Radar Detectors?
 

I'm looking to buy a radar detector; looking at

Escort 8500
K40
BelTronics

I have a Bel Vector LR, I think it's wonderful. It's paid for itself a hundred times over! I recommend it highly!

The newest Motor Trend has a test of high end ($200+) detectors. I get mine in the mail so I'm not sure when it'll hit the news stands.

The Right Stuff
 

this is were it's at Baby
http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html

Honestly....
 

Gents,
Radar detectors work on the premis that the "cop" is using it appropriately. Most don't. Most ride around with the radar on, zapping everyone all the time, I don't know why they do that.

If a "cop" uses the radar correctly, there is a 5 step process that must be gone through.
1) Visually see the vehicle
2) Clear Radar path (radar grabs larger vehicle if 2 present)
3) Mental estimate of speed and click on radar
4) Get confirmation of speed on unit LED
5) Clear audio tone

Okay, now that we are all the wiser on the "process" we can eliminate that: If you are driving down the road speeding, a procedure-following cop having his radar off will see you, click on the radar and get you. Your radar detector will alert the second they let go of the hold button, but by then you're already clocked. A detector will not alert if the radar unit is not on, or is on "hold".

Any other questions????

Radar Dectors
 

Valentine 1 is suppose to be the best detector on the market. It's expensive ($400). But people I know who have them swear by them. Plus they are upgradeable. The owner of the company was the chief designer at Cincinnati Microwave, the company who originally built and sold Escorts and Passports. He went on his own and is the sole manufacturer and distributor of Valentine 1. They have a web site to check them out if your interested. My son has an Escort 8500 and it seems to be a good unit too and cost about $100 less than a Valentine 1. But like someone else said, the most important thing in using a radar decor is knowing how radar works and what the limitations of both the radar unit and the dector are.

Another thumbs up for Valentine 1. It has sensors in both the front and back, and it has an excellent filter for preventing false alarms. As said above, it costs $400, but it is the class of radar detectors. If you can afford the cost, I believe it's the best available.

any detector that does not show you where the cop is located is basically useless. that is what make the valentine as good as it gets...you know where the cop (or security alarm is). that being said, there is no defense for "instant on radar". When you are hit in this fashion you have NO warning and NO opportunity to check your speed and slow down if neccessary.

I have the Cobra ESD 9550 Radar Detector and it is the bomb.

http://www.shopcobra.com/product.asp?sku=1756124

I didn't buy it cuz of the name, but it is one of the best on the market next to valentine.

Dirtking,

I am glad someone understands! I absolutely, positively, guarantee that if the radar is not emitting any waves, no radar detector will pick it up. Think about it, if the radar unit isn't shooting out waves, how can the waves be picked up by a detector?? Unless it's hooked up to Dion's psychic hotline or something. LOL.

If a cop has the radar unit off or on hold (same thing), no radar detector will pick it up. The millisecond that the cop flips the radar on, you will get caught the very second your detector goes off. It's that simple.

Trust me, I have caught countless hords of people with radar detectors of all brands. Also- if a cop paces you at night, or during the day (no radar, just follows you), there is no escape and it's his/her word against yours- who'll win in court??

The best alternative is a radar detector type system that hooks on cop frequency bands and alerts you if a cop is within a few miles. Unfortunately that system is getting outdated due to all the digital and frequency hopping radio systems that are in use.

Best of luck to you all...

I have a Passport 8500 and am constantly amazed at its ability to alert me to the presence of all our local police cars. Every new Interceptor in my town has an in-car K- or Ka-band unit, and they seem to just drive around with them on, spewing out radiation.


The 8500 is almost immune to falses in my area, but every time it goes off, it seems, a cruiser isn't far behind.

Re: Honestly....
 

Jeb- Like I said above, it's an improper, sloppy and lazy, procedure which just goes to show that departments lack of officer discipline. At least it's good for you though....

I voted for other because I have a Cobra model radar detector and a few of my friends have them too. They work great and have saved my butt out of many a ticket therefore paying for itself many times over. In my opinion, spending $400 or so for a Valentine One, while awesome as they claim to be, is absurd for a detector. You can get a good Cobra one for under $150.

And yes, if a cop turns his gun on and zaps you, you WILL be busted before the detector can have a chance to go off. HOWEVER, most cops run around with them all the time on, or even more likely sit in a recessed location and get people when they drive by, in both situations a radar detector will save you.

I'm sticking my old Whistler in the back window...that solves the "where's the radar coming from" problem. :D


Front and rear RWRs. Some planes don't even have those. :cool: :p

Car and Driver has a big Radar detector shoot out this month. The Valentine One came in at the top of the class, by a Big Margin. After reading it's features and benefits and reading the test data I know why. It's pricey, but you get what you pay for. The escort 8500 came in second place. They said it was a good unit, but still not the same as a Valintine One.

Do what I did. Put a C-4 w/ 3:73's in and you wont be driving over 70 mph on the freeway anyways ;) . John

Stock89 is right for the most part, except for this..

If you are in decent traffic, you WILL detect a cop shooting OTHER traffic. If you are a car alone on the road, then you are taking your chances...

I cruise 60-65 on most back roads. Locals blue light me now and then just to slow down. 4 lanes I wait until a few cars pass me up. Then I fall in. I watch for troopers. See any slowing down, or in the median acting like they want to give chase. I just maintain speed. The rest usually slow down. Face it, in that case you have already been clocked. I usually actually increase speed when I get past them, or notice tail lights. Then I hunt an exit quickly just out of sight. And pull some serious G's and a few quick turns. As long as he isn't RIGHT behind you, it's not really evasion. If you ever do this, and he is able to make 2 turns and keep you in sight, PULL over. Your car just isn't quick enough. Don't get stupid and endanger folks in traffic. If it is tight, suck it up.

If you get away... Take a 5 minute break. If you have another route, take it. Don't get right back on the 4 lane right away.

And be familiar with the way they work. Setting in medians with a chase car up ahead is a good tactic too. But if you meet him head on on a 4 lane. Keep this in mind. It takes about 30 seconds for him to decelerate from speed, find a good place to turn around, accelerate back to 80. My stang can do over 90 in 13 secs from a stop so most troopers will take 15-20 seconds just to hit 80. In a perfect world he will only take 45 seconds to reach 80-100. If you can maintain just 80, he will be at the very least 30 seconds behind you, and then he has to try to gain on you. At 60 you just covered 1/2 a mile on him in 30 seconds. At 100 he will need a helicopter and two cars in the area to even stand a chance.

I haven't had a detector in about 5 years. Nor a ticket in about 8. I've left about 20-25 cars. And never broke 100 mph. And in that process may have passed only 5 or 6 cars. I just get off and take a different path. 2 lanes are tricky. But can work the same way. It really pays to know your area though in that case. Even the 4 lanes you might need a good map if you are traveling.

I noticed that no one really responded to the uhh, troopers comments.. So I thought I would. I'm not a criminal, but if you are, drive the speed limit anyway. I think it's the panic that gets you caught. And dont drink and drive.

LMAO!!
 

PatrickMx-

Decent message. Situational awareness is key. Your techniques are popular and would probably work well on a weekend when cops have better things to do than chase people, unless they think you're a drug runner or something. However, I would hasten people trying that on a boring Wensday night, when it's quiet. Cops love a challenge of a chase, and never forget- radio is faster than any car on the road... You never know how close the other patrol's are!

I've gotten pulled over dozens of times in college and got out of all of them. It all depends on how you, as the offender, behave when you get pulled over.

As my last post on this thread, I leave you with this advice when you do get pulled over:

1) Always keep you hands visible, do not fumble around in the car. Stay still, keeping hands at 10 and 2 oclock on the steering wheel, palms up, until the guy gets up to you.
2) At night, turn your interior lights on.
3) When the cop gets to the car, do not argue or say anything. Listen instead.
4) When he/she asks for your information; talk. Say-" My license is in my wallet in my back pocket- I'm going to get that for you now" and reach around and get your wallet. NO FAST MOVES.
5) Treat officer with respect- if you want to smooze, be mild and say something like- "man I'm a bonehead, I know you have better things to do...."
6) Stay calm and relaxed. Definately no arguing or crying (women).

Take care, drive safe.