Wow! And the media doesn't have a field day with that one? You might want to delete that post and keep it a well kept secret.

 

Thanks so much for posting these photos. I'm particularly interested in how they managed to have the radar detector read out through the passenger airbag readout. Did they have to do anything other than change some wiring to do this (I.e. Was any hardware changed/added)? Is the readout at a good height in actual use (seems like it might be too high)?

 

Got my car back from the shop this week. I went with a Stir+ALP quint (3 heads up front and 2 in the back).

Not sure why one of the posters here couldnt get the Stir+ display in the rear view mirror but my installer was able to do it. He said it was a little tight but he was able to find a way to put it in there. Looks great, very stealthy and better that the option of removing the passenger airbag option that was used earlier. I usually run this in single letter mode so only see H on the display and not Highway (as displayed) so its barely noticeable unless it needs to be.

I also like where they put the LED's for the ALP and Stir+. Again makes it looks fairly standard and not crazy aftermarket. The LEDs only blink when there is a thread detected.

The control panels location was the most interesting. I wanted something to not look out of place and the ALP panel is pretty bad looking and I didnt want to display it prominently. The solution they came up with is awesome, the panel up near the lights can be easily replaced and its where they attached it. The ALP went behind the Stir+ panel. At normal sitting height, you can't even see it (which is perfect since you never really need to use that panel really). The Stir+ panel is right at eye level and again doesnt look crazy out of place.
The angle of the photo is exaggerated low, but at normal height it looks perfectly fine.

Overall nice job, dare I say it better to my eye than the job posted earlier in the thread. Now hopefully no more speeding tickets for me in this car!


Apologies for the dirty car, its been raining pretty heavily here in the Bay Area. While the car was with the installer, I also got Huper Optik Ceramic 70% window tints done which look amazing and at 70% you can hardly tell its tinted buy as some of you guys know the heat and UV rejection of ceramic is the best in the biz.

Hopefully this post helps others looking to install Stir+ALP

 

Very nice! I have to say that I like where things ended up in my car better, but this is definitely a nice job. For me the passenger airbag light is just about purposeless, so I'm happy to have it gone and like the placement there, but to each their own. I can see the benefits of having it in the mirror.

I have to say though, I really don't care for the placement of the ALP controller and STI-R controller. Why do you need access to the ALP controller at all? Mine is hidden down by the pedals and isn't accessible at all, but that's fine for me. I'll never need to touch it. Instead, they just installed a very well hidden switch to kill it. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

Similarly, for me, I'd want to reconsider the STi-R controller placement. Mine is hidden down by my leg where it can be easily accessed but isn't visible except when really looking for it. I'll post some pictures of that as well. You may want to have your installer move them. Or not.

 

Actually.. I went and grabbed a couple of pics. It's better than hammering away at this presentation I should be working on

The first shot is a normal entering my car shot, which only shows that it needs a vacuum.

The second is me bent down to show you what it looks like below. Notice where the STi-R is and the rocker switch that controls power to both the ALPs and the STI-R. That way they aren't visible but I can still turn off the systems if I need to.

 

If I had to do it all over again, now with everything I've learnt I wouldnt even go with full Stir+

While this setup is the best right now, a STIR+ RG module add on for ALP is sufficient in California where K band isn't used and you don't need autolock outs.

I'd do the ALP quint, buy the GPS add on for ALP, the Stir+ add on for ALP and the HiFi module and have all radar alerts go out through the ALP. I'd only put the ALP LED behind the mirror which is all you need for radar and laser alerts and of course you'd get voice alerts through the HiFI as well. Would have cut down about $600-700 off the cost and made it a cleaner, tighter integration.

I also like using ALPupdate to change setting vs the million button mash Stir+ panel.

 

Yeah, for your use case that might be the optimal solution. Sadly here in GA outside of the cities K band is still used quite a bit and even in the city it's used occasionally. This is particularly a shame because as more and more devices come online using K bands false alerts are becoming more common. I'd happily turn it off if I could.

Out of curiosity, have you done much reading on the integration between the ALP and the STi-R? I know over on the radar detector forums they generally aren't in favor of it but I haven't looked in detail as to why.

Also, if you did that, would you still have a visual indicator as to the strength of a radar signal? I find this very valuable with my STI-R. One blip of KA I generally don't need to worry about. All of the dots filled means I'm definitely getting radar'd.

 

Where did they pass the front sensor wires through the firewall for connection to the control unit?

 

I have nothing to add except a war story. Traveling on a limited access part of SR 166 west of Atlanta in my BMW Z4 35is, I came upon a pack of traffic at about 65 mph. The limit on that stretch was 55. After slowing in the pack to about 55, I saw an opportunity to switch lanes, accelerate and switch back into my original lane to leave the pack behind, so I took it. I accelerated to clear the pack. On topping a hill I saw a couple of cars pulled over in the median. As I approached I noticed they were cops running radar. One pointed for me to pull over, so I obliged. He got into his car and quickly moved in behind me on the right shoulder. As he approached my car , I kept my hands on the top of the windshield as my top was down. I told him, before we go any further, I just want you to know there is a loaded pistol between the passenger seat and the console, and I’m keeping my hands on the windshield. He asked me to slowly unlock the passenger door and then keep my hands were he could see them. I obeyed. He took possession of the pistol, then asked for my license, then went back to his car. When he came back 10 minutes later, he told me he had me on radar at 95 mph, but since I was honest about the pistol he was only giving me a warning. Then proceeded to hand me a warning ticket, my license , my holstered pistol , then the magazine and round I had in the chamber, told me to slow down and have a nice day. I still have that ticket with the speed and warning written in bold letters across it!

 

Hi, I realize its been several years now, but how did the installation go on your F-Type. I recently bought a 2016 F-Type and had a talk with CarTunes of Atlanta just this afternoon. Were you satisfied with the results?

Thanks,

Greg

 

Thread is old as dirt and I have no idea if the Lobster Claw is still around, but I am contemplating an ALP laser jammer install, does anyone have any experince or info on how these mounting locations work on the F-Type?

Expect to also see a revival of an old radar thread as I'm looking to power up a V1G2 radar detector.

 

Hey! I still exist! I can't bring myself to sell my F-Type. Love looking at it (and driving it!) too much. I haven't done a LIDAR test in a few years, but when I did the heads mounted where I had them worked well. Best of luck!

 

Thanks for the follow up! You have me sold, I'm going with your layout on the sensors.

 

Good thread as I am currently half-way thru installing the Radenso RC M custom radar detector in mine which also works with the ALP Laser system which I am going to add at a later time. So far I have the front radar head mounted behind the plastic front bumper underneath the hood hinge. I am a little worried about the angle of the plastic bumper degrading the sensitivity but it is at least fairly flat. I have run the cable for it thru the firewall thru a new holw that is to the right of the main hole where the huge bundle of wires runs thru. I have grommeted the hole and it is airtight with the cable. I have also made a plastic mounting plate that is attached to the flat where the airbag/seatbelt light was previously. One of the best features of the of the Radenso system besides it being one of the best tested systems according to vortex radar, is that the display and control is small and has a magnetic base that it attaches to, so it is removable. It also works with the ALP system so you do not need to have another controller for the laser system. The Radenso system does both thru the one OLED display! Here is what it looks like so far. I have yet to attach the cable to the backside of the upper console and once I do it will be invisible from the seated position. I also mounted the GPS antenna to windshield in the open area that does not have the thermobaric glass (the whole reasoniden R& Im having to use a custum mounted radar). The Escort Max 360C on a the blendmount is basically worthless trying to shoot thru our F Type windshields. I have attached some pics of the Radenso control and where it is located. In the second picture down you can see the GPS antenna to the left in the open dotted area of windshield where there is no metallic flake built into the glass which makes windshield mount radar detectors worthless as well as GPS antennas. I will be happy to get rid of the Escort in my SVR and move it over to my Redeye on a blendmount, and move the Uniden R7 from the Redeye to our Nissan Armada on aa blendmount (all of which are hardwired in using a a tap kit to splice into the power sent to the mirrors so there are no plugs or cables hanging down.

 

I hung my existing V1 so it was looking through the dotted glass as a test and I had good coverage, I've had the V1 since 93 in my 92 Bonneville SSEi and the only time I've got a ticket is when I had the unit off. With that track record I just have to go V1G2.

 

Man I would love to see how you got that up there high enough to look thru those little spots. For me to mount either the Uniden R7 or escort 360c Max I would have had to screw it to the ceiling, which would prevented using any of the buttons.

 

Here you go the V1 has a tight mount.

 

Thats impressive that it sits so high on it's mount, most do not. I was pretty set on having directional arrows which limits the detectors I can pick from but also limits the mounting options as they have to be able to see behind me too. Try as I did, I could not come up with any alternative for the Jaguar. I have the Uniden R7 in my Challenger Hellcat Redeye Widebody and its saved my butt so many times I've lost count! The only suggestion I would have for you is google "mirror tap for Valentine 1" and you can get a wiring kit that will tap into the power going to your mirror rather than you having to run that big coiled cable down your dash and use up your 12v outlet. With as high as your detector is it would make the install look very sleek and less noticeable by anyone looking. Its easy to do on our Jaguars, the cover comes off easily on the factory mirror mount

 

The curly extension cord was just to see how the V1 would work with the F Type windshield, I have my other cars wired across the roof liner to the A pillar, that cord hanging down would drive me bonkers LOL

I'm so glad the Valentine works in the F as having 29 years of good fortune with the V1 which has been upgraded several times during the years has me sold on Mike Valentine and Co. It's so cool to know where the bogey's are, and knowing if you have a sneaky man clocking down the road just out of site of LEO #1.

I'm planning on using this setup on the F, I'm going to resurrect one of the old radar threads to see if anyone knows the 12V pinouts in a 2020 SVR mirror.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/12251451463...BoCAxwQAvD_BwE

 

Jail if you use one in the UK
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/879445...speed-cameras/