$1.25 V1 Weather Protection

[ErnieA]

I was in Tap Plastics (http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=229&) and found a plastic hinged box (style FT-104) that my V1 radar detector would fit in. Since it was only a buck I thought I would give it a try.

First of all I use a Saeng/TA Boss Pro (http://www.saeng.com/2535.htm) mount on the right handlebar. The Saeng mount is clean and offers a platform with velcro and a rubber tubing to hold V1 secure. To secure the plastic box I used a small portion of velcro on the inside to keep the V1 from floating around and a piece of velcro on the bottom with the tubing across the top for final security. My power cord is routed through a 3/4 inch rubber plug made into a grommet to keep the weather out.

My concerns were as follows:

Would the opaque box cause an interruption in the signal reception:

The V1 worked well throughout the day. My reception from both front and back worked as well in the box as it did out of it.

How hard would the box make adjusting the V1:

The door was easy to open and close and the controls were easy to reach and operate.

Would I be able to see the LED display on the V1:

With the door closed I could make out the directional arrows just fine. The signal type LED's were hard at first, but after memorizing the location of each I was fine with the door closed. When riding without rain I was able to leave the door open.

This is with V1 on the mount: http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=975&original=1

This is with the "door" open: http://www.bmwlt.com/gallery/files/2/0/1/5/V1Cover5.JPG

Conclusion:

For a buck-&-a quarter I feel better about riding around the Pacific NorthWet without one of these gully washers ruining my V1 investment.

[HornHonker]

Sorry abt this being a first post ! I have a Kustom K band mobile radar and have found that is will just not function (no readout) if the windshield of my car is in the least bit wet. I don't know about the more modern Ka band stuff but I suspect they also will not work in the rain.

I just put my Valentine away when the weather gets damp as I figure the above will probably disable most radar. Besides which I slow in damp weather :)

[grifscoots]

The Valentine WILL work in the rain and thru wet windshields.

[ErnieA]

The Valentine WILL work in the rain and thru wet windshields.

Ya, what Grif said... Mine works like a champ in the rain.

[HornHonker]

I guess you didn't understand, the Valentine works fine through wet windshields but the police K band radar will not. So if the police can't use their radar in the rain, do you need to get your Valentine wet ?

[dshealey]

The Valentine WILL work in the rain and thru wet windshields.

Correct. EXCEPT, I found out that it will not work through the windshield of my 740iL car, unless put right behind the little clear spot at the center bottom. Seems BMW uses "IR" coated windshields on the higher end cars to cut down on IR light transmission, keeping the inside of the car cooler in sunlight. It WORKS! HUGE difference in the heat you can feel from the sun behind that windshield and the one in my other car.

BUT, that coating also blocks RF, so radar detectors and GPS units will not work behind it.

[ErnieA]

I guess you didn't understand, the Valentine works fine through wet windshields but the police K band radar will not. So if the police can't use their radar in the rain, do you need to get your Valentine wet ?

I guess I didn't understand. Right you are. I still don't understand, because the police in this state use K and Ka all the time and we get more average rainfall than anywhere else in the country. Help me to understand your position and please support your facts. I have never heard this K band and the rain issue before.

[HornHonker]

Well, I have a Kustom KR 10-SP forward looking K band radar unit. It has two readouts, one for you and one for the target. It is instant on or continuous and can be used stationary and mobile. When it starts to rain, both readouts remain at zero until the windshield is dry. I've not tried putting the radar transmit head outside during rain so I suppose it's possible that might work. I've not seen an outside (hung from the window etc) for sometime now as all the police here have their setups on their dash.

[ErnieA]

Well, I have a Kustom KR 10-SP forward looking K band radar unit. It has two readouts, one for you and one for the target. It is instant on or continuous and can be used stationary and mobile. When it starts to rain, both readouts remain at zero until the windshield is dry. I've not tried putting the radar transmit head outside during rain so I suppose it's possible that might work. I've not seen an outside (hung from the window etc) for sometime now as all the police here have their setups on their dash.

Very interesting. I just drove home in a heavy shower and the V1 is mounted on the windshield of my Dodge PU and the pesky motorcycle LEO was in his usual spot. He hit me with a Ka band at 1/4 and 1/8 mile out. The V1 worked marvelously well.

[pieceofficer]

Hey there,
I have been a LEO for 9.5yrs and I have NEVER had an issue in rain with K, Ka, or Laser.
We do not have any "window hangers" in our force anymore, they were removed with the last batch of officers that retired. All of our units are internal and all of our units work well in the rain. My forward and reverse head is mounted on the top left corner of my windshield. I run Kustom Golden Eagle with Vascar. NEVER a problem.


I would check YOUR unit. We had an officer whos unit would not show a Target read in the oncoming mode. Yet he can tag em passing from his rear head. Yet the front head would work stationary. So, they replaced his front antenna and he was good to go. I would wait for your semi-annual certification and bring it up to them.

Rain does not have ANY effect on Doppler......if so... then all them News Channels that advertise "Doppler radar" can only report on nice sunny days. :D

[UncleRock]

For a buck-&-a quarter
Kinda ugly looks like something Rock made, :D
TILL YOU GET TO PRICE!!
For $1.25, it has to be one of the best things I've seen this year.
Rock