillar. I used existing white harness clips to keep the wire in place...


I routed it down to the dash seam, making sure to keep it from overlapping the air curtain...


Removing the passenger side vent panel provides access through the dash to assist the routing...



route the end of the cable to the lower aux panel location...


I routed around the tab of the dash subpanel to keep it in place on the driver's side after the aux panel was reinstalled...



This arrangement provides power to both the remote and the main unit and holds the remote in place. In this picture, you can also see the RJ-11 cable feeding behind the remote and back behind the dash panel. All panels back in place, remote plugged in to driver's side aux power port...




This is the remote display in its final installed location from the driver's eye perspective...



This is the least invasive and intrusive installation I could think of. The display is where I can easily see it while other drivers can't, and I can easily reach the mute button on the left side of the remote when needed.

Now it's time to crack a cold one and watch the Cowboys!

See you on the Forums!

 

Sean. Your civilian ride-along experience notwithstanding, This is not a worthless mod.

I was a police officer a number of years ago and I worked plenty of radar duty. After 5 years as a cop, I changed occupations for a pay raise and for the last 25 years I have worked as an engineer in the field of radar and RF coutermeasure design. I'm very aware of the tactic you are describing... We call it "instant on". This method allows you to clock speeds of vehicles once they are in range and in the radar's field of view without continuoulsy broadcasting your presence while they are out of range. For many cheaper radar detectors, this is an effective technique. But the V1 has such great sensitivity that it routinely alerts me miles before I am in range of an operating radar. When the traffic officer uses his instant on for vehicles a mile or two ahead of me, he is briefly transmitting and that's enough for the V1 to pick up the RF multi-path signals and provide an alert. Note that the valentine one has a directional display, so not only do you get great multi-band RF and laser detection sensitivity but you get direction finding (DF) and signal tracking for up to 9 simultaneous and unique signals. The regular intermittent detection pattern from instant-on operation, along with a forward directional indication is a high probability alert that there is an instant-on operation ahead. This allows me to check my speed well in advance of being in range.

As for laser, the V1 also performs exceedingly well. While laser detection is very line-of-sight dependent and therefore harder to detect, I have often received laser glint or backscatter detection off of vehicles in front of me, who are being illuminated. When laser detection goes off, I'm instantly on the brakes if I'm too fast. More than once, I have receieved a laser alert and hit the brakes and then watched others get pulled over in front of me while I cruised by at the posted speed. As I said before, laser is very line-of-sight dependent, so it is focused on a single vehicle at a time and it must be in visual range. With careful driving tactics you can use other vehicles as a shield against laser. Now if you always have to be alone and unafraid ahead of the pack, you might have some trouble in a laser environment.

As I said in my original post, in all the years I've had a V1, I have never been pulled over for speeding. That's actually something of great worth.

 

Thanks for moving the post, I wasn't sure where it should go and I saw other detector posts in the 2nd Gen forum.

 

I would agree with both of you. My V1 has saved me many times over the years and I've never received a ticket in the past 20 years since I was running a V1.

That being said, the times are changing and the V1 isn't as effective as it used to be. Granted I think the V1 is one of the best detectors on the market, but the cops have more tools in their arsenal. My best luck these days are a combination of Waze and using the V1. Waze is great for the highways where the majority of speed traps and laser are used. The V1 is great in the back roads and in town where K or Ka bands are used. Between the two, I'm pretty confident I'll stay ticket free for many more years.

One thing I recently upgraded to on my V1 is the Bluetooth module. This allows the use of apps on your smart phone to set many custom settings as well as keeping your V1 quiet if you aren't traveling over a certain driver set speed (set it to mute when going under 40mph). Get the standard version of the BT dongle if you are running Andriod and the LE version if you have IOS. This allows 3rd party apps to work with the V1 and give you more options. The BT dongle also reduces false alarms significantly as you can custom the frequencies that the detector looks for.

As far as laser, my V1 will not pick it up as I have my windshield tinted. Best thing to do if you are worried about laser is add a jammer.

Bye the way TundraTex, that is a clean install. Thanks for the write up!

 

Cool. As in all posts and opinions, YMMV. But great threat warning combined with smart tactics equals no speeding tickets in 25+ years. That has definitive value.

Another data point is that in the numerous speeding tickets I wrote in my time as a police officer, I never wrote one to somebody with a V1 in the windshield. There were plenty of escort and cobra owners that received tickets.

 

V1 isn't detecting a bird running radar in the sky

 

As far as radar detectors? IMO are pointless, if your detector is beeping we already clocked you lol and how bout utilizing the calibrated patrol cars which clock your speed again v1 won't be picking that up. Where I work we have no time for running radar but the departments who rely on traffic summoning they are always one step ahead. The same companies that are helping you(civilians) are also making our(LEO) equipment that's why imo they are pointless. Save your money and buy a lift kit, exhaust,etc.... just my input

 

Lol

 

lol, there's a smilie for that.....

 

(while knocking on wood)
I have been using my Uniden LRD 950 for over a year now. It has saved me from numerous tickets. I drive 64 miles round-trip to work everyday, and get clocked at least once a day.
The Radar detector usually picks up the signal 1/2 mile or further on the highway.

 

A Prius?

jk. I got more tickets in my Prius than I have in my Vette.

 

If police actually used airborne speed radar, it would be detected by the V1. But I'm not aware of any airborne speed enforcement accomplished with radar, it is done with time/distance measurements; essentially equivalent to pacing. This either happens with automated systems such as VASCAR or by the observer timing vehicles as they pass painted distance markers along the freeway.

Not really sure what point you're trying to make. While there are some jurisdictions that use airborne traffic monitoring, they are relatively uncommon... at least in my area. The only way to guarantee not getting a speeding ticket is to obey the speed limit. Everything beyond that is a risk management proposition, and the V1 is an exceptional risk reduction tool.

 

We own 4 V1's in our household! We LOVE them!

 

Yes, that is the scenario. That said, it's still saved me numerous times because they generally hit a car in front of you

 

@TundraTex not to make this drawn out but the state police by me do not use radar they use mile markers that are painted on the ground so your v1 will not pick it up being it is being done by the human eye unless you have some kinda special mod on urs lol. My department just got laser which I had a guy clocked and he told me damn I spent 600 and it didn't go off till last minute. We had a good laugh and I sent him on his way. He had a lifted ford I told him he should've bought a tundra might have been overlooked lol

 

Damn New Yorkers!! LOL Yes, as I conceeded above, Radar detectors aren't much use if there is no Radar being used. And, even when they are useful, they aren't 100% effective. But if you own one, get a good one like a V1 for the highest probability of success.

Thanks for your service.

 

I go the most inexpensive route

WAZE

 

I want a mount like this.
https://blendmount.com/

 

Me too !!!...Awesome design !!

 

I thought about buying or building something similar. But when I did a fit check of the V1 under the mirror, I felt like it was more obtrusive than my current location. If it was tucked behind the mirror then it was difficult to get to the volume controls.

I may revisit this at some point, so definitely post some pics if you do this.