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

[Hedges]

I 'm just curious if those V1's radar detectors work in canada, where i live Toronto? And usually when getting pulled over when do you take off your detectors off the windshield? or do you guys just leave it on?

 

[II-Savy]

http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0402_radar/index7.html

http://www.speedzones.com/

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/product-tests/radar-detector-recommendations.asp

http://www.radartest.com/

 

[goku4658]

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.

Got a pic of your setup?

 

[davens]

Got a pic of your setup?

Sorry, no I don't and the digi camera is "unavailable"

Well, after reading some of the new reviews, it's good to see some of the other manufacturers catching up. I'm a longtime supporter of Escort. We need all the protection we can get.
The POP performance levels of the V1 concerned me.
I went to the V1 site and plugged in my units ID number and sure enough there's an upgrade available that covers better POP capability. Best part, it costs me nothing. I've read good reviews of the V1 upgrade program so I hope it makes a positive difference.

And if you don't get the arrows importance. Scanning one direction is more effective then searching the entire 360 range.

 

[Murray]

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

Here you go ... sorry it took so long, I'm easily distracted.

 

[eting_pro5]

The license plate covers that you're talking about aren't 100% effective. The idea behind them is that police officers aim at the license plate when using the gun. If he actually hits the license plate, your ass is saved. If he misses and hits your car, you get a ticket! I think they also make a spray on film that is supposed to do the same thing.

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

These have nothing to do with radar detectors. They're separate units produced solely to control traffic lights. The emit a strobing infrared light, which is detected by a sensor installed on some traffic lights.

The product is intended for emergency personnel such as fire fighters and EMTs. When the sensor detects the strobing infrared light, it turns all lights red except for the in the direction of the sensor. While the products are easily available to the public (and I don't believe any laws govern them) they're obviously not intended for public use.

Like you said, they only change SOME traffic lights...in reality, very few as it's very expensive technology for a city to install and often deemed unneccesary as sirens typically get the job done.

 

[gar777]

For full protection, you really need BOTH a radar detector and a laser shifter. The lowest cost pairing of this from Escort is the 8500x50 detector ($299) and the Zr3 laser shifter ($299 from Tweeter.com see http://www.tweeter.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1265277

Escort now owns Bell and the similar Bell combo is the RX65 and the LaserPro 905. Pricing similar.

My dream system is the Escort SRX, which is a like a remote install 8500 with the XR3 laser shifter. Nothing on the windshield, nothing to get stolen. Only bad part is the price = $1500.
http://www.passportsr1.com/srx.htm

I had looked hard at all of these and just couldn't stomach the SRX's price so I got the budget combo 8500/ZR3.

 

[supa saiyan pr5]

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.

The beartracker is the name and its being out for a long time....my friend who loves CB radio's bought one when they first came out....nice piece of technology



Jeremy

 

[Cellerator]

Well, having a radar detector 2 weeks ago wouldn't have done jack for me. The cop was being an ass and gave me a ticket for 78... Only problem is that my foot was off the gas pedal and cruise control was set for 72. No radar detector, friendly and curteous and a state trooper association supporter sticker on my windshield, he still gave me a ticket.

Anyways, the next weekend, I went home again and I borrowed my friend's Rocky Mountain Radar detector that jammed cop radars. As I passed Abilene, radar went nuts. As I pass the state trooper, he looks at me and I look at him, and as soon as I was far enough away, I pulled it down. Less than half a minute later, his lights go on and he's right on my ass. Radars are good, just don't have a jammer with it. Luckily, I didn't get a ticket for the second time since he said "he was checking registration" but actually, he was looking for that detector.

I think before I head back home during spring break, I'm going to go buy myself a detector as well but WITHOUT jammer capabilities.

 

[gar777]

if you laser shift for too long, the police will get suspicious so it's recommended to jump on the brakes once you get hit with laser and then, once you're down to a semi-legal speed, to shut off the laser shifter. if the cop gets a reading on everyone but you, he'll pull you over anyway so you want to use the shifter just long enough to slow down and then let him get a reading. he'll never know you were shifting.

 

[goku4658]

if you laser shift for too long, the police will get suspicious so it's recommended to jump on the brakes once you get hit with laser and then, once you're down to a semi-legal speed, to shut off the laser shifter. if the cop gets a reading on everyone but you, he'll pull you over anyway so you want to use the shifter just long enough to slow down and then let him get a reading. he'll never know you were shifting.

good info...thanks for the tip!

 

[Hellnightkid]

The Cobra 9300 worked once for me, but guess what? I slow down to the limit speed but the cop still put me over and gave me a ticket for "no use of signal light when changing lane, almost cause accident." cop just do what he saw....