Radar Detectors

[randomquickness]

would anyone say one is better for city driving and one is better for highway? the majority of my driving is highway so would I really get a lot of false alarms running around texas highways?

[C_Topher]

^^^ That is the truth, atr_hugo. ***Think of the RD as a tool to detect the police targeting someone ELSE.*** If you are the only one on the road and they tag you with IO (instant-on), you are toast. Laser detection takes this concept to an extreme.

My take on reasonable RD use:

1. Empty road, no traffic: I assume the LEO will be using IO on me; 5-10 over posted speed limits. Might as well turn radar detector off. RD is only useful if lazy LEO is using CO (constant-on).

2. Traffic spaced 1/2-1 mile apart: may increase pace when there is a "rabbit" (another vehicle) < 1 mile ahead to wake up any hidden LEOs within the RD range. Slow back down when there is no one ahead.

3. Traffic regularly spaced 1/2 mile or less: may pick up pace a bit more and be able to maintain with fewer slowdowns. Still high alertness, low threshold to slow down. Here still might wait for a "rabbit" to follow, as the LEOs will be looking to pick someone out of the crowd with IO. Let someone else uncover the IO!

4. Traffic with 1/4 mile density but safe driving condition (weather, surface, other driver behavior): may pick it up even further, still high alertness, low threshold to slow down. Again might wait for a "rabbit" to follow.


Your eyes are you best radar detector - focus well down the road, watch traffic patterns ahead (clustered slowdown), brake lights ahead, watch mirrors for marked or unmarked car approaching quickly from behind, look for unmarked car at speed limit in right lane (waiting for you to blow past).

You really have to know what car models are being used locally by your LEOs. These days it may be anything American made - coupe or sedan, FWD or RWD. Look for unmarked police car as plain colored, window tint, maybe a few small antennas (or not), maybe you can see emergency lights in the rear window or front grille. Look for plain wheels, blackwall tires that are slightly wider and have a more more square profile. Rear of car will be very plain, no dealer sticker or license plate bezel, no goofy bumper stickers or dents. One driver, no passengers. Learn to distinguish Ford Crown Vic (LEO) from Merc Grand Marquis (grandpa)!

If/when you do get pulled over, you should try to put the officer at ease and portray yourself as low risk as a source physical harm to the officer. Take down and turn off RD before he is behind you. Pull off safely from road, stay in your car, remain seatbelted (no extra ticket), lower window completely, turn engine off (not going to run off), turn on interior lights if nighttime, keep hands empty and visible (on steering wheel is perfect), speak calmly and explain yourself, if you have to reach into pocket or glove box tell officer before doing so.

Your first priority should be safety on the road. Speeding in poor driving conditions (rain/fog/snow), active construction zones, heavy traffic, or weaving among lanes and driving recklessly is poor form and is strictly amateur behavior.

Cheers and drive safely.

[atr_hugo]

C_Topher - nice write-up, a must-read, good advice

Had a chance a couple of years ago to drive one of these at the Chrsler Proving Grounds - FUN!

[vivid]

the popo can be tricky... I am also installing a Blinder M20 to try and help with lazer guns

[M3_Dust]

Originally Posted by jonack

Are they worth it????

If so, which one do you recommend? Cost? Where do I get it?

Originally Posted by Tuned1

Yes and Valentine1.

[romka7]

I have both and now gave the 9500i to my fiance. The V1 I like better due to arrows and sensitivity. I did not care for GPS on 9500i except when you are going under 15mph it shuts off x and k bands so it does not go off i shopping areas. There are ways you an make V1 quieter. Turn off X band, and make the K automute until 4 or 6 bars that cut down false alarms by 75%. On the freeway turn it into All Bogey mode and be ready for anything. You just can't beat the arrows!

[cracka]

V1 for the arrows and the upgrade program. Mine's about 10 years old, and I can upgrade it to the latest version for less than $200 if I decide it's worth the latest features. Once you've had the arrows, they're a must.

[romka7]

Here is my V1 install, works pretty well :smile:

[vivid]

Romka7 could you post some pics from a bit further back, so we can see the whole windscreen? Looks like a nice install.

[romka7]

Sure.. I ordered the mount from

http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/350Z/valentinemount.htm

The have mounts for Escort and V1, this one is a MINI mount. It fits but the mirror was not very adjustable, so i had to grind it down to make it thinner.

Here are some pics.

[zimm]

Valentine 1 rocks. I've had mine for 2 years. Saves me from lots of tickets. Virginia state police use Ka band, and I get over a mile of warning most times.

I do get tons of false K band in shopping centers though- not the detectors fault, new stores (like Home Depot) use K band door openers.

Where are you guys hard wiring the power cords to? I haven't looked for a switched 12 volt wire to tap yet.

[romka7]

Originally Posted by zimm

Valentine 1 rocks. I've had mine for 2 years. Saves me from lots of tickets. Virginia state police use Ka band, and I get over a mile of warning most times.

I do get tons of false K band in shopping centers though- not the detectors fault, new stores (like Home Depot) use K band door openers.

Where are you guys hard wiring the power cords to? I haven't looked for a switched 12 volt wire to tap yet.

Have tried messing with K band settings?

http://valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

I made mine much quieter

[a2b]

Thanks for the info. Great thread. I was almost ready to get the V1 so reading this thread changed my mind.

I am sure the arrows are a great feature but not more than being able to block false alarms IMHO.

I used to turn my RD off beacause of all the false alarms so if they are both equally sensitive the 9500i would be the better choice for me.

[deamon32]

Yea they are. Saved me countless tickets on the Freeway.

I have a Escort Passport 8500 and it works very well against radar. If your getting tagged by laser, your probably going to get a ticket, unless you get a laser shifter, which I have never used.

I kind of wish I had gottent the Valentine 1 for the directional arrows, the V1 and 8500 probably have very similar performance specs, but being able to know where the signal is comming from is big.

Although I have been driving with my 8500 for 3-4 years now, and I pretty much know where a cop is going to be even without the directional arrows on the 8500.

[deamon32]

Originally Posted by a2b

I am sure the arrows are a great feature but not more than being able to block false alarms IMHO.

I had no idea about this. I guess I am sticking with my 8500, no X or K band. I may get a false alarm once every week or two, at the most. :thumbup:

[djmBMW]

Any one come up with the location of switched fuse in box behind glove compartment?

[Dezmo]

I feel naked driving without a Valentine.

I take it when I travel and put it in the rental car.

I dont even understand how you would use a detector without the arrows.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Dezmo

I dont even understand how you would use a detector without the arrows.

I don't understand what everone finds so neccesary about the arrows. If you're getting a stron RADAR hit, it doesn't matter which direction it's coming from, you need to get down to the speed limit. If you're moving away from the source the signal will fall off, and if you're moving toward it the signal will get strong.

Personally if I'm getting any kind of hit at all I'm on the alert and slowing down. If the hit gets stronger I'm on the brakes. You don't really need Arrows for that.

(And I owned a V1 for several years)

[740i325e135i]

Originally Posted by macbmw

Any one come up with the location of switched fuse in box behind glove compartment?

Have you check the WDS v.12 yet?

[Sherifftruman]

Wow, I checked pricing and Escort really likes to screw you over for remote display. The V1 remote display is $40 and to get a remote display for the 9500, you have to buy the custom install kit for $1500. Yikes!

I am sure you get a much better install with a complete custom kit, but holy crap!

[C_Topher]

Originally Posted by Sherifftruman

Escort really likes to screw you over for remote display. The V1 remote display is $40 and to get a remote display for the 9500, you have to buy the custom install kit for $1500.

Sherifftruman, I believe you are misunderstanding the difference between the Escort 9500i and the 9500ci: they are 2 totally different radar detectors. Escort deserves some of the blame here as the names are confusingly similar)

The 9500i is a windshield mounted RD (like the Valentine1) for which you can buy this Escort hardwired remote display for $30, which you can install anywhere in your car. It is analogous to the V1 remote display for $40 that you mentioned.

The Escort 9500ci is a permanently installed (nothing on your windshield) remote radar detector, GPS, photo radar database, and laser shifter with radar antennae and laser shifters mounted front and rear around the license plates. It was just released by Escort last week. Yes, "Yikes" to $1500 (plus installation). It is pretty much the only completely integrated defense system available, though independent comparison testing between the ZR4 laser heads and other laser jammers in not yet available. First review here, though this guy also sells them, so....beware of bias.

Phiberglass, how does a dB translate into real driving experiences? Is the difference between 118 and 122 dB meaningful on the highway? Was that on a flat highway in the desert with line-of-sight between the guns and detectors, or around a curve and over a hill with an officer hiding behind a tree in Ohio? My point here is that if the top three RDs all warn you well in advance, 100 feet of earlier warning (from an Escort or Valentine product, depending on testing circumstances) really doesn't make a difference to me. I don't want to know if there is a cop 5 miles ahead because I am going to slow down unnecessarily early.

Check out Guys of Lidar for some more testing. Interesting to note is the variability within individual V1s and also STi Driver models tested.

Yes, the V1 is a fantastic detector, but so are the Escort 9500i and Beltronics STi Driver, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. I don't think anyone can say that any one of them is the overall BEST radar detector available, because they each have their weaknesses as well. The V1 may be best for a person who does mostly high-speed highway driving, the 9500i for a person who does highway and urban driving, and the STi Driver for a person in Virginia, Canada and the DC. All have superior sensitivity. I really wish we could combine the best features of all three.

It seems like people defend their radar detector with nearly religious fanaticism, without considering that their radar detector may not be the best choice for someone else. The 135i is the best car ever! Well, not if you have to haul plywood. Thankfully I don't have to haul plywood.


(Whistler/Cobra/RMR are strictly for amateurs)

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Sherifftruman

Wow, I checked pricing and Escort really likes to screw you over for remote display. The V1 remote display is $40 and to get a remote display for the 9500, you have to buy the custom install kit for $1500. Yikes!

I am sure you get a much better install with a complete custom kit, but holy crap!

It's mentioned above, but you are looking at two totally different products. The $1500 9500ci isn't a remote display, it's an integrated, permenantly installed detector and LASER shifter. It has an array of sensors that get mounted on the car, and has access to a database containing tens of thousands of GPS locations for speed traps and redlight cameras. It's the current "state of the art" in protection, but it's not cheap.

The regular remote display for the 9500 is only about $30 as mentioned above.