You are here: DelonixRadar
> Radar Detectors
> Radar Detector Tests
> Best Place to Mount Your Detector
Where is the best place to mount your radar detector?
Where is the best position to
mount your radar detector? Down low on the windscreen, or up high next to
the rear view mirror? This is a highly debated topic amongst radar
detector enthusiasts, with around 50/50 quoting each position. We
decided to do some testing...
Mike Valentine from Valentine
Research in the USA states:
"Detector performance is enhanced by a high mounting
position. Two reasons. For radar, a longer sight line to
the horizon always helps. For laser, moving away from
the hood and its sun reflections helps a lot."
Radar Roy from radarbusters
states:
"If you have laser jammer,
mount high, If not, mount low"
Our testing seemed to support the
latter:
Multanova 6F 34.3GHz
mounting test
First test we
mounted a Valentine One radar detector in the grill, then drove past the
speed camera and measured the alert distances over 4 runs.
Next we mounted
the same detector low, and centred on the windscreen, with the third and
final test with the detector mounted up high and centred on the windscreen.
Results:
Click on any of the blue underlined links in the table above to watch the corresponding video of the test.
The results somewhat surprised us, especially the massive reduction when
mounted up high. We can only speculate at reason behind the figures;
in that the Multanovas (operating on low powered, low divergence Ka radar)
mounted on a tripod low to the ground, offer little reflection up the higher
you go. Mounting in the grill gave two maximum reading (out of any
runs), but also had two lower readings. We think that grill mounted
radar detectors may be more susceptible to reflections (and blockages) from
other cars. No cars in your way, and you have maximum range.
Cars blocking the signal, and you lose 30% of your detection range.
Mounting up high almost halved the detection range (although mounting
against the windscreen up high and mounting on the sun visor gave different results as shown in test 3, run 4.
K-band 24.15GHz mounting test
Next test was using an Escort
9500i with an "around the curve" test.
Results:
Click on any of the blue underlined links in the table above to watch the corresponding video of the test.
Again the results surprised us, with the detection range around 10% less
with the detector mounted high.
Laser 904nm mounting test
Finally we took our previous
laser detection tests results and compiled just the windscreen detector
results:
Results at 25m (82 feet):
Detector |
Mounting Position |
Test # |
Right |
Centre
Mass |
Left |
Bel STi XR |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cobra 9330 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escort X50 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro-78 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
XTR-690 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valentine
1 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
Results at 50m (164 feet)
Detector |
Mounting Position |
Test # |
Right |
Centre
Mass |
Left |
Bel STi XR |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cobra 9330 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escort X50 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro-78 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
XTR-690 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valentine
1 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
Results at 100m (328 feet)
Detector |
Mounting Position |
Test # |
Right |
Centre
Mass |
Left |
Bel STi XR |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cobra 9330 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escort X50 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
- |
- |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro-78 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
XTR-690 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valentine
1 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Results at 200m (656 feet)
Detector |
Mounting Position |
Test # |
Right |
Centre
Mass |
Left |
Bel STi XR |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
|
2 |
- |
- |
No Detection |
|
|
3 |
- |
- |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
4 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cobra 9330 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escort X50 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
|
4 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro-78 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
XTR-690 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
3 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valentine
1 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
4 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Results at 300m (984 feet)
Detector |
Mounting Position |
Test # |
Right |
Centre
Mass |
Left |
Bel STi XR |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
3 |
- |
- |
Alerted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cobra 9330 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
3 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escort X50 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro-78 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
No Detection |
No Detection |
|
|
|
|
|
|
XTR-690 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
High on
windscreen |
2 |
No Detection |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valentine
1 |
Low on
windscreen |
1 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
2 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
|
High on
windscreen |
3 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
No Detection |
|
|
4 |
Alerted |
Alerted |
Alerted |
| Radar Detector |
% of alerts low |
% of alerts high |
| Valentine One |
80.9% |
66.7% |
| Bel STi XR |
58.8% |
37.5% |
| Escort X50 |
42.1% |
38.8% |
| Cobra 9330 |
27.8% |
22.2% |
| Whistler Pro-78 |
20.0% |
6.6% |
| Whistler XTR690 |
5.5% |
14.3% |
With the exception of the Whistler XTR-690, all radar detectors Alerted to
the laser gun MORE when mounted low on the windscreen. It makes
intuitive sense that this would be the outcome, since the laser beam is very
narrow (around 30cm diameter per 100m) and thus aiming at he front of the
car could potentially miss the radar detector's laser sensor completely.
Conclusions:
Is this the final be-all / end-all decision for all cars and all radar
detectors? No, of course not, but here at Delonix Radar we believe there is
not as much substance to the argument that mounting high gives you longer
range. Certainly in our few tests we've seen the opposite.
So in our opinion, it's best to mount your radar detector low and centred on
the windscreen.
radar -
radar detectors -
beltronics -
police radar -
escort radar -
radar detectors australia -
valentine one -
beltronics sti -
valentine 1 -
radar jammer -
whistler radar detector -
bel radar -
valentine 1 radar detector -
bel radar detectors -
beltronics radar detector -
valentine radar -
bel sti driver -
beltronics radar -
beltronics sti driver -
best radar detector -
bel rx65 -
stealth radar detector -
radar detector laws -
radar detector forum -
radar detector test -
gps radar detector
|
