Do I really Need an Upgraded Radar Detector?

[Yamazuki]

How is yours mounted and powered?

There's a pretty good thread about mounting and hardwiring your radar detector here on the forum.
Personally, I use the Blendmount and hardwired mine directly into the fuse panel located behind the RH kick panel, but I like the price on the mount @Flyingtexan posted a lot better and it looks like a pretty decent mount!

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/th...tor-hard-wire-install-with-blendmount.159661/

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[Frogdog1]

From all I've read hear and how mine is performing, I can't see a reason to buy a new unit. To pay V1 $489 for probably the same thing makes no sense. I drive from home, to two states over and it catches everything out there from a long ways off, including a tiny amount of lidar which one has no chance against anyway. It doesn't appear broken so I'm not incliined to fix it. It isn't about the money, I have that, it's just about a better unit which I'm not seeing.

Thanks everyone for he input. FD.

 

[24CTDH]

Plugged into the USB port at the top of the windshield behind the rear view mirror?

can detectors be powered by that usb port under the mirror????

 

[Yamazuki]

can detectors be powered by that usb port under the mirror????

I'm fairly certain that USB only supplies about 5v, and your radar detector is most likely going to require 12v.

 

[steveo1960]

I'm fairly certain that USB only supplies about 5v, and your radar detector is most likely going to require 12v.

My V1 Gen2 would not power up plugged into the mirror USB. I purchased a kit on Amazon and wired it up to the rain sensor behind the plastic panel on the windshield. I also have a Blend Mount and use JBV1 when on Android and V1 Companion when using my iPhone. I actually prefer V1 Companion because it's more of a set it and forget app. Both are excellent though. FWIW I've been using radar detectors since the original Escort with the yellow bulb. I switched to Valentine years ago, upgraded over time and they have always served me well. You really can't go wrong with any of the top tier models. Coupled with Waze and some common sense you should be fine.

 

[24CTDH]

Do you have a link to this kit you used? Is their any cutting/splicing of original equipment?

 

[steveo1960]

Do you have a link to this kit you used? Is their any cutting/splicing of original equipment?

The one in this thread. https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/th...tor-hard-wire-install-with-blendmount.159661/

 

[LouG]

Does your current version suffer from the undercover follower problem? Some of the new fancy self driving / assisted vehicles keep triggering my old (non valentine) unit.

We don't have self drive here.

 

[LouG]

From all I've read hear and how mine is performing, I can't see a reason to buy a new unit. To pay V1 $489 for probably the same thing makes no sense. I drive from home, to two states over and it catches everything out there from a long ways off, including a tiny amount of lidar which one has no chance against anyway. It doesn't appear broken so I'm not incliined to fix it. It isn't about the money, I have that, it's just about a better unit which I'm not seeing.

Thanks everyone for he input. FD.

Trust me, it's better than better. But, if you're happy with yours - job done

 

[24CTDH]

The one in this thread. https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/th...tor-hard-wire-install-with-blendmount.159661/

fantastic. Thank you!

 

[Frogdog1]

Trust me, it's better than better. But, if you're happy with yours - job done

OK, I guess I'm dumb. What's "better than better"?

 

[LouG]

OK, I guess I'm dumb. What's "better than better"?

Not dumb. It's like the "goodest boy". Call it the betterest

 

[LouG]

FYI. I was just on the Valentine website and found that the V1 will operate on 6 - 12 volts. Not sure what USB C voltage is supported

 

[Skye]

My R4 will activate using a USB, but this is only enough for update purposes. The unit does not entirely come on. Just enough for the processor to accept and install software.

In-car, the unit runs on the 12V, and, gets kind of toasty. Unsurprising, when considering what it's doing.

 

[Frogdog1]

My V1 Gen2 would not power up plugged into the mirror USB. I purchased a kit on Amazon and wired it up to the rain sensor behind the plastic panel on the windshield. I also have a Blend Mount and use JBV1 when on Android and V1 Companion when using my iPhone. I actually prefer V1 Companion because it's more of a set it and forget app. Both are excellent though. FWIW I've been using radar detectors since the original Escort with the yellow bulb. I switched to Valentine years ago, upgraded over time and they have always served me well. You really can't go wrong with any of the top tier models. Coupled with Waze and some common sense you should be fine.

It's that "common sense" part that may be more valuable than the radar detector itself. A radar detector doesn't protect from being stupid. Time and place have a lot to do with it also.

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