Radar detector mounting locations ideas

[Scottie’s MachStang]

Has anyone come up with a solution to mount a radar detector.

I find the headliner is too low to position the receiver in line with the gap in the IR coating.

Thoughts?

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[ipca204]

depends on the detector profile. valentine works great, my uniden..not soo much...

 

[AliRafiee]

Ask the guy that asked the same question a couple of days ago

 

[kens]

Has anyone come up with a solution to mount a radar detector.

I find the headliner is too low to position the receiver in line with the gap in the IR coating.

Thoughts?

I used this visor clip for my Uniden r7 on the headliner to the left of the mirror. There's a bit extra space in the clip so I used some firm packing foam to get a tight fit.
For power I used a Dongar adapter that gives you a USB port behind the mirror trim, and a USB to rj11 cord to power the detector. If you prefer mirror taps you should be able to get power from the same place.

Best practice would have the detector level, but I don't see a way we can get it there. That said I have been getting good alerts so far.

 

[Scottie’s MachStang]

That was the problem I was having and the valentine seems a bit thicker.
Thank you.

 

[drsanddesist99]

I used this visor clip for my Uniden r7 on the headliner to the left of the mirror. There's a bit extra space in the clip so I used some firm packing foam to get a tight fit.
For power I used a Dongar adapter that gives you a USB port behind the mirror trim, and a USB to rj11 cord to power the detector. If you prefer mirror taps you should be able to get power from the same place.

Best practice would have the detector level, but I don't see a way we can get it there. That said I have been getting good alerts so far.

Thank you so much!! This worked beautifully for my Uniden R3. I ordered the same clip and had to slightly file it down to fit the detector. It’s also very easy to bend it into position. I still had a bit of trouble getting it to fit into the headliner without wobbling, but that was easily fixed with a small strip of double-sided Command tape (basically invisible). I didn’t end up hardwiring the detector. I instead ordered an 11-foot RJ11 cable from Amazon (https://a.co/d/77GX6IG) and routed it through the headliner to plug into the trunk 12V port. Works very well and no more blocked signals. Been searching all over for a solution, and this was finally the answer!

 

[smoke20]

I used this visor clip for my Uniden r7 on the headliner to the left of the mirror. There's a bit extra space in the clip so I used some firm packing foam to get a tight fit.
For power I used a Dongar adapter that gives you a USB port behind the mirror trim, and a USB to rj11 cord to power the detector. If you prefer mirror taps you should be able to get power from the same place.

Best practice would have the detector level, but I don't see a way we can get it there. That said I have been getting good alerts so far.

I have the same Uniden mounted exactly the same as yours with an Invisicord to the mirror tap. I am very pleased with the performance.

 

[kens]

I have the same Uniden mounted exactly the same as yours with an Invisicord to the mirror tap. I am very pleased with the performance.

I've had it a long time and it really has been a great detector. I've been using the visor clip on headliners for as long as I've had it too, keeps it off the windshield, looks cleaner to me and I like that it's not obvious while parked.

 

[drsanddesist99]

I came up with another solution for my Uniden R8 that seems to work well with K band on the highway. The CHP has been a bit quiet lately on the freeways I normally use here in Los Angeles/Orange County, but will provide updates as I test it more on Ka band.

I ordered one of those permanent Uniden windshield mounts from Ebay (http://bit.ly/4lpgIXq) for $13 shipped. I then cut out two small squares of 3/16 inch black foam core board (from Michaels) and stacked them on top of each other using 3M VHB tape (https://a.co/d/6DSUsMd)–basically creating a 3/8 inch spacer. Afterward, I used some static cling tape (https://a.co/d/bjL8PzA) between the spacer and the actual glass. This was to make removal easier in the future (since VHB tape is a pain to get off). It's totally optional, but I'd recommend it since radars are very finicky with the IR windshield and you may need to repeat the process a few times with your individual detector to get the proper reception. I installed the permanent mount from Ebay on top of the spacer with some more VHB tape and bent it into place.

Now, the detector seems to be relatively level and within the black square for the most part. I would've liked to it to be higher up, but the windshield curvature, thick headliner, and larger profile of the R8 make that pretty difficult.

I tried using the Radenso Visor clip suggested by previous threads which worked decently well with my Uniden R3, but both the R3 and R8 had problems connecting to GPS, despite being within the cutout. I read on a forum that this occurs when the detector is too tight up on the roof which apparently blocks the GPS (and when it did connect, the speed was somewhat inaccurate). In my experience, this was true because once I gave the detector a bit of space, the GPS connected almost immediately.

With this new setup, the R8 connects to GPS within 20 seconds and speed readings are basically spot on. It is picking up K band from other cars, shops, and speed signs very well and gave me about a mile notice for a K band road sign (I normally run with K band off because I live in California, but reactivated to test since I haven’t run into many officers). That said, I’ll put it through its paces to see how well it picks up cops and update you guys.

Always open to suggestions, so please share what you all did (especially if you have an R8). Of course I’m not expecting perfect reception/range given the design of both the car and detector, but hopefully it’ll suffice with Waze running in conjunction.

See photos below...Hope this helps!

Cheers

 

[ipca204]

I just can't see that install working optimally as the detector is too low. I am sure you are still getting some alerts due to reflections, but the horn part of the detector is too low, imo..

 

[drsanddesist99]

I just can't see that install working optimally as the detector is too low. I am sure you are still getting some alerts due to reflections, but the horn part of the detector is too low, imo..

You’re right, the car’s design is almost like a perfect storm for larger detectors, especially ones with a large kink like the R8. It’s hard to get them completely within the black squares without them pointing way up to outer space.

I unfortunately don’t know enough about Radar to conclude which tradeoff is better (pointing up or level with reduced range). If anybody could shed some light on this, that would be very helpful.

The black squares are deceptively flat which makes it even harder, but you can actually see where the IR coating ends by shining a light up close at night. In my testing over the last few days, I have noticed that the R8’s rear alerts are obviously way stronger, but that’s useless if the threat is ahead. I did get a few Ka alerts on the highway, but haven’t really driven by enough cops to give a definitive answer. I’m gonna keep playing around with some other solutions and will report back.

 

[austinsf]

I just installed my R8 in the same spot using the eBay permanent mount, cork board, etc. and I get horrible detection. Even for stationary speed signs, the radar only detects it when I’m about a block away. I can’t get an accurate MPH or direction reading on the unit either. When I do get it, the speed and direction is not correct. I have little to no confidence this will catch Ka radar bands at a reasonable distance

 

[ipca204]

I just installed my R8 in the same spot using the eBay permanent mount, cork board, etc. and I get horrible detection. Even for stationary speed signs, the radar only detects it when I’m about a block away. I can’t get an accurate MPH or direction reading on the unit either. When I do get it, the speed and direction is not correct. I have little to no confidence this will catch Ka radar bands at a reasonable distance

some people have reported better luck with using a mount from the bottom to get that horn up in the frit where the cut out is...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003AAJ4DG?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_7

 

[tuminatr]

I didn't read all the comments so my suggestion could have been covered. I have been using blend mount for years. They mount to the rear view mirror stem and the radar is visible just below the rear view mirror.

Very high quality, very adjustable,very solid, not a cheap piece of s$-t

https://blendmount.com

 

[AnimalChin]

I used velcro tape. The headliner is the real problem. I'm probably just going to put a dent in the headliner so it fits better.

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