Radar/laser detectors
- Thread starter Goalee1
- Start date
Escort 9500ix. Works. But of course, I like what I have. Valentine owners love theirs as do Bell. Hard to go wrong.
Dennis
Dennis
Im looking for one too. Just checked out the Valentines and its a bit out of my price range. I am looking for something around $100 that does a decent job. Haha.
I don't mean it hijack this thread by the way. Tell me if I am doing so.
I don't mean it hijack this thread by the way. Tell me if I am doing so.
Do you guys find these things to be of value?
Around this part of the country there is very little radar left.. almost everyone has gone to lidar.. (laser)..
I cant imagine a laser detector that actually works and gives advance warning (although I absolutely could be mistaken.. Im just not aware of the technology if it is out there)..
detectors made sense to me in the 70's and early 80's when interstates had 55MPH limits and everyone wanted to do 70+....
but these days, everything around here is 65 MPH minimum..(most are 70 MPH)... I just lock the cruise control down on either 74 or 79 depending on the speed limit (9mph over)... and never get looked at twice....
Not saying there arent times I wouldnt mind going faster...
Im just wondering if the detector is really going to make any difference since even the local police use lidar at this point almost exclusively... and the troopers and other "highway" cops have been on lidar exclusively for years..
Around this part of the country there is very little radar left.. almost everyone has gone to lidar.. (laser)..
I cant imagine a laser detector that actually works and gives advance warning (although I absolutely could be mistaken.. Im just not aware of the technology if it is out there)..
detectors made sense to me in the 70's and early 80's when interstates had 55MPH limits and everyone wanted to do 70+....
but these days, everything around here is 65 MPH minimum..(most are 70 MPH)... I just lock the cruise control down on either 74 or 79 depending on the speed limit (9mph over)... and never get looked at twice....
Not saying there arent times I wouldnt mind going faster...
Im just wondering if the detector is really going to make any difference since even the local police use lidar at this point almost exclusively... and the troopers and other "highway" cops have been on lidar exclusively for years..
Good questions, mdwest. I have same questions. With one additional: Are any detectors 'safe' to use where radar detectors are illegal - like here in Virginia? That is, are there detectors that are less 'undetectable' and 'noticeable' than others? I always assumed that even in places where they are legal, that those without an obvious unit were going to fare better than someone with one obviously sitting on their dash or visor on those rare occassions that you do get pulled over.
V1 all day. I've owned a number of other makes and models, but they are still the best and offer software updates to keep you current. Regarding false hits on the V1, you can actually program them (you have to read the manual...) to avoid your usual false indicators and disable X band detection. They are worth the price. I don't know one person who has one and doesn't like it better than what they switched from. A definite need for anyone who drives "spiritedly." Saved my bacon a number of times.
What you need to consider in this instance is the shielding. Police use VG2 to detect someone using a detector. It's basically picking up seepage from the unit. This is why someone with a top end detector can sometimes get false K band alarms from other people with poor quality detectors. I know several companies make models with additional shielding which is supposed to make it more difficult to pick up on a VG2; V1 does have a good reputation for not being easily picked up. If you don't want anyone to see it, you can stealth mount a V1 by hardwiring it through the pillar and running the remote display. Or you can consider the significantly more expensive Escort 9500ci for a completely hardwired unit.
Lidar is another beast all together. Having a laser detector is not worthless because if the police are using it actively, you can get "lucky" and pick it up as it refracts off of other vehicles. That said, they aren't fool proof. You can use other products such as laser jammers or laser veil to try and avoid being nailed at the speed you are traveling, but when they get a garbled reading they may still pursue you. All in all, it's still a gamble to speed and you shouldn't play with fire unless you're a proficient driver with a capable car in an environment where there is no potential collateral damage.... This concludes our PSA.... :thumbsup::devil:
My V1 has saved my ass many times in warning me on laser traps. You have to be smart in how you drive and have some luck as well.
Also had my V1 updated this year to add in new functionality to eliminate the weather radar units they are placing along highways. Works like a charm and the update also included some other enhancements.
Also had my V1 updated this year to add in new functionality to eliminate the weather radar units they are placing along highways. Works like a charm and the update also included some other enhancements.
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
I've had a Beltronics Rx65 for almost 10 years... love it and has saved me many times. Has pretty good range and also detects laser. I live in an area that used to be unincorporated county land but was annexed into my local city a couple years ago and they dropped the speed limit down to 25 mph. There are a lot of hills and near impossible to go 25. I need my radar detector just in my local town. My wife just got nailed doing 41 in the 25 mph area that is a steep downhill... you have to jam your brakes down the entire way just to stay at 25... F' that.
Regarding lasers, here is a link to a dealer for laser veil; there is a video embedded in the page and reviews as well. It's not foolproof, but with it and a laser detector you might have a chance to slow down before they can get a good enough reading to issue a citation:
http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detector-accessories/laser-veil/laserveil.cfm
Basically it is disrupting the refraction of the lidar off of your headlights, any chrome bits/grill, or your license plate. When someone is shooting lidar at you they need to aim at these points in order to get an accurate reading.
EDIT: I have not made any purchases nor do I have any affiliation with the dealer I linked. I did so solely for informational purposes.
http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detector-accessories/laser-veil/laserveil.cfm
Basically it is disrupting the refraction of the lidar off of your headlights, any chrome bits/grill, or your license plate. When someone is shooting lidar at you they need to aim at these points in order to get an accurate reading.
EDIT: I have not made any purchases nor do I have any affiliation with the dealer I linked. I did so solely for informational purposes.
The big move nowadays is to cameras. They have been heavily utilized throughout Europe for years, and now they are gaining more popularity in the US. They just mail you a citation instead of chasing you down. There are several cell phone apps which allow users to post speed trap and speed camera information. Might be worth looking into if you suspect that they are deployed or in use in your area.Not that this contributes to the thread but I wondered about speed detection these days. Thanks