My very first radar detector! ?'s for people in CA

[OpenRoad]

I want to thank all you guys for responses and input. This is what I think I'm going to do. When I receive the v1, use it for a week or so straight out of the box to get familiar with it. As I learn how to mess with the settings, I will probably be turning X band off and probably do K band automute. I don't really speed that much in the city anyways.

Good choice. Also, you'll find that CHP is pretty much always "constant on", so you'll get ample warning. For K-band, you can find out pretty quickly if it is a local threat, and disable it outright if not.

[tjbender]

I want to thank all you guys for responses and input. This is what I think I'm going to do. When I receive the v1, use it for a week or so straight out of the box to get familiar with it. As I learn how to mess with the settings, I will probably be turning X band off and probably do K band automute. I don't really speed that much in the city anyways.

Good choice. Also, you'll find that CHP is pretty much always "constant on", so you'll get ample warning. For K-band, you can find out pretty quickly if it is a local threat, and disable it outright if not.

I wish they were all constant-on down here! I wouldn't need to jump from rabbit to rabbit as much as I do. Of course, I'd bet they use more LIDAR up there than they do down this way.

[columbo]

I'm in SoCa and just got my new V1 today. I have the lightest 3M window tint on all windows, including the 6" strip on the windshield. I got pulled over for speeding about 4 years ago and the CHP wrote the ticket for front window tint too! So it just depends. Next time I'll roll the windows all the way down! How much does the window tint effect the performance of the RD? Is there a more sensitive setting than the default setting for Ka? As for mounting on the visor, I can't see or read the display in that location. Putting it on the dash with velcro is kinda cheesy (but I'll do it) and I need at least a 1" block of styrofoam to raise it above the wipers and hood scoop. Any suggestions?

[OldGoat]

In my experience, crippling visor function with a detector is a bad idea

Care to elaborate?

is a V-1 mounted over the Rear View Mirror a violation in California ?

If it's attached directly to the windshield, yes. By the letter of California law, anything attached directly to the windshield (with the exception of a GPS receiver mounted in one of four very specific positions) is considered to be obstructing the driver's view, and is a ticketable offense if the cop that tags you is having a bad day.

Likewise, hanging things from your rearview mirror (like air fresheners or, you know, Blendmounts) is also illegal in CA and considered an obstruction of the driver's vision.

If your detector is attached to the roof of the car, or has a mount attached to the visor or slipped up under the lip above the windshield, it's legal.

In my experience, crippling visor function with a detector is a bad idea
tolerable for a rental-car, but not a permanent install

Please elaborate on this. I mounted to the passenger side visor because I'm a selfish SOB who needs it during dawn and dusk hours. Is this statement made purely out of concern that you lose use of the visor by mounting from it, or have you actually damaged a visor by suspending a detector from it?

Vehicle visors are a D-O-T requirement for a reason. And that reason isn't to provide a platform for accessories.
With a visor-mount, either the visor is mostly disabled, or, when the visor is used around the attached detector, the detector is largely disabled; pointing towards the sky and/or the side of the car.
Compromises to convenience, effectiveness and safety I prefer to not make.

imho, minimum standard(s) of a Permanent install include:
Visors are unaffected by the presence of the detector
and
The detector is unaffected by the function of the visors
additionally, routine mode-changes(button pushes) should be a one-hand(one finger?) event

In any temporary setup, however, some compromise is always realistic. Afterall, blinding sunlight isn't an issue every day, or even every month, for that matter. Using the passenger-side visor mitigates much of the 'blinding light' safety compromise, but moves the on-board display out of graceful field-of-view(and discreet reach), ugh. I too have a V-1 CD and appreciate it's advantages

Without some sort of modification, a sun-visor is just not structurally sound enough for the long-term demands what I'd call a Permanent Install. Especially for a very heavy device like a 9500
Permanent? . . over 3-years without any need for subsequent modification

[columbo]

First time out with the V1 today was just a short trip down the freeway and some city driving. Comparing to my old Whistler 330...

PROS: much more sensitive, lots more warning time, arrows are great and accurate. Going through the city, arrows and audio alerts were very musical! The thing went off all over the place. But I could not really tell what was going on. Mostly door openers I would suspect, but on my return trip down the same road, I got a stronger and longer alert....but without actually looking at the display, I would not have KNOWN it was Ka!!

CONS: This is where I'm feeling let down. Right now I have it on the right sun visor. I cannot see the display at all. I'm rather near-sighted, but I have the bottom part of my glasses made for reading the dash (not reading a book) distance. In order to see the tiny display, I have to really take my eyes off the road AND tilt my head WAY up and move over to use the bifocal part the TRY to see what's on the display. Audio alerts on the Whistler were VERY distinctive; beep for X, buzz for K, and a multi-tone warble for Ka PLUS voice alerts. On the V1, there seems to be little distinction between alert tones. The beep, or beep-beep kinda all sound the same. Yesterday I had to look at the display to see where the tiny LED was light up next to a letter that I can't read. So having the letter light up would be much better than an LED next to something tiny I can't read. I'm sure it's just a matter of remembering the order of the LEDs, but for a $400 unit, I would expect it to be easier to read, and have more distinct alert tones...and voice alerts would be nice too. I should not have to look at the display other than to see the ARROWS. I'm working on moving it to just above the rear-view mirror and attached to the roof.

[languy99]

First time out with the V1 today was just a short trip down the freeway and some city driving. Comparing to my old Whistler 330...

PROS: much more sensitive, lots more warning time, arrows are great and accurate. Going through the city, arrows and audio alerts were very musical! The thing went off all over the place. But I could not really tell what was going on. Mostly door openers I would suspect, but on my return trip down the same road, I got a stronger and longer alert....but without actually looking at the display, I would not have KNOWN it was Ka!!

CONS: This is where I'm feeling let down. Right now I have it on the right sun visor. I cannot see the display at all. I'm rather near-sighted, but I have the bottom part of my glasses made for reading the dash (not reading a book) distance. In order to see the tiny display, I have to really take my eyes off the road AND tilt my head WAY up and move over to use the bifocal part the TRY to see what's on the display. Audio alerts on the Whistler were VERY distinctive; beep for X, buzz for K, and a multi-tone warble for Ka PLUS voice alerts. On the V1, there seems to be little distinction between alert tones. The beep, or beep-beep kinda all sound the same. Yesterday I had to look at the display to see where the tiny LED was light up next to a letter that I can't read. So having the letter light up would be much better than an LED next to something tiny I can't read. I'm sure it's just a matter of remembering the order of the LEDs, but for a $400 unit, I would expect it to be easier to read, and have more distinct alert tones...and voice alerts would be nice too. I should not have to look at the display other than to see the ARROWS. I'm working on moving it to just above the rear-view mirror and attached to the roof.

Don't want to toot my own horn, but why don't you order a concealed display from me, check out my signature, people love them and the reason I stared making them was for the same reason you are having, I could not tell the tones apart easily and at night when the red dot lit up I could not tell where it was. Check out my signature and click on the link.

[Bridge Cables]

Thanks for the responses guys. I've been searching around for some time for a radar detector, and finally decided on the v1. Just too many good reviews to not get the v1. I also ordered the hardwire kit but no concealed display as of yet.

please correct me if I'm wrong...would an ideal solution be: If i'm driving on the highway use "A" mode..and city driving use small "L" mode? I travel from Sacramento to Yuba City every week, but I also drive around the city alot, so I'm trying to figure out what mode is ideal for highway and city

Hey JunZ,

Congrat’s on the new V1. In your post it sounded like you had to order the hardwire kit separately? Those are already in a new V1 kit from VR, unless you just wanted a spare. Also, depending on whether you have a map light headliner console you might be able to position the V1 between the RVM and the headliner without infringing on the visors using the V1 visor clip. At least it works for me and my Camry’s.

BC

[JunZ]

Yeah, I actually didn't realize that it came with one until the other day, so I will be returning the hardwire kit. I have space between my RVM and the headliner, but since the 350z comes stock with those black dots tint (not sure how else to describe it) around that area, I think it might affect how the v1 functions. I think the only way for me is to mount it to the right of the RVM, this way I can still use my visor.

[Bridge Cables]

On my wife’s car that we use for interstate travel I mount the V1 behind those black dots on her ’02 Camry, it doesn’t seem to affect radar reception. I went by my local big box stores, tried the V1 behind the black dots on an X and K door openers, then reoriented the car and aimed the V1 out the opened side window, no difference in bogey strength. Although, with laser the only method of good protection is a well installed jammer.

BC

[JunZ]

Thanks for the info, I will try placing it behind there and test it out myself and see how it goes.