3D Printed Valentine 1 Radar Mount (Optimized for Thermally Insulated Windshield)

[TheFutre]

@evanevery
Thanks so much for the design
A few questions:
1) I’m leaning towards picking up the V1 Gen2 myself......do you prefer this over the escort or uniden model or have you never tried the others?.......i like the clean look of the V1 myself
2) How are you running power to the unit and do you have it hardwired?........I would want the cleanest look possible
3) Can you include a photo of the finished mount as well with it mounted to the windshield?
Thank you again for sharing the design and for your time

Just got back from my Road Test. Works great! I'm now getting all the alerts I expect. Moving the V1 to the left side of the mirror surely does help put the antenna/receiver into the sweet spot.

I also tested the JBV1 as @wemct suggested. Its a great app! It will likely replace Waze as my goto smart phone app when I have my phone mounted on the console! ...yet another great reason to keep your phone visible and accessible while on the road!

Additionally, I made a small tweak to the mount for those who might be interested. Those little "wings" on the front of the mount help keep the V1 aligned properly with the windshield. They also reduce the gravitational torque which might try and mis-align the detector over time. However, we likely don't need TWO wings. Although I'm a big fan of symmetry, here is another print file with the "drivers side" wing removed to minimize the sight picture of the mount from the driver's perspective. (Take a look at the second photo posted above and you will see what I mean). Its really not a big deal in any case, but might as well, right?

 

[wemct]

@TheFutre, in addition to the V1G2, I have the V1 Gen 1, Escort (windshield mounted and well as the concealed radar/laser shifters) and Radenso detectors. The V1G2 is my favorite followed by the Radenso Pro M. The Escort detectors are fine, but the way they ramp up (or lack of ramp up) from silence to full alerts is annoying (my wife hates the Escort hence she has the Radenso in her car).

If you have an Android phone, the V1G2 in combination with the JBV1 app is hard to beat. The V1G2 is terrific on blind spot monitor suppression and the unit is a step up from the original V1. Valentine has been pretty good with firmware updates as issues have been reported.

If you look at the following thread you will find the information to hardwire the detector (or dashcams, etc.) to either of the footwell fuse boxes.
https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/radar-detector-hardwire-fuse-box.2035/

 

[Tay Tay]

@evanevery I know I’m the idiot that suggested you mount on the driver’s side but I just realized you can’t fold your sun visor down???

 

[Tay Tay]

I finally mounted my Escort Max 360. As with the Valentine, the stock setup won’t allow you to mount the detector high enough. I used a brass corner brace to turn the suction cup sideways.

 

[GreggT]

@evanevery I know I’m the idiot that suggested you mount on the driver’s side but I just realized you can’t fold your sun visor down???

Well.....if Gen2 has it's rear 'viewer' on the right side as with Gen1 there should be no problem in it peeking around a down visor. I 'hard mount' V1's on all the cars the same way w/remote on the column. Tay just uses suction cups for now.....no insulated glass.
Personally, I leave visors down always. Sorry to hijack your thread Ed. . Kudos on your mount work.

 

[Mike in CA]

The mount looks very slick. Nicely done.

One question/observation about using the V1 with insulated glass. As I understand it, all windows including the side and rear are enabled with the sound and heat treatment. The V1 has both front and rear antennas to pick up radar signals both ahead and behind the vehicle. Although the mount resolves the issue with the front windshield I would expect that radar reception from other directions would still be compromised, no?

 

[wemct]

Mike, I think you are correct about the side and rear signals. I had that issue in a previous car, so I have opted away from insulated glass on my vehicles.

 

[Tay Tay]

The mount looks very slick. Nicely done.

One question/observation about using the V1 with insulated glass. As I understand it, all windows including the side and rear are enabled with the sound and heat treatment. The V1 has both front and rear antennas to pick up radar signals both ahead and behind the vehicle. Although the mount resolves the issue with the front windshield I would expect that radar reception from other directions would still be compromised, no?

I don’t think rear has the metallic layer because the radio antenna is there. I do get rear signals

 

[Mike in CA]

I don’t think rear has the metallic layer because the radio antenna is there. I do get rear signals

I could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that all the windows were insulated from heat and noise; it certainly would make sense not to leave the rear window untreated.

I don't doubt that you are receiving some signal at the rear antenna. However if the rear window IS treated it may be scatter from the front or perhaps a weakened signal from the rear or through the roof.

Anyway, I didn't want to chance problems so I skipped the insulated glass option.

 

[lcarron]

I just put the latest mount (above) in place. Works as before and is a little bit less noticeable in the drivers view...

Hi,

My car in on the way and here is my question. I already print it because your idea is really great and will hide the radar pretty well.
Is it on the way of the Sun visor on the left driver side? Can you still use the sun visor?

Thank you

 

[lcarron]

Hi,

My car in on the way and here is my question. I already print it because your idea is really great and will hide the radar pretty well.
Is it on the way of the Sun visor on the left driver side? Can you still use the sun visor?

Thank you

I’m answering my own question.
yes this is a bit on the way of the sun visor but this is not a big deal.
the radar is on the best place ever as it visible and not ugly on the windshield.
thank you so much for the file. The print was a breeze.

 

[ciaranob]

I finally mounted my Escort Max 360. As with the Valentine, the stock setup won’t allow you to mount the detector high enough. I used a brass corner brace to turn the suction cup sideways.

And apologies for poss stating the obvious, but just to confirm when you mount it like this you cannot then use the passenger sun visor, correct?

 

[ciaranob]

I had some issues with my Radar Detector picking up radar from the front of the vehicle through the insulated glass even when I could see the radar gun pointed straight at me. Apparently the thermal glass won't allow any radar signals to pass through. I had my Valentine 1 mounted to the right of the mirror and as close and high as possible but the antenna in the unit was still too low and to far to the right to "see" through the windshield.

The following 3D printed mount is custom fit and optimized to maximize reception of the V1 (Gen 2) in the Taycan. It should be mounted to the LEFT of the mirror and as close as possible. The mount is specifically designed to accommodate the 22 degree rake of the Taycan windshield and has an additional tilt of 8 degrees to get the front of the unit (antenna) up and into the sweet spot. Normally you would want your detector level in the car, but tilting it slightly upwards gives the antenna better reception. Its important to mount the V1 to the LEFT of the mirror as the antenna is on the RIGHT side of the unit. This will move it as far into the sweet spot as possible. The V1 is "locked" into the mount by inserting the RJ11 power connector through the hole in the right side of the mount. Be sure to leave a little room between the mount and the mirror housing so you can unclip the RJ11 connector and remove the detector (especially if you travel in states where Radar Detectors are illegal). 1" VHB tape is used to hold the mount to the windshield. Be sure to print this in ABS as PLA will not hold up to direct sunlight. (V1 is powered via a tap in the driver's side fuse box with the power cable running up and tucked behind the A-Pillar and overhead trim.)

Note that this mount will get you significantly higher and further into the sweet zone than the factory suction cup mount!

I still need to do some "functional testing" (and will report back). ;-)

Now if we could get you inspired to create similar mount for the Escort Max 360c .......

 

[Tay Tay]

And apologies for poss stating the obvious, but just to confirm when you mount it like this you cannot then use the passenger sun visor, correct?

Actually, the Escort is far enough forward (towards the windshield) that you can partially flip down the visor, enough to block the sun. But it will also cover the rear antenna.

 

[ciaranob]

Actually, the Escort is far enough forward (towards the windshield) that you can partially flip down the visor, enough to block the sun. But it will also cover the rear antenna.

When I place mine in this loc I am having a hard time seeing how it can have a clear view through the recommended area of the windshield - are you getting good hits i.e. does it seem as effective as before when driving (realize hard to quantify).

I also wondered if we could invert this Escort and still have it work correctly? Would present all the controls (facing downwards) whilst placed flush to the roof liner - do you happen to know if this would work (I had not tried it myself as yet)?

Also is yours the std mount or the magnetic? Mine is the mag. and adds a bit of bulk up top in respect placement.

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