i hardwired my radar(X50) above the rearview mirror...

will that affect its detection capabilities since it is in the blue tinted area?

 

Some say yes it will hinder its capability, but others say that is doesnt and actually can improve it as the blue tinted area reduces glare off the hood of the car reflecting into the detector. No real hard proof from what I have seen, but do your own research. GOOGLE IT!

Personally, I put mine up there too, but only for the reason that I'm not supposed to have one and it's out of sight of passing cars. VA says to radar detectors.


drew

 

In some model cars, the windshield's tinted strip contains metallic material. This also happens when you have radio antennas integrated in the glass too.

Anyway, this metallic material acts like a shield on the front facing antenna thereby diminishing the RD's range.

This is all fine and dandy and all, except for one thing......noone really can give out a definitive list of the vehicles that use this metallic material in their windshields. I've read that some Ford and Nissan cars are bad about this.

My opinion would be that you should avoid the tinted strip if possible. Better safe than sorry. If you have to have the unit hidden......you may have to gamble. Although some of the better units use remote displays (V1, Passport, Bel) which would help out in this situation possibly.

 

I moved it now to the lowes point of my windshiled, about 1 inch above the dashboard, harwired it behind and i hae the remote display under the radio.

any other sugestions?

 

Alright, now you went to the other extreme that's also not suggested.

The higher on the windshield (barring problems with the tint issues already mentioned) the better reception you will get.

I hardwired mine using the overhead lights and mounted it right below the rearview mirror. As high as possible, yet not in the middle and blocking the view.

That would be my suggestion.

Remember that an RD's worst two enemies are the elements and thieves. So, take the RD down when not in use. Many expensive windows have been broken to steal a cheap RD. Be smart.

 

yeah i take it out all the time

 

Here you go. I found this on the Valentine 1 website.

Hope it helps.

https://store.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt2.asp

 

I took the time to call Valentine tech support and they told me that on my 2k2 Maxima their was no decrease in sensitivity.

 

That's good news for you guys then.

That would probably rule out probs with the 5th gens then. I wonder if the 4th gens are still in the mix because they used a 95 Maxima as one of the examples of "bad" above the tint lines.