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Where to mount a radar detector

W

wa2tuff

CEG'er
Joined
Sep 13, 2003
Messages
469
Location
Under my car
I've always used the suction cup windshield mount but in the winter, it just won't stick. Either the glass is too cold or the suction cups are too stiff; it just won't stay put. I was gonna velcro it to the moon roof switch housing and hard wire it but that puts it behind the rear view mirror. Any ideas?
 
you could put it on the left directly below the headlight switch. Maybe a little harder to see then sitting on the windshield but no cop will see it, if you get pulled over.
 
ive never had one, so it was a thought. obviously not one of my better ones.
 
Mine is one my center windshield and it hasn't come off in over a year or 2...... if the cops do pull me over I have a release on it and put it somewhere hidden out of view... cover is that it's a GPS mount and charger... Kinda limit the ability of the unit the crazier the spot you put it.... mid windshield will provide most protection for front and back without going to a unit that has external mountings...
 
I believe the best spot is right in the center of the dash at the bottom of the windshield. Velcro might be the best way to mount it, like the ones that EZ Pass comes with... or you could get a better suction cup. Putting it up by the moonroof would probably look pretty good. As long as you were sure the little sensor didn't get covered by the rearview mirror mount, it should be fine. You should be able to see the sensor on the front of the detector.
 
There is a debate on where is better, high on the window or low. I personally hardwired mine to the sunroof and have it mounted just above the rearview mirror. from the outside you can hardly see it. You also potentially gain that much more 'distance' having it up top.
 
Pudmunkie said:
There is a debate on where is better, high on the window or low. I personally hardwired mine to the sunroof and have it mounted just above the rearview mirror. from the outside you can hardly see it. You also potentially gain that much more 'distance' having it up top.
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yup that is the debate, high or low on the windshield. up high you will be able to pick up radar from furthur away but it may become less sensative to lazer which is normally aimed at the front plate of the car and doesn't spread like a radar signal.

I want to hardwire mine and leave it above the rear view mirror ...

best bet, if you can see if from the front or back of the car it should work like normal.
 
BrApple said:
yup that is the debate, high or low on the windshield. up high you will be able to pick up radar from furthur away but it may become less sensative to lazer which is normally aimed at the front plate of the car and doesn't spread like a radar signal.

I want to hardwire mine and leave it above the rear view mirror ...

best bet, if you can see if from the front or back of the car it should work like normal.
Click to expand...

Pudmunkie said:
There is a debate on where is better, high on the window or low. I personally hardwired mine to the sunroof and have it mounted just above the rearview mirror. from the outside you can hardly see it. You also potentially gain that much more 'distance' having it up top.
Click to expand...

I was gonna put it on the sunroof cover but I figured it would be behind the r/v mirror. I guess I need to look more carefully to make sure it isn't. I've heard through the years that the best place was in the center of the windshield, about 6 inches above the dash. That way it has a clean shot to the front (above the wipers) and also a clean shot to the rear. But since the :censored: suction cups won't hold now, I need to find another spot.
 
wa2tuff said:
I was gonna put it on the sunroof cover but I figured it would be behind the r/v mirror. I guess I need to look more carefully to make sure it isn't. I've heard through the years that the best place was in the center of the windshield, about 6 inches above the dash. That way it has a clean shot to the front (above the wipers) and also a clean shot to the rear. But since the :censored: suction cups won't hold now, I need to find another spot.
Click to expand...

Have you tried using some rubbing alcohol to clean the window and the suction cups before mounting, as well as warming the car up to a normal non cold temperature before mounting. I usually use a little saliva on the edge of the ring, not too much because then it gets messy, but a light bit of saliva on the edge seems to help usually.... Like I said, mine hasn't fallen off in a long time.... Worst case you get some 3M tape and stick the metal holding bracket straight to the window....
 
Who cares about laser? By the time the detector reads and outputs that your being hit he has your speed. Anywhere you put it is going to beable to pick up the bleed off of the beam.

RF will be picked up in either location, one major advantage about it being higher is USUALLY its almost direct line of site out the rear window. The wavelength of all police radar won't make a difference if its up higher or lower on the windshield when recieving radar from the front.
 
CSVT_2004 said:
Have you tried using some rubbing alcohol to clean the window and the suction cups before mounting, as well as warming the car up to a normal non cold temperature before mounting. I usually use a little saliva on the edge of the ring, not too much because then it gets messy, but a light bit of saliva on the edge seems to help usually.... Like I said, mine hasn't fallen off in a long time.... Worst case you get some 3M tape and stick the metal holding bracket straight to the window....
Click to expand...

Steeda... said:
Who cares about laser? By the time the detector reads and outputs that your being hit he has your speed. Anywhere you put it is going to beable to pick up the bleed off of the beam.

RF will be picked up in either location, one major advantage about it being higher is USUALLY its almost direct line of site out the rear window. The wavelength of all police radar won't make a difference if its up higher or lower on the windshield when recieving radar from the front.
Click to expand...

I've tried waiting until the windshield is warm from the defroster, I've used alcohol and Invisible Glass, I've wet the suction cup, etc,etc,etc. Even if it sticks for that time, the next time the glass gets cold, one of the suction cups will be loose. I'm gonna go and get newer/bigger suction cups this weekend and hopefully they'll work. And I know if the laser goes off and you're by yourself, you're done.
 
wa2tuff said:
I've tried waiting until the windshield is warm from the defroster, I've used alcohol and Invisible Glass, I've wet the suction cup, etc,etc,etc. Even if it sticks for that time, the next time the glass gets cold, one of the suction cups will be loose. I'm gonna go and get newer/bigger suction cups this weekend and hopefully they'll work. And I know if the laser goes off and you're by yourself, you're done.
Click to expand...

Lets us know how it turns out the, I guess worst case you have to velcro it...
 
i have mine mounted on the drivers side under my third gauge on my a pillar. i hard wired it into my ignition so it comes on and off when i turn the key. i can actually pick up good signal there. always a long distance away from cops before it goes off. my suction cups never fall off maybe you just are unlucky!
 
I have mine suctioned right below/in front of the rear view mirror... with the hardwire zip tied to the mirror shaft. But I have the opposite problem.... in the summer, the heat warps the cups so they no long hold suction. If you lower the mirror, the detector *should* fit above it. If I ever get around to it, I want to see about making an adapter that mounts to something under the upper console, and holds the detector steady and close to the windshield.
 
Radar detectors are legal in 49 states and apparantly Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

Only places they are illegal is in Virginia and Washington DC (and the other Provinces). They're also illegal in all 50 states for vehicles over 10,000lbs. Illegal on all military installations as well.

Now... even though they are legal in the other 49 states, a lot of states have laws about mounting things to your windshield.
 
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Big Daddy Kane said:
...they are illegal is in Virginia ...
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You can only have one in your car if it is in the trunk. :blackeye: Makes it a pain having to stop at the first reststop after leaving Virginia to take it out of the trunk (and to put it in the trunk at the last exit or reststop before entering Virginia again). I haven't used mine in a year or so. It is just sitting in the trunk. The "things" I plug in nowadays are the GPS nav unit and the cell phone charger.
 
ok i know this thread is old but i just want every one to know that for v1 theres a sunvisor clip. hard to see from outside the car. stays out of heat. and yes high is better laser is rare and is instent on shot meaning when ur hit ur hit but it will pick up laser hiting other cars
 
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