Radar detector mounting site

[expo2]

I currently have my bel V955 suction cupped in the lower middle section of my windshield. I want to permanently mount it to the dash, perhaps on the sloping backside of the speedometer cluster. This way it is blends in with the dash.
I don't like mounting it high near the visor because it is difficult to see.
Anyone have any creative ideas?

[mikenacarato]

the radar detector needs a clear view out the front and back windows for it to get the absolute best reading. mounting it on the dash is pointless. it may pick up very strong signals but farther away signals it may not pick up at all.

[expo2]

Where would you suggest mounting it?

[expo2]

Mount detector properly

The Number 1 Question Radar Roy receives from clients is how to properly mount their radar

detector in their vehicle. Their are basically two types of electronic transmitting devices

police can use to capture the speed of your vehicle, radar guns and laser guns.

Radar is the most common. Radar is basically a microwave radio signal. At 1000 feet, a radar

beam shot from a police radar gun is approximately 85 feet wide. This radar beam can

normally penetrate glass, plastic, cardboard and even your body. What radar has a problem

penetrating are metals, including some window tints that have meatlized layers.

Laser is a light beam and is only 18" wide at 500 feet. Because the beam is so narrow, and

because it's light, the beam can be effected by virtually anything you put between the laser

gun and the detector.

Don't mount it high!
During the testing of the products reviewed on RadarBusters by Radar Roy and Speed

Measurement Laboratories, the radar detector is always mounted in the manner the manufacture

recommends in their manual, in the center of the windshield.

However you will see on this page, that mounting it in this manner will not allow it to

receive laser alerts. A laser beam shot at 500 feet is only 18" wide when it hits your

vehicle. Police target either the front license plate or the headlamps. If the radar

detector is mounted in the center of the windshield, it will be too high to receive any of

the "splatter" that may indicate you are being targeted by a police laser gun.

There are also several other problems with this method:

1. In most cases, mounting the radar detector in this position will place it in the center

of the windshield. This can cause a visual obstruction while you are driving. In Minnesota,

it is illegal to mount anything to your windshield that may obstruct your vision (169.71: No

person shall drive or operate any motor vehicle with objects suspended between the driver

and windshield)

2. Mounting a radar detector too high will cause you to take your eyes off the road when it

is activated.

3. If left in your car while parked, you will be exposing it to thieves.

4. This position is also a dead give away for law enforcement that you have a countermeasure

device. While Radar Roy was a traffic officer, it was common to pull behind a motorist who

was speeding and see their radar detector mounted directly in the center of the windshield.

Even though the use of a radar detector is legal in all states, with the exception of

Virginia and Washington D.C., some officers don't appreciate their use. You will have a

better chance of getting a break, if you make it less noticeable.

5. You will have other motorists following behind making you their trailblazer. If you then

encounter an emergency situation and slam on your brakes, the vehicles following may slam

into you.

Mount it Low!

Consider using Velcro to mount your detector on the dash or using the supplied windshield

mounting brackets and mounting it low on the windshield. By mounting it this way, making

sure that the windshield wipers are not blocking the front, you will draw the least amount

of attention and obtain the best laser and radar detection.

Ensure that the controls are accessible

Make sure that you can easily reach the volume and mode controls (highway, city and mute) on

your detector. For models that have "Smart Cords", such as the Beltronics RX65 and the

Escort 8500, get in the habit of muting your system with the button on the cord, rather than

the detector, if it is easier to reach. For those models without automute, you MUST have

easy access to the controls if you want to keep the detector from screaming at you for an

extended period of time.

[m911gt]

i mounted mine to the driver's side glove box, flip it up when i need to see it, leave it down when i don't want to. it works quite nicely.

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/images/funkygarage/614/PICT3805.JPG

[jonismyname]

i used velcro tape to mount the front edge directly above the gauge cluster (so the display is flush with the hood) and bent a coat hanger into a nice stand that supports it off the negative slope. easily reached, it has good view of coppers, i have a good view of the road, and i ran the power wire behind the gauges and out the bottom so it's nice and clean...

[staypuft]

here's mine

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u260/hyperdash09/1235432993116.jpg

[brg88tx]

i'm gonna mount my ole bel 936 on the dash right where my a pillar meets on the driver's side. i bought a 12 foot straight cord and will route the wire down and along the bottom of the driver's door opening, then under the driver's seat to the awkwardly placed 12v outlet between the front seats.

i think this is a good place for mounting because the a pillar is so thick on these cars the po-po will not even see the detector at all.

[brg88tx]

got mine set up this weekend. i found a killer deal on a bel vector 985 on craiglist, so i bought it and will use my bel 936 as a backup. i bought a 12 foot straight cord along the side and hid it with a flat head screwdriver. it was run under my steering column and alone the center console piece to the cig lighter jack. here are some photos. i know the detector is not level, but it still appears to work well.

[FSANE]

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z189/FSANE/IMG_0005.jpg