Radar Detectors in your SS?
I have a passport, 100x better then my old cobra. Its mounted right under the rear view hardwired to a switched sorce. Cord runs up into linder and down passanger pillar. Cant be seen as it blends in with teh onstar wires 
Joined: 09-29-06
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From: Land of Freedom
NOOOO you dont have a cord/wire visible. HARDWIRED. goes BEHIND the dash. you see all of maybe 2 inches of the cord as it goes off the unit and behind and under my dash.
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Joined: 06-22-08
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From: Florida
BELTRONICS 995 HARDWIRE FTW
about 2 inches of visible cord looks real clean
and yes higher on the windshield is better
about 2 inches of visible cord looks real clean
and yes higher on the windshield is better
Last edited by purplehaze03; Jun 25, 2009 at 10:22 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Joined: 03-14-09
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From: Anna, TX
A quote from your instruction manual:
"Using the QuickMount bracket, mount
your V995 level, and high enough on your
front windshield to provide a clear view of
the road from the front and rear."
It doesn't say 'as high as possible' it says high enough to give it a view front and back. Radar detectors I have owned have all said as low as possible while providing front and back visibility.
From a higher end Cobra's manual:
"You will get optimum performance from your detector if you Mount it at a
point approximately in the center of the vehicle, as low as possible on the
front windshield without obstructing the unit’s view of the road either to
the front or rear. You can also mount it directly on the dashboard."
It depends on the detector, follow the user's guide to know where to mount it.
"Using the QuickMount bracket, mount
your V995 level, and high enough on your
front windshield to provide a clear view of
the road from the front and rear."
It doesn't say 'as high as possible' it says high enough to give it a view front and back. Radar detectors I have owned have all said as low as possible while providing front and back visibility.
From a higher end Cobra's manual:
"You will get optimum performance from your detector if you Mount it at a
point approximately in the center of the vehicle, as low as possible on the
front windshield without obstructing the unit’s view of the road either to
the front or rear. You can also mount it directly on the dashboard."
It depends on the detector, follow the user's guide to know where to mount it.
Senior Member
Joined: 11-20-07
Posts: 2,961
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From: Pittsburgh, Pistolvania
"Ah, but conventional wisdom says to place the detector as high on the windshield as possible for best performance. Admittedly this sounds like a good idea. After all, don't radio and TV stations rely on tall towers to broadcast their signals afar? And doesn't a tall antenna on your car ensure optimal radio reception? Yes, but police radar is entirely different from the signal broadcast by your favorite FM rock station.
For one thing, it's not omni-directional, transmitting in a 360-degree circle. A radar beam is deliberately very narrow, as little as 9 degrees in the case of some Ka-band radar guns. And this concentrated beam produces plenty of scatter, bouncing off anything metallic in its path and sending ricochets at tangents to the main beam. In all my years of testing detectors I've never seen one whose range increased when it was relocated from a passenger vehicle's dash to upper windshield area.
There's another drawback to mounting a detector up high: it seriously screws up laser detection. Keep in mind that a laser beam at 1,000 feet can be covered by a three-foot-diameter circle. The beam is so tight, not to mention small, that if aimed at the front license plate, the favored point of aim, many detectors, even dash-mounted, simply can't see it. Remember: The larger the vehicle, the farther the detector will be from the front plate and the poorer its laser detection."
from radar test.com.... apparently it might actually be better to mount it lower..
but I have no idea....
For one thing, it's not omni-directional, transmitting in a 360-degree circle. A radar beam is deliberately very narrow, as little as 9 degrees in the case of some Ka-band radar guns. And this concentrated beam produces plenty of scatter, bouncing off anything metallic in its path and sending ricochets at tangents to the main beam. In all my years of testing detectors I've never seen one whose range increased when it was relocated from a passenger vehicle's dash to upper windshield area.
There's another drawback to mounting a detector up high: it seriously screws up laser detection. Keep in mind that a laser beam at 1,000 feet can be covered by a three-foot-diameter circle. The beam is so tight, not to mention small, that if aimed at the front license plate, the favored point of aim, many detectors, even dash-mounted, simply can't see it. Remember: The larger the vehicle, the farther the detector will be from the front plate and the poorer its laser detection."
from radar test.com.... apparently it might actually be better to mount it lower..
but I have no idea....
Best $300 I ever spent. Has a warranty that if you get a speeding ticket within the first year of owning it, they pay for the ticket.
K40 is ******* top-notch; very well known and respected by many car magazines.
K40 is ******* top-notch; very well known and respected by many car magazines.
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Joined: 11-20-07
Posts: 2,961
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, Pistolvania
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Joined: 06-22-08
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
From: Florida
A quote from your instruction manual:
"Using the QuickMount bracket, mount
your V995 level, and high enough on your
front windshield to provide a clear view of
the road from the front and rear."
It doesn't say 'as high as possible' it says high enough to give it a view front and back. Radar detectors I have owned have all said as low as possible while providing front and back visibility.
From a higher end Cobra's manual:
"You will get optimum performance from your detector if you Mount it at a
point approximately in the center of the vehicle, as low as possible on the
front windshield without obstructing the unit’s view of the road either to
the front or rear. You can also mount it directly on the dashboard."
It depends on the detector, follow the user's guide to know where to mount it.
"Using the QuickMount bracket, mount
your V995 level, and high enough on your
front windshield to provide a clear view of
the road from the front and rear."
It doesn't say 'as high as possible' it says high enough to give it a view front and back. Radar detectors I have owned have all said as low as possible while providing front and back visibility.
From a higher end Cobra's manual:
"You will get optimum performance from your detector if you Mount it at a
point approximately in the center of the vehicle, as low as possible on the
front windshield without obstructing the unit’s view of the road either to
the front or rear. You can also mount it directly on the dashboard."
It depends on the detector, follow the user's guide to know where to mount it.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-01-06
Posts: 586
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
Someone else falls for the "we'll pay your ticket" BS. If you actually read up on it, they only pay the fine itself, no court costs, and only up to 7 mph over the posted speed limit. In other words, unless you have an officer in your area who pulls for 1-7 mph over the speed limit in your area, it is useless.Another thing with K40, if they are so great, why won't they let anyone do an independent comparison test?
Mine is a Whistler Pro 58. Only one every sold for under $100 that has been recommended by anyone. Is it the greatest? Nope. But it works decently, and I get a numerical strength indicator, unlike crapras (cobra) that only give you tones and a flashing band indicator. Hardwired, mounted directly underneath the rearview mirror.
Someone else falls for the "we'll pay your ticket" BS. If you actually read up on it, they only pay the fine itself, no court costs, and only up to 7 mph over the posted speed limit. In other words, unless you have an officer in your area who pulls for 1-7 mph over the speed limit in your area, it is useless.Another thing with K40, if they are so great, why won't they let anyone do an independent comparison test?
When you can prove to me that it isn't so great, then I'll believe it. I know it works, and it works good, much better than many other radars out there. There is a reason it's the price it is, and a reason so many people purchase it. Hey man, good products sell.
i have a Valentine One, it is by far the greatest radar ever, my buddy has a 9500 and we stuck them side by side in my windshield and cruised around, my V1 went off everytime compared to his 9500 going off 5 out of 11 times, if u can afford a V1 deff get it you will not be disappointed watch this vid...if it doesnt change ur mind then idk what will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiSaa-7I0-s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiSaa-7I0-s
i have a Valentine One, it is by far the greatest radar ever, my buddy has a 9500 and we stuck them side by side in my windshield and cruised around, my V1 went off everytime compared to his 9500 going off 5 out of 11 times, if u can afford a V1 deff get it you will not be disappointed watch this vid...if it doesnt change ur mind then idk what will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiSaa-7I0-s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiSaa-7I0-s
the top three are the STi, V1 and 9500xi
I have the 9500i and love it. I love the gps and being able to block false alarms out. studies show that the 9500i/xi have the best false alarm sensing out there. the STi can pick up things from further away. the v1 has that arrow which imo is useless as who cares where the **** is coming from you just need to slow down. If you get any of those 3 you will have one of the best on the market. All the fan boys here will say their **** but do your own research and read the tests done and they show those are the 3 you should choose from.
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Joined: 07-01-06
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
I'm not going to argue with a K40 fanboy. But for that much I would have gotten a Bel or Escort personally. Around here, they don't usually pull for less than 9 over, which makes that little "ticket guarantee" useless.
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Joined: 07-01-06
Posts: 586
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
Shadow, I just went and looked at their site. Last review was in 2005. That says enough to me. They won't have a more recent comparison against newer models, I'm not interested. I never said they didn't work. I just said they were feeding people fine-print BS.
And the pulling you over for being "in the middle of bum-**** nowhere where officers will do anything to pull a kid over," sounds more like typical enforcement anywhere. Younger guy in a fast looking car, may as well have a bullseye on your face.
And the pulling you over for being "in the middle of bum-**** nowhere where officers will do anything to pull a kid over," sounds more like typical enforcement anywhere. Younger guy in a fast looking car, may as well have a bullseye on your face.
No, it sounds like cops who have nothing better to do than to pull people over for stupid ass ****. I'm not saying they just pull kids over, they will pull over any ******* joe-shmoe. I guess you won't know what it's like until you live in a small town where the cops are so far up everyone's ass, they can see ******* China.
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Joined: 07-01-06
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
You act like them having the time to do traffic enforcement is a bad thing. Guess the thought that you like in a safe enough community that they have the time to do that doesn't matter to you? Now if they were neglecting enforcement in other areas, or ignoring greater crimes to go after traffic infractions, yes, there is a problem.
You act like them having the time to do traffic enforcement is a bad thing. Guess the thought that you like in a safe enough community that they have the time to do that doesn't matter to you? Now if they were neglecting enforcement in other areas, or ignoring greater crimes to go after traffic infractions, yes, there is a problem.
They do ignore ****. There are so many drug dealers in my town, it's insane, yet I see them, day after day. There is always kids underage drinking, people's cars get broken into, vandalism, etc. I guess license plates are more important. Eh?
I have been using the STI since it was released and have had zero issues, I think it picks up better than my previous 8500 x50.
We have sold quite a few of the new GX65 also, we have had a ton of great reviews on that unit.
But then again Beltronics and Escort are the same company
We have sold quite a few of the new GX65 also, we have had a ton of great reviews on that unit.
But then again Beltronics and Escort are the same company
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Joined: 07-01-06
Posts: 586
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From: Winston-Salem, NC
And didn't I say if they are ignoring other things that is a problem? Bad part is, things like the plate location, burned out lights, etc are intended to give police probable cause to pull you over. If you aren't doing anything else wrong, it's an inconvienent thing. But it is still the law.
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Joined: 08-17-08
Posts: 1,605
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From: Illinois
Radar detectors success depends on driving habits.
whats funny is that the court system frowns on cases of 1-7mph over. Cops wont even touch their shifter if your less than 8 mph over. so the companies only pay for very rare tickets.
I have a bel 985 that ive had in 3 cars (WRX, 3.5L maxima, and The CSS/TC) Bought in 03, one ticket since 03 and the unit happened to be off. The thing has great range (over 2 miles) and has kept me out plenty o trouble. The fact that it has lasted for 6 years in temperatures from -20 degrees F to more than 150 in the sun with black interior in all my cars, says alot about quality
Valentines are nice, but the performance advantage is soooo minute compared to the added cost. Instant On is instant on, and you will get caught if you encounter a remotely intelligent patrolman.
Extra lidar detectors only give you more time to get your wallet out for the officer, because once your tagged your done.
whats funny is that the court system frowns on cases of 1-7mph over. Cops wont even touch their shifter if your less than 8 mph over. so the companies only pay for very rare tickets.
I have a bel 985 that ive had in 3 cars (WRX, 3.5L maxima, and The CSS/TC) Bought in 03, one ticket since 03 and the unit happened to be off. The thing has great range (over 2 miles) and has kept me out plenty o trouble. The fact that it has lasted for 6 years in temperatures from -20 degrees F to more than 150 in the sun with black interior in all my cars, says alot about quality
Valentines are nice, but the performance advantage is soooo minute compared to the added cost. Instant On is instant on, and you will get caught if you encounter a remotely intelligent patrolman.
Extra lidar detectors only give you more time to get your wallet out for the officer, because once your tagged your done.