Radar Detectors

[240sx]

What's your preference?
I have a Uniden, some model thats paid itself about 500 times over.
I forgot the model number and my friend has it right now since I decided to ignore it one night. That's the only reason it didn't work.

Choices? I saw some on www.radartest.com (http://www.radartest.com) but some are like over $500 and that.

[Nismo]

I rarely speed but bought a Bel Vector LR Remote (915-R) mainly because I like gadgets. I got a remote model detector because I don't like people knowing the car's equipped with one. With the receiver mounted in the bumper I was worried the range would suffer, but so far it's had the best range of any detector I (or anyone I know) ever owned. On a trip over Christmas it was picking up police radar miles in advance. At one point in the wide open country it picked up police running radar 15 miles away! Falsing is almost non-existent, the volume can be set very loud, and all the main features are programmable, including individual band exclusion, auto-mute, X/K/Ka City mode, front/rear laser, etc.

Of course the nicest feature is that it's a hidden installation so no one but me even knows it's there.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

WITHOUT A DOUBT, the best radar detector out there is the Valentine One. Yes, it also the most expensive, ringing in at $400, but you CANNOT beat it in protection!

Yes, there are a lot of other detectors out there which are a lot cheaper. But trust me, if you want to get the best for your money, it is worth it...

I had wanted this thing since it came out years ago, but never wanted to shell out the cash... so for xmas this year, i got mostly money and i decided it was time for my gift...

Well, I have had a little while to play with my new toy and I am extremely happy with it... as I would hope to be for spending $400 on a radar locater...
Anyway, here is some of my own observations of it's performance... keep in mind, these are not the magazines test results, but what I have found just driving around...

So far these are a few encounters I have logged...

1) I was coming around a blind corner on I-88 at about 70 (in a 65) and the V1 lit up 3/4 full... I checked the odometer... and when I passed the cop, I had traveled 0.8 miles. The locater switched to 'behind' and remained alerting for 0.3 miles (keep in mind I am now traveling away from the gun, which is pointing in the opposite direction)... So, basically 3/4 mile alert from around a blind corner...

2) Same road, but about 10 miles later... it goes off 1 beep. I KNOW this road and know that this is a cop in the usual speed trap... I record the odometer... nothing happens until I reach the trap... I can now see the outline of the squad (but I knew where to look), at about 50 feet, instant on. So, in this case, I picked up the stray radar from him "shooting" the car way in front of me, and knowing the area, I received 2.4 miles of warning, although a single beep, it was still a recorded signal.

3) And the longest recorded so far for me... I was traveling down a small back road in a familiar area. I received a single beep. I knew this was out of place, so again, I noted the odometer. I traveled a total of about 1.1 miles with the V1 throwing out an ocasional beep, but I had NO idea where the squad was at, just ahead somewhere... As I got past the 1.1 mile mark, the signal became constant, low, but constant... As it grew stronger, I thought I knew where he was, but it was still further... I finally drove past the squad, 2.7 miles later!

So, I know that there are some REALLY good radar detectors out there for a LOT less than $400, but damn, this bad boy sure has my vote!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

OK, if i went ahead and bought a cheap little $70 radar would that help at all??

I dont often speed FAST, but i wouldnt mind knowing when a cop is around trying to catch people. Would one of these cheap ones work well??

I live in Houston, so there are mainly busy highways, so i dont need anything that like goes through woods and stuff!

Thanks!

[Nismo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Justin:
Someone explain the whole radar detector thing to me, is it only effective if the cops are sitting somewhere hitting cars with their radar, or will it just pickup radar in a cop car even when it's not actually scanning?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>It depends on the type of radar the police is using. For a detector to pick up a radar/laser emission means that somethinghas to be emitting.

X-band: These units radiate any time they're turned on, even if they're not actually being used.

K-band and Ka-band: These units only radiate when they're actually clocking speeds.

Laser: Only radiate when actually clocking speeds.

Radar (X,K,Ka) emissions tend to spread out and easily get bounced around by hillsides, buildings, etc. so their emissions are easy for a detector to pick up.

Laser emissions are strictly line-of-sight so a detector will only pick it up if the laser is being aimed directly at the sensor. So if a police aims the laser at your front license plate, but your laser sensor is on the dash, in most cases, the detector would not even go off. Laser is very hard to detect; even if you're detector does go off, that just means the police has just clocked you.

If you have a detector, you tend to learn how to interpret the warnings. For example, a constant warning that gradually increases in strength means you're approaching a police with his radar on. Intermittent warnings mean there's a police close by using instant-on radar to clock drivers at random.

The best detectors at the moment--from all the reviews I've read and personal experience--seem to be the top-of-the-line Bel models and the Valentine One, although the Valentine One is being redesigned at the moment because it's K and Ka-band sensitivity is not what it should be.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have a Whistler. It's about 4 years old but at the time I bought it, it was voted as the best by several magazines. It has saved my a$$ many times and I think it performs great. My next one will definitely be a Valentine-1.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Someone explain the whole radar detector thing to me, is it only effective if the cops are sitting somewhere hitting cars with their radar, or will it just pickup radar in a cop car even when it's not actually scanning?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Wow, lots of info, nice reply, thanks.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have a Uniden that's probably about 11 years old. i got it for free when my uncle who lives 700 miles away forgot it at my house when he was visiting. doesn't have laser, but nobody where i travel uses it. lots of false alarms, but only around shopping centers/certain traffic lights. but its easy to tell when a cop is around....when 3 out of the 5 lights are on you KNOW a radar gun is being aimed within a half mile.

i don't think you can really go wrong with any radar....after you learn its tendencies, it will serve you well. besides, its better than nothin, right? 8)

[Break Beats]

Two words: Valentine One

It is the best, there are none better.
Save your money and get one, because how much does a speeding ticket cost? Add the cost of that to the higher Insurance you will be paying? The V-1 is well worth the money.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

OK this is kinda off this topic, but any of you have a good setup for your radar besides the normal cigarete lighter to the windshield???

[**DONOTDELETE**]

With 6 years of driving in LA, the best solution for me has been my big-brake kit! Depending on how fast you speed, big brakes can REALLY help you cut down speeds quickly and safely. Second to that, I eye-ball the streets a lot.

Not that radar detectors arent useful, its just that they're pricey. If you keep a good eye out, it'll always be your best solution. Last week some area was being lasered by CHP in burbank, CA. A Eagle Talon in the opposite direction was lifting his headlights up and down -- good warning. I'm pretty lucky, just 1 speeding ticket in 6 years.. and I speed OFTEN. Too often. How you engage and talk to the officer ALSO makes a big impression. I've easily been let go after 6-8 pull-overs; several for doing 80-110mph. I speed inconsistently too, which makes tracking my speed VERY difficult since I do a lot of spurts. I also try to take less common routes, canyons and what not. Cops like to give tickets on busy areas where they can rack up the cash -- not on tight canyons where its dangerous to pull people over. &lt;grin&gt;

- Mike

ps: You guys should check out the guide to speeding or whatever, its a great link. Anyone have that link laying around?

[This message has been edited by old_s13 (edited 05-08-2001).]

[Nismo]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial[/img]quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pablo0321:
OK this is kinda off this topic, but any of you have a good setup for your radar besides the normal cigarete lighter to the windshield???<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Second post. I've got a remote mount detector. The receiver is mounted behind the plastic of the front bumper, the control unit is mounted in the cubbyhole below the radio, and the two optional laser detector modules are mounted as low as possible on the interior glass (they're hardly noticable).