I am 99% positive I am going to go with the Valentine One, but I have a couple of questions. After reveiwing the Valentine site, I am confused (the mounting info on the company website leaves something to be desired).

Can you mount the Valentine whereever you want as long as you purchase the remote kit? (I have installed many Bel remote kits - and I don't want to do it again!) Does the unit itself mount to your windshield like most other radar detectors, or can it be mounted elsewhere?

any help would be appreciated.

 

Don't know for sure but I thought the remote kit was only for the visual and audible info not the radar receiver itself...

Flybyevo...

 

I have the Valentine 1 with the remote kit. You still have the Valentine 1 mounted on your windshield. With the remote kit, which you can install anywhere, your Valentine 1 on your windshield will not show anything, only the remote will be lit up. This helps at night so no one behind you can spot your detector lighting up.

 

The Valentine will fit above the rear view mirror on the right side of the mirror and you can run the hard wire cord up the a pillar and bring it out just above the mirror, very easy. That high up it is hard to see from behind and it also gets it's best reception when high and it's in easy reach for that mute button! Best detector by far

 

I'm probably the only person on this forum to do this. Seen a similar setup done on some BMW forum. I have the newer style (slimmer) V1, and I have it hidden in my 3rd brake light. It took a dremmel and some time, but I got it so that the V1 sits inside the brake light, with the rear of the V1 sticking out of the black shell of the 3rd brake light about an inch. Basically it's totally hidden from everybody and everything. I have the remote display thing mounted by where the ashtray is. I have pictures of it if anyone is interested. Mounting it this way is probably good because it mounts the unit somewhat high, with nothing blocking it.

 

Please do post pics of that setup!!!

 

I've seen the 3rd brake light install. The only problem is the two front seats narrow the front detection and personally I don't want to obscure the front detection at all.

Anyone know how to get at the sunroof electrical lines? Do you just pull the plastic sunroof button housing? Also, to remove the a-pillar, do you just pull hard?

 

I don't know about the sunroof, but I just spliced into the 12V outlet behind the console and ran the cable above the cables and under the a-pillar trim, to behind the headliner.

 

Why in the hell would you install it in the rear of the car? What a waste!

9 times out of 10, the cop waits AHEAD of oncomming traffic. I have rarely seen cops sneak up from behind...at leas in California anyway...

And, you will have no notification on 2 lane roads where they get you from the oncomming direction.

It just doesn't make sense.

 

Does the laser detection still work in that location?

 

The radar detector doesn't have to be up against the windshield. It now sits about 3 feet behind where it would be if it was slapped up against the windshield. There is nothing solid in front (or back) of the radar detector, so I can't see how it would reduce range. If anything, it may be better, because it sits a little bit higher than the middle of the windshield.

Why would I get no notification if they get me from oncoming traffic? The rear of the detector still faces the windshield.

 

OK, now I got ya! Sorry for the misunderstanding!

For some reason, I was thinking that the antenna would be facing the rear...not the front...I got it...

However, I still feel that the closer to the front of the vehicle the antenna is mounted, the better...preferably directly under the mirror...

 

Between these two, which one would you rate is better.
V1 or 8500?

debating on what radar detector to purchase...


400 posts and evolved woot woot...
either this means i am cool
or i have no life
i go with the lather.

 

Did the exact same thing when I put a detector in my Sentra SE-R about 10 years ago. Worked great, no telltale cord dangling from the mirror.

Dan

 

According to http://www.radardetectortest.com, the Escort is superior to the Valentine, which in terms of its features, audio alarm and susceptibility to false alarms they don't like all that well. The Bel 940 only loses one tick to the Escort and Valentine on laser sensitivity, which even the best detectors don't do very well anyway (scores 4/5 instead of 5/5), and on this particular site the Bel equals or exceeds the other units in all other measures. All 3 get 5’s on the all important KA band. Plus Amazon has the 940 for only $162 (compared to $275 for the escort & $399 for the Valentine). I know other testers have put the Valentine above the Escort etc., but read what radardetectortest.com has to say about their testing methods relative to Car & Driver and similar mags. I'm planning to replace my old Uniden (which though mid-pak in price when I bought it has actually served quite well, lo these many years of enthusiastic driving without a ticket) and am definitely leaning toward the Bel 940, seems like 99% of the performance of the more expensive units for around half the price (or less in the case of the Valentine).

Dan