I own 3 Valentine One detectors and still think the V1 is a great device. Unfortunately my wife turns down the volume because of the false alerts around town. So for her new 2008 MC Convertible, I decided to try the Passport 9500i. The 9500i has the ability to store signals that you want to lock out via its GPS feature. When I received the box, I was not happy to see that the instructions recommended that you installed the device in the middle of the windshield to get a clear GPS signal. This was not acceptable situation. It would only be a matter of time before someone smashed the window to ****** the $450 detector. Fortunately, I tried it in my preferred location about the rear view mirror, and I am still able to get a GPS signal 95% of the time. Here are pictures of the 9500i and the remote SmartCord module on the steering column.

 

The X-band false alerting was why i went with the Escort over the Valentine One. Glad to hear that you found a good place to mount it.

 

Fortunately here in CT they don't use x-band for radar enforcement, so on my V1s I turn off the X-band. Whenever I travel to NJ, I need to remember to turn on the X-band.

 

Nice install, is the GPS SiRf? The antenna recpection quality on GPS units in general has greatly improved over the last 5 years.

I'm getting to the point where I'm about ready to shut the X-band off, haven't had Active bogey's on it in over two years, but when I did it was only one town over.

Have you had much chance to drive with it? How does it compare? I'm more than happy with the V1 but am manytimes asked about reccomendations.

 

Yes the GPS is SiFRstar III. The unit gives visual and audio confirmations when the GPS signal is acquired. It is pretty fast (faster than the Garmin Nuvi 660 in my other car). I think the 9500i is perfect for my wife. For me, I like my V1. I react a lot quicker to the V1 and get on the brakes faster. The reason is that on the 9500, the first thing I hear is the voice warning ("K band detected") which doesn't prompt me to slow down immediately even though the remote SmartCord light is flashing on the steering column. Maybe the 9500 is too polite for my tastes.

I have read a number of posts about the difficulty of hiding the wire down the A pillar. Owners of the hardtop can easily hide it on the weather strip side. Convertible owners cannot, it needs to be pushed between the windshield and the A pillar. This is VERY EASY to do without removing the A pillar trim if you make yourself the right tool. I took a small piece of angle iron and bent the bottom portion into a J shape (leave the hook fairly open). You can use it to slip behind the trim, hook it and pull it towards you enough so that the wire can be pushed under the trim. You can use the same technique along the top of the windshield.

 

You could have removed the window seal at the a-pillar (just pops off) and gained better access. That is how I routed my 8500 and since I got 9500i for christmas the install was just a plug in. I am also running escort ZR-3 switcher, it makes a nice set up.

 

Hi- can you be more specific (or point to the appropriate thread)? I would like to do this w/ my Escort this week, but do not know how to get the wiring inside the a-pillar. Thanks!

 

I went the same way the OP did, tuck it bewteen the window and pillar phone cord slips back nicely, there was a little bit I used a small flathead screwdriver to pullback the pillar/push the cord in.

 

I do not have the photos at work, but if you pull the seal a little bit it will release from the a-pillar. The opening allows you pass a stiff wire into the open and come our of the headliners at the top of the windshield. There may be a phillips screw at the top of the seal, I can not recall off hand. I will check when I get home and find my photos to post.

 

I like the set up you did. I have a R56, 9500i and the remote cord but have not wired it yet.

How did you route the wires to the steering column?

 

X band can be turned off yes, but I would never risk it. I've had one x-band bogey in town, but that is enough.

That's what the mute button and double-volume adjusters are for. Used properly, the x-band is not much of a bother. I purchased a great item on ebay.

This guy takes the V1 remote display and takes it apart. He puts the phone jack in back and covers the electronics in di-electric epoxy. Makes for a very clean install. He also adds a small button for remote location of a mute button, which works great on the backside of the turn signal stalk. when I get a false, I just tap the button with my finger (which is already right there on the wheel) and it goes to the almost inaudible mute mode.

I could never go without the arrows and bogey counter now that I've learned to use them. I've been saved so many times now, it's worth it's weight in gold.

I thought about the 9500 but that only works if you stick to your every day commuter route. As soon as you deviate you still have the false alerts, with no arrows or bogey counter.

If they put a GPS system in the V1 you'd have the ultimate detector!

 

I ran the wires for the remote cord down the right hand side of the steering column. You can get the wires to tuck within the steering column cover. The wires then run back to the fuse box where I used an "add a circuit" fuseholder in location 36 to power the radar detector.