I had a remote display for a V1 kicking around and wanted to place in my RX-8. For the last couple of months I have had it mounted in my ash tray but it was just too low to be helpful. So I decided to move it up a bit. What do you guys think of this install?

Close-up of the remote display.

That location would still be a little too low for my tastes but it is a very clean install.

I like it.

-Mr. Wigggles

that is so sharp
awesome job

Very nice. :cool:

Originally posted by MrWigggles
That location would still be a little too low for my tastes but it is a very clean install.

I like it.

-Mr. Wigggles

Thanks and I agree that it is still a little too low but I couldn't think of a better place to mount it. Any suggestions?

Originally posted by Speed Racer


Thanks and I agree that it is still a little too low but I couldn't think of a better place to mount it. Any suggestions?



Ducktape it to the dashboard.

ducktape
I hope you are kidding

That is very nice. I wimped out and just put some velcro on the bottom and set it to the left side of the dash.

I wanted mine as close to the speedo as possible. After all when it beeps, I need to know how much [or if] to brake.

1st rx8,
that looks good right by the speedo

Originally posted by 1stRX8
I wanted mine as close to the speedo as possible. After all when it beeps, I need to know how much [or if] to brake.

Why does it need to be near the speedo? You're driving an '8; you already know you're speeding... ;) Just kidding! Still, for sheer asthetics I really like Speed Racer's install. Finally a good use for that bottom slot.

I found a great spot for it in the middle of the rear storage compartment. It looks great and I can see it when I .... uh... oh, shit.

question about valentines..

how good are they???

I bought a top-of-the-line Bel 980 radar a few years back and within a month I got a damn ticket.. this was in seal beach on PCH going north.. It is plain flat land with no obstructions.. it was at night and I was going 65 in a 60mph zone, and the f*cking biotch gave me a ticket for going 5 over.. unbelievable.. Sports cars can go way over 5mph if you barely push the car...

Anyway to make a long story short, she was there off the road, it was dark I didn't see her, and the radar/laser detector didn't do squat to warn me.. She got me on laser gun.

I was pissed to say the least, not just about the $130 ticket, but the $250 I spent for that POS detector...

Still bothers me to this day..

So how's the valentine working out for you all???

laser it tough to detect early enough for any detector. Been discussed before here (do a search...) - but - they can turn it on only when they want to (see you coming, easier in the dark) and laser doesn't 'spray' a lot since,well, it's a laser beam... so where laser may be present, prudence will work better than the best detection device(s).

those of you w/ V1s, where are you placing the detector regardless if you have the remote display or not?

I have mine at the top of the windshield and just to the right of the rear view mirror. That way the V1 has the best view of the what lies ahead and behind.

Nicely done. Where did you mount the main unit and how did you route the wire from it to the remote display?
________
Bestsquirt69 (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/bestsquirt69/)

Originally posted by PUR NRG
Nicely done. Where did you mount the main unit and how did you route the wire from it to the remote display?

The main unit is at the top of the windshield and just to the right of the rear view mirror. I wish that I could conceal the main unit better but it wouldn't work as well if I placed it in an obscure location.

The wire from the main unit is tucked into the headliner and then it is routed down the driver's side A pillar underneath the plastic trim. From there it travels under the dash to the power adapter. One wire is tied in to the ignition (so that the V1 shuts off when the car is turned off) and the other heads off to the remote display in the center console.

Great job!!!! How much room was behind that panel and can you remove it without taking the entire center console apart?

I'm think of puting SAT radio controller there.

...have to agree with that one.

Ive had both Valentine and Bel 900's. The Valentine was gangted, but I like the Bel better (less falsing, same detection) and I dont need to know how many targets - one is enough.

If you are the intended target of laser or instant on Ka, you are gonna get popped. If the cop is not lasing others in front of you, your dectector is not a cop mind reader and doesnt know he is waiting just for YOU.

Thats why the best detectors are rated on their "spurious" detect capability. Cathing the faintest glimps of the poor sap getting lased, microwaved in front / behind you.

If your all by yourself on a dark empty road hauling ass, use your cop smelling internal gut radar.

My gut has saved me more times than the Valentine and Bell's combined.

Hey speed, how exactly did you go about cutting the hole for the remote display? Was it difficult?

Dugless, I don't think it's possible to remove that panel without removing the center console (unless Speed figured out some way that I haven't heard of). That said, taking the console apart isn't that difficult. There are instructions in this thread (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7644). Getting just to that panel is pretty easy. Getting the rest of the facia off is difficult as you'll read in the thread. Well, it's not difficult, but I had a hell of a time finding a bolt that I had to remove until I got a little help from BrotherVoodoo.

RotorMotor,
I used a Dremel tool to cut the hole out and just made sure that I started a little small so that I could slowly work up to the right size. It takes a little longer doing it that way but your results are normally better.

As for removing the panel I just followed the instructions that were posted for the MP3 player install (http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7644). I imagine that you would be able to pop the panel out without removing the rest of the radio/center console but you will not have enough room to route the wires into the dash.

To get that lower faceplate off without removing the entire console... just take a coin and stick it in along the bottom edge of one of the radio buttons, press upward carefully, and that should pop it right out.

A jumbo size paper clip will work also, fwiw.

NICEly done, SpeedRacer. So nicely, in fact, that I'm almost tempted to buy a Valentine 1 just so I can duplicate the work.

But now question for you: Is the V1 designed so you can remove the faceplate/indicator panel and mount it in a location other than the antenae assembly, or is this from a "remote mount" unit that is designed to have the antenae mount behind the grille of the car?

Thanks...

Omicron,
Thanks for the compilments on the install.

According to Mike Valentine they are not able to make a true concealed V1 (seperate hidden front & rear antennas) because the V1 has to know the exact relationship between the front and rear antennas for the arrows & bogey counter to work properly. So the next best thing is mounting the V1 as usual and using a remote display to move the display info else where.

The front panel in the remote display was not designed to be mounted by itself but it wasn't too hard to figure out how to do it. Just cut a rectangular hole, insert two plastic pins to hold the display in place, and use some epoxy to make sure everything stays put.

Over here I have been using a Bel 985 I got on sale at CC and it's worked like a charm. Havent run into laser though. I do know where the cops like to setup shop with a chopper though so I am always careful in that area, but otherwise I have been warned with plenty of time even around blind corners.

Of course, the 1 day I was lazy and didnt set it up was the day I got the ticket....

Originally posted by Speed Racer
Omicron,
Thanks for the compilments on the install.

According to Mike Valentine they are not able to make a true concealed V1 (seperate hidden front & rear antennas) because the V1 has to know the exact relationship between the front and rear antennas for the arrows & bogey counter to work properly. So the next best thing is mounting the V1 as usual and using a remote display to move the display info else where.

The front panel in the remote display was not designed to be mounted by itself but it wasn't too hard to figure out how to do it. Just cut a rectangular hole, insert two plastic pins to hold the display in place, and use some epoxy to make sure everything stays put.
Good info. But what about the wiring from the antenae unit and the display panel? How many wires were there? Were they hard to extend? I know a lot of displays use ribbon cables, which are hard to extend, and have definite maximum runs due to the resistance of the additional wire...

The V1 uses standard telephone wire for all its connections between the different accessories (i.e remote display). Which is nice because it is easy to find and even easier to work with.

In my car I have the V1 mounted on the windshield near the review mirror. The wire is tucked into the headliner and is then routed down the A-pillar to the dashboard. Which then plugs into the direct-wire power adapter.

The power adapter is connected to the ACC power and ground so that the V1 will turn on with the key.

Another wire is routed from the power adapter to the rear of the center panel and then plugs into the remote display. I should also note that when the remote display is used it blacks out the display on the V1 so that it doesn't announce its presence to everyone around you. ;)

Even better! Does the remote display come with the V1, or does it cost extra? If so, how much?

Thanks...

Omicron.
The concealed display (https://store.valentine1.com/store/) is $39.

If you have some time to spare you should read through the Ask Mike (http://www.valentine1.com/lab/) section. He does a decent job of explaining how the V1 works and why it unique in the market.

You da man. Thanks!

Hi, I have a 240sx, the S13, but my friend has an RX8 and this past weekend we attempted the hardwire and plate install, it looks great but we are having a problem getting the cable from the hard line to the remote display, where did you run your wires? any help from anyone will be greatly appreciated, its all looks and no use for now.

I mounted the main unit at the top of the windshield and just to the right of the rear view mirror. The wire from the main unit is tucked into the headliner and then it is routed down the driver's side A pillar underneath the plastic trim. From there it travels under the dash to the power adapter. One wire is tied in to the ignition (so that the V1 shuts off when the car is turned off) and the other heads off to the remote display in the center console.

The V1 uses normal telephone wire, I found that it was easier to cut off the connector when I was routing the wires. Once the wires were in place I trimmed them to length and crimped on new connectors.

I decided to mount my V1 remote display in the air vent so that it was out of sight, even to passers-by in a parking lot. Pictures:
1. Crummy shot of dash to show the light glowing from the left-center vent.
2. Night time view of display with no radar contact
3. View as seen from the driver's perspective.

Very nice, speed racer. Best of all the installs I've seen. I don't use a detector, but isn't there an audible alarm? Seems like you would instinctively slow when you hear the alarm, then look at the speedo next. If you wait to look at the speedo first, you're too late. So having it by the stereo shouldn't really impair your use.

Here are some more shots, now with radar seen by the unit:
4. One bogey seen to the front (large up arrow lit)
5. Five bogeys seen front and rear (all arrows lit).

I can describe how I did it if anyone is interested.

Also: I mounted the main unit above the driver's sun visor. I adapted the slider to the clip that holds the free end of the visor from swinging
6. Detector mounted to headliner.

arexeight,

Nice job on thinking outside of the box and trying something unique. :)



8 wannabe,

Thanks for the compliment on the install.

I have mine mounted in ash tray because I like being able to mute it with a quick thum press. :) Can you still use the on-off knob press on the main unit to mute yours as with your install is does not look like you can get to the mute button on your concealed display? :confused:

ezrider55: you're right - I probably could not push that mute button anymore. At least, not without a pencil or something (grin). I use the button on the main unit above my head. I guesss I've gotten used to sliding my hand up there.

arexeight -

shit man, I think I'm sold on your method! How did you pull that off? Sorry, but I'm a console mod newb....

i still sell the V1 face plate conceald display.