radar detector
 

Does anyone have some input on a good radar detector?

I have the 9500i escort and its AWESOME. I love the gps features and being able to lock out fake alarms. Saved me many times. Is say the 9500 escort or the valentine. they are pretty much the same but the escort is cheaper and has the gps features. I could care less what direction it comes from, which i find worthless anyway cuz i just need to slow down.

yeah you can't really go wrong with either of those choices. I have the Escort 8500, works great.

Valentine One

Of course, I don't know about the Escort- but the V1 has a radar "sensor" in the back of it too. And the arrows come in handy. But more importantly than the arrows is the "bogey" counter that shows how many there are, what bands, and which is the most dangerous.

Whichever one you get, if it saves you once, it's paid for itself.

yea im gonna buy one tomorrow .. would of saved me last thur... 80 in a 40 :(

Both have "full 360 degree" sensors. the V1 just has a arrows. IMO though the arrows are just a gimmick. But yes 9500xi or the v1 are the only two that should be considered.

Problem is Escort has been stroking customers with USB upgrades, better database for falses, etc. Theres a lot of pissed off people who own them and Escort came out with a newer version of the 9500 instead of allowing the customers to "upgrade" their unit via USB like the touted from the very beginning.

V1 has some new upgrades coming down the pipe. Best option is a V1 with a Cheetah mirror.

the 8500 x50 is a nice radar, also 360 protection with some nice features. check out Radar Detector Reviews & Radar Detectors Review Forum & GPS Car Tracking: Radar Detector Reviews and Laser Jammers for some great info and advice.

do you have one of those cheetah mirrors? pricey.

I ordered one last week, cant wait to get it installed. Im also doing a full custom blue LED V1 :)

Valentine One and the Escort 9500i are great. My dad has one in his Z06 and brother has the other in his LT-4 and they work great. Expensive though.

I have the 9500i and it is amazing. It also has the "bogey" option in the advanced setting.

I'm quite pissed about the lack of updates as promised from Escort as well, but there are a few open source options for updating and sharing POIs with other users.

Edit: After researching, Escort will offer current 9500i owners the option of upgrading for $130 to the xi model via mail. They will increase the internal memory and processor speeds and give you a whole new mainboard and top shell. The added functionality will offer red light camera locations and fixed speed camera locations with a 3 year subscription to DB updates. I live right down the street from the Escort factory. :)

very good radar, i would have to agree. i got one myself. and havent been pulled over for speeding(wit a cop using a radar). its much cheaper then the 9500 and the v1. the only downfall is no gps. so u get false alarms, but u get to learn where they are. so basicly. it just beeps more often then the 9500.
it also came in red to match the interior.

From my research (I don't any one but do have an old one I don't trust anymore) I think the Beltrnoics STI Driver is the best as it is pretty much undetectable. But the Valentine One is my second choice.

i'm cheap, bought the beltronics vector 955 for under $200.

it seems to rate nearly as well as the top-of-the-line units, less a bit of range and extra features such as the v1's arrows or GPS.

haven't seen a lot of po-po lately but it does work...

9500ci full stealth =)

Valentine one, no question

please report back with impressions!

I plan too. Ive wanted one for a really long time and now they have US Sales and database updates.

i just bought the escort passport 8500.. so far i like it and the red led's match the car great and i read great reviews about it i wanted the blue one but they where charging $50 more just for the damn blue leds

Looks cool but seems like a thief magnet.

I have the 8500 x50 and its paid for itself many times over! I have the blue one and matches then you have your lights on! One of my friends used the v1 and 8500 at the same time and the v1 picked up a signal a slip second before so they are pretty much the same! So i would get either of those!

Another escort 8500 X50 user here. Works like a charm, only bad possible thing to say is that it does give false alarms but like mentioned above, you learn as you go with it. Got it for under $200 (used).
I've also heard nothing but good regarding the V1.

this maybe a stupid question but whats a cheetah mirror?

oh and i have a V1 and love it! its saved me manytimes

"The Cheetah GPSmirror is a speed camera & red-light camera detector that prevents tickets and helps keep you safe on the road.
Speed cameras and red-light cameras tend to be placed at dangerous intersections and accident blackspots. The GPSmirror comes preloaded with the locations of these enforcement cameras stored in its memory, and it warns you with a voice and visual reminder whenever you are approaching a camera. You can keep the mirror's memory up to date by downloading new camera locations from the Trinity database on speedcheetah.com. You can also mark other locations for your own personal reminders."

quoted from speedcheetah.com

Shrug* You guys do realized that if a police officer really wants to get your vehicles speed he will.

Most of the radar that sets your detectors off is radar that is being targeted at someone else in the surrounding area, or the police officer is just driving around running it constantly as a deterrent.
If a police officer is out to get speeders he will just put his device on hold (so it doesn't set your detector off) and then as soon as your vehicle is within range bam, he takes it off hold and locks your speed in.
Now of course there are various factors, such as vegetation, buildings, angle, etc. But they are all certified.. Some states require the officer to show your speed locked in on their detector. Officers aren't required to know the technology or calibrations, they just have to prove they know how to operate and how to PMCS. (Preventative Maintenance Checks + Services) Which means turning it on, checking functions, and making sure the tuning fork checks are within + or - 1mph.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't think you can get away with speeding just cause your 500 dollar gadget is turned on /wank And this might actually save a few of you some $$ when you realized it really isn't that necessary.

I got the escort passport 8500 x50 and it works great!

Definitely saved my a$$ more than a hand full of times.

If i had the money..i would def got valentine 1.

Scat nasty, not sure 'bout where you live, but on houston freeways they sit on the sholder around a bend or right past an overpass and shoot oncoming traffic. My x50 alerts me to them miles away, way before I'm close enough to have them lock on to me. I couldn't count the number of times this has happened, nor put a $ value on it. 99% of all false readings are in x band and all the boys in blue (in Texas) use K, Ka or Pro lazer3,so I have turned x band off completely. My x50 has picked up lazer from over 2 miles away,btw.

That is right. Believe us Scatt Nasty. these radar saves us from getting ticket. they might not help for racing, but for speeding, it amazing. my ass would be wit out a car right now if i didnt have a radar.

I have this and it has i would estimate saved me thousands. Undetectability is very important in Aus as they are illegal in most states. They are really good for mobile radar which catches most people here especially when the cars are unmarked. On more than one occasion I have slowed down on the alert and watched police cars turn around and book the car behind me. Especially satisfying when you have just overtaken them and they resent it

Even if they leave it on hold most of the time. All it takes is one shot to another car in front of you for pop detectors to pick it up. The only time a radar detector won't save you is if you are the only one on the road and they hold until they radar just you.

what about laser detection? i thought that, since the beam is concentrated, it's difficult for detectors to pick it up until the laser is shooting at the car aka you're fucked.

Well if an officer is just sitting there running static radar of course you're gonna pick it up. We use Ka band. Honestly if I am just sitting there on the side of the road running constant radar it's to deter the general traffic flow to obey the limit(depending on the angle and what not, the radar doesn't read accurately anyways). There is always those ones not paying attention and they get snagged, but If I am in the mood to go out and catch someone speeding, I'm going to get them lol. But on the other hand, those devices are awesome due to the fact that they can pick up multiple bands from so far away which is why I can understand it paying for itself in the long run (or short if you like to speed)

-Those little dinky 100 dollars ones are useless.

If your laser detection goes off, theres a 95% chance you're gonna get a ticket.

+1 if you detect laser it is usually too late.

what about 200? lol, i know my $200 unit isn't *as* good as a V1 or similar, but it delivers all the same benefits with somewhat less range. its rating is good thru an online radar detector source. it's the first one here. bel vector 955.

I have a Whistler XTR-690. Overall, it's good for the money. False positives are my only issue with it. It's saved my neck at least a few times.

I have used a V1 one for years and have been quite pleased. And I find the directional arrows very useful...especially when traveling on a limited access highway.

You talk alot but you don't know very much. First of all, the Valentine One is $399 which is cheaper than the $449.95 Escort 9500i and the $499.95 Escort 9500ix. The arrows are only considered a gimmick to people that have never owned a V1 and don't understand how useful they are. I don't want to know that there is a cop "somewhere" when I am driving around in the day or night, I want to know which direction they are and whether I passed them or not so I can speed up. The Valentine One has true 360 degree protection because it has a patented front and rear radar antenna and arrows to actually detect and locate radar while every other detector doesn't have a rear radar antenna or arrows so they only hear a beep or a voice announcing the band.

The arrows on the V1 are definitely not a joke but the TrueLock feature on the Escort 9500i is. The Escort 9500i breaks K band down into 8 segments so when you TrueLock a K band false from a door opener, you have blocked 12.5% of K band that is shot in that particular segment in that 1/2 mile area. That is if you only block one door opener because most places have multiple door openers all operating in different segments of K band. If you have 4 door openers that are in different segments, you will have blocked 50% of K band radar that is shot in that area regardless of whether it is from a door opener or a cop shooting K band within that 1/2 mile area. You will not receive an alert and you will receive a ticket if you are speeding.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1430/image1mf4.gif


Videos showing you why TrueLock = TrueFail:




You can't operate two or more radar detectors together at the same time because they interfere with each other which will affect the detection range or possibly cause a detector not to alert at all.

Read about it here:

Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR

Do-It-Yourself Detector Testing...


Nothing beats the $399 Valentine One in radar and laser detection in the under $500 radar detector category.

Guys of LIDAR - Radar Detector Test - August 2007

Laser detectors review: Discover the best laser detector.

Laser Reception Performance Comparison Charts Grouped by Detector

Detector Performance Comparison Charts Grouped by Police Laser Gun

Laser Detector Performance Comparison Charts Grouped by Police Laser Gun

Reception Comparison Charts Grouped by Police Lidar

The V1 is a good detector and tops the list in most tests = no doubt. I have the Bel Sti which is a close second in most tests (but has the advantage of not being undetectable which is important to me). As far as laser detection goes, they are all next to useless. A cop with a laser gun points it at the car and pulls the trigger, he has your speed in a fraction of a second and you will get the alert on your detector but it is alas too late. Unless you are very lucky and pick up the laser as it bounces from a car that is the target back to you, the laser will beat you every time. Advertising the laser detection function is more of a gimmick than anything else and a detector is really no better for having it.

V1 still gets way too many false positives.

V1 gets my vote.

Beltronics can suck it.

The Valentine One alerts to all police frequencies in the U.S. whether it is X band, K band, or Ka band, or laser. A radar detector does not know if it is a cop shooting X band or K band or a door opener using an X band or K band transmitter because they all use the same frequency. If you have a detector that doesn't alert to door openers until you are right on top of them, it is weak at detecting X band, K band, or both. The Valentine One is more sensitive to radar and laser and has 2 patented radar detecting antennas (one facing forward and one backward) so it will alert quicker, from a longer distance, and for a longer period of time because of this sensitivity. It is not a false positive if the V1 alerts to police frequencies, it is doing its job.

Other detectors can do the same job just as efficiently without throwing a warning for every signal out there.

What don't you understand? X and K band door openers operate on the exact same frequency as police radar and no radar detector can tell the difference. If your detector can't detect door openers, it is weak and it will suck at detecting actual police radar. You can go and buy a cheap detector that is weak and it will be nice and quiet for you as you receive a ticket because it no good at detecting radar or you can get a sensitive V1 and decide for yourself what it a cop and what isn't. One gives you the option to use your common sense and the other is a silent brick. A cheap detector is like a quiet security guard that is 90% blind and deaf, they may tell you that someone is lurking around every once in a while but you will be fuck** most of the time. The Valentine One is like a security guard that has eagle vision and the ears of a rabbit and it will alert to 100% of police radar and laser frequencies and let you decide.

I'm not talking about a cheap cobra. I'm talking about something like a vector 955 ($200) or an escort 8500 ($300). Both of which I know friends who own and have yet to get a single ticket. Its not about whether or not it can see EVERYTHING but rather if its smart enough to filter out NOISE compared to cops. And no, they don't all use the same exact frequency. Theres a reason you see 95% positive reviews for other cheaper radar detectors. They work fine so don't pretend like you are radar god b/c you are not.

I have more knowledge about radar and laser countermeasures than you could ever dream of having. The Bel 955 will work fine for somebody who doesn't have enough money and doesn't mind having weak radar detection over a hill, around a corner, or when a cop is using instant-on. Door openers that use X and K band are using the exact same frequency as radar guns that cops use regardless of whether you know that or not. Weak radar detectors may work alright on a straight flat road but the sensitive ones like the V1 own the hills, curves, instant-on radar, etc.

Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR

Police Radar Bands (USA)

X-Band 10.525 GHz +/- 25 MHz
K-Band 24.150 GHz +/- 100 MHz
Ka-Band 33.4-36 GHz


Radar Detector FAQ - Guys of LIDAR

What is the difference between X, K, and Ka band?

Here are the basics of what you need to know:

X-Band is the least common police radar. It is rarely used anymore except in a couple of states, most notably New Jersey and Ohio. Some small towns might also use it on occasion. X-Band IS frequently used by motion sensors, such as those that automatically open the doors at your local supermarket, so in most cases this is what causes X-band false alerts.


K-Band probably has the most radar units out there on the road. However, K-Band is also used for some motions sensors too. Treat K-Band alerts with caution, until you have identified the source.

Ka-Band radar is the newest band utilized for police radar. Some sources claim that most of the new units sold are Ka. Generally, with the higher end detectors, false alerts on Ka are rare, so every Ka alert should be treated as police radar until you know otherwise.


Guys of LIDAR - Radar Detector Test - August 2007

Look how weak the Bel 955 is compared to the V1. Notice how the Valentine One beats the Bel 955 by 400-1500 feet in radar detection which gives you better sensitivity and a longer time to slow down. Look how the Bel 955 is not as good around a curve compared to the Valentine One.

Here is a quote from the instant-on radar test. They used 4 different Valentine Ones and they each alerted 3 out of 3 times for a perfect score with a 100% success rate. They used 2 different Bel 955s and they each alerted 1 out of 3 times with a 33% success rate. You can try to save $200 by buying a cheaper radar detector but you will pay that back in speeding tickets.

"For this test, the radar unit we used was a Kustom Eagle @ 35.5 GHz Ka-Band. The target vehicle with the detectors was positioned at a stationary point approximately 1 mile away from the radar vehicle, with some terrain in between. Each detector was hit three times with instant-on bursts lasting approximately 2 second each. The results indicate whether each detector alerted or not."

While this might be true that only makes you sound like a douchebag.

Claims like this on the internet always make me laugh. Why bother posting about something you can never prove?

the 9500i/xi has the ability to turn off false alarms. So when I drive and this bank and K band goes off, i can block that frequency. so even if a cop uses K band near the bank, its a difference K frequency and will still alert. I love mine! way better features than the V1 IMO. GPS you can set locations, when you get a alert the gps speed shows up. idk check the site out its a awesome detector.

Laser Jammer Tests - Laser Jammer Reviews & News

http://www.laserstarusa.com/

arent laser jammers illegal?

not in most states...

Jammers are illegal in certain states.

I have a cobra, and I hate it. Worst waste of $200 I have ever spent.

Aren't radar detectors illegal in most states???? doesn't stop people from running them.

I have a V1 and I do about 1200 miles of highway driving a week, believe me when I say that it is a good thing to have a sensitive radar detector that picks up and displays everything without filtering no matter how weak the signal is.

Here in Texas 95% of our DPS guys run Ka band and I have picked them up running speed traps from almost 12 miles away. Anytime I see Ka on the highway I know someone is somewhere running radar and unfiltered access to that info will save your ass, even when I am picking them up from so far, sometimes they only actually get displayed 2 or 3 times before I get to them.

The arrows are a god send if you are on a divided highway in the dark and someone is running radar on opposite side. You cant see anything but headlights, but my V1 knows when he has gone past and its safe.

I average about 95mph on the highway, and I have gotten zero speeding tickets to date.

In your case I absolutely wouldn't argue against getting a V1 driving that many highway miles. I drive about 50/50 so I would leave whatever detector I had on autoscan. The Bel 995 looks nice right about now.

yeah cobras are weak. i remember getting one when i had my 01 protege. i believe i got pulled a few times wit it.

no radar detector arent illegal in most state. i think only delaware or one of those states has it illegal. in illinois it not illegal to have a radar detector, but its a violation to have anything obstructing ur windshield. so that goes for having those air refresheners hangin from the rear view mirror. most cops dont bother wit that law, but its still an excuse to get u to pull over.

Amen. I have a V1 and that thing is worth its weight in gold.

Are the external radar detectors that much better?

+1 vote for V1

The Laser Star is a POS compared to quality jammers like the Laser Interceptor and the Laser Pro Park.

Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR


Laser jammers are only illegal in nine states so far.

http://guysoflidar.com/usa-laser-jammer-laws.html


http://valentine1.com/lab/Previously1.asp

I want a hidden detector, with the receiver remote-mounted down in the grille, but you don't make one. Why not?
- B.L., Florida

I want a remote too, but I don't want to give up any protection. For the same reason you see high radio towers, the detector antenna needs to be high in the car; it sees over hills better, increasing range.

Mounting down in the grille amounts to a low tower. You also have the problem of traffic ahead blocking the signal. The only time I've seen a grille mount outperform a windshield mount was a case where the detector could look under the truck just ahead. Normally, a high mount has an advantage because it's up where it can see through the windows of other traffic.

Another thing; the really sophisticated direction finding and bogey counting that V1 has requires perfectly synchronized information from the front and rear antenna. It's possible to maintain that synchronization when the system is broken apart into units at the front and rear of the car, but you pay F-15 prices. My best compromise between maintaining performance on the one hand, and hiding the detector on the other, is the Concealed Display. This keeps V1 in the window where it works great, but operates "dark;" all the light-up warnings are transferred to a small Display that you can locate where only you will see it.