There are many different ways to mount your radar detector on your windshield, but some locations and orientations work better than others. The difference between a correctly mounted unit and an incorrect mounting could be the difference in getting alerted early enough to slow down.
The first thing you want to look at when mounting your radar detector is the location on the windshield. Typically these devices will provide better performance on police radar if they are mounted higher on the window. Conversely, radar detectors will provide better performance on police laser if they are mounted lower on the window. We recommend mounting higher because even if you get alerted to police laser, the police officer will likely already have your speed so it’s a better idea to go for increased radar protection. Most people tend to mount their detectors to the left of the rear view mirror and as high up on the window as possible. This is an ideal location because it is high up on the window, yet close enough for the driver to be able to access the controls. A mounting in this position has the added bonus of making it harder for police officers and thieves to see your device in the window.
Now that you know where to put it on your windshield, here are a couple more tips to help improve performance. You may be tempted to point the radar detector towards the driver’s seat to be able to better view the screen, but this will hinder performance as radar detectors are much better at detecting radar in a straight line. If you mount your device at an angle it will likely hurt performance. You also want to make sure that the unit is mounted level with the ground and not pointing at an upwards or downwards angle. This will also help performance as more of the radar waves will be able to enter the device if it is level with the ground.
Finally, we always recommend hard-wiring your device to your car’s electrical system. Most manufacturers sell a hard-wire adapter that will allow you to connect your detector to a wire or fuse in your car. You’ll want to choose a wire or fuse that turns on when the car is on, and off when the car is off. Typically people use their radio power wire or fuse to hard-wire their radar detector as this provides the functionality needed to turn the device on and off with the car.
If you follow these simple rules, you should be able to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of your detector. This will help you to be alerted more quickly and give you more time to slow down before you reach the police officer.