Single V1 Cant "See" to the Rear...Can I Use TWO

[cwlondon]

Well this is all very interesting and thank you both airmoore and crazyvolvorob.

If you guys dont mind, can I please tell you EVERYTHING?

You might both be surprised to hear that - at least compared to another detector with a "stealth" installation in my Porsche - I had DECENT if not great performance with the V1 mounted below the left handlebar on the flat, plastic surface of the fairing.

But what I really LOVED - should we ever figure this out -- was mounting the visual display in the upper CREST of the windscreen.

(Will try to post a photo later)

This way, I could also look down and see the tach etc, but the tiniest glance down could easily see the arrows giving almost a fighter jet like "heads up" sensation. This I really liked.

I am sure the direct sunlight comment is true, but for me, that was never a problem as middle of the day is the least likely time for me to be riding.

In every case, I used headphones under my helmet and also had an adapter made to share the phones with an iPod, GPS, weather radio whatever.


The biggest problems were weather. A bit of rain here or there was fine, but a a downpour would invariably screw things up. Valentine did warn me about this.


Re PERFORMANCE, a few more observations which might help you comment:


With my imperfect installation on the flat surface of the fairing, I would say the V1 unit was

a) about 3 feet above the road....

b) pointing to the front through the plastic fairing BUT

c) possibly obscured to some degree by metail in the headlight fixture...

and to the rear,


d) obscured by my knee/leg/thigh propped up by the left foot peg.....


Although clearly imperfect, FYI

1) the arrows were never confused - this is why I am so stuck on the V1
(remember I go through several traps every day which gives plenty of oppty to test)

2) Ironically given your most recent replies, I actuallly had some very impressive "hits" to the REAR, as LEOs sneaked up on me....

3) but in general in BOTH directions, although the arrows, bands, audio alerts etc were GREAT, in NEITHER direction was I getting much range

Testing.....

One simple test, I would experiment with the municipal the "YOUR SPEED IS ______" displays, because I could easily test the range of the unit.

With one of those signs pointing (X-Band?) straight down the road from a slight elevation, I would say I got about 1/4 -1/3 mile range on Route 17 in the Sloatsburg NY area

This did not seem acceptable to me!?


For LASER

I dont have a clue, and these I find particularly intimidating and dont want to be lasered back into court.

Crazyvolvorob

Wouldnt LASER be the biggest issue for the rearward effectiveness of the v1 if it was even visually obscured by my body? (Or anything else for that matter?)

What is the risk of laser to the rear? Are we assuming that this is not my biggest risk? Or that laser effectiveness is not the critical determining factor in RD selection? (BTW, I bought my V1 last year, so it has the latest POP whatever...)



As I try to summarize all of this in further detail, I am reminded of my complicated and expensive but perhaps most effective solution which was to mount the main unit permanently, using a custom made, weather proof, fiberglass and clear plastic "windows" for the detector to see in both directions on TOP of a custom made, custom repainted helmet.

In this case, I would keep the remote audio and video displays on the bike, and connect the wires when I got on and off the bike..

(Again, the budget is the least of my worries here.)

This way, the unit would have a PERFECT, unobstructed AND HIGHER view in both directions, from more like 5-6' off the road.

Which I assume would give dramatically greater range?


Sorry to go on and on about this but

a) I already spent the money
b) I really LIKE the V1 and I LOVE the visual display
c) If man could land on the moon in 1964, I am sure we can figure this out.


If, in the end, there is really no hope, then I would think about the Beltronics even if it is $1000 bucks or whatever, or perhaps another DUAL unit, DUAL antenna, truly stealth unit.

I am taking delivery of a new bike soon and I want a super deluxe, permanent, but also effective installation.

Thank you for all of your comments already and thank you for any additional information on ANY aspect of this long, and hopefully not boring, post.


Best wishes

cwlondon

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Laser, It is hardly ever shot at the rear of the car and laser detection does not matter unless you have a laser jammer, VEIL, and/or laser shield.

Roy sells many great accessories for Radar detectors on motorcycles
http://radarbusters.com/products/acc...es/default.asp

Using 2x V1s is useless! People do NOT use two detectors at the same time due to interferance.... You only need 1 detector on your bike and a laser jammer like Blinder M20 or lidatek dual with veil anything over that is over kill

[hoosier]

Well this is all very interesting and thank you both airmoore and crazyvolvorob.


Sorry to go on and on about this but

a) I already spent the money
b) I really LIKE the V1 and I LOVE the visual display
c) If man could land on the moon in 1964, I am sure we can figure this out.

I'm sure it can be figured out - but to be accurate, man first landed on the moon in 1969, I believe. BTW when you say you 'LOVE the visual display' are you referring to the remote display?

[amoney]

This is very easy.

Mount the bloody thing ontop of your helmet. Or disguise it inside of something ontop of your helmet.

Then, useing the extra V1 remote display and take that apart and somehow place infront of your helmet/opening so as to make a HUD display.

Of course positioning ontop of your helmet is critical so your going to need someone help you get the optimum position as your leaning on your bike. And once in that position your all good, but if you let up, know that your V1 will be pointing into the air or down into the asphalt.

I may be joking alittle, but I am serious at the same time. I think it could be doable, perhaps a little wacky, but doable for the serious hardcore enthusiast.

Hope you don't run into a rain storm or that V1 will be wasted.

Here is a pic someone else posted of the V1 remote display taken apart, I am sure you can figure someway to incorporate into the helmet shield to make like a HUD display... it is thin...



Here is another picture of what someone did because it is so thin...

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachm...1&d=1036538821

After thought, actually it would be a great place for any traditional RD as well (on top of the helmet), then you can use it like a spectre and turn your head to locate the strongest direction of the signal, the only thing that would be missing is the full remote display.

[drfish]

This is very easy.

Mount the bloody thing ontop of your helmet. Or disguise it inside of something ontop of your helmet.

Then, useing the extra V1 remote display and take that apart and somehow place infront of your helmet/opening so as to make a HUD display.

Of course positioning ontop of your helmet is critical so your going to need someone help you get the optimum position as your leaning on your bike. And once in that position your all good, but if you let up, know that your V1 will be pointing into the air or down into the asphalt.

I may be joking alittle, but I am serious at the same time. I think it could be doable, perhaps a little wacky, but doable for the serious hardcore enthusiast.

Of course, having a V1 duct taped to your head is gonna make officer friendly take a closer look at you for sure. As in.. What the.... I gotta pull him over just so I can take some pictures of that for the guys to laugh at.


(30 second photochop)

[amoney]

This is very easy.

Mount the bloody thing ontop of your helmet. Or disguise it inside of something ontop of your helmet.

Then, useing the extra V1 remote display and take that apart and somehow place infront of your helmet/opening so as to make a HUD display.

Of course positioning ontop of your helmet is critical so your going to need someone help you get the optimum position as your leaning on your bike. And once in that position your all good, but if you let up, know that your V1 will be pointing into the air or down into the asphalt.

I may be joking alittle, but I am serious at the same time. I think it could be doable, perhaps a little wacky, but doable for the serious hardcore enthusiast.

Of course, having a V1 duct taped to your head is gonna make officer friendly take a closer look at you for sure. As in.. What the.... I gotta pull him over just so I can take some pictures of that for the guys to laugh at.


(30 second photochop)

HA HA!

Thats great, but seriously one could concele it inside something else... I know it would look goofy, but those areodynamic speed hemlets look goofy to me aswell, think of it as a giant GPS reciever on the top of the helmet. Anyways it would be doable. Like I said if your a serious enthusiast.

BTW I love the duck tape!

(Hey you could even turn it around and then you can see all the indicators via your mirror.)

[cwlondon]

OK I already thought about my helmet bandaged up with duct tape and looking like a whack job.....


but what I meant was this....


removing the aerodynamic vents on top of some helmet
building up an aerodynamic "pod" on top of the helmet
with a custom fiberglass fabricator or surfboard maker
where the V1 slides into this compartment
the windows to the front and rear would be clear/tinted, shockproof and weatherproof
and repsprayed so it would look perfect


this would definitely be

heavier, although I dont think a big deal re discomfort
expensive!
time consuming
potentially destroyed in a crash etc


but

I think it would work very very well.


Of course, the angle of ones head when riding would be used to adjust the mounting position to be parallel to the road

and I didnt think of it before, but subtle head movements or turns could be used to HELP locate the radar.

so a bit wacky, but in the end with enought effort and expense could be the A+ stealth solution

[amoney]

I think if you took the time, this could be seriously accomplished. Running power would be the only annoying thing having to "plug in" and haveing that tethered but whatever. Sadly as you sad if you crashed it would not survive, but that would be the least of your concern at that point.

Not sure how to discribe it, but similar as you said.

Start with a dark color helmet, black. Have the fit of the pod be perfectly flush with the V1 front and rear, and use clear windows for the detector to see through. when all put together, black helmet, black pod (rememebr the V1 is nicely thin so it will not be that ridiculous to do), and then the already dark front and rear V1 will be concealed in the clear window, just the radar/laser portion of the V1, the indicator portion obviously shoud be fully conceled.

The "vPod" can be a weather proof screw down type ontop of the helmet for access, not easy access, but at least it will be secure.

[amoney]

the rear radar antenna is hardly blocked by the human body...radio waves can travel through the human body.....Plus the V1 has two radar antenna's front and back you are well covered with that

Again, it is blocked by the human body (I know radar waves can (somewhat) pass through (thin) things such as water -humans- and plastic -fairings- and glass, but it does not help the detection Rob, it impares it)

... which can upset the arrows, it doesnt have to be blocked a lot to significantly decrease the detection range and mess up the arrows... this is preciesly what the above story shows, and why Mike V himself tells you to mount it as far up as possible because the body is an issue.

Again if you read my post I say the rear detection is still better then its single antenna competitors... but it does level the playing field...

Again this isnt my opinion guys its Mike Valentine saying were to mount and that the body is an issue! (Go to the V1 site and check it out)... I would post the link but its against forum policy.

I agree with Airmoore, these are not your ordinary radio waves like FM radio. Although true that ones body position would not completely impare the V1 rear detector, becasue the angle of the rear signal can pass around the side of the body.

But as far radar passing through a body, place your hand infront of your RD, and it will go silent. The power of these radar and RD reciever work at a very very low power. That is why we have difficulty detecting up to 2 miles or more (in the real world).