Radar Detector Installation - A8L
01-22-2003, 06:27 PM
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Radar Detector Installation - A8L
I'm in the market for a new Radar Detector to install in the new '03 A8L and was wondering what brand/type of Radar Detector others are using in their car?
Glass mount or Remote detector installation?
If Glass mount how are you powering the unit? And, where are you mounting the unit on the windshield?
Has anyone installed the remote detector with sensors in the front and rear bumper areas? If Yes, any pics or recommendations on the best way to install the system in the vehicle?
Kevin
Glass mount or Remote detector installation?
If Glass mount how are you powering the unit? And, where are you mounting the unit on the windshield?
Has anyone installed the remote detector with sensors in the front and rear bumper areas? If Yes, any pics or recommendations on the best way to install the system in the vehicle?
Kevin
01-22-2003, 10:18 PM
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BEL Vector LR remote
Antenna mounted behind lower front grille, control unit in compartment at left side of drivers seat.
Works fine. Has the Lidatek Laser Echo mounted same places.
A8 double front windows with UR/IV filters does not allow radar detector behind windshield.
Works fine. Has the Lidatek Laser Echo mounted same places.
A8 double front windows with UR/IV filters does not allow radar detector behind windshield.
01-23-2003, 03:40 AM
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Valentine One
The one in the S8 is our second. After a couple years with one in the A4, I wouldnt own any other.
With this detector the easiest and most effective install is to clip it on the passenger visor and put the remote on the underside of the instrument cluster's padded sun visor with the supplied velcro. This is surprisingly stealth (meaning no one from outside will know you have it) and unclutered inside. But if you passenger that likes to ride around with the visor down you may have to slow down... It comes with suction cup mounts for the windshield but to put it low enough to clear the rearview mirror to the rear it is in the line of sight. We use the suction cup mount on our RAM 2500 because it has a much higher windshield and isnt a visual problem there - thought it isnt nearly as invisible as when it is on the visor.
If you are less interested in performance and more interested in fashion there are some lesser units that have remote hidden detectors and out of the way displays. I figure why buy a detector if it isnt the best.
With this detector the easiest and most effective install is to clip it on the passenger visor and put the remote on the underside of the instrument cluster's padded sun visor with the supplied velcro. This is surprisingly stealth (meaning no one from outside will know you have it) and unclutered inside. But if you passenger that likes to ride around with the visor down you may have to slow down... It comes with suction cup mounts for the windshield but to put it low enough to clear the rearview mirror to the rear it is in the line of sight. We use the suction cup mount on our RAM 2500 because it has a much higher windshield and isnt a visual problem there - thought it isnt nearly as invisible as when it is on the visor.
If you are less interested in performance and more interested in fashion there are some lesser units that have remote hidden detectors and out of the way displays. I figure why buy a detector if it isnt the best.
01-23-2003, 04:14 AM
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back in '03?
"A8 double front windows with UR/IV filters does not allow radar detector behind windshield."
I am pretty sure there is nothing significant in our '01 S8 windshield as the toll booth transponder and the V1 work fine in the windshield. I remember reading about this problem with the A8 which I presumed meant pre-01 models. Has Audi gone back to it in '03, have they done the same thing all along and the issue is just overblown or is the S8 different?
I am pretty sure there is nothing significant in our '01 S8 windshield as the toll booth transponder and the V1 work fine in the windshield. I remember reading about this problem with the A8 which I presumed meant pre-01 models. Has Audi gone back to it in '03, have they done the same thing all along and the issue is just overblown or is the S8 different?
01-23-2003, 04:21 AM
#5
An aside on Valentine and history.
I haven't had a radar detector in quite some time, but the V1's and the new wheels are making me reconsider. ;-)
Some history: Valentine is the guy who designed the original Escort radar detector. I had one back in the late 70's/early 80's. It was an awesome piece of hardware for its day. It was truly milspec-quality. I have friends who worked at the Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment Station back then, doing military radars and countermeasures work. Association of Old Crows types.
They couldn't believe how good the Escort was, for how little. Even the nomenclature on the box, "Radar Warning Receiver", was straight out of military radars and countermeasures terminology. Valentine came from that world, 25+ years ago. Check out his web site; he still thinks in those terms.
So anyway, he's got the theoretical and practical background to do it right. And it appears he continues to do so.<ul><li><a href="http://www.valentine1.com/home.asp">Valentine 1</a></li></ul>
Some history: Valentine is the guy who designed the original Escort radar detector. I had one back in the late 70's/early 80's. It was an awesome piece of hardware for its day. It was truly milspec-quality. I have friends who worked at the Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment Station back then, doing military radars and countermeasures work. Association of Old Crows types.
They couldn't believe how good the Escort was, for how little. Even the nomenclature on the box, "Radar Warning Receiver", was straight out of military radars and countermeasures terminology. Valentine came from that world, 25+ years ago. Check out his web site; he still thinks in those terms.
So anyway, he's got the theoretical and practical background to do it right. And it appears he continues to do so.<ul><li><a href="http://www.valentine1.com/home.asp">Valentine 1</a></li></ul>
01-23-2003, 04:26 AM
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As long as it detects and warns soon enough, why care?
As most tests conclude, all the leading detectors give you sufficient warning. Most of them triggers a long time in advance, what difference does it do if it warns very long ahead instead of just long ahead?
My BEL Vector remote consistently warns well ahead of any radar signal, and that's all it's supposed to do. False alerts are a nuinsance, as with all detectors. The good thing is that I can filter out all unneeded frequencies. So if I just knew which frequency the cops use....
Notice that if you have the double front windshield, you will dramatically reduce warning distance with a inboard unit. It will be litterally useless. All european 4,2 A8's had this feature from the start, and at least up to '99. There was several different options after this.
My BEL Vector remote consistently warns well ahead of any radar signal, and that's all it's supposed to do. False alerts are a nuinsance, as with all detectors. The good thing is that I can filter out all unneeded frequencies. So if I just knew which frequency the cops use....
Notice that if you have the double front windshield, you will dramatically reduce warning distance with a inboard unit. It will be litterally useless. All european 4,2 A8's had this feature from the start, and at least up to '99. There was several different options after this.
01-23-2003, 04:32 AM
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Don't know
As mentioned, the double glass w/filters was standard on all european cars with 4,2 engine from the start in '94, in all windows. Option on all other engine versions. S8 had it as well.
Then, something changed, I think it was with the facelift ('99 model here). I don't have the details, but there seemed to be several optional "window packages", with or without filters, sound and heat insulation.
Then, something changed, I think it was with the facelift ('99 model here). I don't have the details, but there seemed to be several optional "window packages", with or without filters, sound and heat insulation.
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01-23-2003, 04:41 AM
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cops get clever
Long lead times are nice but with cop cars carrying multiple radar units and often setting up a mile apart or less we need to know more than "beep".
I have driven thru several radar traps in the Eastern US where I am certain nothing but the V1 would have been adequate. That is because the police would space themselves half a mile or so apart. The first cop would get the detector owners to slow down and catch speeders without warning devices. The second cop will catch the detector owners that resumed their speed because they believed their detector was still warning of the previous cop and ignored the warning. My V1 gave me directional and bogey info that made it easy for me to see there was a second unit ahead.
The V1 does report a number of non-threat K and Ka band detections from things like motion detectors because the signature is identical to a doppler threat radar, but it doesnt take much experience before these become fairly easy to distinguish from a threat radar further off in the distance.
I have driven thru several radar traps in the Eastern US where I am certain nothing but the V1 would have been adequate. That is because the police would space themselves half a mile or so apart. The first cop would get the detector owners to slow down and catch speeders without warning devices. The second cop will catch the detector owners that resumed their speed because they believed their detector was still warning of the previous cop and ignored the warning. My V1 gave me directional and bogey info that made it easy for me to see there was a second unit ahead.
The V1 does report a number of non-threat K and Ka band detections from things like motion detectors because the signature is identical to a doppler threat radar, but it doesnt take much experience before these become fairly easy to distinguish from a threat radar further off in the distance.
01-23-2003, 05:29 AM
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Ok, our cops don't use much radar anymore, mostly laser
I close to never see a radar trap anymore. Two with short distance between them is something I never even heard of here.
But they love their lidar (laser) guns, which they use frequently. The only protection is a good jamming unit. Detectors are more or less useless against this threat.
What is worse is that they use a lot of permanently mounted speed cameras (no radar or laser, just sensors in the road). And the new generation coming out these days have digital cameras with direct transmission of the picture to their central database. They will all have cameras mounted, and they never run out of film. Bastards.
As bad, or even worse, they have lots of unmarked cars with "Police Pilot" speed measurement devices (just clever stopwatches actually) connected to video cameras. Only protection is to be very suspicious when passing cars that are just too anonymous, and have separate fog lights in the front. Lots of cars like that...
But they love their lidar (laser) guns, which they use frequently. The only protection is a good jamming unit. Detectors are more or less useless against this threat.
What is worse is that they use a lot of permanently mounted speed cameras (no radar or laser, just sensors in the road). And the new generation coming out these days have digital cameras with direct transmission of the picture to their central database. They will all have cameras mounted, and they never run out of film. Bastards.
As bad, or even worse, they have lots of unmarked cars with "Police Pilot" speed measurement devices (just clever stopwatches actually) connected to video cameras. Only protection is to be very suspicious when passing cars that are just too anonymous, and have separate fog lights in the front. Lots of cars like that...