HI everyone, I'm looking to install a remote radar detector in my R57. Looking at the front-end, I don't see a place where I'll be able to mount the radar antenna module.

Anyone do this and if so, how?

Please don't start a V1 versus ____ debate. I'm a huge V1 fan, but with a vert, I don't want to have the detector in the car -- Chicago is less than forgiving to that temptation!

Cheers

 

Did you ever figure this out? I'm looking at a Qi45 for my R53

 

V1 fan? This ought to make you drool...

http://radar-mirror.com/Store_V1_Mirrors.html

 

Sin Mini - sorry, been offline a bit. I did figure it out but man was it a HUGE pain.

The receiver is literally located in my front airdam, at the very bottom where the airdam bulges forward a bit. It was the only spot I could find that didn't require major machining or relocating of mechanicals.

To get to it I had to take off the front-end trim (and of course the wiper covers to get the cabling into the cabin). Had to work very slowly due to all the pieces that came off so the antenna section sucked. The interior I did in 30 minutes. I put the splitter box and extra cabling in the little cubby at the left of the dashboard. I mounted the display directly above the key slot and the speaker for the squaker in the center cubby under the USB/Line in jacks. Can't really see any of the gear unless you're looking.

As to Kevin - V1 fan. Absolutely. But so is every jacksas that walks by and I have a vert - I'd rather not get my top slashed hence the stealth install. Wish that V1 would get their heads out of their collective you know whats and offer a remote install system. After all, what's the point if we have to buy $900 mirrors and $300 external water proof boxes and then hack cable.

 

Oh, one more thing - I went with the Beltronics STiR plus. It has far superior X band to V1 (not that X band matters in my neck of the woods) and allows me to not use the laser section - something others freak out if you disconnect. Read up - it's the current leader in remotes, even compared to the big brother from Passport. (both are made by Passport).

 

As a cop who is radar/laser qualified I don't understand why people still use these. I have pointed my laser at a laser detector and it wouldn't go off. By the time you get the warning I've already estimated your speed and got a lock on you. Radar works. It tells you if someone is driving around with theirs on but most of the time I'm on the side of the road and you won't know I'm there until it's too late. It's more likely to tell you when your going to get a ticket then when your going to avoid one.

Here in California all I have to do is visually estimate your speed and be qualified to do so. X band is used by the old radars. Ka is the newer standard. K is still used but not as much as Ka.

 

Yeah laser is one of those things that when it goes off you hope the cop wants to pull the other guy next to you that he hopefully tagged too. I still require a radar detector for my daily travels and more often than I care to admit it has saved me butt. I often have to explain to new passengers who ride with me it is not a cop detector as many assume it is as well as it will not guarantee ticket avoidance, just another tool to decide how to drive and react to certain situations.

 

Yes but that would only be the case for a lead vehicle.

The Doppler radar used in the gun is not focused, henced "stray" signal is picked up down the road and if far enough and if the user is radomly choosing cars as you stated, would alert in similar fashion even as much as 1 mile or more down the road.

Laser is a bit more difficult to avoid that is why they make the electronically triggered diffusers. But not all agencies use laser as they are not cheap.

And when you consider the cost of one average speeding ticket coupled with the loss of insurance discounts. Your probably could spend about half that for a really nice piece of electronic dashboard bling

As far as visually estimating speed goes. Saw a laywer in a case like that toss a pencil across the entire court room and ask the officer to "visually estimate the speed." Ticket was tossed. lol.

 

Here is is picture of the install my mechanic did here in Puerto Rico. Not Pretty. I am desparately looking for a qualified installer here in Puerto Rico.

I have already bought a new grill and now I am looking for any insight on where to place the receiver.

Did you find a good location?

 

I spent 2 hrs looking for a location.....almost, almost mind you, fit behind an Ociari Cowl Vent scoop . But could not get a flat enough angle.

Would Even consider cutting a sqaure hole the aluminum bumper support and then making a window of sorts in the front bumper cover large enough for the receiver window But no dice...it's just too long.

For now I mounted it high up in the corner of the pass side windshield with it's own bracket....what it loses from being behind glass, it gains from some added height ( being mounted low and also behind cars in front of ya can't be good for reception ) to receive deflected laser beam and the other bands....

 

Which radar detector do you have and what are the dimensions of your antenna? I've been trying to figure out a remote mount radar detector for a while now.

 

Qi45 - I do not feel comfortable having it mounted beyond the grille exposed to all weather and road debris 24/7. I don't believe it was desgined to be subjected to that sort of extremes.

Just no room as it has to be mounted horizontally ( length wise ) and really needs a unit which mounts vertcally like the older versions of the Whistler Spectrum Remotes. I had one of those in a GTi.

 

Agree on extending it out past the grill. I've been considering the Bel STI-R Plus, but 1) it's expensive, and 2) I think I'll have the same problem making it fit. The QI-45 appears to have the same dimensions for the antenna receiver as the STI-R...in fact, it may be the same receiver since Bel and Escort are the same company. Is the QI-45 antenna really 5.4" in length as specified on the Escort website? Even though the Bel antenna is advertised as 5.4", I've heard varying lengths - 4.25" (message board), approx 4.5" (from Bel customer service), 5.4" (from a different Bel customer service rep).

If you decide to mount it in the front of the car and you figure something out, please post an update! Granted, you have an R53, and I will have an R56 (not yet delivered) - not sure if there's more/less/same separation between the radiator and grill on the R56 vs. R53, but the R56 looked plenty close to me.

Anyway, thanks for the feedback.

 

NP Dimentions are: 4.5" x 3.0" x 1.5". Just measured it for you.....The roominess or lack thereof is pretty close between our two models. But probably just a bit more room in the R56's cavities....maybe.

On this project I just ran out of options and eventually exhausted all resouces for mounting locations. Sad too because I really like the way it functions.

So you think they are the same company ? Could be, but I was under the impression Escort was owned by Cincinatti Microwave. Maybe they bought out Bell recently ? Absolutely laughable too because Cincinatti Microwave also manufactures the LE Traffic Enforcement radar guns and laser guns too !

Just some forwarning IM, it wiil be a while before I go at this again. At least not until I replace the Aero Front bumper some time this summer. But if I do come across one in my travels I will take notes and happily pass the info onto you.

 

Awesome - thanks for taking the time to measure and the quick reply. Not sure why the receiver is advertised at 5.4" long when it is nearly an inch shorter, but it seems like something the company would want to correct.

As far as Bel and Escort being the same company - it's definitely the case. Like you, I was a little surprised when I first found out (not that long ago on another forum), but apparently it has been the case for a while now. I found this blurb at the bottom of an article talking about a 2009 CES award for Escort:

Quote:

About ESCORT Inc.
ESCORT Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance radar and laser detectors. ESCORT manufactures products under the ESCORT, SOLO, Vector and Beltronics brands. The company is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio with its principal manufacturing facility located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Anyway, good luck with the Aero front bumper install when the warm weather arrives. Good luck avoiding those speeding tickets too!