Radar Detector Mounting - trying to come up with a solution.

[Howard]

Wasn't trying to set anyone up to fail. My apologies if that is how my statement was received. I wouldn't have recommended it if I had seen any significant range issues. For whatever reason, I am not seeing the level of degradation that other folks are experiencing with their radar detectors. I expected to see it but I haven't seen it yet. I was prepared to have the same system installed on Mach E that I have on my Mustang GT but have decided to hold off on that based on what I have seen in Mach E. Again, not trying to steer anyone wrong. I decided to test for myself since I had the 360C lying around and not being used.

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[harrysiii]

I get that. They reduce the effectiveness of the detector by up to 95%. My point is that recommending a mount (like blendmount) that resides outside of the black-dotted area is setting people up for failure. I speak from experience. I used a blendmount myself when I first got the car and I noticed huge degradation which is why I have so many posts on alternatives. Ultimately, it's up to you and your comfort with it knowing it is likely affected.

Here's some articles on it:
https://k40.com/uv-coated-heated-windshields-and-portable-radar-detectors-what-to-know/
https://www.radarbusters.com/Will-My-Radar-Detector-Work-Through-Windshield-s/2500.htm

I had the same experiences when I first got my Mach-E and was using my Blendmount. Sometimes it worked great, but my guess is that is when signal is bouncing through the other windows due to more objects around me. Knowing it was unreliable at best made me not want to trust it any more, so I also went with the DevSecOps method. I wish I could trust the Blendmount placement, because I like that solution a lot better.

 

[DevSecOps]

The new owners manual will actually address this. It's not released yet, but here's the new snippet:

 

[jimitoast]

I just found a potential option for those R7 users out there. It seems too simple so it probaby won't work but I just ordered one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GCSY8FB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Reviews are sparse but it seems simple enough to give me some level of confidence. Lead time is long despite free returns. If it doesn't work, I may bust out my dremel and fabricate something out of sheet metal...

 

[jimitoast]

I just found a potential option for those R7 users out there. It seems too simple so it probaby won't work but I just ordered one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GCSY8FB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Reviews are sparse but it seems simple enough to give me some level of confidence. Lead time is long despite free returns. If it doesn't work, I may bust out my dremel and fabricate something out of sheet metal...

Better option: https://www.ebay.com/itm/113775933571

 

[21st Century Pony]

The new owners manual will actually address this. It's not released yet, but here's the new snippet:

I just mirror-tapped power, and am looking at placing the radar detector on top of the right half of the rear view mirror, to use the windshield space behind (in front of?) the center black plastic trim panel. Seems to me, as long as we not place the detector directly behind the car's front sensor camera or behind the silver round thingy (once you pull the plastic trim panel off you'll know what I mean), then there might be much more IRR-free windshield real estate to use. AFAIK the radar signals will go through the black plastic trim with little attenuation. After all, people with more $$$ than I want to spend successfully mount detectors behind front bumper plastic covers.

I'm also looking at fabricating a longish detector holder which'll slip into / over the roof liner. This would lessen the mount-caused standoff distance from the roof.

If I were a ruthless function-based butcher of upholstery I'd cut a hole in the roof liner... but I'm not.

Yes I live in Virginia but I drive to other states all the time.

 

[DevSecOps]

I just mirror-tapped power

I wouldn't have done that, but to each their own. I've had serious issues from mirror taps amounting to thousands in repairs.

AFAIK the radar signals will go through the black plastic trim with little attenuation

This is true. Plastic and foam don't block radar, but there's a bunch of other stuff in there that might? Not sure.

I'm also looking at fabricating a longish detector holder

This is why I designed one myself here.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I just mirror-tapped power, and am looking at placing the radar detector on top of the right half of the rear view mirror, to use the windshield space behind (in front of?) the center black plastic trim panel. Seems to me, as long as we not place the detector directly behind the car's front sensor camera or behind the silver round thingy (once you pull the plastic trim panel off you'll know what I mean), then there might be much more IRR-free windshield real estate to use. AFAIK the radar signals will go through the black plastic trim with little attenuation. After all, people with more $$$ than I want to spend successfully mount detectors behind front bumper plastic covers.

I'm also looking at fabricating a longish detector holder which'll slip into / over the roof liner. This would lessen the mount-caused standoff distance from the roof.

If I were a ruthless function-based butcher of upholstery I'd cut a hole in the roof liner... but I'm not.

Yes I live in Virginia but I drive to other states all the time.

OK, I mounted the Escort Passport radar, the (Ford Accessories) Thinkware F70 camera and its GPS module on my MME, then drove from Arlington VA to Louisville KY to see family and back to Arlington VA... about a 1,400 mile round trip thru six states.

BLUF: this radar mount works for the Escort Passport, and it allows the radar detector to work, and the same mounting method also works to keep the Ford Accessories Thinkware camera nearly out of the driver's line of sight.

Radar detector detects all front and rear radars, except for the laser bubble which is on the top of the Escort and is just too hidden from anything to give warning.

The tricks are to:

1. use the black plastic shield / trim plate's area to the right of the center mirror stalk / forward MME camera housing. Yes there is a metal device there but judicious placement of the radar mount allows the radar detector to avoid its interference. See pic #1.

2. When mounting to the black plastic, I recommend making tiny holes (smallest drill bit in the usual drill bit box) and making good use of regular safety wire and its associated twist plier tool. Both items available, often together, in any regular well-stocked old-fashioned hardware store for about $20 or so. The multiple independent twisted loops of the safety wire hold the radar detector mount and also the dash camera mount "on there" like there's no tomorrow.

3. WIth my trusty Escort Passport in hand I removed the vacuum push sucker clamps and (IMPORTANT) moved the radar detector mount forward in the radar detector to its very 1st "click" slot. This aligns the forward plane of the radar detector mount with the forward edge of the radar detector, and makes the safety wire mounting of the assembly to the plastic trim piece possible. See pix. Every picture has a descriptive name. The pix are mostly in sequence. Enjoy!



Pics below tell the story.

 

[abner]

I just found a potential option for those R7 users out there. It seems too simple so it probaby won't work but I just ordered one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GCSY8FB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Reviews are sparse but it seems simple enough to give me some level of confidence. Lead time is long despite free returns. If it doesn't work, I may bust out my dremel and fabricate something out of sheet metal...

 

[abner]

This work for me but thank for the idea

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