Tinted windows & radar detectors - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

dknv · 2004-05-17, 02:21 PM

Did you guys know this? Tinting your windows can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of your radar detector, sometimes by up to 75%. I hadn't realized it until I started looking for a replacement detector.

Nick Koan · 2004-05-17, 04:02 PM

Yeah, its due to a certain metal that sometimes appears in window tinting material.

I've heard, though, that if you get really expensive window tinting done, it won't interfere with your radar detector.

tysonK · 2004-05-17, 04:09 PM

There are non-metallic tints.

MattR · 2004-05-17, 04:32 PM

I've noticed on road trips when Dean or Mike H (who have clear windows) are with me, that their V1's alert a second or two sooner than mine, but that seems like the only difference, nothing to really worry about.

However, on my POS Sti, my window tint makes my AM radio not work, because the back window is the antennae...sucks

sperry · 2004-05-18, 08:59 AM

I've got "semi-metallic" tint... it's kinda like mirror tint, and there's supposedly metal in the tint, however my radar detector works fine, even through the vinyl window banner I've got now. (I'm pretty sure the laser detection won't work through the vinyl though.)

Matt, I think your antenna's jacked because your installer cut the trace for it when he was trimming the vinyl or something... even with tint over the lines you should still get some radio, not just static on the AM band.

ZER026D · 2004-05-18, 01:38 PM

I had a real dark tint strip in the front before and my V1 worked just as good as it does now with no tint. I just got the best tint I could the V1 never had a problem. I was thinking of getting it again but now my window has two chips in it.

I think its worth the stealth factor even if you it takes a half a second longer to alert you but I dont think it messed with my V1.

MikeSTI · 2004-05-19, 10:02 AM

and that my be the truth of the story - radar detector (best buy, circut city, ect.) < V1. If its not a V1 you may endeed have problems with tint.

dknv · 2004-05-19, 10:15 AM

Well, good feedback and real life results, thanks everybody!

ZER026D · 2004-05-19, 11:02 AM

No problem

LetItRev · 2004-05-19, 07:50 PM

Who makes the V1 and why is it so special?

tysonK · 2004-05-19, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetItRev

Who makes the V1 and why is it so special?

http://www.valentine1.com/

it works!

Nick Koan · 2004-05-19, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetItRev

Who makes the V1 and why is it so special?

It has litte arrows. Oh, and it is one of the best out there. A few come close, but none have the arrows.

LetItRev · 2004-05-19, 09:20 PM

Wow...thanks for the replys. How much have you guys been paying for these and from where?

sperry · 2004-05-19, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LetItRev

Wow...thanks for the replys. How much have you guys been paying for these and from where?

$400, and you gotta buy it off the website... there are no resellers.

Evo Mike · 2004-05-24, 03:57 PM

the valentine 1 is good because IT WORKS. If you do purchase the v1, you will see that it was well worth the 400+ dollars you pay. The only negative thing i've heard about the v1 is that the Laser detection is weak.
I dont know if that's really true, but, my brother owns a v1 and damn it's already paid for itself and more.

to make a long story short, spend the extra money and GET a V1.

2004-05-17, 02:21 PM	#1
dknv EJ207 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: 39n53, 119w90 Posts: 2,698 Car: RX-8 Class: CS maybe	Tinted windows & radar detectors Did you guys know this? Tinting your windows can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of your radar detector, sometimes by up to 75%. I hadn't realized it until I started looking for a replacement detector.

2004-05-17, 04:02 PM	#2
Nick Koan JDM Cowboy Real Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 8,642 Car: 2015 Mazda 3	Yeah, its due to a certain metal that sometimes appears in window tinting material. I've heard, though, that if you get really expensive window tinting done, it won't interfere with your radar detector. __________________ While a standard engine is powered by a belt connected to the crankshaft, a turbo engine runs on its own exhaust steam, making it more energy efficient. -- CNN

2004-05-17, 04:09 PM	#3
tysonK warehouse SECCS Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SoCal... Posts: 6,253 Car: 04 Evo 99 Cadillac Class: street de le mod	There are non-metallic tints. __________________ Anjali? Anjali?

2004-05-17, 04:32 PM	#4
MattR El Matador Real Name: Matt Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 10,660 Car: 2012 Toyota Tacoma Class: ?	I've noticed on road trips when Dean or Mike H (who have clear windows) are with me, that their V1's alert a second or two sooner than mine, but that seems like the only difference, nothing to really worry about. However, on my POS Sti, my window tint makes my AM radio not work, because the back window is the antennae...sucks __________________ "Dallas..We have a problem.”

2004-05-18, 08:59 AM	#5
sperry The Doink Real Name: Scott Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 20,335 Car: '09 OBXT, '02 WRX, '96 Miata Class: PDX/TT-6 The way out is through	I've got "semi-metallic" tint... it's kinda like mirror tint, and there's supposedly metal in the tint, however my radar detector works fine, even through the vinyl window banner I've got now. (I'm pretty sure the laser detection won't work through the vinyl though.) Matt, I think your antenna's jacked because your installer cut the trace for it when he was trimming the vinyl or something... even with tint over the lines you should still get some radio, not just static on the AM band. __________________ Is you is, or is you ain't, my con-stit-u-ints?

2004-05-18, 01:38 PM	#6
ZER026D EJ251 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 616 Car: 01 is300 / 87 rx4 Class: ? drive fast take chances	I had a real dark tint strip in the front before and my V1 worked just as good as it does now with no tint. I just got the best tint I could the V1 never had a problem. I was thinking of getting it again but now my window has two chips in it. I think its worth the stealth factor even if you it takes a half a second longer to alert you but I dont think it messed with my V1. __________________ Subaru using the slightly different Exkimo spelling "Soebahrue" which is pronounced EXACTLY the same, it means "Man who beds with seals" I saw Chimok down on the ice floe doign that thing with the seals again. He's a total Soebahrue. www.level4racing.com

2004-05-19, 10:02 AM	#7
MikeSTI EJ205 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 2,354 Car: 2004 STi Class: TSM I can't complain	and that my be the truth of the story - radar detector (best buy, circut city, ect.) < V1. If its not a V1 you may endeed have problems with tint. __________________ Cobb Stage 2

2004-05-19, 10:15 AM	#8
dknv EJ207 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: 39n53, 119w90 Posts: 2,698 Car: RX-8 Class: CS maybe	Well, good feedback and real life results, thanks everybody!

2004-05-19, 11:02 AM	#9
ZER026D EJ251 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 616 Car: 01 is300 / 87 rx4 Class: ? drive fast take chances	No problem __________________ Subaru using the slightly different Exkimo spelling "Soebahrue" which is pronounced EXACTLY the same, it means "Man who beds with seals" I saw Chimok down on the ice floe doign that thing with the seals again. He's a total Soebahrue. www.level4racing.com

2004-05-19, 07:50 PM	#10
LetItRev R.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 501 Car: 2004 WRX	Who makes the V1 and why is it so special?

2004-05-19, 09:20 PM	#13
LetItRev R.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Reno, Nevada Posts: 501 Car: 2004 WRX	Wow...thanks for the replys. How much have you guys been paying for these and from where?

2004-05-24, 03:57 PM	#15
Evo Mike EJ251 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 513	the valentine 1 is good because IT WORKS. If you do purchase the v1, you will see that it was well worth the 400+ dollars you pay. The only negative thing i've heard about the v1 is that the Laser detection is weak. I dont know if that's really true, but, my brother owns a v1 and damn it's already paid for itself and more. to make a long story short, spend the extra money and GET a V1. __________________ I Can't Believe My Friends.... Drive WRX's....

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