Here is Valentine's take on mounting for laser detection:
http://www.valentine1.com/laserhowto/

 

I have always heard that mounting the detector higher up allows it to detect radar from farther away. That, and the size of our rear window doesn't give you a whole lot of options if you want to pick up radar from the rear as well.

If you are worried about laser, you should be sure to use one that has a laser jammer, or "shifter." Laser is so fast and such a narrow beam that by the time your detector goes off, the cop already has your speed. Had this happen to me on the interstate once.

 

can someone give me a bit more info on this? I'm going to hardwire my escort 8500 tmrw and for some reason i just feel so 'duh' about it. I know its really not that hard, but I want to know where to tap and connect.

any insight would be greatly apprecaited. I swear im the dumbest smart guy at times...

here's the kit i have

 

Go to Radioshack and ask them for a "Fuse-Tap"


You are going to have to strip the wire that needs power on the hardwire kit that comes with the Passport as it is for tapping a wire, not a fuse... once the wire is attached to the fuse tap pick your fuse (I choose the rear wiper fuse, you have to check the manual to see which one it is cause I don't have that in front of me) and put the fuse tap on it and throw it back into the fuse socket...

Then you have to ground the other wire. just pick a screw that is easily accessable and turn on the car touch the ground to it to see if it will work (if the radar turns on your good) turn the car off... attach the ground and then all you have left to do is get the wire to the location you want on the window. You can squeeze the cord into the corners so they are not visible!!

Hope that helps.

 

thanks! yeah I went to Radio shack yeaterday to buy the blade type fuse tap. Thinking I'm gonna tap the cigarette light. With the fuse tap I can connect that to the red sleeved connector [which is a male connection. will swap out with female sleeved connection]. then should be good to go. Now i'm wiating to get my mount for the windshield cause the suction cups I got were used/weathered so they couldnt really hold the piece up. Will have it done this weekend. Might do a write up, considering itsa different type of setup/tap

 

cigarette lighter may not be a good fuse to tap. i believe it stays on even after you remove the keys from the ignition.

 

if you are wiring the 8500 us the smart cord. take the plug piece apart and the red is positve and the green is neg. use those and then you still have the mute button ready to use. and yes the cigarette lighter stays on constantly in my car so i wouldnt use that. try something like the stereo.

 

i have a few ones that I've looked into tapping outside of the lighter. like the rear wiper, sunroof, etc etc. Im not using the smart cord. Mainly cause the noise doesnt bother me. Esp with loud stereo antics, I need it as loud as possible at times. i've not used the mute button yet. kinda dont see a reason for it, personally