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  #1  
Old 03-25-2002, 11:40 PM
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ykobayashi ykobayashi is offline
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Radar Detectors in SVX

Hey All,

I am considering buying a Valentine One radar detector sometime in the near future. However, I have concerns with the SVX and radar detectors. I have noticed that my IPASS (automatic toll collector thingee that is attached to my windshield) does not work through the glass.

I heard somewhere that there is a special coating on the glass on all SVXs that prevents these toll passes and windshield mounted radar detectors from working. Can anyone verify this? I'd hate to spend the $400+ on the V1 only to find out that it doesn't work in the SVX.

Thanks,

Yoshi
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  #2  
Old 03-26-2002, 03:47 AM
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Seraph Seraph is offline
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yoshi,
Although V1 had been great in the past, lately, escort and beltronics have made better products, check them out first. The good thing about V1 is that you can get direction.

As for IPASS, I don't have a problem with that at all. Yes, you do have titanium coated windshield and I don't. The way to get about the rader dector is to:

a: get a remote mounted unit
b: get your windshield replaced with a 94/5 L model.

Lwin
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  #3  
Old 03-26-2002, 12:32 PM
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ykobayashi ykobayashi is offline
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Lwin,

Thanks for the info. I actually do have a 1995 L. But I got the windshield replaced a couple years ago due to an errant rock on I-294. So perhaps I got an older than '95 windshield? They told me that it was OE windshield since no aftermarket supplier makes the windshield for the SVX.

Kind of a funny thing happend. They replaced the windshield with a brown colored tinting. The rest of the car had a blue colored tinting to the glass. I complained since it didn't look right and they swapped it out for the blue colored windshield. Did I have the titanum coated version then give it back for the regular version?

Regardless, the IPASS still doesn't work and I wanted to get some people's opinions on it before I got a new radar detector and found out the hard way that it didn't work.

Can you tell me where I can find reliable information on BEL and Passport radar detectors. From the information that I can find, it tells me that V1s are the hands down winner in each test (Car and Driver)

Thanks!

Yoshi
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  #4  
Old 03-26-2002, 01:18 PM
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Aredubjay Aredubjay is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by ykobayashi
Lwin,

Thanks for the info. I actually do have a 1995 L. But I got the windshield replaced a couple years ago due to an errant rock on I-294. So perhaps I got an older than '95 windshield? They told me that it was OE windshield since no aftermarket supplier makes the windshield for the SVX.

Kind of a funny thing happend. They replaced the windshield with a brown colored tinting. The rest of the car had a blue colored tinting to the glass. I complained since it didn't look right and they swapped it out for the blue colored windshield. Did I have the titanum coated version then give it back for the regular version?

Regardless, the IPASS still doesn't work and I wanted to get some people's opinions on it before I got a new radar detector and found out the hard way that it didn't work.

Can you tell me where I can find reliable information on BEL and Passport radar detectors. From the information that I can find, it tells me that V1s are the hands down winner in each test (Car and Driver)

Thanks!

Yoshi
Yoshi,
If you do a search on Radar Detectors, you'll probably find a recent post with the address for test results. There was actually a recent discussion on this very thing.

I run a Uniden LRD6275SWS. It doesn't work as well as it did in my Sidekick, but, it works fairly well. I've complained about it not having enough range, but, it saved my butt this morning and warned within a mile of the Policeman I was approaching. Good thing too -- I was about to hit a 45 mph speed limit at about 75 (wasn't paying attention and, it was a 4-lane highway). Of course, with some of the newer radar, the only thing a detector is good for is to beep out the words "you're screwed" (which I've also found out, first hand).
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  #5  
Old 03-26-2002, 04:25 PM
Green1995SVX
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I have a 95 L... my radar detector, and EZ-Pass (another type of electronic toll collector) work perfectly. A buddy of mine has a 92 LSL, and he has to hold his EZ-Pass out the sunroof for it to work.

-Mike
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  #6  
Old 03-26-2002, 04:37 PM
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Hmmm.....

That is very interesting. I am going to put a fresh battery in my IPASS and try it again. Perhaps, I just didn't do it right? I admit that the IPASS unit is not secured to the windshield, I am holding it by hand (since the velcro they gave me is on my daily driver).

But holding it in my hand works on the Legacy and the Probe so I don't get it. Either that or during the windshield change the one they gave me as a replacement has the coating.

Either way I am going to try an experiment and see how it goes. If it works I'll be happy and getting that radar detector. If not I will continue to stick it out the window when I go through the lPASS lane and keep an eye on the speedo.

Thanks for all your input.

Yoshi
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  #7  
Old 03-26-2002, 05:46 PM
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Yoshi,

Go to pepboys, get a pass holder. They are only 3 bucks and they have suction cups. I hate to velcro anything to my 800 bucks windshield

I pass and my vector 95 (BEL) works fine in my car. If you want to drive out to wheeling, you can look at it even.

Lwin
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  #8  
Old 03-26-2002, 06:14 PM
Ennui
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Radar Detectors

There's a good review up on the four top-end radar detector models at: http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html . I can't speak from personal experience; but my friend owns a BEL 870, a Celica GTS, and drives quite recklessly (in addition to not having a passenger's side seat belt! eep!) and has yet to get a speeding ticket. My main critique on this model was the exceedingly large number of false positives, though maybe that issue has been addressed in the 880?
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  #9  
Old 03-26-2002, 08:42 PM
MoreIBNR MoreIBNR is offline
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When I signed up for EZPass in NY/NJ, the listing on the internet showed the SVX as not being able to use the windshield mounted unit due to the coating. I had to get the one that mounts on the license plate.
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  #10  
Old 03-29-2002, 06:40 PM
red95svx
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I also drive a 95 L and I've been using an Escort Passport 8500 for about 3 months now. I LOVE it. Works real well. Sometimes the warning comes on so early I think it is falsing, and sure enough I pass a cop down the road. Saved my ass many times!

David
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  #11  
Old 03-30-2002, 07:45 AM
LarryIII LarryIII is offline
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Kobayashi,

The windshield in the SVX comes in 2 tint colors. One is blue-green for gray-charcoal interiors. The other color is a bronzey tint for beige interiors. Both colors come with the titaniun-oxide coating to stop UV rays. (It' also prtects the interiorif you regularly park at a nuclear pwer plant- he he).

This coating interferes with radio wavves (radar).
I have an Easy-Pass (east coast version of I-Pass) I neede the outside transponder unit for my SVX because of the coated windshield. I have the interior transponder for my Outback (regular winshield). I suggest you do the same.
I have the same model radar detectors in my Outback & SVX. Tey are both located on top of the dash at the center of the windshield base. The SVX windshield cuts the warning time by about half. I actually ran tests at various speeds in both cars on same morning because I know where the speed local trap is located. The SVX windshield also racks hell with my garage door opener.


Larry III

PS: The Kobayashi Maru test is a no win scenario.

Last edited by LarryIII; 03-30-2002 at 07:50 AM.
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  #12  
Old 03-30-2002, 04:29 PM
ChrisB
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Light bulb just came on over my head

So that's why my garage door opener won't work unless I'm a foot away from it. Thanks for the info. Now, how many batteries have I tried in that opener....
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