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reidnul



Member Since: 21 Jul 2008
Location: austria
Posts: 36

2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE Java Black
Hardwiring a radar detector

Has anyone installed a Valentine 1 in to a RRS? I want to put the unit close to the interior Rear View Mirror but need power there and dont want cables hanging down to the cigarette lighter. Thanks. A.

Post #178917 Mon Jul 21 2008 11:22am
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TB



Member Since: 19 Feb 2006
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United Kingdom 2006 Range Rover Sport TDV6 SE Arctic Frost

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a Valentine 1? Confused Arctic Frost TDV6 SE. Aspen Leather, Cherry Wood, Privacy Glass, PTI, Tow Pack, Mudflaps, Tasmods, a new Fuelflap, a RRSport.co.uk umbrella in the boot & a RRSport.co.uk sticker on the rear glass.
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Post #178970 Mon Jul 21 2008 12:59pm
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reidnul



Member Since: 21 Jul 2008
Location: austria
Posts: 36

2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE Java Black

A valentine 1 is a radar detector. see

http://www.valentine1.com/

I think that there may be a power supply to the interior rear view mirror but am not sure. I would like to mount it some where there.

Post #178973 Mon Jul 21 2008 1:05pm
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John @ DW



Member Since: 07 May 2008
Location: Wirral
Posts: 105

United Kingdom 

I've always been confused by radar and laser detectors, by the time the detector has picked up the signal won't you have been stung and the Police will have a reading. If I am wrong please someone explain how they work. Wouldn't a laser jammer be more useful (and a lot more illegal!)? www.designerwheels.co.uk
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Post #179000 Mon Jul 21 2008 3:41pm
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reidnul



Member Since: 21 Jul 2008
Location: austria
Posts: 36

2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE Java Black

I am not an expert but this is how it works.

There are radar detectors which alert you to a fixed or mobile speed trap. it allows you to slow down if you are exceeding the speed limit. They sometimes include a laser (police laser gun thing) but as you say if you have been hit its probably too late but not always as the beam can sometimes bounce off a car in front and alert you, giving you time to drop down.

There are also laser jammers, google the lasertrack 400. these block the police laser gun and yes i think they are illegal.

radar detectors are not. not yet anyway but this will change i think later this year.

hope that helps.

Post #179021 Mon Jul 21 2008 6:15pm
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umbertob



Member Since: 22 Sep 2005
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 944

United States 2006 Range Rover Sport 4.4 V8 HSE Chawton White

Right, radar detectors will catch radar signal bouncing off cars, buildings and other surfaces ahead of (or behind) you and usually give you plenty of advance notice of a speed trap, unless you happen to be the only soul on that road for miles. The best ones, such as the V1, can even alert you of where the bogey is coming from, whether ahead or behind you, and how many bogeys are out there. My trusty V1 has saved my butt many times, when CHP sets up a trap down the street from my house the detector usually goes off as I am leaving my garage! The Valentine is great for radar, but like most detectors claiming "Laser Alert" it is pretty useless for much more lethal laser guns since, unlike radar, laser beams don't "bounce" off other targets and are usually aimed right at your license plate. So, by the time they clock you the V1 will probably go off, but you'll have virtually no time to react. Fortunately, 99% of Law Enforcement agencies around here still use some sort of advanced (K or Ka bands, which the V1 can sniff from miles away) radar guns. Radar detectors are legal in most US states, but radar jamming or other countermeasure is unlawful everywhere - you can actually go to prison - and laser jammers are also illegal in many states, including here in Kalafornia.

Regarding hard wiring, I had written a pretty good tutorial on rangerovers.net, unfortunately the whole thread mysteriously disappeared a while back - possibly during the forum software upgrade Sad . Here is the Reader's Digest version, the whole process takes maybe 10-15 minutes:

First, grab the front edge of the overhead console with the tip of your fingers and pull down firmly, the console should come loose and open up without much effort:

Click image to enlarge


The arrows in the image below show the connections of the hardwiring kit included with the V1 (other radar detectors will likely be wired in similar fashion.) On the right, the red wire draws 12v power from a switched green/white lead in the harness for the overhead lights. The black ground wire is connected to a bolt above the overhead panel. The third arrow indicates the body of the hardwiring harness that powers the detector via RJ11 (modular phone) jack.
Click image to enlarge


Detail of the hot connection to the overhead lights harness. Make sure you pick the striped green/white wire only, the others are either not 12v or they are unswitched and your radar either won't turn on at all or will stay on all the time... The Valentine includes a handy self-tapping connector in the kit - the blue piece around the green/white wire - which eliminates the need for splicing or cutting and leaves no traces of tampering if you ever need to remove the radar (such as on a leased car): you simply slide the connector around the wire, squeeze it with a pair of pliers to score the insulation and tap into the 12v lead, and finally slide the male faston at the end of the red wire into the female faston on the blue connector.
Click image to enlarge


To ground the detector (the black wire), slightly loosen one of the bolts above the panel with a 13mm socket, slide the spade clamp at the end of the black wire between washer and overhead metal plate, and tighten the bolt:
Click image to enlarge


Here is an image of the hardwiring harness body where the radar detector plugs into. I attached it above the overhead console using the provided Velcro tape, there are plenty of nooks and crannies up there. The radar detector is wired to the Main Unit plug via modular phone jack. Note the unused "Accessory" plug, which in the V1 can be used for an optional, remote display mounted elsewhere in the car. As you can barely see in the picture, I bundled up the excess black and red wiring and inline fuse holder from the hardwiring harness with a zip tie, and placed the bundle above the headliner on the side of the overhead panel opening:
Click image to enlarge


I chose installation of the radar detector just to the left of the rear view mirror (we are in a LH driving country here... Smile ) The phone jack and cord easily slide between headliner and windshield, and the "tinted" part behind the rear view mirror makes the wire almost invisible:
Click image to enlarge


And here is the finished installation from the driver's perspective. After wiring everything up, test to make sure you get power to the detector. Don't forget you need to turn on the ignition AND radar detector first! If you get juice flowing, you are done. Carefully align the two plastic studs in the rear of the overhead console with the cutouts in the headliner, and push the front of the overhead panel up against the roof until it snaps back in place. With this type of installation, the detector will automatically turn on when you open the doors with the remote or start the car, and will turn off about 3-4 minutes after you remove the key from the ignition, or right away if you arm the alarm.
Click image to enlarge


Super easy job for anyone. Have fun! 

Last edited by umbertob on Tue Jul 22 2008 3:17pm. Edited 5 times in total

Post #179055 Tue Jul 22 2008 6:15am
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reidnul



Member Since: 21 Jul 2008
Location: austria
Posts: 36

2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE Java Black

Dude,

You are my hero.

Thanks for that. Great!

Regards
Anthony

Post #179057 Tue Jul 22 2008 6:21am
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shmoogle



Member Since: 07 Sep 2005
Location: ... and for every sprinkle I find, I shall kill you!
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United Kingdom 

Excellent post, Umberto - thanks for that Thumbs Up

Renamed the thread and stickied it for easier future reference. 

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Post #179073 Tue Jul 22 2008 9:17am
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reidnul



Member Since: 21 Jul 2008
Location: austria
Posts: 36

2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE Java Black

I hate to waste such a good post but since my last post requesting the information I decided to move to the hard wired system as being based in Europe where the use of these units is illegal I need stealth. The Valentine 1 RC which is the hard wired equivalent needs the radar detection unit mounting behind the front grill and is wired through to the cabin where the display can be placed more discreetly.

Would anyone be able to help with how to wire the unit through the bulk head in to the cabin? The engine bay looks pretty full, and complicated. Land Rover want 800euros for the work.

Anyway unbertob thanks again. I am sure that information will not be wasted.


Last edited by reidnul on Tue Jul 22 2008 9:41am. Edited 1 time in total

Post #179075 Tue Jul 22 2008 9:26am
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shmoogle



Member Since: 07 Sep 2005
Location: ... and for every sprinkle I find, I shall kill you!
Posts: 24350

United Kingdom 

LR are willing to do it, even if it would be illegal? Confused 

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Post #179077 Tue Jul 22 2008 9:30am
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reidnul



Member Since: 21 Jul 2008
Location: austria
Posts: 36

2007 Range Rover Sport TDV6 HSE Java Black

there may be some loophole in the local laws. The BMW dealer here did my last one in a 5 series. No problems. But nowhere near as expensive. But yes they said they would do it.

Post #179080 Tue Jul 22 2008 9:39am
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umbertob



Member Since: 22 Sep 2005
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 944

United States 2006 Range Rover Sport 4.4 V8 HSE Chawton White

For a truly concealed installation, the Valentine 1 would probably not be my first choice as radar detector, since its integrated design would limit your installation options. A system like the Calibre K40 - a lot more money - would offer more flexibility and better detection while being completely concealed: http://k40.com/unde_main.html You could also add laser jamming capabilities to this system, might as well if you are going to break the law anyway. Laughing 

Post #179154 Tue Jul 22 2008 2:59pm
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bananenschale



Member Since: 03 Jan 2009
Location: Moenchengladbach
Posts: 178

Germany 2009 Range Rover Sport TDV8 HSE Santorini Black

Heyho!

Have also the V1 but for fix installation.

I dont know where i should install the black box in the front of the car.

Have someone the same product and has already installed it?

Post #203131 Sat Jan 03 2009 2:37pm
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TikoV



Member Since: 10 Mar 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 114

Scotland 

Folks if you want to make sure you don't get caught......don't speed!!

However, for you speed freaks there is a unit that will definitely save your bacon. It's called Laser Park Pro. It technically 'jams' any reading attempted by police guns, side road camera vans etc..... It works a treat and it also doubles up as a park assist lol. Currently
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Post #216639 Thu Mar 12 2009 1:03pm
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Jonny Fresh



Member Since: 04 Feb 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 3586

England 

TikoV wrote:
Folks if you want to make sure you don't get caught......don't speed!!

However, for you speed freaks there is a unit that will definitely save your bacon. It's called Laser Park Pro. It technically 'jams' any reading attempted by police guns, side road camera vans etc..... It works a treat and it also doubles up as a park assist lol.


It is also highly illegal and you can go to jail for having one fitted on your car.

Post #216640 Thu Mar 12 2009 1:06pm
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