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Beltronics STi-R Plus and Laser Interceptor Install Pics

8K views 13 replies 5 participants last post by  tomm 
#1 ·
I picked up the car tonight after having a local high-end install shop do the work for me. Sorry its so dirty, we still have tons of snow here and the roads are wet and messy...

As I said, we are still clinging to winter here and my money tree in the back yard is still a bit bare, so I didn't have them get "too" custom, but I am happy with the way it turned out. They also installed my LI, but it appears as though there are some issues with the way they crimped the connectors on, so I'm going to take it back tomorrow and have it corrected.

Radar Antenna / LI Heads
They mounted the antenna behind my bumper cover, on the dirver's side, just inboard of the driver's side headlight. I am worried that it may be a tad low, as it looks like it may be in sort of a "corner". I'll watch it and if needed, will raise it up an inch or so. It seemed to have no problem picking up some X and K falses on the way home ;)

You can also see the LI heads mounted on the lower grill (yes they're level - they just look crooked due to the picture. It is approximately 18 inches from the sensor to just above the top of the Cadillac crest in the grill, and likewise about 18 inches from the sensor to just above the HID in the headlight assembly. Hopefully they work ok there. We were going to mount them higher, at the top corner of the upper grill, but they protruded a bit too much for my liking. The shop occasionally gets their hands on a Lidar gun, so when they do, I'll have them test it:






GPS Antenna
They were pretty clever with the GPS antenna. I had orignally asked that they put it on the rear shelf, as I thought it needed to be able to "see" the sky, however they placed it under part of the front dash cover. The smaller square box with the silver panel beneath it is the stock GM GPS antenna, so clearly there are no issues placing it under the dash cover. It had no problems acquiring a lock on the drive home.



Control Module
They mounted the control panel on my overhead console, in the vicinity of the map lights. The round switch is for the LI:



Display Panel
I didn't want anything fancy, and felt that on top of the RVM would be a good spot for my liking. I don't have a pic handy, but it is just stuck on top of my mirror with double sided tape.

The brain is under dash, as is the speaker. The USB upgrade connection is behind the plastic panel on the end of my dash. I may move it so that I don't have to constantyl pop off the panel everytime I want to update it, but I'll wait and see just how often I end up doing that.
 
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#2 ·
Looks very good. Look forward to your results of getting hit with a llidar gun. It looks a little low to get most of the attention... but I don't know so not sure. Please post results when you get it tested. If it does protect you I'd love to mount mine there as well.
 
#3 · (Edited)
I hear ya' Dom...kinda wondering the same thing. Will let you know after I have had a chance to test it. I'm thinking that my biggest exposure is a perfectly placed shot dead centre on one of my headlights or dead centre on the grill, from a distance of 500' or so. Anything further out, the beam will be wider and the sensor should see it.

IIRC, most Lidar shots are made from a distance closer to 1000', so that being the case, they should do ok.
 
#4 ·
Nicely done--brilliant placement of the GPS antenna. Mine did go on to the rear parcel shelf, but it's hard to see through the tint unless you know exactly where it is placed.

Since I'm just using the STi-R Plus's lidar detection, my detector went inside the upper grille opening, offset to the passenger side to take advantage of an existing bracket there and not be lidar-obscured by the wreath dead center. Unfortunately, the unit sits about 5-10 deg. off-axis towards the driver's side due to the tightness of the packaging there. Grille will be de-chromed when I have it blacked-out again.

The display and control panel went into the "ash tray" (terraced, so I can get to the power button) and the LED went into the wire mold just behind the overhead console, so I can see it but nobody behind me can.

Sorry, no pics, car's in the shop :(. Hit a mother of a pothole during a torrential rain last Sunday and popped a tire and banged up a rim... Up until then, the system worked great--caught somebody getting lit up with stationary lidar as they crested about 400 ft. ahead of me, moving lidar, moving Ka-band, and numerous photo radar's all on the same 1,000 mi. round-trip.
 
#5 ·
Believe me, if I had actually done the install, I would have never thought of placing it under the front dash panel....and even if someone had told me about it, I would not likely have attmepted it, as I am pretty sure I would have busted something in the process...it does work very well there though.


The only issue I had with my display on top of my rear view mirror was other drivers seeing it and using me as their rabbit. However, these do allow you to shut the display completley off so you only get the audio alerts, so if need be, I have an option.

Bummer on the tire/ wheel...sounds like you have the same kinda roads as we do here.

Be sure to turn off RDR and if you can find out what KA frequencies are in use in your area, use the band segmentation to turn off the unnecessary frequencies. Also, you probably can shut off the TSR, unless it is used in your area as well. These "tweaks" are what makes the STi-R Plus the best RD on the market today. It appears that many of the hardcore guys are using only bands 2,5, and 8, with the rest shut off. I haven't been able to confirm what the local cops use around here, so I have left all bands turned on, and have the unit set to tech mode so I can see the actual frequency of the signal. Hopefully in time I'll be able to turn off the unnecessary bands.
 
#7 ·
No it's not Joe.

For some stupid reason, Beltronics still doesn't have anything regarding this model on their web site even though they've been selling htem for about a month. If you phone them, you can order directly from them.

The STi-R Plus is a new release of the STi-R which was discontinued awhile ago. This is a custom installed unit, almost identical to the Escort 9500ci. It has been upgraded and improved, then re-released as the STi-R Plus. ALthough identical in many ways to the 9500ci, they added KA band segmentation and RDR features, which make it superior to the 9500ci and many "experts" feel it is THE best radar detector available.

It is shown here:

http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detectors/beltronics-radar-detectors/6524+6526+4293856177.cfm

Unlike the 9500ci, it doesn't come with laser jammers (shifters) - they are a 450.00 add-on if you want them (the Laser Interceptor is far superior), but the STI-R Plus' main antenna does detect Laser, if it is not mounted behind anything that would bolck the beam.
 
#8 ·
I'm looking for something I can put in for a 2000 mile road trip next week, I don't have time to do a custom install or any of that. Would that "driver" unit be the "one" for that kind of a deal, or is there a better unit that I should consider for this kind of "stick it in the windshield like the old days" kind of deal?

Joe
 
#9 ·
The Escort Redline is very well regarded....and is noted for being VERY sensitive (ie. long range). On a long drive such as yours, and as far as the traditional dash mounts go, this seems to be the one everyone is raving about.

http://www.escortradar.com/redline-details.php

Escort and Beltronics are basically the same company, and IIRC, the STi Driver is basically Beltronic's version of the Redline, but from what I've read, the Redline seems to be a tad better (range-wise) than the STi Driver.

Both are undetectable to radar detector detectors, which is a plus if travelling through states wehre they are outlawed.

I don't think you could go wrong with either the Redline or the STi Driver. If it were me, I'd probably go with the Redline.
 
#11 ·
Its important to make sure you buy from an authorized dealer, so that you have the full factory warratny available to you. You can order directly from Beltronics / Escort as well. I think the Redline is 499.00 on Escort's site and the Driver is 469.00 on Beltronic's site. There are alos delaer locators on their web sites, you should be able to pick one up locally - they should price match.
 
#14 ·
Never buy from Amazon. Beltronics and Escort have minimum advertised prices on these units and when someone sells them cheaper Beltronics & Escort will buy a unit from them and shut them down. All customers that purchased from them loose their warranty so to save a few bucks its not worth the risk. We are an Authorized Dealer and have been serving this site for over 6 years. If you need a detector call me and I will get you a good deal.
 
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