Mounting a 9500i

[springadv]

Hey - My first post here. Have a Honda S2000 = right out of the dealership it was obvious it must have radar protection!! Considering an Escort 9500ix. Want to mount it right at the top of the windshield next to the rear view mirror. Wondering if the GPS will work up there. My Garmin Gps Cs60x fires up and acquires sattelites up there: actually totally under the metal windshield frame. Anyone with experience with a 9500i mounted at the very top of the windshield ?

[MEM-TEK]

It will unless you have it mounted at the extreme top of your windshield. Try moving it down in 1/2 inch increments until after powering it off and then back on you get a very quick GPS lock. Mounting it 2 to 3 inches below the very top of your windshield should work fine.

[djrams80]

My 9500i works fine up there. You should have no problems.

[hippocrates]

Mine's up high as well and acquires very well. I've got mine high enough that I'll occasionally lose lock under heavy tree cover, but for me, the stealth and increased radar reception of a high mount outweighs the cost of an occasional loss of GPS lock. Interestingly, I'll still get a lock sometimes in my garage pulled in front first (i.e. GPS well into the garage).

[TSi+WRX]

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u259/TSi_WRX/cheetahmirror.jpg

That's my 9500i setup (with Cheetah GPS-Mirror), you can see how close it is to the headliner.

Aside from the noted "need to stay in one place for about a minute" initial-capture of GPS signal ( which will be the case, even if you're holding the unit up to the sky, outside the car :p;) ) after, say, 6 or 7 hours "off" - but I get near-immediate GPS lock-on after, say, a quick half-hour or hour stop at the car-parts store or on other errands, with the car parked open-to-the-sky.

This is in Metro-Cleveland.

In *downtown* Chicago, in my wife's WRX (with the setup replicated near-identically), I did have some reception fade-out, at times, but I think that would be acceptable, given the overhanging structures and trees, etc.


[ PS: No worries, the unit's not pointed "down" - it's nice and level. :) That's a problem with me and photography, I lack any and all photo-Kung-Fu, despite the fact that my mother is in the photofinishing business, and is a well-known photofinishing artist. :o]

[RadarKid]

just keep in mind that anything shading the upper portion can affect the AutoBrightness feature. If you don't mind this, or want to set it at a constant brightness thats fine. Otherwise it'll think its always dark and dim the display during the day so that its hardly distinguishable.

[TSi+WRX]

just keep in mind that anything shading the upper portion can affect the AutoBrightness feature. If you don't mind this, or want to set it at a constant brightness thats fine. Otherwise it'll think its always dark and dim the display during the day so that its hardly distinguishable.

^ Well said.

Indeed, most of us who utilize "high-mounts" are rather unable to take advantage of the auto-dimming feature.

I also do without this particular feature. In the detector's current position, AutoDimming sensitivity is nearly nonexistent!

[RadarKid]

^ Well said.

Indeed, most of us who utilize "high-mounts" are rather unable to take advantage of the auto-dimming feature.

I also do without this particular feature. In the detector's current position, AutoDimming sensitivity is nearly nonexistent!

However; with mine mounted in-line with my rearview and hardwired:
-it remains stealthy from front and rear (front is blacked out by mirror/rear is blocked from a view to vehicles behind)
-has a clear view of GPS satelites
-complete view for AutoBrightness sensor
-and is still high enough to have full view of the road ahead.

[springadv]

Thanks Folks - Ordered a 9500ix - Will report late july - Be safe in the fast lsne.

[RadarKid]

Thanks Folks - Ordered a 9500ix - Will report late july - Be safe in the fast lsne.

I miss my X50. :(
Awesome detection, awesome ramp up. No GPS speed sensor or auto brightness though.

[alanek]

I have mine set up high, now I know why the autodim doesn't work, however it never gets washed out. I have the red 9500i, I'm getting the blue 9500ix I hope the viability is the same.
I don't know how but I was sitting in my garage with the door closed and it still picked up the gps signal, as does my cars gps mapping system.

[RadarKid]

I have mine set up high, now I know why the autodim doesn't work, however it never gets washed out. I have the red 9500i, I'm getting the blue 9500ix I hope the viability is the same.
I don't know how but I was sitting in my garage with the door closed and it still picked up the gps signal, as does my cars gps mapping system.

AutoBrightness works amazing. Its funny to watch how quickly it reacts as you pass under a few trees. Every time theres a break in the trees and sunlight hits, it brightens up.....every shade shows it dim slightly.

In regular driving conditions, its plenty bright enough in the day time, and plenty dim in the night. If you want it any darker just shut the display off.

[TSi+WRX]

RadarKid, where's your 9500i mounted? I missed that thread! :o

[djrams80]

RadarKid, where's your 9500i mounted? I missed that thread! :o:lol::026:

[RadarKid]

:lol::026:
oh would you just crash your mustang and burn already? :D

[lacning74]

Here's a picture of my hardwired, headliner mounted 9500i with the visor clip. I also used some velcro strips to stabilize it against the headliner from bouncing or sliding. In this location, the autodim always thinks it's dark and keeps the display at low levels which is fine since the sun never washes out the display up there. Also GPS signal is likely compromised but works well enough for me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2611005868_2ae950c09d.jpg?v=0

Here's my mute and kill switch install on the left. The other switch is for my LI laser jammer.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/image0-2.jpg


http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliceandjames/2611005868/

[RadarKid]

Here's a picture of my hardwired, headliner mounted 9500i with the visor clip. I also used some velcro strips to stabilize it against the headliner from bouncing or sliding. In this location, the autodim always thinks it's dark and keeps the display at low levels which is fine since the sun never washes out the display up there. Also GPS signal is likely compromised but works well enough for me.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2611005868_2ae950c09d.jpg?v=0

Here's my mute and kill switch install on the left. The other switch is for my LI laser jammer.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/gallery/data/500/medium/image0-2.jpg


http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliceandjames/2611005868/
Nice! I like the center cosole switches/light. Very pro-custom install.

[TSi+WRX]

:lol::026:

OK, I think I've missed something...... Someone wanna clue me in, here?

[RadarKid]

OK, I think I've missed something...... Someone wanna clue me in, here?

DJ :sheep: whacks it to his Escort and believes there's no way TrueLock can fail without it being by fault of the user. Therefore, he has a vendetta against someone like myself who's seen it lock out LEO's on more than one occasion too far from the lockout locations and have refused to use it since.

I've mentioned more than once the location of my 9500i...so I'm getting jabbed for it, and he's jumping in as always.

But I'm not getting into it again. :cool:

[TSi+WRX]

DJ :sheep: whacks it to his Escort and believes there's no way TrueLock can fail without it being by fault of the user. Therefore, he has a vendetta against someone like myself who's seen it lock out LEO's on more than one occasion too far from the lockout locations and have refused to use it since.

I've mentioned more than once the location of my 9500i...so I'm getting jabbed for it, and he's jumping in as always.

But I'm not getting into it again. :cool:

Ah, sorry, I wasn't aware of the past run-ins between the two of you. :o I've been busy lately, and haven't been able to frequent the Forum nearly as much as usual.

If you'd like to PM me a clue as to how I can search up your past post regarding the location of your 9500i, I'd love to take a look and perhaps borrow some ideas, since I'd certainly like to have the ability to utilize AutoDimming. :)

[RadarKid]

Ah, sorry, I wasn't aware of the past run-ins between the two of you. :o I've been busy lately, and haven't been able to frequent the Forum nearly as much as usual.

If you'd like to PM me a clue as to how I can search up your past post regarding the location of your 9500i, I'd love to take a look and perhaps borrow some ideas, since I'd certainly like to have the ability to utilize AutoDimming. :)

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/escort/35379-post-pic-where-you-mount-your-detector-3.html

;)

[TSi+WRX]

^ Thanks! ;):)

Actually, would you believe it - I got nosy, and started digging, and found the same thread just a few minutes ago. :p

Unfortunately, I can't mount there - my Cheetah GPS-Mirror already takes a big chunk out of my forward view, and since my height/seating-position/vehicle configuration, plus the mirror, already makes that a spot of visual restriction, the mounting of the 9500i there would be near-impossible.

And to be quite frank, even before the GPS-Mirror, mounting my x50 there proved to be impossible, for me, too, due to the same visual-restriction concerns.

It's definitely a great location, though, for in your .sig picture, I definitely can't see where your i is located! :)

[upstatedoc]

For those of us w/o tint strips:

I ordered 2 black suction cups from Cobra for two bucks. I was waiting to see what Radarkids set up looked like before I ordered but unfortunately he was banned :(. I'll try to post a pic when I get them up. Does anyone know if you can still PM him or is he unable to log on?

[CJR238]

For those of us w/o tint strips:

I ordered 2 black suction cups from Cobra for two bucks. I was waiting to see what Radarkids set up looked like before I ordered but unfortunately he was banned :(. I'll try to post a pic when I get them up. Does anyone know if you can still PM him or is he unable to log on?

He posted some pics.... i will look.