Anyone hardwire your radar detector yet?
11/10/04, 09:25 AM
#1
Shelby GT500 Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: September 2, 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a Passport 8500 X50 radar detector in my car right now and it's plugged into the cigarette lighter socket. I want to hardwire my radar detector in my stang when I get it so I don't have the factory cord hanging in sight. Has anyone hardwired a radar detector in an 05 Mustang yet?
11/10/04, 10:47 AM
#4
Legacy TMS Member
Join Date: September 30, 2004
Location: Marblehead Ohio
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did mine. Just pull the cover off where the 2 interior lights are between the sunvisors. There is a small hole in the roof panal for a small sheet metal screw for the ground wire, and use a tester to locate the hot wire with the lights off. Use a connector so you don't have to cut any wires. I forgot what they are called. There is plenty of room between the bracket and roof so not to worry about hitting the roof...
11/10/04, 10:56 AM
#5
FR500 Member
Join Date: May 18, 2004
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the advice, hot4rd... but, can you be a little bit more specific? Maybe a "Hardwiring a radar detector for dummies" version. So, I cut the actual cord from my radar detector and there will be three wires in there? Or is it just a ground and a hot? And where exactly do we connect the wire(s) from the radar detector? Any particular wire(s) to tie into?
11/10/04, 11:05 AM
#6
Mach 1 Member
Join Date: July 16, 2004
Location: Greenfield In.
Posts: 851
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by GhostTX@November 10, 2004, 12:37 PM
Ya...I just go with the "flow of traffic".
Ya...I just go with the "flow of traffic".
20% discount on insurance is sweeeet
11/10/04, 12:02 PM
#8
Mach 1 Member
Join Date: May 7, 2004
Posts: 821
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From my experience as soon as that radar detector starts go off you've already been nailed. Same thing goes for when you pop over a hill and the cop is sitting there. Everyone slows down but he already knows how fast you where going.
11/10/04, 12:09 PM
#9
FR500 Member
Join Date: May 18, 2004
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's not true, at least not in my case. I have a $400 radar detector, and in the 5 years I have had it, I haven't gotten a ticket yet. And I always, and I mean always, speed. I am always the fastest car on the road. Many of the times it goes off, I can't even see the cop yet, so he can't see (or clock) me. Invest in a good one. It will pay for itself in a few years by saving you money in tickets and insurance. It has literally saved me thousands of dollars. I can't even tell you how many times it will go off, I will slow down, and then I will watch as a cop pulls the car that was next to me over.
11/10/04, 12:21 PM
#10
Mach 1 Member
Join Date: August 22, 2004
Posts: 666
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by acadian@November 10, 2004, 1:12 PM
That's not true, at least not in my case. I have a $400 radar detector, and in the 5 years I have had it, I haven't gotten a ticket yet. And I always, and I mean always, speed. I am always the fastest car on the road. Many of the times it goes off, I can't even see the cop yet, so he can't see (or clock) me. Invest in a good one. It will pay for itself in a few years by saving you money in tickets and insurance. It has literally saved me thousands of dollars. I can't even tell you how many times it will go off, I will slow down, and then I will watch as a cop pulls the car that was next to me over.
That's not true, at least not in my case. I have a $400 radar detector, and in the 5 years I have had it, I haven't gotten a ticket yet. And I always, and I mean always, speed. I am always the fastest car on the road. Many of the times it goes off, I can't even see the cop yet, so he can't see (or clock) me. Invest in a good one. It will pay for itself in a few years by saving you money in tickets and insurance. It has literally saved me thousands of dollars. I can't even tell you how many times it will go off, I will slow down, and then I will watch as a cop pulls the car that was next to me over.
Hey, that may have been me! Seriously, about 6 years ago I was driving like 90mph on I-10 in Texas headed for Vegas, following another guy who was doing the same and then BAM, out of nowhere a cop pulled up behind me and pulled me over.......not the guy in front of me! That stinked.Hardwiring the Radar sounds like a good idea though. Anyone recommend a really good detector in the 3-4 hundred dollar range?
11/10/04, 12:27 PM
#11
GT Member
Join Date: April 1, 2004
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does anybody have any experience with concealed radar detectors? I'm getting a convertible and do not want to have any part of the detector other than the detector panel visible. Is there a good place in the grill or below the bumper to mount the receiver? It's understood that mounting the receiver as high up as possible is permits better reception.
Mounting a conventional detector on the dash or up near the rearview mirror is not what I want to do.
Mounting a conventional detector on the dash or up near the rearview mirror is not what I want to do.
11/10/04, 12:39 PM
#12
V6 Member
Join Date: March 10, 2004
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Valentine One is definitely the way to go...4 hundo...can't beat the arrows. I've heard the new Escort is very good as well...and a little cheaper if I recall (350?).
The good detectors shouldn't be mounted in the grill because they provide 360 degree protection...mounting there would keep them from being about to pick up a signal behind you.
The good detectors shouldn't be mounted in the grill because they provide 360 degree protection...mounting there would keep them from being about to pick up a signal behind you.
11/10/04, 12:45 PM
#13
FR500 Member
Join Date: May 18, 2004
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
afcop13... I would definitely recommend a Bel. I have been using a Bel for the last 5 years, with no complaints. I can't find the model that I have on their site... might not make this exact one anymore. I know also with mine you can send it back in every year or so and have them reprogram it with the latest codes. Here is the Bel website...
http://www.bel-tronics.com/
And as far as something more concealed, check out Bel's remote radar detector...
http://www.beltronics.com/vectorlrremote.html
The radar antenna mounts under the hood. Hope this helps.
http://www.bel-tronics.com/
And as far as something more concealed, check out Bel's remote radar detector...
http://www.beltronics.com/vectorlrremote.html
The radar antenna mounts under the hood. Hope this helps.
11/10/04, 12:48 PM
#14
Shelby GT500 Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: September 2, 2004
Location: Chicago
Posts: 2,594
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a Passport X50, which you can get for 300 bucks at Best Buy. I like the Valentine One, but cannot see paying 100 dollars more for the arrows.
I got a ticket last year doing 83 and my radar went off. The ticket was my fault because I wasn't paying attention scanning for troopers at the side of the road. I was doing roughly 95 mph and when the detector went off I threschold braked down to 83, which is what he clocked me at. My Passport has saved me too many times to count and I won't drive without it.
I got a ticket last year doing 83 and my radar went off. The ticket was my fault because I wasn't paying attention scanning for troopers at the side of the road. I was doing roughly 95 mph and when the detector went off I threschold braked down to 83, which is what he clocked me at. My Passport has saved me too many times to count and I won't drive without it.
11/10/04, 03:39 PM
#16
Jackass
Join Date: August 24, 2004
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I too would like to know how to do this. Also where to place the radar detector it so it’s not visible to others or to cops. Pictures would be cool as to the place.
Also has anyone confirmed if the dot matrix actually blocks at all? I emailed V-1 a while back and my response was
"The dark tint band on some vehicles is known to reduce sensitivity, especially if it’s a metallic film. I suggest testing the unit using a stationary source (supermarket automatic door or speed warning trailer) to determine sensitivity loss."
I don't think its metallic film but I always forget to look when ever I’m at the dealership (Don't have mine yet).
Also has anyone confirmed if the dot matrix actually blocks at all? I emailed V-1 a while back and my response was
"The dark tint band on some vehicles is known to reduce sensitivity, especially if it’s a metallic film. I suggest testing the unit using a stationary source (supermarket automatic door or speed warning trailer) to determine sensitivity loss."
I don't think its metallic film but I always forget to look when ever I’m at the dealership (Don't have mine yet).
11/10/04, 04:31 PM
#18
Legacy TMS Member
Join Date: September 30, 2004
Location: Marblehead Ohio
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Acadian, well i'm not too bright myself, only about 2 watts but here goes. I went to Radio Shack and bought a plug the same as what is on the cord that goes into the radar detector. My radar has a ground and hot wire. The ground goes to metal. With the cover off you can get at the hot wire real easy,it goes to the light bulb. Use a tester that has a wire with an aligator clip on the end that is used for a ground,the other end looks like an ice pick. The tester has a light in it and will light up when you touch a hot wire.,splice the other wire from the plug to that wire. I didn't cut the cord so I can use it when I put the radar in her car. After reading this I might have made it more complicated?????? Well I'll post it anyway.
11/10/04, 06:30 PM
#20
GT Member
Join Date: October 14, 2004
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by afcop13+November 10, 2004, 1:24 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (afcop13 @ November 10, 2004, 1:24 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-acadian@November 10, 2004, 1:12 PM
That's not true, at least not in my case. I have a $400 radar detector, and in the 5 years I have had it, I haven't gotten a ticket yet. And I always, and I mean always, speed. I am always the fastest car on the road. Many of the times it goes off, I can't even see the cop yet, so he can't see (or clock) me. Invest in a good one. It will pay for itself in a few years by saving you money in tickets and insurance. It has literally saved me thousands of dollars. I can't even tell you how many times it will go off, I will slow down, and then I will watch as a cop pulls the car that was next to me over.
That's not true, at least not in my case. I have a $400 radar detector, and in the 5 years I have had it, I haven't gotten a ticket yet. And I always, and I mean always, speed. I am always the fastest car on the road. Many of the times it goes off, I can't even see the cop yet, so he can't see (or clock) me. Invest in a good one. It will pay for itself in a few years by saving you money in tickets and insurance. It has literally saved me thousands of dollars. I can't even tell you how many times it will go off, I will slow down, and then I will watch as a cop pulls the car that was next to me over.
Hey, that may have been me! Seriously, about 6 years ago I was driving like 90mph on I-10 in Texas headed for Vegas, following another guy who was doing the same and then BAM, out of nowhere a cop pulled up behind me and pulled me over.......not the guy in front of me! That stinked.Hardwiring the Radar sounds like a good idea though. Anyone recommend a really good detector in the 3-4 hundred dollar range? [/b][/quote]
Wow the same exact thing happend to me on I-40 going through Texas on my way to Vegas. I was following a Viper and I got pulled over what the heck !!!!!
:scratch: