Stealth mounted radar, oh my!

[tris91ricer]

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=14769

Okay, this thread talks a bit about radar and such, and since I've been looking for one, I've also been thinking a bit about stealth mounting it. I want to have it semi-permanently wired into my electrical system, and perhaps mounted into the dash, or (last case) that pocket below the radio.
Is this a bad idea? If so, why?
Is this possible?
All it needs is a 12v, right? Any ideas on how to 'cut' or 'splice' the power and other wires into my existing electrical? I wanted to have it, but also 'not have it' --meaning cops can't see it.
All my previous tickets and schtuff have been because of things like 5-10 over(in a trap, yo!), so this be my best defense now.
Any other ideas/suggestions? Ideally, I'd like to be able to mount the detection stuff further toward the front of the vehicle, and have the display/readout in the cabin, of course..
..but that's probably uber complex, and I don't have teh skillz for it.

[AWD_addict]

I think if you put it in the dash or radio pocket the laser detection ability will be decreased.
If I was going to hardwire mine I'd put in into the map light area, in some sort of custom enclosure. I'd put it in upside down to retain use of the rear sensor (which is on top) and flip the display around. This would avoid long distance wiring, but it would be visible to anyone looking at the interior.

[tris91ricer]

See, that's what I'm trying to avoid, as much as possible. My friend has a cheaper Cobra model bought at Best Buy open-box clearance for ~$40, and he's got it mounted in the box below the stereo in his mom's ML320, and it seems to be working okay --it beeps every so often, but we rarely see the cop/source of the radar.
Is there no other effective way to mount these things except for on the windshield with the stickies?
I'd rather not have it displayed, you know?
Either way, anyone know how to cut it into my power system, thus saving the cigarette lighter slot?

[vrg3]

I thought they needed line-of-sight to work effectively.

For power you can just tap into any accessory circuit. I don't think radar detectors draw very much power, so you could just splice into the radio or cigarette lighter's power wires. Just try to avoid tapping into anything important; you wouldn't want a short in your radar detector to, say, disable your brake lights.

[tris91ricer]

^^ yeah, very counter-productive. I'd still like to set up a separate relay to turn off my brake lights for certain situations, but still have brake functionality, considering it's bad for AWD vehicles to use the e-brake to stop/slow/slide.

[magicmike]

listen up, the units that are installed in the dash are much higher priced units that actually have seperate radar heads. One mounts in the front of the car behind the grill or whatever and a rear facing one also. You can purchase units with front and rear aditional laser sensors that would mount in the same locations. K40 makes some nice units including full invisible units comprised of a hideaway volume knob and it uses just 2 led's that I used to mount in the instrument cluster. (left led for front radar, right led for rear etc.) These are like over 1000 installed though.....

http://www.k40.com/Products/Radar/Undet ... emote.html

[AWD_addict]

I think K40s are illegal in some states, might just be the jamming ones though.

[tris91ricer]

I want the jammers, ill or not. Serious, I hate the popos, and it's worth it to avoid a ticket. Really, I have excellent cop sense, I just want to know well ahead of time whether they're up ahead or not.
Thanks for the input, magicmike, I was hoping you'd chime in..

[Yukonart]

I thought they needed line-of-sight to work effectively.

For power you can just tap into any accessory circuit. I don't think radar detectors draw very much power, so you could just splice into the radio or cigarette lighter's power wires. Just try to avoid tapping into anything important; you wouldn't want a short in your radar detector to, say, disable your brake lights.

Yes. . . for the laser portion of the detector, line-of-sight is CRUCIAL to it working. . . at all. Otherwise you're going to "pick up" X, K and Ka signal. I use quotes around "pick up" because the signals will be flawed at best if the detector isn't mounted somewhere unobstructed.

[scottzg]

Could you open up the detector, desolder the sensor, and run a wire up to the sensor that you've mounted on your dash?

[vrg3]

It would be nontrivial to do it right. You can't just extend radio antennas with speaker wire.

You'd be better off trying to relocate the display than the sensor, I think.

[tris91ricer]

You'd be better off trying to relocate the display than the sensor, I think.

that's what I wanted to do, in one form or another. but still, wouldn't there be some kind of wire extensions, and de-soldering and re-soldering involved?

[vrg3]

Yes, there would. I'm just saying that it's easier to effectively extend wires leading to things like LEDs than wires leading to things like antennas.

The Valentine 1 does have a remote display option, which I understand is basically that.

[magicmike]

you still run intro the fact that the radar detector is not water proof. just get a regular radar and leave it stuck to your winshield. in most states they use "instant on" Ka band or lazer so they are almost 100% inefective unless there is a car in front of you that gets hit first and you get some of the scatter. if you are always the leader of the pack in traffic no radar will help you at this point. Unless you live in some shit hole town that still uses x or k band but thats rare unless you live in Hazard County and have some Rosko P Coltrain jerk off behind the VRC sized radar gun

[evolutionmovement]

Just stay out of the passing lane except to pass and stay in the middle of a train of speeders. Stay vigilant and keep your third eye open, grasshopper.

Steve

[Flip_x]

this one is one of those that get put in the car
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 96711&rd=1
escort passport

[tris91ricer]

I like the third eye idea better. But thanks, Flip. I know the ins and outs of how to 'hide' and such, I'm just out to avoid them on the times I'm either too lazy to care about it, (rare) or when I need to be the bull.