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      08-24-2011, 06:26 AM   #1
neoexodus
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Request: V1 Stealth Install Ideas

I do enjoy a good theoretical exercise, so I would appreciate your thoughts on a truly stealth installation of a V1. Two problems with getting a detector are that I have the roadster (which I love), but there's not a ton of places to hide something in it, and that detectors are not legal for use in Virginia (possession is legal, I believe). So I decided that we should play the "if" game: if I was going to buy a V1, where would I hide it?

I saw that in the 5 series (?) that they have an area in the headliner that could be used to store the V1, which got me wondering about what may be underneath the interior lights panel; just by eyeballing it, if it's not filled, it would likely be large enough to hold the detector. You'll lose laser detection, but once you've detected laser, it's most often too late.

The other idea would be between the seats above the waterfall storage; I'd need to build something for it to live in if I was to go for this area. The greatest difficulty here would be that it would have to look like it is not out of place, and you might also run into a reduction of visibility out the rear view mirror.

I have seen the videos for the StealthOne product at their site (http://www.stealthone.biz/), and I think that would probably be fine for my purposes. Anyone have other ideas / experience with this product to say otherwise?

One last thing, I am generally aware of hearing about radar detector detectors, and that awareness seemed to focus on that some of the radar detectors broadcast a signal which can be received. My understanding is also that this is not an issue with the V1's; can anyone confirm?

So there it is; any ideas or comments are welcome. Also, if you have already done your own stealth setup, give us an idea of how. TIA all!
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      08-24-2011, 08:18 AM   #2
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I honestly don't think you'll be able to do a stealth install and have the V1 remain 100% effective. The only true stealth radars out there are the Bel Sti-R+ and the previous version, and they both are pretty darn expensive. But they are stealth becuase you're not concealing the device, behind any headliner or what not. The antenna remains fully exposed but they can be installed in remote locations, ie in the front grill.

In regards to V1 not being detectable, not true. V1's have been picked up by RDD's. I believe the Sti-R+ works well against RDD's. You should sign up at:

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/

Alot of good info from enthusiasts & experts on that site.

Me personally, I keep my V1 if I'm on the freeway even down in Va. You figure LEO's will have hard time figuring out which car is actually operating the RD. On more local roads, I keep it on as well but I turn it off the second I get any kind of notification.
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      08-24-2011, 08:21 AM   #3
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V1's are visible to RDDs. Whether you really care about that is up to you. The only standalone units that are invisible to RDD by my knowledge are the STI Driver and the Escort Redline. That being said, the nose dip/brake lights are usually enough of a sign to LEO that you're using one. I have a STI Driver, shipkiller is also in VA and he may have one also. I think he just mounts his high on the windshield above the rear view mirror (driver side). It's almost impossible to see from outside the car (window or rear). I mount mine in the same place but on the passenger side. I also keep my display off so my only notifications are noise and the LED on the smartwire.
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      08-24-2011, 08:47 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azadian2b View Post
V1's are visible to RDDs. Whether you really care about that is up to you. The only standalone units that are invisible to RDD by my knowledge are the STI Driver and the Escort Redline. That being said, the nose dip/brake lights are usually enough of a sign to LEO that you're using one. I have a STI Driver, shipkiller is also in VA and he may have one also. I think he just mounts his high on the windshield above the rear view mirror (driver side). It's almost impossible to see from outside the car (window or rear). I mount mine in the same place but on the passenger side. I also keep my display off so my only notifications are noise and the LED on the smartwire.
Yeah, if I was in a coupe, I would probably just take that route as well, but with a roadster, the cop would have to be trying not to see it. While I have you, perhaps you could give me some data on a hypothesis that I have: since detector use is illegal in Virgina, the police aren't working as much to game the detectors as they would in other areas. By this I mean, more reliant on laser or instant on, hiding in more frequency saturated areas like the shopping centers, etc in order to hide their radar. Any experience that causes you to lean one way or another?
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      08-24-2011, 09:43 AM   #5
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I saw where someone mounted a remote unit in the driver side cup holder. This does not solve the where to mount the antenna problem. Have you thought about the new Escort that looks like a GPS? Would most cops even know?

Just noticed this at Z4-Forum http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewto...p?f=34&t=29916

Steve

Last edited by ShakyDog; 08-24-2011 at 11:10 AM..
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      08-24-2011, 01:51 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neoexodus View Post
Yeah, if I was in a coupe, I would probably just take that route as well, but with a roadster, the cop would have to be trying not to see it. While I have you, perhaps you could give me some data on a hypothesis that I have: since detector use is illegal in Virgina, the police aren't working as much to game the detectors as they would in other areas. By this I mean, more reliant on laser or instant on, hiding in more frequency saturated areas like the shopping centers, etc in order to hide their radar. Any experience that causes you to lean one way or another?
Background: I used to live in NJ where everyone I know has a RD and I regularly travel to PA where to my knowledge police can't use lidar.

I've been hit with everything in VA and enforcement tactics don't appear to be any lazier than all the other places that I drive. I've been hit with lidar from state troopers (and possible local). I've had cops use instant-on regularly. In Richmond in the area I commute there are also at least 2 motorcycle cops (1 Harley and 1 BMW). The cops also enjoy cruising in the fast lane and picking people off. I've seen cops hiding on entrance ramps (radar dark) so that they aren't visible until you pass them and they hit you from behind.
Another thing that I have noticed is that in NJ, I could pretty safely ignore anything that wasn't Ka or K band in a really unexpected area. In VA I've gotten alerts from all bands near cops. I assume the V1 has the ability to give you multiple radar sources also, so it's just something you have to look out for. Around Richmond, the only techniques that I haven't seen in use that are used other places are lidar from bridges/overpasses and VASCAR. That being said, on 64 I regularly get clocked at 80 where the speed limit is 55-70 and I've never been pulled. I don't have a lot of experience driving in NoVA other than on 95. When I go to state college I take 17 and cut over towards 66 to 81. I got a laser ticket in the eastern shore where they regularly change the speed limit up and down on the same road. Police just wait where the speed limit changes. Enforcement near the NC border is very strict in my experience on both 95 or 85 with a lot of speed cops.

In summary: In my experience, police are not lazier with using radar just because they don't expect people to have RD's. I'd like to hear other people's inputs on this too in case their experience differs.
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      08-24-2011, 02:38 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azadian2b View Post
Background: I used to live in NJ where everyone I know has a RD and I regularly travel to PA where to my knowledge police can't use lidar.

I've been hit with everything in VA and enforcement tactics don't appear to be any lazier than all the other places that I drive. I've been hit with lidar from state troopers (and possible local). I've had cops use instant-on regularly. In Richmond in the area I commute there are also at least 2 motorcycle cops (1 Harley and 1 BMW). The cops also enjoy cruising in the fast lane and picking people off. I've seen cops hiding on entrance ramps (radar dark) so that they aren't visible until you pass them and they hit you from behind.
Another thing that I have noticed is that in NJ, I could pretty safely ignore anything that wasn't Ka or K band in a really unexpected area. In VA I've gotten alerts from all bands near cops. I assume the V1 has the ability to give you multiple radar sources also, so it's just something you have to look out for. Around Richmond, the only techniques that I haven't seen in use that are used other places are lidar from bridges/overpasses and VASCAR. That being said, on 64 I regularly get clocked at 80 where the speed limit is 55-70 and I've never been pulled. I don't have a lot of experience driving in NoVA other than on 95. When I go to state college I take 17 and cut over towards 66 to 81. I got a laser ticket in the eastern shore where they regularly change the speed limit up and down on the same road. Police just wait where the speed limit changes. Enforcement near the NC border is very strict in my experience on both 95 or 85 with a lot of speed cops.

In summary: In my experience, police are not lazier with using radar just because they don't expect people to have RD's. I'd like to hear other people's inputs on this too in case their experience differs.

I got hit with LIDAR in PA last winter, I think it was 78 or 80west... maybe it was NJ but close to the border?
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      08-24-2011, 03:45 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dubbedown View Post
I got hit with LIDAR in PA last winter, I think it was 78 or 80west... maybe it was NJ but close to the border?
"Although state police are allowed to use radar, no law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania has authorization to issue a citation with lidar. Repeated attempts to repeal the ban have failed despite pressure from insurance industry groups like AAA that support local radar and lidar use because it would lead to an increase in surcharges on automobile insurance policies."

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2325.asp

Who knows? Maybe they were just testing it out/training in case it's legalized.
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      08-24-2011, 04:42 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azadian2b View Post
"Although state police are allowed to use radar, no law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania has authorization to issue a citation with lidar. Repeated attempts to repeal the ban have failed despite pressure from insurance industry groups like AAA that support local radar and lidar use because it would lead to an increase in surcharges on automobile insurance policies."

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2325.asp

Who knows? Maybe they were just testing it out/training in case it's legalized.
Maybe it was NJ border after all. My jammers gave me notification and the situation seemed like classic case. Coming down the highway, patrol was parked on the overpass with his gun pointed down, car ready to come down the on-ramp if necessary.
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      08-25-2011, 08:03 AM   #10
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I'm paying attention to this thread after this morning. I had one of those weird hunches that I needed to turn my Passport on, even though it was 5 ayem and no one else on the road. I'm cruising side by side with an Audi at 75 in a 50 when the laser signal goes off. I hauled up on the e-brake but I am sure there was enough of a read to nail both of us. He let us go. I can only figure he did not want to try to run down two of us or maybe he was just feeling generous.

Note to SoCal drivers. Be careful on the stretch of PCH between Sunset Beach and Seal Beach at the Naval weapons depot wharf. It is a convenient hiding spot.
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      09-27-2011, 03:46 PM   #11
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I can only figure he did not want to try to run down two of us or maybe he was just feeling generous.
Honestly I think cops in CA are just a little more laid back than many other states with speed limits. I grew up in MA, lost my license there for 4 years for being a "habitual traffic offender", all speeding tickets for about 20mph over, over the course of 8 years. Since I moved to CA 15 years ago I've gotten about 3 speeding tickets total, and don't drive any differently. At least where I live in the Bay Area, there seems to be a different attitude than any other place I've lived. Chippers seem to be at least somewhat less focused on tickets as a revenue stream like elsewhere, and more focused on keeping the roads safe. Around here anyway, you can cruise along at anything below 80mph and pretty much not have to worry about a ticket, with some notable exceptions like the 55mph stretch of 101 through Marin.

Now watch, I'll get a ticket tomorrow.
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      10-22-2011, 07:55 PM   #12
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Gotta disagree with CA cops in the SF Bay Area. On the Peninsula they seem to be desperately writing as many tickets as possible. Must be economic hard times for them too!!! Can you say "Justify your existence" ?

I think that it's just that this area is heavily populated so the odds are lower of you being caught!
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      10-23-2011, 06:11 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azadian2b View Post
V1's are visible to RDDs. Whether you really care about that is up to you. The only standalone units that are invisible to RDD by my knowledge are the STI Driver and the Escort Redline. That being said, the nose dip/brake lights are usually enough of a sign to LEO that you're using one. I have a STI Driver, shipkiller is also in VA and he may have one also. I think he just mounts his high on the windshield above the rear view mirror (driver side). It's almost impossible to see from outside the car (window or rear). I mount mine in the same place but on the passenger side. I also keep my display off so my only notifications are noise and the LED on the smartwire.
See this thread: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthre...ght=shipkiller

Also, anyone with the BEL STi-Stealth, can upgrade their STi to the new STi Magnum for $99.00.

I sent mine in last month, and received it back six days later. It's about a 40-60% improvement over an already awesome RD and it still transparent to any RDD's on the road. Mine is on when ever I am in the car.
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