STI Upgrade + Live

**duhtroll** · 12-13-2011, 09:23 AM

I am sending in my STI Driver for the Magnum upgrade today. They are charging me $99 for the upgrade (as expected) plus $79.95 for the Live Cord.

I also ordered a visor clip mount because I can't seem to find a mount to stay on the windshield here in IA in temps from -20 to 120 degrees.

Question about the Live cord - They tell me it can't be hardwired yet because they don't have that capability - it has to be plugged into a 12V adapter.

I asked the tech why I couldn't just hard wire a 12V adapter cord and mount the receiver behind the rear view mirror. He said that was a brilliant idea and no one had thought of it before. I can't believe no one had thought of that already. But I am certainly going to do that and have it switchable with the vehicle's auxiliary key position, unless someone tells me why it won't work.

In my mind, hard wiring the 12V cord seems just fine -- anyone see a potential problem, other than the bulkiness of having the cord bunched up behind the rear view mirror?

Thanks

**randypk** · 12-13-2011, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by duhtroll

I am sending in my STI Driver for the Magnum upgrade today. They are charging me $99 for the upgrade (as expected) plus $79.95 for the Live Cord.

I also ordered a visor clip mount because I can't seem to find a mount to stay on the windshield here in IA in temps from -20 to 120 degrees.

Question about the Live cord - They tell me it can't be hardwired yet because they don't have that capability - it has to be plugged into a 12V adapter.

I asked the tech why I couldn't just hard wire a 12V adapter cord and mount the receiver behind the rear view mirror. He said that was a brilliant idea and no one had thought of it before. I can't believe no one had thought of that already. But I am certainly going to do that and have it switchable with the vehicle's auxiliary key position, unless someone tells me why it won't work.

In my mind, hard wiring the 12V cord seems just fine -- anyone see a potential problem, other than the bulkiness of having the cord bunched up behind the rear view mirror?

Thanks

I posted this question before, but never got responses. Perhaps someone can answer this here:

Can you position the 9500ix using the blendmount to be directly in front of the rear view mirror?
This would minimize it being seen from behind. Use the audio alerts and smartcord for alert notification.

Using a modular adapter and a V1 straight cord, you can make a clean install.

**duhtroll** · 12-13-2011, 11:39 AM

You can certainly do this, but it could interfere with rear detection.

Originally Posted by randypk

I posted this question before, but never got responses. Perhaps someone can answer this here:

Can you position the 9500ix using the blendmount to be directly in front of the rear view mirror?
This would minimize it being seen from behind. Use the audio alerts and smartcord for alert notification.

Using a modular adapter and a V1 straight cord, you can make a clean install.

**randypk** · 12-13-2011, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by duhtroll

You can certainly do this, but it could interfere with rear detection.

Originally Posted by randypk

I posted this question before, but never got responses. Perhaps someone can answer this here:

Can you position the 9500ix using the blendmount to be directly in front of the rear view mirror?
This would minimize it being seen from behind. Use the audio alerts and smartcord for alert notification.

Using a modular adapter and a V1 straight cord, you can make a clean install.

How would it interfere with rear detection? Rear detection comes from reflection from objects ahead of you.

**duhtroll** · 12-13-2011, 03:25 PM

On my Bel, there is a rear facing sensor, which would indicate to me that line of sight matters. I am assuming the Escorts are the same since they appear to have a rear sensor, also. That could be just for laser I suppose but a RD is pretty useless for laser anyway.

Originally Posted by randypk

How would it interfere with rear detection? Rear detection comes from reflection from objects ahead of you.

**duhtroll** · 12-13-2011, 03:29 PM

Back on topic -- does anyone know if the Live cord can be run with a 12V cord mounted behind the RVM and hardwired?

Or am I the first guinea pig?

**randypk** · 12-13-2011, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by duhtroll

Back on topic -- does anyone know if the Live cord can be run with a 12V cord mounted behind the RVM and hardwired?

Or am I the first guinea pig?

It would be klunky. Run the LIVE cord from an outlet that allows you to see and operate it.
Connect this to a modular phone coupler and then to a straight cord run up a side pillar and across the headliner. My V1 is connected this way next to the RVM. Very clean.

**duhtroll** · 12-13-2011, 05:24 PM

Wow - I wasn't aware a regular old phone cord would work. I have like 19 of those from back when we had land lines. Prolly even have the coupler in my box of cords.

**randypk** · 12-13-2011, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by duhtroll

Wow - I wasn't aware a regular old phone cord would work. I have like 19 of those from back when we had land lines. Prolly even have the coupler in my box of cords.

I believe that you need to use a cross over cord. Basically, a phone cord with the rj11 flipped at the other end.

Can anyone else confirm this? Thanks

**EscortRadar** · 12-14-2011, 03:31 PM

You will need to use 6 conductor phone cable, not 4.

Keep in mind that you will probably want access to the SmartCord Live module's display and buttons. The cord can also be used to update your Magnum when future updates are released.

A direct wire version and installed system compatibility for Escort Live should be released March-April 2012