For those of you with a 9500ci or Bel StiR Radar Custom Install Setup

[Froze]

I had a Bel STiR with Laser Interceptor heads installed recently and when I run the Bel STiR radar simultaneously with my window mounted 9500ix I notice the window mounted detector gets a much stronger signal and gets that signal much sooner (100+ feet) than the Bel STiR radar unit mounted behind my kidney grills (I have an M3).

Anybody else have this issue? I checked that it is mounted consistent with the instructions (label up, level, etc).

Where is a better place to mount the radar head?

[Techjunkie666]

I have the Beltronic STIR Plus with the radar display in the mirror. Mine is also mounted in the grill but vertical so it lines up with the kidney grill and has no obstruction. I tested this with a window mounted radar and seem to be able to pick up pop few seconds earlier than the window mounted radar.

[Froze]

Thanks for the reply. That's good info.

I ended up with a mount in the top and center of the mesh lower grill area to get max field of vision for the radar head. Thought about the route you took and just went straight for the placement that removed the issue of "is it the kidney grills" out of the equation. May end up putting it back up there like you though.

Where it sits now is still very inconspicuous as the mesh is black like the radar head. Much better performance now.

Thanks again for your insight.

Originally Posted by Techjunkie666

I have the Beltronic STIR Plus with the radar display in the mirror. Mine is also mounted in the grill but vertical so it lines up with the kidney grill and has no obstruction. I tested this with a window mounted radar and seem to be able to pick up pop few seconds earlier than the window mounted radar.

[ersin]

Any obstruction in front of the head will affect performance. Metal will definitely degrade performance, and metallic paint (like the chrome painted over the plastic kidney grills) will do the same. Even just plain plastic in front of the head will degrade performance some. It's best when the head has a clear view of the road ahead, but will be more conspicuous. It's always a compromise. Your choice.


Cheers.

[socrates42]

Do not mount the sensor vertically unless you have the specific BMW sensor. This is probably fine head on, but your scan width is greatly reduced by mounting vertically. You could probably pick up an aircraft mounted that way before someone around a bend. They used to make a vertical sensor specifically for BMWs back before they had the laser. I don't remember the exact model, it was an escort though.

Don't take my word for it, i'm not an installer.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by socrates42

Do not mount the sensor vertically unless you have the specific BMW sensor. This is probably fine head on, but your scan width is greatly reduced by mounting vertically. You could probably pick up an aircraft mounted that way before someone around a bend. They used to make a vertical sensor specifically for BMWs back before they had the laser. I don't remember the exact model, it was an escort though.

Don't take my word for it, i'm not an installer.

You're talking specifically about the Laser Interceptor and what you say is true. However, the OP is talking about the STi-R+/9500ci detector and so this does not apply. There is no BMW version of the STi-R+ or the 9500ci (which does utilize laser detecting heads but there is still no BMW version of these).

What this means is that because polarization is important for both radar and laser, do not turn the STi-R+ or the 9500ci on its side. There is a small advantage for some radar controlled camera's. You would be able to get alerts about them from further away. However, you would be getting less distance to alert from all other signals, including speed measuring radar and laser. Keep these mounted horizontally.


Cheers.