Radar Detector Hard Wired?

txff636 · 02-09-2006, 08:50 PM

How hard is it to hard wire a radar detector?? I have it above the rear view mirror and I hate the cord hanging.

**White Rascal** · 02-10-2006, 03:11 AM

Just run the wires down the A-pillar and into the fuse box. Make sure you use a circuit that gets turned OFF when the car is OFF.

txff636 · 02-12-2006, 09:40 AM

Thanks got it done !

**lookout4theyeti** · 02-25-2006, 08:34 PM

how well does your radar detector still work up there as opposed to having it lower like in the middle of the windshield?

**White Rascal** · 02-26-2006, 01:32 AM

Originally Posted by lookout4theyeti

how well does your radar detector still work up there as opposed to having it lower like in the middle of the windshield?

Radar is a "line of sight" type of signal. The higher up on your car the better the detector will work. As you come up over a hill in the road the first thing that becomes "visible" to the radar signal is the roof of your car. Mounting the detector above the rear view mirror is an ideal location since it is high on the car and there is nothing getting in the way like the windshield wipers are when you mount the detector down on your dash.

**lookout4theyeti** · 02-26-2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by White Rascal

Radar is a "line of sight" type of signal. The higher up on your car the better the detector will work. As you come up over a hill in the road the first thing that becomes "visible" to the radar signal is the roof of your car. Mounting the detector above the rear view mirror is an ideal location since it is high on the car and there is nothing getting in the way like the windshield wipers are when you mount the detector down on your dash.

What about for laser? I've read that they aim the laser gun lower, and my radar detector has actually saved me twice from laser, and i dont want to lose that. Also, where i live, cops can take radar while their moving, and having the "rearview" radar helps a ton on my cobra. Would that still pick up signals behind me if the detector is that high up or would the ceiling block the view?

**White Rascal** · 02-26-2006, 12:33 PM

Laser is "line of sight" as well. And cops typically aim the laser at your license plate so having the detector up high would be best for laser too. As for detecting behind you I guess that would depend on the rear detecting capabilities of the detector. If anything you can mount the detector just below the rear view mirror instead of above it. This should cover the front and rear of the car just fine.

**2tall** · 02-26-2006, 02:26 PM

Hard wired my passport from the power supply to the dome lites in the rear view mirror assy. It works awesome and has saved my ass too many times to count.

**lookout4theyeti** · 02-26-2006, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by White Rascal

Laser is "line of sight" as well. And cops typically aim the laser at your license plate so having the detector up high would be best for laser too. As for detecting behind you I guess that would depend on the rear detecting capabilities of the detector. If anything you can mount the detector just below the rear view mirror instead of above it. This should cover the front and rear of the car just fine.

if they aim at the license plate, then how would having the detector up higher be better? Laser is such a narrow beam that you would want the detector closer to where they aim to pick it up

**Qwk94Z28** · 02-26-2006, 07:09 PM

so where are some places you guys have wired the detector to?

**lookout4theyeti** · 02-26-2006, 11:42 PM

if i decide to hardwire mine, im gonna wire it to my cig lighter and put a switch somewhere down there so i can turn off the radar if i want... thats what i did in my old car anyways and it worked out.. Im just more concerned now because the cops in my city got newer radar equipment and now the "rearview" detection really comes in handy. I dont wanna lose that by putting the radar up too high on my window that it cant see out the back.

**MikeSomething** · 03-03-2006, 03:28 PM

You know if that wire dangling is such a problem man, buy a detector that runs on battery's.

**Qwk94Z28** · 03-03-2006, 06:25 PM

Qft!

**2tall** · 03-03-2006, 07:08 PM

Passport is the only way to go.

**ScrapMaker** · 03-23-2006, 05:00 PM

who wants to change out batteries!?? no one

the best solution are the hidden radar detectors... Beltronics makes what many consider the best in the world... the RX75... if you get the pro version, it even comes with a LASER BLOCKER... and these actually work...

but you mount the sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle, and you can put the screen whereever you want... or have no screen at all, just an LED or something...

I wish I had enough money for that... it would be very worth it

**rotwiler** · 03-23-2006, 06:36 PM

I have a detector that can run on batteries, I don't like having to wonder if they are weak or not, so is always plugged in. The RX75 is a nice unit, I've amost bought 1 a few times, then think about what else I can use the money for...lol

**2tall** · 03-24-2006, 07:17 AM

I just replaced the passport with a valentine unit. Noticeably more accurate and with nicer/additional features. And it is hard wired into into the vanity light on my vert.

**ScrapMaker** · 03-24-2006, 01:16 PM

the rx65 is what I have, and it's rated the best in the world by independent tests...

too bad it costs $350....

and which passport did you replace? because the NEW passports are MUCH better than the valentine one...

valentine one is like 5-6 year-old technology... and it really shows it's age in the tests...

actually, since Escort bought out Beltronics... they have the same units, to an extent...