truemagellen

...what do you think of?...any help on installation ideas would be great too

my brother and I were brainstorming over where to put the display for an Escort SRX radar dector/laser jammer I'm going to install soon...the display for any detector ain't pretty and really I only want to see the LCD

(just to clarify the SRX is a fully installed unit so there is only a small display unit not an entire radar detector box like the Escort 8500 or V1...I may be getting the Bel RX 75 plus since that is the same as the SRX since Bel bought out Escort)

for ideas we thought that we could remove the LCD and mount it the best we can somewhere where it will look ok...but we couldn't come up with anything that would look even remotely good and functional...sooo

we thought...what about mounting the display hidden on the dash near the windshield...facing up...use one of those reflective sheets and the image will be right where you need it with the quickest reaction time...plus no cop/trooper in the world would ever expect it there...especially since a laser jammer is illegal in my state...then use a remote to mute/disable the unit so the law enforcement officer would never notice it

to give you an idea of an HUD setup check out this site and here are pics too: http://www.defi-shop.com/product/basis/basis_top.html


and here is the Bel display setup (very similar to the Escort SRX)
http://www.beltronicspro.com/rx75.html

Sputnik

When I had my Defi boost HUD temporarily setup on my dash, the first thing one patrol officer asked when he pulled me over was "Is that a radar detector?".

You know, if one could find a way to have the Radio/HVAC display double as the radar detector display, that would be very stealth and effective.

One thing that you need for something like this is a very bright LED or display. The reflective piece that comes with the Defi unit does very little to increase the brightness, it's more to sharpen the image, decrease flare, and eliminate the "ghosting" that will happen on regular windscreens. And that reflective piece will attract unwanted attention to the device. It can be done with a bare windscreen, but it will take some work to get it right.

And, that display as it is will show upside down or reversed (depending on how it's mounted). So you will have to at least rewire things for it to display properly. The best thing would be to find a super-bright LED display that will match. This would be much easier with something like an older Whistler display unit that only has a few LEDs, as it won't be hard to get a few super bright LEDs to match.

Integrating a V1 remote display into a HUD would also be a little easier, as they are a combination of simple LEDs and a couple of simple numeric displays. You should have an easier time getting super bright LED numeric displays than an array that you would need for the Escort or Bel displays.

The switches/buttons can be hidden as well. One option is to mount some stock looking switches in the locations where switches for non-North-American options are normally located. Another option is to use the power mirror switch (this is something that I've done before for one of my stereos). A simple circuit can be put together to interface the power mirror switch with whatever you want to control (up for the vol/mute button, down for the city button, etc.), and you can set up a stock looking switch to control a set of relays so that you can still control the power mirrors when you want to.

If one doesn't have a MD or Tape module installed, they could use a blank plate to either put together something with a few buttons to make it look stock, and even integrate the display down there, of you want to. There has been one or two people who have grafted a V1 remote display in that blank plate, but that definitely does not look stock, and is not what I'm talking about. You want something that is not easily recognized as a radar detector when it is off.

---jps

truemagellen

thanks...I was actually thinking about pulling out the LED display from the display unit...hidding the display unit hardware and just having the LED mounted with a mirror to reflect the image...this way it will just look like a little clear piece of plastic that won't be lit up if a tropper would pull me over

maybe I can photoshop a few ideas...in this day of age you need Laser Jamming capabilities otherwise you are toast and unfortunately I live in one of the only states where the technology is illegal...so if this doesn't work out I'll have to do the indash display...but I would prefer not to take apart the Mazda gauges...drill a hole in them to just install one LED

I'll continue brainstorming...thanks for the help sputnik!

ezrider55

It is not below but there was a thread about someone who mounted their display inside the air deflector on the right side closest to the driver. That may be just what you need. :D

truemagellen

I'll start searching for it...but if anyone knows where that thread is I'd be greatful

huhsler

Look here: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...air+vent+radar

Good luck!

truemagellen

that air vent install is...BRILLIANT!

Definitely high up on my list now of possible installation ideas

markd

Wouldn't exposure to the heat (when the heater is on) eventually hurt the display unit? I'm more in agreement with the person who did his install on the steering column near the speedo (also on that older thread,. pg 1).

truemagellen

if I were to insulate the back of the display unit it shouldn't be a problem...besides the highest temp that would come out of the vent would be nothing more then the car sitting in the sun on a 90+ degree day (maybe 100) right?

I like the location of the steering wheel column near the speedo but it isn't a clean install at all...personally I don't want to see the thing...there is not one radar detector display that looks good...although having it be able to use the HU display or NAV screen would be amazing

Maybe we should change this thread to a 'creative radar detector displays' I am enjoying these refreshing ideas

markd

For me personally, I'd rather not have anything restricting air flow out of the vents, but that's just me.

Have you also thought about maybe around the mirror/head console area? I know a number of people have tapped into that for a power source for their radar detectors as well.

Sputnik

Again, it would be upside down or reversed if you simply used the existing display. That is, unless you are talking about using a mirror to reverse the display before it is shown on the windshield.

I don't know if you've seen it in person yet, but the piece of plastic that comes with the Defi kits is not clear. It is like a piece of window tint, and it does stand out. And even with that dark tinted piece, the existing display still might not be bright enough. So, you should do some simple tests, like plug it in and set it up next to the windshield to see how good it is. I can tell you from experience with the Defi unit that positioning is very critical in the quality of the display. The closer the display is to the windshield, the better. The farther down the windshield the display shows up, the better, as it is less likely to be washed out by light coming through the windshield, and it won't get in the way of seeing out the windshield.

The heat in the vent shouldn't be too hard on the electronics, as it won't get as hot as it would normally in a direct sun with the windows closed. But obviously, don't use tape to mount it. A possible issue that I see with the vent mount is that the slats will block the display. The V1 display that was put in there has just a few LEDs, and you can get a good idea of what's going on back there. The finer graphic display of the Escort and Bel models will be much harder to read through the slats. Regardless, you will have to angle the slats in just the right manner to see it, which might be annoying with any air flow.

I haven't seen how much room there is, but if one does have the NAV unit, it might be possible to take the existing display from the radar detector, and flushmount it above or below the NAV screen (wherever there is room). That way, it can be in a good visible spot when it's on, and can be completely hidden quickly.

And of course, if someone has a carputer, it would be possible (not easy, but not too complicated for most who have installed a carputer) to build a circuit to interface the radar detector with the carputer. Using the same techniques, one could use the carputer to intercept signals going to the HU/HVAC display, and control what is displayed on it.

---jps

devoid

I'd say your true choices are 1 of 3:
1: mounted with the radio in the location where the tape/minidisc can go (look for a valentine 1 remote display install that did this, somewhere on the forum)
2: in the sunglasses holder up above. This would allow for closing, so you wouldn't see the display.
3: in the ashtray. Like many people who have installed music hardware (Kenwood keg, NeoJukebox, etc) This again would allow you to flip up/down the ashtray cover, thus hidding/revieling the display.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

chad

I just use a winsheild/suction cup style. I put a slight bend in the mounting bracket {compensate for the windsheild curve}, put it between the gauge pods and the A-pillar. and hardwired it. When a trooper walks up to my car, the A-pillar completely hides it. It thought it was pretty slick.......

truemagellen

thank devoid...

I really cant have the thing sitting out...I've already gotten a ticket with a radar detector in the car (he was using laser) and the detector put the nail in the coffin

still brainstorming