LI single head rear install placement?

[lacning74]

i know the idea of a single head makes most of you enthusiasts cringe, but where would you install a single head?

i'm thinking a plate frame install either vertically on one side or horizontally on the bottom. i'm avoiding the top due to my hatch release button. Also I plan on trimming the license plate and plate holder to make for as flush as possible install in a black frame as posted by rsatmans.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...t=rear+install

[PMoth]

Hatch releases are overrated! :P Take the hit!!! 8)

[lacning74]

Hatch releases are overrated! :P Take the hit!!! 8)

or as another mini owner has done, i can put it a little off center so at least i can fit a few fingers. another problem is the substantial over-hang of the hatch chrome handle, not good for rear OP shots. a flusher to the handle install would not be too stealthy.

i'm worried about a cop noticing it as he walks up to my car to give me a ticket. i/o radar of course, not lidar. :wink:

[dmc]

I guess for effectiveness, the rear head must be placed close to the plate?

I'd be tempted to flush mount INTO the black lower bumper valence, right where the silver paint ends. It involves a lot more cutting and custom work, but far more stealthy than anything mounted to the plate frame itself — especially because your car is such a light colour.

How badly would an install like this impact performance? From a single head?

[jwardell]

Mine is mounted over my plate. Yes, it does make it tough to push my hatch release, but I can get my fingers curled in there easily enough. Not with gloves, though. When/If I get an LI slim head, I might instead try to mount it to towards the side of the top of the plate (or stick it up under the hatch release edge) so it doesn't block access to the button as much. As for wiring, I removed the hatch release assembly and drilled a hole through it to run the wire, and ran it through to the inside after removing the inside plastic of the boot, then just followed the molding up to the front. Head over to boston and I'll be glad to help you with install.

[TSi+WRX]

I guess for effectiveness, the rear head must be placed close to the plate?

The rear plate is typically at or near center-mass, when it comes to the rear aspect of the car.

This, along with the *extreme* laser reflectivity of the typical metallic state-issue plates here, Stateside, makes a "near plate" mounting the solution that makes the most sense, logically.

However, at the same time, it needs to be said that the rear of *any* vehicle is extremely hard to protect. Not only is center-mass/rear-plate a big problem, but typically, on the rear of the vehicle, there are many more safety-reflector elements to address, as well as the simple fact that the typically much more "upright" physical profile of this face of the vehicle (especially when combined with, say, chrome or other brightwork/trim) will further enhance laser returns.

Yes, there are definitely videos/tests that show that just one of any of the current leading diode-based jammers will effect virtual "JFG" protection for both smaller vehicles as well as vehicles with more favorable rear profiles (i.e. late-generation GM F-body), however, it has also been shown that this is far from a true "JFG guaranty," and there have been fellow enthusiasts who've gone so far as to further address their rear hard-points (i.e. replica plate/3M Clear Duct Tape/VEIL, removing [or altering] safety reflectors, etc.).