Windshied Questions

[radar retard]

Hi I was trying to mount a bel v955 and was wondering what the deal is with the black spots around my rear view mirror area. im fairly certain the detector cant be placed behind this, but can you still mount suction cups to it? or do you need to avoid it entirely?

also, i have a tinted strip across the top of the windshield. can the detector be placed behind this and function very well? im in florida so the more shade the better. or should i use an xacto knife and cut a rectangle off the strip for the detector?

i dont know much about the tint but i will try to describe. i got it done at a tint shop. as far as darkness, there was basicly 3 levels of tint available. legal tint which was very light, medium tint, illegal here but can still see thru it, and limo tint which i couldnt see thru. i got the medium tint in a regular blackish color. i paid a little more to get the higher quality tint (about $140). there was only 1 level higher available, but it was some whacked out looking silver color which looked stupid.

what should i do? thanks!

[Obsidian]

Did you search? The tint strip is fine as long as it's not metallic. If not, it won't affect your detector at all. You also don't want to mount your detector where it is aiming at the dot matrix bumps.

[TSi+WRX]

Did you search? The tint strip is fine as long as it's not metallic. If not, it won't affect your detector at all. You also don't want to mount your detector where it is aiming at the dot matrix bumps.

^ Actually, not quite.....

Mike Valentine likens all windshields to putting "shades" on the detector - even the best will, to a degree, degrade laser detection.

Putting the detector's laser receiver behind such a tint band, depending on its opacity, can further reduce detection capabilities.

I see that, though, as only a secondary concern. It's more of an academic worry than real-world. To me, a detector is either excellent at detecting laser (and thus, such placement not true worry, such as the V1) or, it's not so great, and should, at-best, be used only as a secondary laser defense, in which case such a mounting position will not necessarily "matter," due to the deficiencies of the unit's laser detection to begin with.

In terms of the "black dots," again, your statement, Obsidian, is not quite complete -

Search for "ceramic dots" as the keyword, and you'll get a lot of hits.

According to such results, with noted posts from the old-timers here (i.e. The Professor), these ceramic dots should *not* adversely affect radar reception/detection.

It is still recommended, though, that you test such a mounting position, regardless, to see if perhaps the material used in your particular vehicle's "dots" may negatively affect, for whatever reason, detection.

Whether or not they may impair laser detection is an area of speculation - and some think that this may depend on how closely spaced the dots are, as well as their sizing, and whether or not if you just happen to catch a dot (or a few) right at around where the laser receiver happens to be on the detector.

Removal via physical means is *not* recommended. I do believe one member here tried to scrape these dots off his windshield, only to first end up with less-than-satisafctory aesthetics, and later, unfortunately, he cracked his windshield from exerting so much force against it. From what I remember of his posting, it seems that this isn't a "surface treatment," at least not on all vehicles - and that it is, instead, "impregnated" into the window itself.

Various mounting methods using suction cups have been recommended through past posts. Usually, one to three layers of clear packing tape overlying the dots should return with a smooth enough surface to effect a solid suction mount. However, if this cannot be achieved, some have used household clear silicone caulking or sealant on their suction cups to help achieve a foot-hold.

[radar retard]

thanks guys. working with visor clip right now to try to avoid with the dots and the visor.

[MEM-TEK]

Hi radar retard,

Don't let those stinking ceramic dots stop you from mounting your RD up high. Check out this thread:

Mounting a RD above your RVM

[radar retard]

thanks mem your such a great help.


with my visor mount i was able to mount it in a great place. 100% of the unit is under the headliner, and i have a dark strip on the windsield. its perfectly level and im super happy so far.

im just going to put 2 small pieces of electrical tape inbetewwn where the clip barely touches the windshield.

[MEM-TEK]

^ Sounds like you are just about ready to have fun this weekend hunting radar guns!

[Nuke]

My Mustang has those dots and they gave me problems where one of the 2 suction cups was partially on them (which of course caused the 1 cup to keep coming loose). I since have been mounting my RD just below the RVM (and below the dots) where it almost looks like part of the RVM at-a-glance. I like that better than next to the RVM since it not only doesn't obstruct my view or cause "dots" problems but it gives me a bit more of a sense of security from laser. I was getting surprisingly good results from laser even when I had the RD up at the top of the windshield.

[dirtfreak250r]

[QUOTEMike Valentine likens all windshields to putting "shades" on the detector - even the best will, to a degree, degrade laser detection.

Putting the detector's laser receiver behind such a tint band, depending on its opacity, can further reduce detection capabilities. [/QUOTE

I also live in Florida and i would like to hard wire my detector behind the tint strip. i'm not concerned about laser, but will the tinting affect radar detection range if it's non metallic. also is their a simple way to see if the tinting is non-metallic.

[TSi+WRX]

^ I don't know of any good ways to determine if the tint is non-metallic.

However, assuming that the tint is indeed non-metallic, no, you will not have any problems with radar detection.