What radar/laser detectors do you use?

[sa1126]

Is the valentine one still the best? I had one back in my motorcycle days but sold it off since my truck doesn't go much faster than 80 mph.

[Ranatsu]

Its not the best according to the people who test them, but no other detector on the market, gives you a count and direction of the radar signal.

I rock the V1

[sa1126]

Originally Posted by Ranatsu

Its not the best according to the people who test them, but no other detector on the market, gives you a count and direction of the radar signal.

I rock the V1

Right on. Did you get an FRS or BRZ? What part of SA are you in?

[Ranatsu]

Originally Posted by sa1126

Right on. Did you get an FRS or BRZ? What part of SA are you in?

I have the BRZ. I live on the NW side, off of Culebra and Tezel.

[TheRipler]

Originally Posted by Ranatsu

Its not the best according to the people who test them, but no other detector on the market, gives you a count and direction of the radar signal.

The Escorts will give an individual count per band if set to expert display.

[eriktherod]

I'ved used a variety of detectors over the years from the Escort 8500 X50, 9500i, 9500ix, Redline, and Valentine 1 (not in that order). As much as I liked the Escort ones, I've fallen back to my Valentine 1 because I can't be without the arrows. I also don't have to worry about a passenger (or other driver) being annoyed by its noisy nature!

Let me first start by saying that this is one area that you get what you pay for. The Radio Shack "Cobra" brands are worthless and the money you think you'd might be saving on one of them will all be lost on your first ticket (and probably insurance points). Also, please for the love of everything holy, aim your radar detectors LEVEL (not pointing at the sky). You want it parallel to the ground.

Escort, Beltronics, and Valentine are all good brands. If you must go cheap, look into the Whistler brand, they make good, affordable detectors. Stay away from "cordless" (read: battery powered) detectors as they usually 'save power' by simply going into a sleep mode every fraction of a second or so.

That being said, if you're willing to spend a little, the 8500 X50 are still great detectors. You have to remember that they are RADAR detectors, meaning that other sources of radar will set them off, like automatic doors and traffic control/analysis beacons. This is where the 9500ix shines, as it uses GPS to mark locations that it finds as "constant false alerts", and locks them out. This feature is nice because by the end of the first week, your daily commute to/from work and such will end up being silent as it learns all of the false alerts. Very popular with the females that always get annoyed by unnecessary beeps and braps! It is very nice knowing that once you get an alert in familiar areas that is is definitely a real threat and you don't become too desensitized to hitting the mute button.

The Redline series has very, very long range, even barely beating the Valentine 1, I believe. It is also "stealth" meaning that radar detector detectors (used by police) do not pick them up, similar to the older Beltronics STi Driver. If you live in VA/DC/Canada, this may be a useful bonus!

The Valentine 1 offers great range and the unique arrow locators (front/side/rear indication). Even though many settings are tweak-able, it still can be a very "noisy" detector for false alerts. It is not stealth, so keep that in mind. However, the arrows are the key feature, knowing whether your alert is coming or going can be very useful.

I'll give some basic Pro/Con analysis to each:

Escort 8500 X50 $300 (+$30 for blue LED)
Pros: Affordable, great performance for the price.
Cons: No frills, not stealth.

Escort 9500ix $500
Pros: Learns to automatically lockout false alerts via GPS. Has speedcam/trap/redlight camera database support and warning system.
Cons: No arrows, not stealth, may require yearly subscription to camera/trap database.

Escort Redline $500
Pros: Stealth, amazing range and performance.
Cons: No arrows, no learning features so it can be noisy with false alerts still.

Valentine 1 $400
Pros: Arrows, exceptional performance similar to the Redline.
Cons: Noisy with false alerts, not stealth, no learning features.

The Beltronics STi Driver is a similar design to the Redline, though a few years older, it is stealth though. All radar detectors feature a laser detector but honestly... but the time you get that alert you've already been clocked (it's a 3x3 IR beam versus a huge radar wave).

If you want serious laser protection, you have to go the jammer route.

[Jordan6908]

I use the Escort Redline and it works well.....

[was385]

Run the Beltronics V940. It's great for most bands, but like any detector without shifters, if you get hit by laser, SOL.

[mikochu]

I used to run a Escort 8500 x50, but I stopped running a radar detector all together.

[KI_ZN6]

I have V1 in one car and Escort 8500 Passport X50 in my other car. Both are very good laser detectors and have saved me tickets many times.

I would say the V1 is better since it has arrows to show whether it is coming from the front or back, whereas the Escort you still get notified but you kind of have to guess a little.

Escort has better value and V1 has all the bells and whistles. =)

[civicdrivr]

V1 here.

[Symbiont]

Escort 9500ix. My girlfriend is easily annoyed by all the false alarms.

[ayau]

i have the v1.

here's a video to show you where i routed the wire.

Brz radar detector install - YouTube

[markmatley]

Laser star seems to pass most laser guns. But at a price of $600USD or more...yikes.

A friend of mine (engineer) thinks we can make this with some less pricey components. I might start a thread if this project takes off.

[Bonburner]

I'm debating which detector to get, hopefully one of the smaller ones .. but we'll see.
Willing to read suggestions of course.

[sa1126]

What do yall mean by stealth mode? Are they illegal in some states?

[eriktherod]

Originally Posted by sa1126

What do yall mean by stealth mode? Are they illegal in some states?

Yes, in Virginia and DC they are illegal. Also in Canada.

Some cops will run a radar detector detector which picks up the signal "leaked" by the non-stealth detectors. Once they locate that you have one, they will pull you over/etc.

Now, if they pull you over for something else and notice it, they can also take it/destroy it/fine you, so be stealthy on your installation if you choose to do it. I've heard of people putting them under those visor CD holder things or even under a baseball cap with the display visible out the back.

It's really annoying as I used to drive to Martinsville in VA for the race. It's just barely in VA but yeah, every time I got close to the border of VA I'd take down my V1. Makes me wish I kept the Redline at times!

[mpicher]

Escort 9500ix here.

Love that it has GPS in it so I can map out everything I want to ignore. Maine has radar guns on the back of all of the 45 MPH warning signes on the Interstate so they can monitor traffic flow. I've got them all mapped out with my 9500.

You can also download updates for stop light cameras, etc. The new functionality with an internet connected phone is pretty cool too so you can get updates from other users.

Well worth the $$$.

[eriktherod]

I believe I-40 has it a bunch as well. I remember going down to the Raleigh/Chapel Hill area and getting bursts of that. It's very annoying in the V1, was a dream to have them ignored in the 9500ix.

Ah yes, I have yet to try that Escort Live deal!

[civicdrivr]

Originally Posted by eriktherod

Now, if they pull you over for something else and notice it, they can also take it/destroy it/fine you, so be stealthy on your installation if you choose to do it. I've heard of people putting them under those visor CD holder things or even under a baseball cap with the display visible out the back.

In VA, they can't destroy it, and they can only take it as evidence. If, after the court date, you do not claim the detector within 3 months, only then will they destroy it.

[eriktherod]

Good to know. I've heard some horror stories of cops asking people to put it under their rear tire and drive over it.

[michaelahess]

Most (if not all) detectors don't have the range of a radar gun from what I've heard so basically they are only good for very hilly terrain and when in town going around a lot of corners, they catch reflections to give you a heads up.

I used to use them, never got any real benefit from them, but then again I never go more than 5-10mph over the limit out of town, and always within 5 in town. Unless it's going with the speed of traffic in a bigger city. In which case it's a moot point anywhere.

They are an unneeded cost that just pisses off the cops if they do pull you over and see it, legal or otherwise.