Cool DIY Radar Detector Mount

[69MyWay]

I saw a kit like this somewhere in a magazine once, and thought it was pretty cool. The idea of getting your radar detector off the dash, off the glass, and in a safe place is of interest to me.

Here is what I did.

I took the suction cup mount for the radar detector and cut the suction mount wing tabs off the mount (I could have left them, but this made a cleaner look).

I removed the rear view mirror. I drilled and ran a 1/4 x 20 tap into the header bar and drilled the hole through the mirror slightly larger (for a 1/4" stud).

I took a 1/4" stud, two nuts, and some 3/8" fuel line.

I measured where I wanted things to be, cut the stud, and cut the fuel line into a spacer tube.

I ran the stud into the header with lock tite. I slide the mirror on, and tightened it up with the first nut. I then slid the spacer tube on followed by the detector mount (it already had a hole in the right spot, but drilling one would be easy). I then ran the final nut onto the stud.

I ran a fresh wire from the fuse panel and ground to the header panel and spliced it with the detector harness for a permanent neat clean wire assembly. I then covered that in some wire loom wrap.

Total cost $0.00 as I built this from left over parts and pieces I found in the shop.

 

[69MyWay]

Passenger view.

 

[Vette_Newb]

That looks really good.

 

[lancewest]

As a former state trooper, I'm a fond believer in the stealth mode.
May I share my system.

1. A Beltronics remote radar detector antenna is mounted in the nose cone of my '93 convertible, in front of the horn, and well recessed forward so the retracted headlamp assembly does not have contact with it. Then small remote light and audio signaling device, wiring fed through the firewall, to the right ledge of the area adjacent to the steering column. If stopped, I turn off the control, it is unseen by someone standing next to the driver's door.

2. Another purchase, this time from Rocky Mountain Radar, a combination radar detector and RADAR JAMMER! Guess what! Its mounted, like yours, forward of the rearview mirror, behind the tinted glass and cannot be seen by approaching pedestrians or vehicles, wired to the right, in the molding, over to the fuse panel.
This is sending two signals constently, one that I'm doing 150 MPH another that I'm doing 15 MPH....the police radar gets confused and gives the officer's display a "0" reading. They don't like this much. They aways ask, "Do you know how fast you were going?" I always answer, "Yes, do you?"

3. I like the redundant system.

4. Further, a small antenna, purchased from K-Mart, about the size of a cell phone antenna, services my miniturized Citizen's Band radio. Mounted behind the carpeted wall under the passenger side glove box. Wire for the microphone (with volume, squelch, channel, etc..controls) to a hanger the driver's right of radio/AC control.

5. To the right of the steering column, in the carpeted surface below where the Beltronics remote control is....the USA and Canadian police scanner. Antenna is part of the unit and it scans in every channel....just enter the state or province, on the digital read out.

The state of Virginia, amoung one or two others, do not permit radar detectors. A guy's gotta fight fire with fire. Is this a great country, or what?

 

[69MyWay]

Great "stealth" ideas.

Here is the funny part. The one and only speeding ticket I ever got...was in a VETTE with the radar detector going.

The trooper was going the other way and zapped his instant on burst. The detector went off...and noted I was only slightly above the limit and I slowed down. Jerk face turned around and nailed me.

Turns out he had clocked the truck that was passing me and it was otherwise invisible to him next to a Vette. The truck got away clean. He accused me of doing nearly 15 more mph than I was...that is how I know he zapped the wrong car. Truth is, I was speeding just a tad..so, I took my lumps.

I like the jammer. Do you have a link to a website to get more info on that?

Oh..detectors are 100% legal in Florida...at least for now.

 

[lancewest]

Here's your info.....investigate ALL the products before you buy, because they all do something a little different...if you just get the jammer...get the one that does 360 degrees, there's no detector, the detector only covers 180 to the front. May I suggest two with detector/jammers - then....one with the two units that jam (to cover - 360 degrees). Now you can do TWO vehicles (go in with a friend if you don't need two yourself) with total coverage. The detector/jammer....detects...360 ! jams only the front 180 ! You must put protection to the rear.

Go to http://www.rockymountainradar.com/

or call them in EL PASO, TX....make sure you talk to the head guy, the girls think they know everything, I would not let them know this...but I was misled a couple of times, because they thought the product did something it was not designed to do. Dial 1-915-587-0307.....they work 8-5 mountain time!.....will not answer 12-1pm...their siesta time, I tried to tell you this is a great country.

They guarantee the products, they've always back up their units, if i questioned reliability or anything....they gave me complete satisfaction, so I've no trouble refering them or their products. By the way the jammers (only) are sending signals only so I don't believe they're illegal anywhere. I could be wrong.

I was driving back to St. Louis from Phoenix, when my daughter purchased a AZ car for her AZ STATE UNIV enrollment 2 yrs ago. No protection when I entered the TX panhandle from Tucumceri, NM....the Texas trooper asked if I knew how fast I was going....standard question....my answer this time was "within a mile or two ---- 100 MPH. He says "I clocked you @ 98 MPH. So I say...."What do I get?" He says "for what?" I say "for coming within a mile or two" He then said, "You're one of them St. Louis millionaires, ain't ya!" Puzzled I said "no, why did you ask that?"

He says, "Hell mister, how are you going to pay for this ticket I'm fixing to give you? Like me this guy's got a great since of humor, and he let me go with the warning that he was calling ahead, if I was going one mile over the speed limit, I'd be eating Texas jail food that night. By the way, friday night they serve chilli with 1/2 a grilled cheese sandwich, not bad.

If you need further....e-mail .... lancewest@aol.com

 

[Black Bart]

I have a rocky mountain Jammer I got two speeding tickets in two days after installing it. I hired a lawyer and didn't pay either ticket but it cost me $ 1000.00 to find out that the damm thing don't work. If you search the web their are sites that have tested them and found them to be useless.

 

[lancewest]

Chris,

Black Bart and I thought we were bullet proof. When I first got the unit I eventually got caught....will explain later, no time tonight...you outrun the signal being sent the faster you go and particularly if the trooper is approaching you at high speed your closer rate could be 150 MPH or faster. The closer you get you lose the advantage.....at this rate 200 to 400 feet from the radar gun you're in trouble.

You can call me in St. Louis @ 314.498.8888 or e-mail lancewest@aol.com

Got to get up @ 0300 Sat...will be available after 11 am cst

 

[69MyWay]

I just shot you a note.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Robertwav1]

Nice mount...Used this mount on my 93. The winshield trim housed a hole which I used, so no modificatons were necessary. Power is supplied by the lighted visor. No obstruction to the driver, the visor lowers if needed and the thing is hidden well. It saved my ass 4 times in a round trip to Florida. Thought it might be worth posting.

 

[lancewest]

More good news!......

In the St. Louis area, several municipalities use a radar digital read out trailer in residential areas where the trailer flashes your speed as you approach.....also some interstate highway have a similar device on overpasses. They are out there somewhere, try and find one to experiment with the punch through idea I was sharing with you. The faster you approach the radar gun the quicker it will detect your speed. If the gun is stationary and you are doing 90 MPH......you must slow down, let's say 400 feet before the point the gun is aimed at you. Worst case senerio, you're driving with the top off, hair blowing in the wind, some Tom Petty playing on the CD, telling that gal in the passerger seat about astronaut training, oh yeah, you're still doing 90 MPH; now the trooper is approaching from the opposite direction, he late for his coffee break so he's doing 90 MPH too!....Well guess what? Closure rate is doubled...180 MPH....your jammer is NOT going to give you the same time to adjust your speed....that 400 feet is now 800 feet.

Use the radar trailer as an experiment by observing the point it picks up cars approaching. With your jammer on, approach, you will notice that your speed will NOT display untill you are very close to the trailer. I'm assuming a 25 to 35 MPH residential area where the police are using the trailer to deter speeders.

Better yet if you can find the Interstate Bridge type, you can test at highway speeds.

In short, the faster you go, the faster you must reduce your speed when the detector (you paid for it) tells you radar is in the neighborhood.

December 31, 2002....0930 AM...northbound MO Hwy 61, do it every morning, going to the office.....radar detector goes off as I'm going upgrade @ 95 miles per hour.....rural dual lane, with median.....little or no traffic in front of me for miles....I remove my foot from the pedal, at that speed the vehicle is in heaven, but slowly drifts down as I crest the top of the hill.....now the speedometer is reading 81 MPH....Trooper Henderson, sitting on the shoulder with a big smile...Gotcha! For sometime he's been getting the "0" when he observes me. With another trooper spotting for him, a few miles south, he knows I'm on the way. He turns off his radar gun, waits on a hill where he can see me approaching, when I pop into the straight a way, he comes from his hiding place, crosses the median, parks on the shoulder. Then and only then does he turn on the gun. Now I'm sooo smart, the detector goes off (yeah the one I paid for) which always gives me one to two miles warning......except when the gun is just turned on. So I'd started coasting to the 65 MPH speed limit -- what I should have done was put my foot on the brake.

Unlike the Texas trooper....Tpr Henderson has no sense of humor,
he didn't like the MO license plate LADZMN (Ladiesman) for starters. Even less the little red banner attached to it "Remove Before Flight".

Well, that's my story, MO's treasury is $300 richer, Tpr. Henderson's undoubtedly told everyone at the Barrack how he outsmarted me, and me? I learned to brake instead of coast.

The moral of this story is....know your limitations!

 

[Black Bart]

I have tried what you suggest. In my home town they put a radar trailer in a school zone to alert people of their speed I used this as a test and when I approached at 20 miles per hour I could see it show my speed from about a quarter mile away. I was the only car on the street at the time so it had to be me that it was picking up it continued to show my speed until I passed I turned around and drove back and tried it again and again made 6 passes and the jammer had no affect on it. I have two jammers so I went home and got the other one and tried it with the same results. I live in a very small town and they left it on all night for several days and late at night I was the only one on the street and after several tests I'm convinced it don't work.
Sounds like you have been convinced by all the hype from the people selling these things. They got a lot of my money but I hope I can prevent more from wasting their hard earned money on a worthless gadget. Like I stated in my first post this has been tested under controlled conditions and found to be of no value against radar. Do a search on the web you can find reports on tests of them. Here is a link to one for those who are interested. http://www.escortradar.com/jammer.htm

 

[lancewest]

Good Morning,

As a former Marine I got caught up in the morning news of Saddam's capture. Yes, I do not doubt Black Bart's denial of the effectiveness of their products.....I will look into the latest testing done on the products since the radar guns have improved drastically in the last 2 yrs. Would help to know when he purchased his and which ones.

 

[Black Bart]

Good Morning,

As a former Marine I got caught up in the morning news of Saddam's capture. Yes, I do not doubt Black Bart's denial of the effectiveness of their products.....I will look into the latest testing done on the products since the radar guns have improved drastically in the last 2 yrs. Would help to know when he purchased his and which ones.

I have the RMR Phazer-1 and Phazer-2
the newer phazer-2 is what I installed in my vette.

 

[lancewest]

Copy of E-mail from RMR.....the company competeting...ESCORT

We appreciate your comments and can understand your concerns, especially when the advertisements you are reading are coming from one of our competitors struggling to compete in the marketplace with our products. By visiting our website, www.rockymountainradar.com you can obtain a complete listing and specs on our entire product line. As for the independent tests, they will be posted on our site within the next 30 days.

Rocky Mountain Radar
Customer Service

I'm willing to wait 30 days....

Lance:cool

 

[Tom73]

I love this quote from RadarTest regarding radar jammers:

"Except for the Phantom, which contains rudimentary radar-detection circuitry, each is essentially an empty box with a 12-volt power cord, a cheap cast-plastic waveguide assembly, one or two front-mounted LEDs, a basic power-supply circuit and a button or two. Press the button and an LED lights up, accompanied by a tinny bird whistle. ("Our patented 'FM Chirp', " company salesmen proudly proclaim.) We've tested these products a dozen times against every front-line police radar gun and laser, finding all of them utterly worthless. "

and this quote from ConsumerSearch

"We did find one topic with virtually no dissention, that laser/radar jammers from Rocky Mountain Radar (*est. $180 to $400) don't work. In lengthy articles at RadarTest.com and SpeedZones.com, Rocky Mountain Radar models fail to jam any radar or laser aimed at the test vehicle.... In measured testing, Rocky Mountain models, including the Phazer II, Eclipse and Mini-D models, did show some capacity for radar and laser detection—but no jamming ability whatsoever. "

tom...

 

[Corvette-Pilot]

If they did really work I'm sure they would spend most of their time in court. One thing is they would need a liscense to use it since it is a transmitter.

I used to work with someone years ago that was in the Navy stationed at Pease in Maine. He was on the P3 sub sunter planes working the radar. They used to buz the highway when they saw the staties outside the base doing the speed traps and blast them with the radar. Since the radar guns are such low power and expect a very small return signal, the P3's radar overpowered the gun and basically would blow out the front end detector circuit. Needless to say they were spoken to, nudge nudge, wink wink !

So I would not believe the claims of "jamming". Maybe some sort of absorbtion or deflection could be done ???

Just my $.02

 

[Black Bart]

Copy of E-mail from RMR.....the company competeting...ESCORT

We appreciate your comments and can understand your concerns, especially when the advertisements you are reading are coming from one of our competitors struggling to compete in the marketplace with our products. By visiting our website, www.rockymountainradar.com you can obtain a complete listing and specs on our entire product line. As for the independent tests, they will be posted on our site within the next 30 days.

Rocky Mountain Radar
Customer Service

I'm willing to wait 30 days....

Lance:cool

The site was escort site but the article was reprinted from automotive magazine they have nothing to do with jammers or detectors.

 

[lancewest]

Rocky Mountain Radar Follow Up

The site was escort site but the article was reprinted from automotive magazine they have nothing to do with jammers or detectors.

Sorry for the delay, but Blk Bart showed me the way! Most of the tests done on the
Rocky Mtn Radar products say the same thing....They don't do what they say they do! I contacted them to give them the opprotunity to provide proof...they made a feeble attempt. Today I contacted the Office of the Attorney General, in El Paso, Texas to file a Deceptive Advertising Complaint. My apologies for any of my bad information. There are those that work.....http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=8502

Lance West