Got a radar detector today woot!

[JCell]

Yep, it's the Whistler 1740, i haven't tried it on the streets yet, but it looks/specs r decent

Frequencys

X - 10.500 - 10.550
K - 24.050 - 24.250
KA - 33.400 - 36.000


what do u guys think?, my mom gave it to me as an early b-day present (dance)

 

[Kansei]

Should have gotten the Whistler Pro73. It detected the new POP radar system 100% of the time.


EDIT:
P.S. I love radar detectors. I have the Bel Vector 985, before that I had the Whistler 1790SE.. both awesome, I won't drive a car without a radar detector even though I don't really speed on highways or anything.

Town cops in my town love all their laser guns and KA band guns, they have way too much of a budget for a town of 7k people.

 

[anarchistchiken]

vzerg, you seem to know a lot about this. What's a good choice for a relativly cheap detector (around $200) with good capabilities. I've been meaning to get one for a while but I'm too lazy to research it.

 

[Kansei]

vzerg, you seem to know a lot about this. What's a good choice for a relativly cheap detector (around $200) with good capabilities. I've been meaning to get one for a while but I'm too lazy to research it.

I'd go for the Whistler Pro73. It's Whistler's top model, newly released, and you can find it on eBay with a buy it now price of around $125 plus 15 shipping.

For around 250 shipped you can get the Beltronics (Bel) RX65 but I haven't seen many tests of this, should be great though (since it's the new model to replace the one I currently have)

Here's a good page with some comparison graphs on the X, K, and Ka band radar detection distances.. http://www.radarbusters.com/support/product-tests/2.asp

Go through all the pages of that test though, it has great information.

I love radar detectors!

I highly recommend Beltronics or Whistler. Whistler will have nice things like a compass or selectable sound themes in their higher models (with my 1790SE you could record voice memos and stuff). The Bel I have was the top model about a year ago and it doesn't have any of those features, it's just about all out performance.

---- END THREADJACK (lol) ----

 

[bigj884]

what about cobra......are they no good either???

i have the cobra xrs 9700......works good for me i love it....pics up every freaking frequency that i can imagine....will tell me even when there is road hazards or road work going on...... (alright)

 

[Lord_Zath]

wow only reaffirms my decision to purchase an escort 8500 x50 soon hehe

 

[hoindawall]

i know this is a little off topic, but i dont use a detector, i use this...http://www.auto-radar-detectors.com/phazradjam.html
one of those jammer things, and let me tell you it works. when i pass cops while they're gunning they either give me a really weird look, or they turn around and gun me from behind. these things are legal here so its all good

 

[Kansei]

what about cobra......are they no good either???

i have the cobra xrs 9700......works good for me i love it....pics up every freaking frequency that i can imagine....will tell me even when there is road hazards or road work going on...... (alright)

Have you actually ever had the "safety warning system" do anything? In my three years of driving (and three years of having radar detectors in every car in the driveway) I've had it go off once, warning of an accident ahead. It is a great system if places would use it more. I've never used a Cobra detector, but in all the comparisons they never perform too well, especially for the price.

If I was looking at a budget detector I'd get a Whistler, if I was looking for a midrange I'd get a Whistler, if I was looking for a great performer I'd get a Whistler, but if I wanted all out performance with no sacrifices, no money spent on comfort features.. I'd get a Beltronics.

I have experience with probably around 20 models from Whistler and Bel, and the only ones I've ever had problems with were 1790SE units from when Whistler had to sell off all their stuff due to some FTC or FCC thing. On two of the ones I had, the speaker blew and it sounded aweful (I'm looking into replacing the speaker) and on the third the speaker is really quiet at the highest volume (maybe a redesign to prevent speaker damage, but it sucks).

 

[bigj884]

yeah....i have had the "EMergenCY Vehicle APproaching" tone and talk go off...more than once....the one i got is expensive....but i picked mine up on EBAY for 1/2 the price it retails for in stores.....and i like it.....1st radar detector i have had.......so far it works.....hopefully it will last me awhile

but i do know whistler and cobra are very good systems.....

anyone ever have a VALENTINE....radar detector????

 

[Kansei]

i know this is a little off topic, but i dont use a detector, i use this...http://www.auto-radar-detectors.com/phazradjam.html
one of those jammer things, and let me tell you it works. when i pass cops while they're gunning they either give me a really weird look, or they turn around and gun me from behind. these things are legal here so its all good

Jammers are illegal everywhere.. WARNING WARNING: The Phazer doesn't work at all.

Please no one buy any product sold by Rocky Mountain Radar. I'll try to find the article to explain why.

EDIT: laser jammers are legal in most places, but not radar jammer. A real radar jammer would be massive, and a real laser jammer would have to be mounted around your front and rear license plate. I would know, I've installed a couple.

 

[Kansei]

wow only reaffirms my decision to purchase an escort 8500 x50 soon hehe

Cool. I have nothing against the Escort Passport line, they get awesome reviews always. I just haven't ever purchased one and don't know anyone who has.

 

[Kansei]

Here we are.. read through all the pages of this.

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/jammers/Default.asp

Reading up on radar detectors is well worth the time, being well informed helps you avoid traps like Rocky Mountain Radar.

 

[Kansei]

Here's some more info

radarbusters.com recommends the Bel RX55 for budget radar detectors, and then the Whistler Pro73
10:42:45
I bet the bel performs a little better but lacks a lot of the features of the whistler
10:42:50
they both have excellent performance though
10:43:22
especially in Connecticut (at least Litchfield County) where no road is straight or flat enough for the guns to have anywhere near the range they are rated for

This was taken from an IM conversation I just had I'm lazy

 

[Kansei]

Here is some extra info from the Radarbusters web site. It lists their picks in all the different categories. They sell the detectors on their site with decent prices, though I'd probably go eBay but that's just me.

Radar Detectors - Top Performers

As the Radar Roy's Radar Detector Rumble tests show, the new Beltronics RX65 performed as well as the Escort 8500 X50 and both have been awarded Radar Roy's Five Badge Rating!

Could it be that both are virtually the same detector, as Escort had bought out Beltronics two years ago and now both companies are under the same ownership? We think so!

The testing also showed that the Bel RX65 and the Escort 8500 X50 performed as well, and in some cases better then the more expensive Valentine 1 radar detector.

There are some features that are unique to the Escort X50 and The Bel RX65.

The Bel RX65 does have voice, Ku band for European use and the extra power on indicator mode with voltage meter mode.

The Escort 8500 is now available in either Red or Blue display. (Blue display costs an additional $40.00 because of the extra expense in making the blue LED lights)

Radar Roy's top choices for a windshield mounted radar detector are tied between the Escort X50 and the Beltronics RX65.

For budget minded buyers we would recommend the Beltronics RX55 as our first choice and then the Whistler Pro 73

Cordless Radar Detectors

Radar Roy says if you don't have to go cordless don't! However there are applications where having a cordless radar detector is the only choice.

Even with the top cordless radar detectors such as the Solo 2 or the Silver Bullets, you will be giving up in some cases over 20% in range, and you will not be able to detect the newer POP mode radar guns from MPH Industries.

However if cordless is your only option, then Radar Roy first recommends the Escort Solo 2 Radar Detector followed by either the Silver Bullet RX7500 or the RX7600.

Concealed Radar Detectors

Radar Roy's Radar Detector Rumble 2004 placed both the Escort SR7 and the Beltronics RX75 in tying positions. Again as Escort and Beltronics are now under the same ownership and both radar detectors are very similar in design and performance.

Laser Jamming

Although this testing between the Blinder M-40 and the Shifter ZR3 was slanted with the advantage of the Blinder M-40 having four heads, the Blinder is still the only laser jammer that can jam 100% of all laser guns.

The Blinder M-40 maybe bit of an overkill for your standard passenger car, and for those installations Radar Roy recommends the Blinder M-20.

 

[Kansei]

Here is more information on the problem with Rocky Mountain Radar

http://matt.simerson.net/reference/radar-scam.shtml

Crap I've looked up so much information tonight, I feel sick after this many hours on the forum.

I should organize a radar detector FAQ.

 

[Kansei]

Can a mod move this to the audio/electronics forum??

 

[Lord_Zath]

u should. that'd be awesome.