I have a bunch of questions on radar detectors...I'm at ebay right now and they have reasonably priced radar detectors (35-70 dollars) what are your opinions on detectors that cheap? I'm really in the market for something like this since i can't afford any more tickets and I don't want my license pulled. Please give me any feedback on this topic on how it works, how well it works and how protected from police I will be on the road. Thanks guys!
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If the police are running laser speed sensing (many are switching to this b/c it is quick and accurate), it won't help at all. All they do is put you in the crosshairs and press a button, the gun computes the speed. Very accurate. Your best bet is to just not speed in populated areas, haha.
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
But won't this alert me if a police car with a radio or a radar gun is in the area alerting me to slow down? Is this not how it works? Its not a jammer just a detector.
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-A7X- ~Stang Syndicate Boston~*2006 Torch Red GT*10/10/07 Performance:Borla FRPP Stingers w/ True Dual Midpipes, Magnaflow High Flow Cats, JLT CAI, Bama 93 Race Tune, Ford Racing 4.10 Gears, Nitto 555 Extremes. Visual: Black AVS Tail Light Trim, Honeycomb Tail Light Vinyl, Black Racing stripes, 35% Window Tint, Trunk Blackout Panel, Billet Antenna Delete, Mirror Covers, 17" Konig "Further" Rims, Quarter Window Louvers, 20% Tinted Head Light/Turn Signal, Boss C-Stripes, CS/GT C-Scoops.
It would if the officer is running a RADAR. A radar gun uses constant radar waves from the gun constantly heading out and coming back. They are fairly accurate, but not the best. A laser gun has a sight on it. It is not constantly running. The officer looks down the sight, puts your car in the center and pulls the trigger. A radar detector will not pick up on this. Police officers are taught how to tell roughly how fast a car is going. If he sees you, he'll judge the speed, then use the laser gun to determine it for sure... then he comes after you. Radar detectors will be almost worthless after awhile. State police do not use laser as much b/c of the sheer amount of cars that are on the interstates and other roads, but sheriff, townships, and city cops may.
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
Give it a try. Cobras I hear are good units. I'm going into law enforcement and it's looking like one day, those things won't work anymore, though. The fact that it says that it detects lasers can be said as a lie.
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
All a radar dector tells you is that your getting a ticket. Really it just beeps after the cop has gunned you. Whether or not it detects lasers doesn't matter. The only real advantage a dectector gives you is that he may be running traffic up the road and you catch stray signals. I have one, it's a cheap cobra and it's does a good job sometimes. But really your best bet is to slow down in city, and if your going to speed, be SURE your not near a cop. But if you get one, get a passport. My friends have those, and they do a better job distinguishing foriegn signals from police ones.
All a radar dector tells you is that your getting a ticket. Really it just beeps after the cop has gunned you. Whether or not it detects lasers doesn't matter. The only real advantage a dectector gives you is that he may be running traffic up the road and you catch stray signals. I have one, it's a cheap cobra and it's does a good job sometimes. But really your best bet is to slow down in city, and if your going to speed, be SURE your not near a cop. But if you get one, get a passport. My friends have those, and they do a better job distinguishing foriegn signals from police ones.
Or just not speed at all and not put the lives of everyone else out on the road at risk. Basically, the technology is dead and worthless to invest in imho. Also, the fact that it does not detect lasers should concern people seeing as Radar guns are becoming a thing of the past quite quickly.
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
The Beltronics and Passport are actually the same internally. Cincinnatti Microwave was bought by Beltronics. The RX-65Pro beat out the 8500 BARELY and costs less. The Valentine 1 is the best at laser detection and even tells you the direction the laser is coming from.
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Haha, there have been plenty of times when I couldn't see the police, but they sure as heck ended up seeing me. Our sheriff cars in Indiana are tan and brown and they freaking blend into the corn fields like no other. About a year after I got my license, I vowed to never speed excessively and put other people's lives at risk.
PS: I wonder what the ranges on those detectors are, b/c laser speed guns can hit people at about 900feet accurately and probably more, but I've only seen it personally work at 900 feet. I still don't believe they detect laser.
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
Side note...Those laser detectors DO work. I'm an Avionics Countermeasure Technician in the Army (for 18 years) and have worked on laser detectors for YEARS that we put on the helicopters. I'm telling you this technology in the commerical radar/laser detectors is the same (only not as sensitive and tuned to a different wavelength).
The BelTronics (yes I'm biased as I bought this one) RX-65PRO will detect radar out to just shy of 5 MILES!!!! I've had it save me over the hills on I-70 in Kansas more than once. They have great scatter/backscatter sensitivity. At least in my area there are not many laser gun cars...too expensive for the midwest, podunk police departments.
I can hunt up the web pages of the reviews and comparisons if I get a free moment over here.
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"If you can read this...thank a teacher;
Since it's in English..thank a Soldier!"
2005 Sonic Blue V6 Mustang Premium Convertible w/parchment top, Sport Appearance Package, 18" AR Casino Chrome Rims, 255R45 Toyo Proxies ST, Black Ceramic Painted Calipers w/Decals (H/T), K&N CAI, Magnaflow Dual Exhaust...Future Mods: Eibach Pro Springs, Vortech Procharger S/C
Side note...Those laser detectors DO work. I'm an Avionics Countermeasure Technician in the Army (for 18 years) and have worked on laser detectors for YEARS that we put on the helicopters. I'm telling you this technology in the commerical radar/laser detectors is the same (only not as sensitive and tuned to a different wavelength).
The BelTronics (yes I'm biased as I bought this one) RX-65PRO will detect radar out to just shy of 5 MILES!!!! I've had it save me over the hills on I-70 in Kansas more than once. They have great scatter/backscatter sensitivity. At least in my area there are not many laser gun cars...too expensive for the midwest, podunk police departments.
I can hunt up the web pages of the reviews and comparisons if I get a free moment over here.
Heck, if they work, then give it a try. I've just never really heard of them working that well. Yeah, laser technology is only picking up in more well-financed departments. One question, though, and you may know the answer since you've worked with these things before. How do they pick up a laser signal if the laser is a one shot deal? It's not being constantly emitted like a radar gun. I guess it could pick up the officer scanning another car ahead or behind you. But, that still leaves a great chance of being hit with one before you know. I'm glad to see someone here with experience with the equipment though, I've always been curious about it and no one could answer my question.
Korey
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
The commercial detectors are not as sensitive as the military ones; they are really detecting LIDAR. The military countermeasures are detecting LASER designators of missiles and targeting equipment. They do indeed pickup reflected light (invisible to the naked eye, this is NOT your "laser-pointer red beam") from other cars being hit. However, LASER is a very, very concentrated stream of photons; and therefore can be observed from the side also. A good laser detector will be able to distinguish it's programed wavelengths (Lambda) from background "non-directed" light. I can't really discuss to many details about the military models since the ones I work on are classified.
Bottom line...other than reflected, scatter fragments, if your laser detector sees a hit you have probably just gotten a ticket.
The commercial detectors are not as sensitive as the military ones; they are really detecting LIDAR. The military countermeasures are detecting LASER designators of missiles and targeting equipment. They do indeed pickup reflected light (invisible to the naked eye, this is NOT your "laser-pointer red beam") from other cars being hit. However, LASER is a very, very concentrated stream of photons; and therefore can be observed from the side also. A good laser detector will be able to distinguish it's programed wavelengths (Lambda) from background "non-directed" light. I can't really discuss to many details about the military models since the ones I work on are classified.
Bottom line...other than reflected, scatter fragments, if your laser detector sees a hit you have probably just gotten a ticket.
I totally understand. Thanks for the info, wombat. What you were saying was close to what I was thinking, but I'd like to have someone who has had experience with lasers to share that before I make a decision. Good stuff.
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*1998 Ford Contour SVT* EH 2.5L Duratec v6
Stock as can be, just trying to reverse the damage the previous owner caused.
Can i get an opinion on radar detectors? 
The fact that it says that it detects lasers can be said as a lie.
Basically, the technology is dead and worthless to invest in imho. Also, the fact that it does not detect lasers should concern people seeing as Radar guns are becoming a thing of the past quite quickly.
