Another radar detector thread....Your Valentine One install?

[ualdriver]

I've spent a couple of hours now searching and reading all the threads about radar detectors and my 2013 Model S. I understand the windshield is only "radar transparent" up in the dotted area by the rear view mirror. I think I also understand that the consensus between this forum and the radarbusters.com website appears to be that if one is going to do a remote install, the Beltronics STIR+ seems to be the way to go. But before I pull the trigger on a $900 unit and likely a similar amount in a professional install......

I'd be quite happy with my Valentine One which has served me well for years. It would appear to me that my Valentine One could somehow be mounted in that little dotted area by the rear view mirror and hardwired.....right? I searched this forum on Valentine One installs, but all the threads were quite old and the one with the best pictures involved a Tesla Roadster which isn't much help.

Are there any Model S owners that have a Valentine One somehow mounted and hardwired up in that dotted area by the rear view mirror? Any pictures and hardwiring advice? Thanks.

 

[ualdriver]

Nobody?

 

[Tampaukfan]

Nobody?

I have my Valentine One mounted as high as possible in my 2015 85D and it has ZERO range from the front, it will register signals that are directed at the front as a rear or side alert.
Just give up on the V1, it is a complete waste to use one in a Tesla unless its mounted in the nose cone.
I bought a Bel remote mount and a ALP..

 

[LetsGoFast]

I experimented with the high window mount and never got satisfactory results. Unlike others here, I've also never got my EZ Pass to work in that location either. I'd really rather have the V1, in part for sentimental reasons (my uncle went to school with Mike Valentine when he was building the original Escort), but I'm thinking I'll have to bite the bullet and go with the Bel remote too.

 

[ualdriver]

I have my Valentine One mounted as high as possible in my 2015 85D and it has ZERO range from the front, it will register signals that are directed at the front as a rear or side alert.
Just give up on the V1, it is a complete waste to use one in a Tesla unless its mounted in the nose cone.
I bought a Bel remote mount and a ALP..

I experimented with the high window mount and never got satisfactory results. Unlike others here, I've also never got my EZ Pass to work in that location either. I'd really rather have the V1, in part for sentimental reasons (my uncle went to school with Mike Valentine when he was building the original Escort), but I'm thinking I'll have to bite the bullet and go with the Bel remote too.

Thanks. I was just on the "other" Tesla forum spending another hour reading all the threads over there. It's amazing to me that there is so much disparity between the observations concerning the V1. Some guys/gals say fine, no problems, just put it to the right of the mirror and keep it close to the glass. Others say don't waste your time with the windshield mount.

It would be nice if there was simply a substitute windshield one could purchase that didn't have the stupid coating on it.

 

[Nevek]

I have my Valentine One mounted as high as possible in my 2015 85D and it has ZERO range from the front, it will register signals that are directed at the front as a rear or side alert.
Just give up on the V1, it is a complete waste to use one in a Tesla unless its mounted in the nose cone.
I bought a Bel remote mount and a ALP..

That is consistent with my testing as well with a V1 and an 85D.

Looks like it's either rely on Waze (and not being the first one over the hill) or drop $4K for the full remote install with laser shifters.

 

[CHG-ON]

I struggled with this for some time. But I finally found a solution that I think works pretty well for me, without spending what I wish I could for the full shebang. I installed my V1 in the nose cone and the range looking forward is very good; better than in my Acura at the top of the windscreen. Unfortunately I lose the rear visibility...important, but less so than front facing. In my area, they all seem to be in front of me, not behind, like SoCal.

I have been a loyal V1 user since they first came out. They have saved me 1,000's. I look forward to their developing a solution for a Tesla.

And make it quick!

I've spent a couple of hours now searching and reading all the threads about radar detectors and my 2013 Model S. I understand the windshield is only "radar transparent" up in the dotted area by the rear view mirror. I think I also understand that the consensus between this forum and the radarbusters.com website appears to be that if one is going to do a remote install, the Beltronics STIR+ seems to be the way to go. But before I pull the trigger on a $900 unit and likely a similar amount in a professional install......

I'd be quite happy with my Valentine One which has served me well for years. It would appear to me that my Valentine One could somehow be mounted in that little dotted area by the rear view mirror and hardwired.....right? I searched this forum on Valentine One installs, but all the threads were quite old and the one with the best pictures involved a Tesla Roadster which isn't much help.

Are there any Model S owners that have a Valentine One somehow mounted and hardwired up in that dotted area by the rear view mirror? Any pictures and hardwiring advice? Thanks.

 

[HankLloydRight]

All I can do is echo what everyone else in this thread has said... I've done it all!

I **LOVE LOVE LOVE** my V1 in my BMWM5.. I tried EVERYTHING to get it to work in the MS without any good results. The windshield mount obviously didn't work. I tried mounting it in the nose cone with the remote display and remote audio unit, and it never detected anything! It was worthless there too. I finally gave up and bought a Bell STir on ebay for $900 (including the front and rear laser sensors) and had it professionally installed for about $1k. Yeah, tons more expensive than $400 for the V1, and I really, really, really, really miss the directional alerts of the V1, but otherwise, the Bell is a great unit and essentially a stealth install. The V1 proudly maintains its legacy status in my BMWM5.

p.s. That said, if V1 came out with a specific Model S unit that actually worked, I'd buy it in an instant for my *next* Model S.

p.p.s. Anyone looking for the V1 remote display and remote audio adapter for a V1, let me know.

 

[Scotty]

I have owned and used 2 V1's for years (long enough to upgrade 1 and replace the other). In my MS, I have it on the bottom left side of the windshield, and it does detect CHP radar on I-5 from a very respectable distance (clearly far enough in advance to slow down). My MS is a P534xx VIN with autopilot H/W.

A few months ago, I was a few miles north of the Kettleman City junction, when I detected 2 (separate) emitters behind me. An Audi SUV went by, and the V1 showed the '2' to the side, and then to the front. I wondered if it was a poorly designed radar detector with a poorly shielded local oscillator section, but that usually shows as a single source, and the 'Junk' display usually shows that. I followed it in to the gas station/Micky-D's and asked the driver if she was running a radar detector. She wasn't, but she did say it came with an optional collision detection system, and I was the second person who had asked her, in the month that she had picked it up.

I'm not yet driven to replace it, because I've satisfied with it's operation in my MS, BUT if Valentine Research would develop and release a 'Tesla' model and with better shielded (V1's are being detected by newer radar detector detectors, and their VG2 stealth/immunity to detection isn't good enough now), I'd buy it asap.

Scotty

 

[eye.surgeon]

When in first got my MS i searching high and low for a good V1 installation thread. I've never owned a car that had such a dearth of V1 installation instructions. Now that I've had the car for a while I've realized that, unlike every other car I've owned, I don't speed that much. I accelerate like crazy, but I don't speed that much. WHen I do, I put the waze map up on the screen.

 

[kirkbauer]

My two V1s have saved me from plenty of tickets, but I didn't even try in my MS, just went with the Beltronics plus ALP. I really miss directional alerts, but love the stealth install and gps mute.

 

[Fezzik]

I have had the beltronics 9500ix and the escort sti-r driver and sti-r magnum and they all do not work well in the tesla inside. I've tried all kinds of positions. It does not work well at all.

 

[AlbertOnMars]

I have my V1 mounted to the immediate right of the rear view mirror and it works perfectly in that location. I wasn't even aware people were having issues until I started looking at TMC. I also have a TXTag on the windshield (under the rear view glass mount) and it also seems to work fine. However, I would like to hard-wire the V1, so I'm looking for a solution for that.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Do you have an early car with the panel of dots next to the mirror?

I tried using my V1 in every possible location (even hardwiring it in the nose cone) and never got acceptable reception.

If you need all the parts for a hardwire install, I can sell them to you for a reasonable price.

I went ahead and had a Belltronics STIR professionally installed. While it's not V1, it works really well, although I do miss the directional alerts.

 

[AlbertOnMars]

Do you have an early car with the panel of dots next to the mirror?

Car was built last fall and has the Autopilot hardware. I can take a photo.

If you need all the parts for a hardwire install, I can sell them to you for a reasonable price.

Will send you a PM.

I went ahead and had a Belltronics STIR professionally installed. While it's not V1, it works really well, although I do miss the directional alerts.

I need to investigate V1 alternatives at some point. I do like the V1, but seems they have some good competition now.

 

[Azrockitman]

First time post....and I know this is an old thread but perhaps something has changed....I just picked up my new/used P100D in CA and drove back with my fairly old V1 simply mounted with the visor clip and it worked flawlessly. I received appropriate alerts in I-8 from San Diego all the way to Phoenix. Has something changed that would make a visor mounted V1 work without any issues?

BTW the car is astonishing. I've had many sports cars in my life and nothing has ever come close to the acceleration of the P100D.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Yes, at some point in 2015, Tesla stopped using metallic coated windshields... restoring the full functionality of V1s.

While I still use my V1 in my BMW M5 (as does my wife use hers in her BMW) I’ve become quite partial to the Belltronics STiR+ stealth install with laser shifters, something the V1 lacks.

For instance, here I was able to totally neutralize the laser trap in this video. The V1 would have alerted me, but not scramble the return signal.

 

[cucubits]

Tesla stopped using metallic coated windshields

I never heard of this. What was the purpose of this coating?

 

[HankLloydRight]

I never heard of this. What was the purpose of this coating?

I believe (but not sure) it was to reduce UV from heating up the car. I think Mercedes also used this technology. It definitely wasn’t “active” like a heating element. It was a passive device.

 

[whitex]

Thanks. I was just on the "other" Tesla forum spending another hour reading all the threads over there. It's amazing to me that there is so much disparity between the observations concerning the V1. Some guys/gals say fine, no problems, just put it to the right of the mirror and keep it close to the glass. Others say don't waste your time with the windshield mount.

It would be nice if there was simply a substitute windshield one could purchase that didn't have the stupid coating on it.

Search forums here, plenty on that topic. TLDR, here is a summary I wrote up a while back:
Radar Detector Mount

EDIT: just realized I was replying to a really old post, oups! Still a valid cross link for anyone who comes across this post.