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Radar Detectors

8K views 90 replies 37 participants last post by  billccm 
#1 ·
I am gonna get a ticket.... i can't seem to let off the pedal when driving the GT around town. Any radar recommendations?
 
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#2 ·
Be warned there's a bunch of Radar Detector 'experts' that will chime in and tell you no one uses radar and all detectors that cost less than $500 don't work at all but in my case I live in D/FW and have been using a $120 Cobra to great effect for 3 years now. It picks up laser as well and either the cops that lasered me were looking for bigger fish to fry or the detector gave me just enough time to slow down. Same with radar, it's saved my but plenty of times. I haven't had a speeding ticket since I bought it and I speed pretty much every day, all the time.

IMO I think some of these guys that insist on expensive detectors like the V1 and escort are much like Apple iphone/ipad fans, they spent a lot of money and feel the need to justify it's superiority to everyone.
 
#30 ·
IMO I think some of these guys that insist on expensive detectors like the V1 and escort are much like Apple iphone/ipad fans, they spent a lot of money and feel the need to justify it's superiority to everyone.
Cobra detectors cant hold a candle to the more 'high performance' expensive detectors in situations that make or break RDs.

I guarantee your cobra detector can not even detect most instant on radar (when used properly), it certainly has a very hard time beyond LOS.

Some friends and I started testing detectors and jammers a year or so ago as a hobby.

I own both a Stalker Ka 34.7 radar gun and a Pro Laser II laser gun.

Ive also owned and tested everything from RMR, Whistler, & cobra detectors all the way up to Escort, Bel, & V1's top of the line detectors.

After a lot of real world testing/scenarios using my own personal radar & laser equipment IMO the V1 is still the best all around detector out.

Like I said I bet I could blast you with Ka instant on (when used properly) and that cobra of yours would be dead silent; most escort 8500 X50s cant even pick it up more then half the time.

A Valentine 1 and a LI jammer is IMO the best setup you can currently buy.

Any top of the line Escort/Bel or V1 product will significantly outperform any 100$ radar detectors.

This is my opinion from being on both the consumer and police end of speed measurement/detection equipment.
 
#3 ·
I have a Escort Solo 2 in my DD and a Bel something in my wife's SUV. Both very good performers. For the Mustang, I splurged on a Valentine one and it is worth every penny! Not only is it a lot more sensitive, it telles you the DIRECTION and the NUMBER of threats around you. So while the cheaper RDs will beep randomly leaving you looking around, the V1 will remove all the guesswork. Absolutely recommend it!
P.S. You are correct that the Mustang is a popular target for the po po as it is unlikely they are being driven at the limit:gringreen
 
#4 ·
i have used solely Escort products over the years and have had much success with them. i'm currently using a Escort Passport 9500ix in my Mazda and when i get my Mustang, will use the same RD. it is a bit on the pricey side but what it does is worth the price IMO. between the GPS capabilities and sensitivity of picking up radar from far out, i'm quite content with the product. it has saved me quite a few times over the years where i know i would have gotten pulled if not for the RD.

some people swear by Valentine V1 RD but IMO it is outdated and not as user-friendly as Escort products. i have not used it in my own car but have had experience with it in other cars as a passenger. one thing i can say is stay away from Cobra! absolute trash.

something to also consider is laser countermeasures (jammers). more and more LEOs are going with laser over radar and the RDs, while having laser detecting capabilities, really don't do anything to help you in the case of getting tagged by laser. in that case, you have to get jammers such as Laser Interceptors or the Escort Laser Shifters. there is loads of info out there, just need to know where to look. check out radardetector.net, excellent resource to use.

btw, go Wolfpack! NCSU class of '06 ;)
 
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#8 ·
one thing i can say is stay away from Cobra! absolute trash.
Hilarious.
I guess I'm the exception to the rule since I've had great luck with mine and it still picks up cops far away enough that I can react to them. I don't really need a detector to tell me where the radar is coming from, I just use common sense and my eyes. Mine works great and has for years, even after being left in the Texas summer sun on more than one occaision.

Take it from a guy that commutes 80+ miles a day from Dallas to Ft. Worth and is constantly 10-20 over the limit, Spend a bunch if you like but you can still get a great detector for around $100.
 
#5 ·
I have an escort solo as well (the wireless one) and it works really well for radar but its never once detected laser like it claims to. Cost me $350. Great for night use since they don't laser at night but I still scan like crazy in the day time since I never pick up laser lol
 
#6 ·
I got a Valentine 1 a month ago and it has already saved me.

I debated between the 9500ix and the V1 after research and pricing I went with the V1 and glad I did.
 
#7 ·
#9 ·
I am gonna get a ticket.... i can't seem to let off the pedal when driving the GT around town. Any radar recommendations?
I can only speak from my own experience, I've been using a Valentine 1 since 1998 & it's taken care of me. I have had it up graded since 1998 to stay current & it's my constant companion no matter what car I'm driving.
 
#11 ·
^This is true. I've read the same information. Still went with one. I only use it when I'm going on road trips, never in my car when I'm just around town.
 
#13 ·
radar only works when the officer has his on scanning.. he can always visually tell that your speeding and then your screwed.. now that that is said, i have the 9500ix and its awesome as hell. im selling it to a friend cuz he needs one badly.. and im thinkin about the redline. or a 9500i but i just looked at the website and the 9500i isnt there any more :(
 
#14 ·
I also went with the V1 and love it so far. Here's a RD forum where you can learn a lot about most brands - Radar Detector Jammer Forum.

As previously mentioned, a lot of the purists and high end guys don't think highly of Cobra, but its better than nothing and definitely is a lot cheaper than the high end ones. Just be aware that none of the RD's will help you stop laser, they'll just alert you if you get tagged. It's technically possible to get alerted if the car in front of you is tagged, but face it...you drive a mustang...the LEO is going to be going after you first. You can get laser jammers that will shield you (for a while) from the laser so you can reduce speed before they can get a good reading (and you would know to do so by your RD going off).

It's totally worthwhile to get one, even if its a low end model like a cobra. I'll second that there's at least one person on this forum who will say that radar isn't in use anymore anywhere in the country and its a flat out lie.

Hope this helps!
 
#16 ·
I plan on getting this one with a buddy's BB discount: PASSPORT Qi45 - Escort Inc.

Supposedly better than the K40...???

Current;y am running the Beltronics RX65 (same as the Escort 8500 X50) and it does a great job. Got it off a guy on craigslist used for 70 bucks.
 
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#19 ·
...and people from Lubbock on their way to Ruidoso apparently. ;) (Keep it up so maybe they'll stop coming to vacation there!)

I love that stretch of 380 from Roswell to Ruidoso Downs. I've done some pretty epic canyon runs through there ever since they've widened it and it's not such a death-trap.
 
#21 ·
I have the GPS equipped Escort and it is a sweet unit.
I run at max sensitivity with the auto-learn feature on. No false alarms! The database including all the fixed position photocams and redlight cams is great also. Finally, the gps accurate speed is handy with the rather hard to read speedo in the stang.
 
#22 ·
I have the escort redline in my 2012 GT and this is by far the best one I have owned so far. I couldnt believe how well this radar detector works its just awesome. My brother saw how great it was and he went out and bought himself one for his S2000. It maybe on the expensive side, I paid $450 but I think its a great add on for anyones car. :bigthumbsup
 
#23 ·
I've had radar detectors for over 30 years, and finally got a Valentine 1. Yep, it's the best.
 
#24 ·
I think with detectors, you get what you pay for. Escort is very good but I think the Valentine V1 is the best. I love mine. The directional indicator is supreme. Do some checking as to what the local fuzz is using though. If they have the LIDAR, your probably toast.

LIDAR speed gun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Remote mounting is a good idea too for anti-theft and for stealth but it is more $$. Also when Johnny does stop you and sees the rig on your dash, there will be no mercy.

Oh remember, it's just a tool and you will need to learn your patterns and indicators to know when something is out of the ordinary.

Drive safe.
 
#25 ·
I have a passport qi45 and it's been very good. installation is very easy and quick. my one complaint-it's quiet, as in the alerts are barely audible above engine noise, make sure its small display is within eyesight.

Also, pick your spots carefully. coming up to hills and going around corners can catch up to you (i know in the worst possible way). try and save the speed for when you can see a good ways down the road. It's been said already, not all cops have their radars on all the time, your best defense is still your eyes and your brain!
 
#26 ·
I have had a Valentine for about 7 years on my previous car and would not have anything else.
Now I want to move it to my Mustang and hard wire it, but can't find a powered wire nearby. On my previous car I used a wire going to the glove compartment, but Mustang do not have ights in there. I can reach the wire going to the cigarret lighter near the top and center of the dash, but I would need to take pieces out to get there-as far as I can tell. Any help locating a nearby powered wire? Thanks!
Enrique
 
#29 ·
Escort offers updates to firmware as well as database updates for the GPS enabled devices (9500ix for example) to update locations of red-light cameras, etc.
 
#28 ·
I have a Valentine One and love it. I make a run from Minneapolis to Chicago and back several times a year and have not had a ticket yet. It is THE sole reason. Some things to remember with a radar detector-

-In every review, despite what was stated above, the numbers don't lie. To a degree, the cost of the detector does correlate to the sensitivity and accuracy. Not to say a Cobra won't save your bacon in a head-on, always-on radar trap, but it's when things get dicey, the cop gets sneaky, and the terrain gets varied that the higher dollar detectors come into play

-The directional indicators on the V1 are excellent. Knowing that the Ka band is being detected off to the side can tell you several things 1)if you're on a freeway and the detection starts at the front but moves quickly to the side and stays there, it's generally either a speed trap on a side road or the officer left his gun on while doing dashing into Dunkin' Donuts 2)on a county road or suburban setting, seeing the direction off to the side means he's either at the next intersection or hiding just up the road where you might be turning (DON"T GOOSE IT AROUND THE CORNER)

-A radar detector gives you an advantage, but it doesn't even the playing field by any means. I always tell my friends that without a radar detector, you stand a 50% chance of getting caught, provided you are already driving smart (as in not speeding over blind crests, not driving for prolonged periods in the left lane with no one in front of you, etc). With the radar detector, it raises your success rate to 80%, provided you've taken the time to learn the radar detector, observe it's reaction to it's surroundings, and most importantly how it reacts to a radar or laser gun in different scenarios. But there's still that 20% where it's an instant-on situation, or a laser where your detector didn't pick up the 'scatter' on a car ahead of you.

What I'm getting at is that law enforcement officers who like to jaw and brag that a radar detector won't help are 1) a liar, or 2) dishonest about what they may or may not have actually detected. A detector user who thinks he can mount an $80 detector in his windshield and drive around hitting the limiter in 5th gear the first time out is also an idiot and will lose this 'game' every time.

But with a little time, patience, and caution, a good radar detector makes the playing field a lot more level.
:bigthumbsup
 
#32 ·
What I'm getting at is that law enforcement officers who like to jaw and brag that a radar detector won't help are 1) a liar, or 2) dishonest about what they may or may not have actually detected.
:bigthumbsup
:heha::heha::heha::heha:

Ya, I'm lying when I say I pull people over all the time with expensive detectors.

1-For you to call me a liar or dishonest officer really tells me a lot about you. For one, you don't know me so don't make crap up.

2-I'm not a lazy officer and I'm not going to leave my radar on so you can pick me up 2 miles down the road. I'm also not going to use my radar when there is a lot of traffic; I pick and choose when I want to check speed on vehicles. So lets say there is a group of about 3-4 cars coming at me. I can visially see which car is going faster. I click my on button and have you locked and verified at the same time your detector is going off. It literally takes a half second to tag you and lock you in on the counter display. Can you slow down to under the speed limit in under a second?
Another funny thing is that I can see the detector in the window and when I walk up to the car, it's gone. I love asking them what did they do to the radar detector in the window? They usually say they tore it down or it's in the back seat.

3-The only time a detector will help is if the officer has it on and is checking areas with large amounts of traffic. Your detector will then pick up the scatter. There is also a chance the detector will pick up the radar signature if the officer was checking an individual vehicle down the road.

Detectors are a great tool, just don't get totally confident in them protecting you...
 
#41 ·
To simply put it, if you want the best, you will have to pay for the best.

Escort 9500ix paired with Laser Interceptor Laser Jammers.

Make sure Laser Jammers are legal in your state, as they are illegal in like 8 or so if I remember correctly.
 
#43 ·
I did a ton of research and I don't drive very far but 2-3 times a week the cops are on this little bypass road I use that is 35mph dual lane. Its actually hard to go that slow but I found the best budget detector is the Bell 955, the others listed are better but this will do the job. It has saved me 2-3 times already. I also have an old 936 Bell (use this in the truck) that still works but I am not sure it gets all the bands now.

For a budget go with the Bell 955:winks
 
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