Install Dilemma: V1 display vs stealthone vs GPS Mirror

**DougiesGoinDeep** · 05-11-2008, 08:08 AM

I am thinking about getting a V1. I would like to have a clean looking stealth install. The main reason is that I want the V1 to be hidden since my car will be parked on the street in Boston most of the time. I also want a clean and natural looking install.

Concealed V1 Display:
This is the cheapest choice by far ($40). My concern is that mounting near the speedometer will 1) not look very good and 2) be harder to reach the mute button.

With the concealed display you can also do an ash tray mount. This looks very cool, and is easily accessible, but the display is too far from my normal field of view when driving since it is so low.

StealthOne:
This is a great choice, very clean, easily accessible, mute button is controlled by the steering wheel control buttons. It is much more expensive ($300). The only flaw I can see is that there is no way to turn the V1 off (while the car is on, I know it turns off automatically if you hardwire it correctly), and I am planning to hardwire and mount the V1 in the ceiling like so...http://www.540i6.com/v1.html.

GPS Mirror:
A lot of options here. I am thinking of getting a Cheetah PASS, so this would be great for that as well. The redlight/speed camera thing is neat, but not all that useful for me and where I will be driving. Again, this is expensive ($300 for the mirror, and 100 for the RDI to connect to V1) and the mute would not be as easily accessible.

So, did I leave anything out, what would you do?

**Super Dave** · 05-11-2008, 08:59 AM

What knd of car do you drive (so we can help with mounting suggestions).

**Kayrac** · 05-11-2008, 09:42 AM

i ran into the same dilemma as you for the concealed display, i opt'd to put the display just under my radio/console display, but above the buttons, little hard to see, but i'm just used to looking up i think

**DougiesGoinDeep** · 05-11-2008, 10:13 AM

It's a 2002 BMW 530i (E39).

**swarga** · 05-11-2008, 11:41 AM

The mirror solutions miss the point, IMHO. The whole idea of a stealth installation is so that other drivers and (especially) cops can't tell that you have a radar detector in your car; putting a big bright flashing LED display in the rear view mirror makes it easier for others to see, not harder.

The Stealth One concept is absolutely the way to go as far as I am concerned.

**DougiesGoinDeep** · 05-11-2008, 11:44 AM

I'm not so worried about other drives/cops seeing it while on the road, although that does not hurt to hide it, but I am more concerned about when I am parked. And from what I have read, the GPS Mirror is fairly subtle and would not attract as much attention as a windshield mounted rd.

I am leaning towards the v1 concealed remote display right now since I found a good way to create a new mute button...http://p-car.com/diy/v1/remote/. The stealthone is nice, but expensive and the install looks a bit trickier/longer.

**LordV** · 05-11-2008, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by swarga

The mirror solutions miss the point, IMHO. The whole idea of a stealth installation is so that other drivers and (especially) cops can't tell that you have a radar detector in your car; putting a big bright flashing LED display in the rear view mirror makes it easier for others to see, not harder.

The Stealth One concept is absolutely the way to go as far as I am concerned.

This is true. The concealed display should be low out of plain site. I have my main unit under the RVM but no one is ever going to see it light up. It just sits there black.

**TSi+WRX** · 05-11-2008, 03:57 PM

With the Cheetah GPS-Mirror, its alert, in terms of visuals, is quite subdued. Yes, it still may telegraph to following vehicles, but it is
*tremendously* reduced, over typical "embedded in-mirror" displays that utilize the Arrows/Bogey-Counter/Band/Strength displays. [ Aside: for me, the GPS Mirror isn't so much a substitute for the V1's threat display - which in my view is itself superior - but rather, to supplement the total capabilities of the V1 in terms of additional programming and integration. ]

The issue, to me, would come in whether or not the user would desire an ancillary display for a threat counter (with many of today's top-flight detectors) and, specifically with the V1, directional display.

This display would then, of course, be the V1 remote display - but the question posed by the OP, of where to place it, becomes an issue.

Towards this end, aside from the StealthOne ( which, if memory serves, is now defunct/discontinued, correct? :?: ), the only other totally concealed option, aside from just stuffing it somewhere in the vehicle that's either out-of-sight (i.e. inside a vent) or can be closed (i.e. various cubbys), would be to get really in-depth with the install, and hack into the actual gauge cluster and/or surrounding trim.

This has been done by more than a handful of people before - but it will require skill and know-how.

Just search here for REBinc's V1/SR7 project, or for puzzled's hack of the current-generation Legacy GT's instrument cluster. That will give some "extreme" ideas of what you could be facing. For more mechanical/traditional gauge clusters, there exists plenty of other documentation on various Porsche/BMW enthusiast sites.

With regard to muting, you'll likely have to utilize the V1 specific remote audio controller (and also find somewhere handy to embed it), or, alternatively, get crafty. Search "foot pedal," and you should come up with past posts where various hobbyists have crafted FOOT operated mute controls.

Overall, Dougie, give "concealment" a better search - you'll find a whole slew of ideas:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...ight=concealed
^ 4th post down on page 2 of that thread.

**Chelaw** · 05-11-2008, 03:59 PM

I've run with the V1 remote display for about 12 years and have always been happy with it (especially once they incorporated the mute button into the remote display).

Back in December, I tried the Cheetah GPS mirror with V1 RDI, but ultimately didn't like it -- primarily because it didn't work well with the V1's K-band automute for the drones in the Bay Area (kept hearing the "K Band" every 10 seconds or so). I would have reconsidered the mirror if I was also integrating a laser jammer, but haven't gone that step since they're illegal in CA.

I installed the StealthOne a few days ago and can't imagine going back to the standard V1 remote (the StealthOne even incorporates the automute option of the Cheetah GPS Mirror for low speeds).

My vote would be (and was) for the StealthOne.

**DougiesGoinDeep** · 05-11-2008, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

W
Towards this end, aside from the StealthOne ( which, if memory serves, is now defunct/discontinued, correct? :?: ),

It was discontinued for awhile, but is back onsale now @ stealthone.biz

Thanks for the suggestions, I will search for concealment. I have plenty of time to still look for new ideas, I want to find whats best for my situation.

Chelaw, thanks for your reply, it's good to hear from someone who has tried it all. What is your opinion on the stealthone install? How long did it take, how difficult is it (especially to put everything, like the trim panels, back together the way they were and not break any weak plastic connectors, etc.) and what is your experience level with this type of installation?