Radar detectors....to buy or not to buy

[II-Savy]

I got a 8500 for a decent price on ebay. Can someone tell me what pop is? The unit came with it disabled by default, but I switched it on.



The license plate covers are passive laser jamming. The theory is that the cover absorbs just the right wavelength for the lasers which is somewhere in infrared, or near infrared. I read the exact wavelength once, can't remember right now, 910nm or something. When the beam cannot reflect off your car, they can't get a reading on you.

The most reflective places on your car are your headlights and license plate, so this is supposedly where cops aim. I think they also make a film coating you can put over your lights, and a paint too(looks clear) that absorbs this wavelength.

The active laser jammers ($400+ units) work by flooding the laser gun with light on it's wavelength, so it can't even read it's signal back. I bet someone could make themselves for closer to $50 with enough high powered leds of the correct wavelength. The only thing I am wondering is if the acitve laser jammers try to emulate the pulsing (which I believe laser guns do), or if they shine a steady light constantly. If they pulse, you'd have to find out what frequency and make a circuit that power the leds like that. Wish I had some more info to make a sweet jammer of my own for cheapo.

I don't know the effectiveness of these methods, and I don't have either of them, but it is something I have done a bit a research on.

Have you see that unit that will change SOME traffic lights to green when you approach them?(rofl2)

 

[peepsalot]

LOL, is that the one that also deters lions?

 

[talon4x4]

I just picked up a Beltronics RX65 Pro off of eBay for $250 shipped. It is absolutely amazing at picking up the cops. Where I live there is a mix between K/Ka/Laser/MPHs Bee III POP mode(not many though). This thing actaully picked up laser around a slight curve about a 1/2 mile away, which I didn't even think was possible!! Another great feature is that it will display the actual frequency of the radar, making it very easy to detect false alarms and which town the cop is from. I can't say enough good things about this detector. And hey, if you ever decide to go to Europe, it will pickup their stuff to.

 

[Hank]

I haven't gotten a single ticket since I bought my V1 (over 2 years ago). This is due to 2 factors:

Oooo ... and look ... V1 just started offering a POP upgrade for my detector. $55 and I get the latest hardware / firmware and another year on the warranty. I'm there. (rockon)

I have a V1 and mostly gave up on it. Got nailed good with a laser. One loud blast of sound, and I was toast. Not a peep out of it before. Lasers just nail you too fast. Yes, it gives good warning on conventional radar, but lasers kill me. And the false triggering at times on the highway is a real pain. What is a POP upgrade? Maybe I should send mine in too for the upgrade?

Hank

 

[gato9lives]

I have a escort passport 8500 and swear by it. Out of all the surveys done its won all. But as far a laser detection goes no matter what detector you have its very hard detect and by the time you do it will probably be to late. I 've had one ticket and i was 95 mph. The way the hwy ptrl was hidden there was no way to reflect waves and when detected there was no time to slow down. You have to play with it to learn false alarms,speed traps,distances which you can detect at an so on. make an investment an get a good one, you'll get what you pay for. I recomend only buy an escort or the maybe the valentine. Illl soon be buying the new escort 8500 x50 with pop protection which is what i think i got popped with. check out "radar roys website which ids where i got a good deal on mine.

 

[Badger Biker]

Quote that I've read on another forum:

"You can't just buy a detector and expect it to "work". You have to learn how to use the detector, and how to read and use traffic to your advantage. I try to be cautious going over hills and around corners, and I watch what traffic ahead of me is doing. If no one ahead hits their brakes while cresting a hill, there's most likely not a cop on the other side.. Get it??
On longer trips, I'll drive a little over the speed limit, and wait for a "rabbit" or decoy to blow by me. Young guys w/out a detector are the best. They've always got a point to prove, and will refuse to let anyone pass them. So I just push them a little, then fall back around 150 yards. Crank up the detector and put it on cruise."

Don't just set radar detectors and go speeding around like you are invincible. It's a game of cat and mouse. Sometimes ya win, sometimes ya don't. If I was to get caught by a cop the next 5 times I go through radar, the V1 would've still saved me money overall.

Sadly there isn't a whole lot of defense against laser with ANY radar detector.

Hank: there's no reason to ditch your detector, it still protects you from radar, right?

 

[davens]

Everybody is going to have an opinion so take it as that...
In the last 15 years I've owned, in order, Escort's original Passport(Dad's hand me down), an Escort 6800, a Bel 945iL and currently a Valentine 1.
Since the first detector I've always wanted the Valentine but it was too expensive. Well, now I can say it's wholly worth it. While the others worked well enough, the V1 just blows them out of the water because
(1) it visually tells you where the source is ie forward, backward or to the sides. It goes off and you know exactly where to look.
(2) it tells you how many signals you're getting. Ever seen a cop running a trap and then another one 1/4 mile down the road picking off the people that assume it's safe to speed again? Or what happens when you ignore the warning because the detector always goes off in the same spot from an automatic door at a store. Well one day there's going to be a cop across the street using it as cover. The V1 tells you theres a second signal.
(3) Sensitivity and antifalsing. Unbelievable. I even got to test it one day with a guy riding alongside me. He had some kind of cheap detector. I got a serious warning of an upcoming trap several seconds ahead of him.
The damn thing has been on top of the Car & Driver test just about every year since 1990. And they do very rigorous, real world testing. The Escort and Bel always topped the Whistler/Cobra/Uniden POS.

Laser basically nails you...the beam is so narrow, the chance of picking up scatter from a previous trigger is slim.
There are several laser jammers that run the LEDs up front that difuse the beam. The cop will eventually get you but he has to retry several times, giving you some warning. Lidatek, Escort and Bel currently make them...running from $300-500.

There is also another countermeasure device. It's a function of some of the models of Bearcat Scanners. It detects the trunk mounted proximity beacon in 99% of all emergency vehicles and alerts you when you're within 3 miles. Unfortunately, this is also in firetrucks, ambulances and various government vehicles. While this would be useless in town because it would always be on, its a godsend on long freeway trips. I used one on a trip through west Texas and New Mexico. It's basically an early warning, first line of defense. It also helps that it scans the CB chatter...truckers are great at sharing radar trap information.

Both of those second items are on my wishlist. But first, you need to buy the best detector you can afford. Skip the Whistler, Uniden, Cobra and anything else that claims to passive jam radar.
360 detection? Radar only works front or back so anything to the sides is harmless.

Another great item is for blocking photo radar. It's a plate that goes over your license plate. It's clear except from typical photo angles when it obscures all or part of your license plate. The photo radar detects you speeding and snaps a picture but there's no plate number to trace it back to you because there's a mysterious glare.

 

[Hank]

Quote that I've read on another forum:

"You can't just buy a detector and expect it to "work".
Sadly there isn't a whole lot of defense against laser with ANY radar detector.

Hank: there's no reason to ditch your detector, it still protects you from radar, right?

Well, I got tired of all the false triggers on the highway from the laser detector in the V1. It would go off with nothing around me. It seemed like the sun or something set it off.

I guess I should fess up that after I got nailed with laser down in GA and the V1 did not put out a peep before I was nailed, I was still driving with the V1 on and it seemed that every town I went through was painting me with conventional radar. Like the Hiway Patrol called to let them know some easy money was headed their way. Yes, those V1 alerts were right on.

I drive a Porsche, and it seems that it is sort of magnet to law enforcement, but I do tend to push the car a bit sometimes.

My last few road trips have been without using the V1. As was mentioned, I tend to let some rabbit get in front of me. Seems everyone wants to challange a Porsche, so it is pretty easy to find someone who wants to brag about blowing off a Porsche. Now I just un cork it in places where I can see a long distance ahead.

 

[MP3Architect]

What about 360 degree detection? I know the V1 has a sensor on the front and back, but damn that thing looks so ugly. Im not sure I can bare to have that thing in my mp3. I feel like everytime someone would see it in my car i would have to be like, "I know it looks like it came from the 80's but its actually pretty good." For those of you with the high end Beltronics or 8500 or even the Cobras, do you get good detection from cops to the sides and rear (far rear). Both times I got pulled over last week the cop came up from behind me or was parked behind me when I took off. (It was night and the one that was parked had his lights off and the one that came up on me was a damn explorer. First explorer cop I've seen in my life).

 

[Badger Biker]

Because of the laws of physics, if a cop is trying to nail you with laser from the side, they will not be able to gauge your speed. Cops on the sides aren't a threat, till you are either ahead or behind them enough.

As far as the rear protection on the V1, it's worked well for me. I came through an offramp once past an intersection with a stoplight. Limit around the ramp was like 35, but I was doing 65/75 when was the speed limit on the road right after the ramp was 55.

It wasn't till after I had flew by everything that I realized there was a cop sitting at the stoplight, in the first position. I didn't brake but downshifted my 1337 auto, and slowed down to the speed limit. It wasn't till I got mb a half mile down the road when I was suddenly BLASTED with radar from behind. I guess the cop had to turn on everything and wasn't ready for me to come in front of him like that.

He couldn't pull me over as I was doing 50 or so when the blast hit, but he kept on me till I was over the hill and turned off on another road.

I've also been able to get radar from behind starting at 1 signal level all the way to full on 20+ seconds later as a state trooper came up from behind and then passed.

The arrows really help, you can tell exactly where everything is coming from. (And it will warn you if the signal is on the side.)

A nice feature is when you have two different signals coming at you. The readout shows #2, and will show all both directions that the radar is coming from. The arrow will then flash in the direction of the stronger signal. The # counter is great for identifying false alarms and the like in a city, especially when you are familiar with the area. As it's been said above, if I go by this one walgreens in town, I get 3 bogeys, every time. Once time I saw 4, and low and behold, there was a cop in the shopping center parking lot.

 

[talon4x4]

The Bel RX65 I have seems to do pretty well at 360 degree detection. I have picked up radar from all sides, and well before I actually made eye contact with the cop. This is of course with conventional radar (X/K/Ka). Cops can't drive around with Laser on so I've only had the opportunity to pick that up when there in front of me.

To the people with the V1s, why do you always feel the need to point out the arrows on that detector. Does it really matter where the cop is??? If the alarm goes off you slow down, plain and simple. I can't imagine those arrows being a selling point.

 

[Murray]

To the people with the V1s, why do you always feel the need to point out the arrows on that detector. Does it really matter where the cop is??? If the alarm goes off you slow down, plain and simple. I can't imagine those arrows being a selling point.

The arrows, combined with the strength gauge allow you to tell you if you passed something (weak front, strong front, strong middle, strong rear, weak rear, for instance) or if it's irrelevant (middle). That's about all they're good for.

What is a POP upgrade? Maybe I should send mine in too for the upgrade?

There's an explanation of POP on V1's site here: http://www.valentine1.com/pop/
Essentially it's an extremely short (and inaccurate) burst of radar from an essentially powered-down unit.

What about 360 degree detection? I know the V1 has a sensor on the front and back, but damn that thing looks so ugly.

It's not ugly if it's installed right IMO. I hardwired mine with the wire going from under the driver-side dashboard, up (inside) the pillar, under the roof molding, then to the center of the windshield to the V1. I'll try to take a picture and post it soon (might have to wait until I get off work).

 

[Demm]

i have done research on this subject. right now i have an old crappy cobra 9200 that i bought from walmart. it goes off on alot of false alerts and i usually see the cop before it even decides to go off.

now as for the V1. i agree with talon. with the V1 that's really the only thing to brag about is the arrows. the fact of the matter is that the arrows dont mean jack if the stupid thing is always going of. my friend has one, and it wont ever stop beeping. it doesn't matter whether we're int he city, or out in the middle of no where parked in the car with nothing around for miles, it will still go off. another thing is the range. yes it is good, but there are better. the Escort Passport 8500 X50 out ranges the V1 by a half a mile i believe it was in all directions.

another thing is that V1 doesn't have POP protection. someone asked what that was, i dunno if anyone answer that. but it's basically the same as all the other bands (x/ka/k) but instead of turning it on and leaving it on to catch people they press the button, and it acts as an instant on, like when you press the button on a flashlight. so the radar just blinks on and off making it way to fast for traditional radars to pick up the signal. now when it comes to POP radar the best detector to protect against that is the Escort SOL0 S2. it protects again 85% of pop signals (nothing is full proof yet), while the Escort Passport 8500 X50 is only 80% effective.

i'm personally getting the X50. when it comes to radars, get a high end one. dont buy one from walmart, or anythign like that, because as soon as you buy it, its already obsulite with last years radars. cops are always changing and you wont get nothing out of that. yes i know $300-$400 is alot to spend on a radar, but tickets could cost you alot more. if a cop decides to be a butthead about things, and pulls you over for 1mph over (which he can), then that ticket here in San antonio is 80-100 for the court fee, and 3 every mp3 you go over. that's 83 jsut for goign 1 over. so it will save you in the long run to get a good radar.

also as a side note, what also works sometimes better then radar (on interstate anyways) is a simple CB radio. truckers are always telling you where cops are, all you need to do is just turn it on and listen for the mile markers of where they are at.

-demm

 

[goku4658]

It's not ugly if it's installed right IMO. I hardwired mine with the wire going from under the driver-side dashboard, up (inside) the pillar, under the roof molding, then to the center of the windshield to the V1. I'll try to take a picture and post it soon (might have to wait until I get off work).

Yeah i'd be interested in seeing a pic of your setup!

 

[Badger Biker]

another thing is that V1 doesn't have POP protection. someone asked what that was, i dunno if anyone answer that. but it's basically the same as all the other bands (x/ka/k) but instead of turning it on and leaving it on to catch people they press the button, and it acts as an instant on, like when you press the button on a flashlight. so the radar just blinks on and off making it way to fast for traditional radars to pick up the signal. now when it comes to POP radar the best detector to protect against that is the Escort SOL0 S2. it protects again 85% of pop signals (nothing is full proof yet), while the Escort Passport 8500 X50 is only 80% effective.

Other opinions aside (not going to argue about which is better) the V1 DOES offer Pop protection as of this month. You can send in your old unit as well and they will upgrade it for you for around $60 or $70.

I will say that I've been able to drive from Madison to Chicago all along the interstate, and I was bored because my detector never went off. Only place it did was going through Hartland-Wales, and it was only 1-2 bar strength, but that /always/ happens when I go by there.

It's not ugly if it's installed right IMO. I hardwired mine with the wire going from under the driver-side dashboard, up (inside) the pillar, under the roof molding, then to the center of the windshield to the V1. I'll try to take a picture and post it soon (might have to wait until I get off work).

This is exactly how I have mine wired up in my 3, except reversed. I am taking power from a purple/silver wire in the passenger side footwell, running up the door trim, (couldn't get A Pillar off) up into the roof molding, and then down the center of the windshield to my V1. You can see pictures of it mounted in my "blingin' interior" thread. http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93218

 

[goku4658]

doesn't the escort 8500 have a counter that tells you how many signals its getting, just like the V1? it just doesn't have the arrows like the v1 correct?

 

[SkinnyJoint]

In a hurry?? Leave earlier.

lol easier said than done...

ok i just recently had a problem. hoping someone has an idea. i have this detector in my 240 and i plug it in, and it blew the fuse in the cord. i replaced it and then again it blew so i took it out the 240 and put it in the p5 and plugged it in and it blew the fuse on that wire (so ive used 2 different ac power cords because i have a detector in the p5 as well). i replace try again, blows again so i replace and just hook up my other one in the p5 cuz im out of fuses. but ne ideas?

 

[peepsalot]

What kind of detector is it, is it meant for a car? Detectors should not be drawing nearly enough power to blow a fuse. I don't understand what you mean about the ac cords, but it sounds like your detector is defective and has a short in it, I would send it back to the manufacturer for a new one.

 

[SkinnyJoint]

yea i think it has a short and that sux..... and as for the cords i meant the cord that goes from the radar detector to the lighter, so i was just eliminating the wire for some od reason lol...
there both cobras, i bought one about 2 years ago (thats the one thats bad now) and one i bought 1 month ago that one workx fine. I guess ill just buy another one someday i like having one in both cars

 

[davens]

Read this review, especially the scores at the end:
http://caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993&page_number=1

If someone has a newer review from a decent magazine, I'm always keen to read them.

And dude, if one of you're criteria is the way it looks...well, that's effed up, but there are ways around it.
I use a remote display mounted on my gauge bezel. The ugly ass V1 mounts between the rearview mirror and the roof. 99% of my passengers never know it's there until I reach up to change modes or volume.