I was looking for a radar to install in my 2007, i didnt want a 'portable' unit and I didnt want to break the bank with a $1000+ unit. I settled on the Passport Qi45
i got it the day after i ordered it online from http://www.bestradardetectors.net/ it was around $450 to my door. yes it doesnt have GPS 'marking' but i felt it was a good compromise for the value of a built in unit. I saw the same exact unit in BestBuy for $650!

I work pretty slow, okay i work really slow... the install took about 4 or 5 hours. I started off by removing the grille. Using the included right angle bracket, drilling pilot holes and mounting the sensor to the bracket right behind the grille looking through the opening. I could have fabricated a base plate to raise the antenna up on the bracket but chose to just dremmel the fiberglass lip in front of the bracket to ensure level mounting.













Once the antenna/sensor was mounted i ran its wire by going inside the wiring loom for my temperature sensor thats also at the grille, back down the fender, through the firewall, into the cab and to behind the radio.

Next i fabricated a little metal bracket to hold the display unit. and used small nuts to secure the metal bracket to the lower trim panel below the wheel. where it can be easily seen when looking down through the steering wheel spoke but well out of sight. Ran the wire across to behind the radio.







Next i drilled a 1/4" hole in the top right of the instrument panel to mount the 'heads up' LED. This LED is handy because its line of site, and if you want to turn off the audio of the unit completely the LED is sufficient. But the units audio isnt obtrusive.



I then installed the brain right behind the radio, actually above the radio i just velcroed it in and wrapped it with felt so it didnt rattle (on the bottom).



Powering it was really easy. I ran the power leads over to the passenger side fuse box. Used an "add a circuit", at the Radio fuse. installed a male female connector at the add a circuit and grounded it to the fuse panel ground.




The Qi45 works well. its sensitive enough to be handy when i do ski season road trips with the truck on the highway. Its 5 hours one way to my ski house, and there are several areas where the speed limit is lowered for 'enforcement'. The Qi45 doenst seem to be too naggy around town either, where in the summer time our local speed limits are lowered 15 miles an hour for 2 months. again its handy for artificially lowered places where local beach towns do this. Im not a speeder, but i feel like the unit will add a layer of protection in tight areas.

Escort is coming out with a Qi45 that has built in GPS, but im not sure how much extra it is. They call it the 8500 (i think). Side note. The personal service i got from the website i ordered from was outstanding, i highly recommend bestradardetectors.net, they were fantastic.

ps. what prompted this? i had my cruise control set to 70 in a 65mph zone. speed limit dropped to 55, and i got nailed. after spending $450 on court fees and attorney to drop it to a non-moving violation i swore to reverse my 'non radar' beliefs.

 

What's up with your cruise control?

 

truck did not come with cruise control or provisioned for it, i had to add it in.
https://www.ranger-forums.com/general-ford-ranger-discussion-15/added-cruise-control-auto-dim-mirror-headunit-few-other-mods-photos-124104/

 

Ah ok. I was like "wtf? when did Ford do that to Rangers?" lol

 

Awesome. When I get a car after I get rid of my truck I'm going to be looking into installing one of their higher end units, but with laser jammers as well.

 

The nice thing about the Qi45 is you can add laser jammer as an add on later. It just plugs in.

 

You guys in the US are lucky you can use and buy radar detectors.We can't buy them in Canada.

 

We can in British Columbia, they sell them everywhere here.

 

Argh! Took the truck to work and back today and realized I introduced a whistle so loud I can hear it in the cab! Its got to be from the antenna! I smushed some foam under it. Headed back into work now hopefully will nail this down and come up w a more finished solution. Oops!

Edit 1
---------
the foam between the antenna bottom and the fiberglass frame worked to stop the whistle. i'll have to fabricate a gasket around the bottom of antenna and secure it with the bolts holding the bracket.

 

got a PM from asking for the pictures to be fixed... i cant edit the first post, I guess all the photos got dumped when the forum crashed, repost with photos... heres goes...
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I was looking for a radar to install in my 07 Ranger, i didnt want a 'portable' unit and I didnt want to break the bank with a $1000+ unit. I settled on the Qi45

I work pretty slow, the install took about 4 or 5 hours. I started off by removing the grille. Using the included right angle bracket, drilling pilot holes and mounting the sensor to the bracket right behind the grille looking through the opening. I could have fabricated a base plate to raise the antenna up on the bracket but chose to just dremmel the fiberglass lip in front of the bracket to ensure level mounting.









Once the antenna/sensor was mounted i ran its wire by going inside the wiring loom for my temperature sensor thats also at the grille, back down the fender, through the firewall, into the cab and to behind the radio.

Next i fabricated a metal bracket to hold the display unit. and used small nuts to secure the metal bracket to the lower trim panel below the wheel. where it can be easily seen when looking down through the steering wheel spoke but well out of sight. Ran the wire across to behind the radio.






Next i drilled a 1/4" hole in the top right of the instrument panel to mount the 'heads up' LED. This LED is handy because its line of site, and if you want to turn off the audio of the unit completely the LED is sufficient. But the units audio isnt obtrusive.



I then installed the brain right behind the radio, actually above the radio i just velcroed it in and wrapped it with felt so it didnt rattle (on the bottom).



Powering it was really easy. I ran the power leads over to the passenger side fuse box. Used an "add a circuit", at the Radio fuse. installed a male female connector at the add a circuit and grounded it to the fuse panel ground.



The Qi45 works well. its sensitive enough to be handy on the highway, bit naggy around town but thats to be expected since it has no GPS

 

Thanks for this installation guide. I've been seriously considering buying this passport Qi45 but I would love if it has an Escort GPS with it. Do you have any idea how much its GPS-version would cost and where could I buy them? Thanks.

 

So, what if the cop is behind you?

 

You can get the Qi45 now for around $350. But it's sensitive so it's a bit naggy around town. Awesome on the highway. The new 8500ci is the qi45 but it has GPS based muting which is awesome. I think they are around $700?? The nice thing is later u can add laser shifters if you want. (questionable effectiveness). In my new Tacoma I put In a 9500ci, which is a sick unit. It's so quiet, it auto learns spots that false and warns for traffic, red light cams ect. I really like it.

You can get escort products a lot of places!

If they are behind you it'll pick up reflections. Sketchy but it happens. Everything is a compromise. The 9500ci offeres rear devices / protection. You can't depend on any radar. But they are helpful when used properly.