Mirror mounting: finally getting closer

I got bored so I decided to take another crack at fabricating a custom mount for my V1. Having it right below the mirror is preferable but I really hate having suction cups on the windshield attracting attention. They are incredibly good at catching the light on a sunny day!

My previous prototypes sucked because they just weren't solid enough. It's darn near impossible to use the mirror as a stand-alone mounting point and not have a detector that flops around and annoys me. This also posed a potential injury risk in a crash since I doubt the detector would have stayed put.

This time I used the mirror bracket as one mounting point and my FastLane transponder as the second point. This forms a "bridge" that is worlds better than earlier attempts. Here are some pics of the new prototype. It's a cosmetic nightmare but it gives you the idea of what I'm going for. I can't wait to take it on the road and see how it holds up!

http://img215.echo.cx/img215/5397/img01254oe.th.jpg

http://img81.echo.cx/img81/9456/img01269ke.th.jpg

http://img81.echo.cx/img81/246/img01274vd.th.jpg

Any constructive criticism is appreciated!

and you thought the suction cups drawn attention? Well it seems like the mounting materials take up an awful lot of room and just dont look right in there too me, but if it is stable and works and you dont mind the looks, who cares right? Although it may look bigger in that picture than it really is?

i don't think the white box is part of the mount, i've seen that on a lot of newer cars.

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Originally Posted by compu44

i don't think the white box is part of the mount, i've seen that on a lot of newer cars.

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The white box is an EZ Pass box that is used to automatically deduct from your bank account when u go through a toll so you dont have to stop and pay. It looks like he just moved the box down to have a little better of a stealthy install.

-L33T_Hacksta

The white box is a FastLane (also called EZ-Pass) transponder for automatic toll payment. They are extremely common in the northeast. I just now put a coat of flat black paint on the bracket. What I should really do is take some exterior shots as soon as the weather gets less crappy. (From what I've heard that could be a while...they're talking about a "noreaster" in May?!?) I think that this will be an improvement from a distance because nothing is attached to the whindshield anymore, making it a bit less obvious. And who knows, I may not like this one either. But I figured that if I was going to bother with it I may as well show you guys. 8)

**EDIT**

Hacksta- Thanks for explaining the transponder. You beat me to it!

Oh than your mount is perfect! Goodjob Brick! :wink:

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Originally Posted by ZO6Vette

Oh than your mount is perfect! Goodjob Brick! :wink:

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Thanks. 8) I think "perfect" is a far cry from the truth but I'll get it right. A trip to Home Depot for some better sheet aluminum should result in an improvement to the aesthetics.

Do the suction cups hold on to the EZ pass?????Might try with RX65 .....Now I have above mirror...Behind tint line...We shall see :roll: Yes we are expect bad weather here...See you at Danbury Mall :lol: :lol:

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Originally Posted by postman

Do the suction cups hold on to the EZ pass?????Might try with RX65 .....Now I have above mirror...Behind tint line...We shall see :roll: Yes we are expect bad weather here...See you at Danbury Mall :lol: :lol:

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The transponder is held on with plastic velcro-like fasteners. (I think it's called Dual Lock.) They are quite strong and don't fall off like suction cups tend to.

And yes, I think this would be a good week to see a movie!

Looks kinda of ovious. But nice install! I always wanted like a tray above my mirror for the rd to sit on. Of course the bottom would get hot. I guess you have to mount a fan on the bottom to move some cool air around.

I thought about making a bracket to fit the rearview mirror, since I'm a design engineer and that stuff is fun, but then came to the realization that the additional weight of the RD & bracket and especially the vibrations input from a cantilevered position like that would likely cause the mirror to come loose from the adhesive, or wind up squeaking like hell.

I also thought I would prefer the visor mount to the windshield suction cups, but surprisingly I prefer the suction cups. Plus since I occasionally to frequently change which car I've got it mounted in, I kind of let go of the idea of making a mount.

- JyRO

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Originally Posted by JyRO

I thought about making a bracket to fit the rearview mirror, since I'm a design engineer and that stuff is fun, but then came to the realization that the additional weight of the RD & bracket and especially the vibrations input from a cantilevered position like that would likely cause the mirror to come loose from the adhesive, or wind up squeaking like hell.

I also thought I would prefer the visor mount to the windshield suction cups, but surprisingly I prefer the suction cups. Plus since I occasionally to frequently change which car I've got it mounted in, I kind of let go of the idea of making a mount.

- JyRO

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You're right about the basic mirror mount. Without the second point to stabilize it the detector goes everywhere and takes the mirror with it. I finally got around that by hooking the bracket around the ball joint rather than the mirror itself. That way the detector is almost entirely isolated.

I'm a fresh-out (graduated last year) mechy working one of the worst jobs I could have possibly chosen. Without little things like this to channel my energy I would probably go nuts. :evil: I don't think it's the ideal solution, but for me this is the right compromise between stealth and ideal positioning. If it doesn't say "Hey, look at me I'm shiny!" I can be happy.

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Originally Posted by brick

You're right about the basic mirror mount. Without the second point to stabilize it the detector goes everywhere and takes the mirror with it. I finally got around that by hooking the bracket around the ball joint rather than the mirror itself. That way the detector is almost entirely isolated.

I'm a fresh-out (graduated last year) mechy working one of the worst jobs I could have possibly chosen. Without little things like this to channel my energy I would probably go nuts. :evil: I don't think it's the ideal solution, but for me this is the right compromise between stealth and ideal positioning. If it doesn't say "Hey, look at me I'm shiny!" I can be happy.

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Brick - I'm trying to visualize this, so if I'm not visualizing it correctly I could be wrong. But even using the ball, the vibrations that the mirror normally tolerates, is going to increased by some multiple more than 2 times. Due to the weight and position of the RD, over a period of time, I would 'guess' that it would create some problem with the mirror (not the reflective part). Assuming the mirror is the type that attaches to the window and the RD and bracket load are being applied at the attachment to the window. I believe you could make it work, and that the RD would be good and steady, but on a microscopic level, I think your bracket and RD would be incrementally deteriorating the performance of the mirror. If you will only have the car for a short time, maybe no problem. At this time, I'm planning on keeping my cars for a minimum of 10 years. They're just too poor of an investment to swap frequently. So I don't want my mirror falling off.

I'd like to know where you work that is so bad. I've been lucky. I worked at a class 8 truck Seat manufacturer for a few years. Then Toyota Technical Center in design (loved it). But jumped ship to Hyundai Technical Center in design to get a chance to move back to the south to make mama happy, if you know what I mean. The Hyundai job is crap compared to the Toyota experience. Wish I could've stayed buy wifie was making my life a living hell ... come to think of it, things have gotten much better now that we're back in the south. But I digress. Dern women. :evil:

- JyRO

The best "out of view" mount is above the rear view mirror...and then wired around/behind the trim. I have had my units mounted there forever. And it is nearly impossible to see from ahead.

icantdrive55 - I would love to have mine set up like that. But my Corolla has those black dots on the window up around the mirror, so mine won't stick there. And my truck, seems like my mirror hugs the top of the headliner area too high ... and/or makes my V1 look through the blue band. The 4Runner, well, I hardly drive that thing. Its the wifie's truck. But I like the thoughts of that set-up.

- JyRO

JyRO-
In my case, the mirror is supported by an arm that is bolted to the roof. So the arm comes down vertically to hold the ball, and the mirror rides on that ball. Since the detector mount is just hooked over the ball where it attaches to the arm, the load is taken by the arm which should be more than up to the task. So I don't think there's any risk of damage to the car. If my mirror fastened to the glass I probably would have a problem.

I won't mention the company's name but suffice it to say it isn't what it was supposed to be. They hired me as a mechanical but don't seem to have anything remotely mechanical in nature for me to do. I don't know if it's a matter of workload or if they simply don't feel like taking the time to train me. (The field is nuclear power, so "young" there is anyone under 50.) Instead they have me programming. I also sell our software, train customers, and perform customer support. I'm sure it's good experience to have but it's not my cup of tea. The most common problem solving is figuring out how to talk-down a customer who's angry because someone remotely connected to me missed a deadline and there's no one else around to yell at. But, what can I say...it's a first job and it won't last forever.

brick,
Another option to using the aluminum, would be to use fiberglass. you could form fit a custom cover, then paint it to match the interior.

Here's one of my pics.
http://www.donspc.com/V1%20pic.jpg
I'm actually using part of an existing console. The sides of the detector were visible from the sides, but i've been form fitting a fiberglass mold to hide it. I was going to use aluminum sheets too, but they wouldn't hold the right form without creasing, so i used paper for the form, and fiberglass over it.
I can attach pics if you want.
I still need to do a final layer, then paint it to match, but even raw, unless you really looked up, you don't notice the V-1, except for the face.

That's nice!

I believe the best "stealth mount" is to use the rear brake light as a hiding place for your v-1 and use the remote display with it... 8)

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Originally Posted by stalkervision

I believe the best "stealth mount" is to use the rear brake light as a hiding place for your v-1 and use the remote display with it... 8)

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That's definitely the best true stealth mount. I worry about what it does to detection, though. Laser is especially at risk since the front seats would be in the way of anything relatively close.

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Originally Posted by brick

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Originally Posted by stalkervision

I believe the best "stealth mount" is to use the rear brake light as a hiding place for your v-1 and use the remote display with it... 8)

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That's definitely the best true stealth mount. I worry about what it does to detection, though. Laser is especially at risk since the front seats would be in the way of anything relatively close.

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actually radar detection is still excellent..Lazer is another matter? :? For that you would have to get a blider unit.. :wink: 8)