Radar detectors

[MarauderMark]

Was looking around at the radar det threads and found that most praise Valintine1 and Escort. I was ready to purchase either one until i canme across this ; http://www.radar-detector-superstore.com/newrmreradew.htmland thought this is either the gods of radars or :bs:.If anyone has experience with this or other newfound products please post.

[fastblackmerc]

Anyone can say anyhting they want is an ad. Until I see some real world testing I'll stick with my Valentine 1.

[wsmylie]

Happy Sunday MarauderMark..... Have been using the Escort 8500 X50 (got it with the blue lighting) in combo with a Radio Shack hand-held CB hooked to an outside magnetic mount whip antenna for a couple years now with good results. Have put about 20,000 miles on the MM and another 25,000 plus on various rental cars using this combo driving all over the southeast & mid-west; between the "bear spotter" trucker chatter on the CB, the Escort and keeping a sharp eye out, have had no problems thus far. :)

[Joe Walsh]

Anyone can say anyhting they want is an ad. Until I see some real world testing I'll stick with my Valentine 1.

I've owned several Escorts and I've liked them but then I saw the comparison tests on the the Valentine 1 detector...

Hands down the best I've ever owned...I won't drive my Marauder without it.

[DEFYANT]

My favorite part is the 360* protection! LOL, RADAR and LASER does not work from the side, only the front and rear. That statement alone tells me the add is hinky.

RADAR frequencies are governed by the FCC, jamming them is a serious no-no. LASER is free to jam, but frankly, MOST Cops are running with RADAR since it can be used while moving or stopped.

And finally:
THERE IS NO WAY TO PROTECT AGAINST "INSTANT ON" RADAR OPERATION. Radar detectors work only if the officer leaves the unit on while cruising around, or tried to snag someone up ahead.

Back when I was on the road, I was able to use the Instant On / OFF so quick, it was like I was taking a picture. I can't tell you how many people got stopped WITH a RADAR detector, but it was alot.

Do what you want my friends, but please do not spend alot of cash.

[Blackened300a]

Back when I was on the road, I was able to use the Instant On / OFF so quick, it was like I was taking a picture.

Are you saying you are the fastest draw with a radar gun in the east? :uzi:

[KillJoy]

Happy Sunday MarauderMark..... Have been using the Escort 8500 X50 (got it with the blue lighting)

I have it in RED........very nice, and looks better (IMO) thatn the Val1.

KillJoy

[dwasson]

I have an old Valentine V1 that has been updated three times. I wouldn't use anything but an Escort or Valentine. If it saves you from one ticket even the most expensive detector has paid for itself. So, why risk going out with a cheap one?

And Charlie is right, you can't beat instant-on. The only way to operate in instant-on territory is to hide behind other traffic. If traffic is very light, and the cops are good with the radar gun, you are just trusting to luck, not technology.

[DEFYANT]

Are you saying you are the fastest draw with a radar gun in the east? :uzi:


LOL! I dont think so. My system was integrated into the car. I had forward and rear facing antennas. The display was on the dash and was controled with a wired remote on the console. I made a mount for it so it was with in easy reach of my finger tips.

Trust me, if RADAR detectors were that sucessful, police depts would not bother spending the money on RADAR systems.

[fastblackmerc]

What I really hate is the cheapo detectors that broadcast a radar signature that my V1 picks up.....

[Mike Poore]

RADAR frequencies are governed by the FCC, jamming them is a serious no-no.

Do what you want my friends, but please do not spend alot of cash.

As one of us with a Ham ticket, I concur with what Charlie is saying about jamming. Getting caught transmitting RF signal without legal authority can buy you a lot more trouble than any speeding ticket.

Now, for a mini discussion about the transmitting part. I simply do not believe that contraption is going to put up a big enough signal on any frequency, let alone several, to have any useful effect whatsoever. Spend your money on a Valentine or Escort and by keeping your eyes open and driving smart, you can beat that darned Charlie and his ilk. Besides, there's enough idiots out there running interference for you to keep the LEO's busy anyway.

When you're out there, all by yourself, with the hammer down, for your early morning test & tune, that's when 'ol Charlie's gonna get you .....unless he sees it's an MM :D

[gonzo50]

I have it in RED........very nice, and looks better (IMO) thatn the Val1.KillJoy

Same here, the red one........nothing but escort for me.:bandit:

[AzMarauder]

I've run the Escorts for about 6 years now. The only problems is they don't seem to handle the AZ heat well. Both mine now false like mad on the lazer band. On the days they feel like doing it, I can predict what engine RPM will cause them to false. Very annoying.

So when I make my next purchase, I'm leaning towards a Valentine.

[Glenn]

The best performing and economical radar detector is the Beltronics RX55. It is the RX65 without some bells and whistles, but same performance. It costs $230.

Glenn

[dwasson]

The best performing and economical radar detector is the Beltronics RX55. It is the RX65 without some bells and whistles, but same performance. It costs $230.

Glenn

Per ..... what tests?

[n-cherok]

I bought cobra from walmart that seems to work very well. 149.00 with 360, radar, k and x bands,

[Glenn]

Every radar test you can Google will mention how good the RX65/55 is. It is Escort, V1 and then RX65 on every test.

Glenn

[Joe Walsh]

Spend your money on a Valentine or Escort and by keeping your eyes open and driving smart, you can beat that darned Charlie and his ilk. Besides, there's enough idiots out there running interference for you to keep the LEO's busy anyway.

YEP!
I call them 'microwave reflecting rabbits'...There is always some dork (usually a Ricer with something to prove) who has to lead the way and I always let them run out in front of me!


When you're out there, all by yourself, with the hammer down, for your early morning test & tune, that's when 'ol Charlie's gonna get you .....unless he sees it's an MM :D

That is a ticket waiting to happen...especially on a Sunday morning.

[FordNut]

... I'll stick with my Valentine 1.

Me too :) :)

[Hotrauder]

Me 3 Dennis

[Rider90]

Me 3 Dennis
Me 4 :D http://midwestpanthers.net/hah.jpg

[Blackmobile]

I bought cobra from walmart that seems to work very well. 149.00 with 360, radar, k and x bands,

Same here, I just got a Cobra as a gift, and I say thankyou evertime it goes off.

[dwasson]

I'll stick with my Valentine 1.

With insurance rates, fines, and costs, a ticket costs too much to use a cheap radar detector. I'm happy with the Valentine 1.

[stryker]

:o Well I just got a Whistler 1670LD it has a few Ahhh 4 years with me but i'm thinking in get a new one but i'm so :confused: in which to buy due to the wide variety of brands,models and features so suggest me which one is the best to buy a few of the ones I have in sight are the Passport 8500 and the Valentine one, Others are the Beltronics,Cobra and Whistler.



:wreath: STRYKER.:wreath2:

[stryker]

:confused: what means for "Instant On" ? What it is?



:toast: STRYKER. :wreath2

[00 Aggie]

My V1 has more than paid for itself now.

[Bluerauder]

...There is always some dork (usually a Ricer with something to prove) who has to lead the way and I always let them run out in front of me!
Seems Joe and I use the same technique running the roads of Metro Baltimore-Washington and Northern Virginia. :D Seems to work rather well. There are so many dorks and idiots in this area that sometimes it is a real chore to pick the right one. :rofl:

Radar detectors are still "illegal" in Virginia so I have been considering using BDJ's tin foil in the wheels solution. ;)

[fastblackmerc]

:o Well I just got a Whistler 1670LD it has a few Ahhh 4 years with me but i'm thinking in get a new one but i'm so :confused: in which to buy due to the wide variety of brands,models and features so suggest me which one is the best to buy a few of the ones I have in sight are the Passport 8500 and the Valentine one, Others are the Beltronics,Cobra and Whistler.



:wreath: STRYKER.:wreath2:

Buy the Valentine 1 you won't be sorry......

[fastblackmerc]

:confused: what means for "Instant On" ? What it is?



:toast: STRYKER. :wreath2

Instant-on radar is just that.... it's not on all the time.... the LEO triggers it whenever it's needed. Very hard to defeat, best you can hope for is that you'll pickup the radar when the LEO targets someone else.

[fastblackmerc]

Buy the Valentine 1 you won't be sorry......




See: http://www.valentineone.com/

[MarauderTJA]

I have had nothing over the years but a Passport and the newer Passport X-50. Like anything, driving using common sense with a detector is where it is at. I also like knowing where the Police are on the roadways, not for only for avoiding a possible citation, but more importantly protecting them when at accident scenes, details or on the side of the road with any violation. As a former LEO my crusier was rear ended on an interstate when I was assisting a DMV. I was lucky and didn't get serioulsy hurt. If radar detectors slow people down around LEO's working the roadways, IMO they are worth the money. Buy a good one. Valentine or a Passport X-50.

[stryker]

:cool: Well after this limits on two V1 & Passport 8500.


:xtree: STRYKER. :xtree:

[LVMarauder]

I roll with an Passport 8500 as well and it has never let me down. Of course I dont do stupid things like speed excessively around blind hills or corners. On the straight aways it always pick up troopers miles away.

[Ed Tarras]

Question: Will heat ruin a detector if you leave it in the car durring the summer?

[dwasson]

Question: Will heat ruin a detector if you leave it in the car durring the summer?

In the south, with a black interior, it wouldn't surprise me. I've seen other electronics degrade from the heat.

[Mike Poore]

Question: Will heat ruin a detector if you leave it in the car durring the summer?

Dunno, but I can affirm what those stupid suction cups are gonna do. :mad2:

[AzMarauder]

Question: Will heat ruin a detector if you leave it in the car durring the summer?

Mine will malfunction and send error codes when it gets real hot... if I leave it the window of the closed car. Start up the car.. and error messages from the detector... so I would say YES !

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

Mine will malfunction and send error codes when it gets real hot... if I leave it the window of the closed car. Start up the car.. and error messages from the detector... so I would say YES !

Yes the heat will mess with the unit. I have the same problem when it gets warm out, it gives out a service unit message. Once the unit cools down it works fine. Not sure what the heat exactly does to it, but it will not work until it cools down. In the summer I just take it off the mount and put it in my pocket.

[Dennis Reinhart]

Was looking around at the radar det threads and found that most praise Valintine1 and Escort. I was ready to purchase either one until i canme across this ; http://www.radar-detector-superstore.com/newrmreradew.htmland thought this is either the gods of radars or :bs:.If anyone has experience with this or other newfound products please post.

I am very skeptical of the ability to Jam radar, its illegal to transmit radar, with out a FCC license, you can jam laser, so until I would see some test data I would hold off on buying one, the passport SRX in my opinion is the best remote kit sold, it has front and rear laser jammers, with a front X K KA band receiver in the front.

http://www.escortradar.com/srx.htm

[AzMarauder]

Wow... the cost of the SRX is out there...
Since my 8500s haven't held up well... I'm not sure I'd lay out that much money for something from the same manufacturer.

I leave that money expenditure to the Cannonball Rally guys.

[Joe Walsh]

Seems Joe and I use the same technique running the roads of Metro Baltimore-Washington and Northern Virginia. :D Seems to work rather well. There are so many dorks and idiots in this area that sometimes it is a real chore to pick the right one. :rofl:

Radar detectors are still "illegal" in Virginia so I have been considering using BDJ's tin foil in the wheels solution. ;)

True, but Valentine 1 detectors do not emit a 'carrier signal', so its is impossible for a VA Trooper to detect* that you are using the Valentine 1 unless it is hanging out in plain sight.

I tuck mine up tight to the upper left corner of my rear view mirror and hide the power wire along the headliner so it is very difficult to see.
I always pay close attention to WHO is beside and behind me while driving.

*YEP!...The VA Troopers use a radar detector detector that can sniff out cheaper radar detectors which leak their carrier signal out and give away their presence/use.
The cheap radar detectors also used to set off my Escort all the time.

BTW: Years ago, while driving my 85 GT around the Virginia Beltway I had an 85 Monte Carslo pull up on my bumper.
He was right on my A$$ and I was getting a little pi$$ed. He was so close that I could not see his front grille!:mad2:
(I had lots of Monte Carslos trying to run my GT back then, as they mistakenly thought that their 305 cid could actually run with a 5.0.)
I was about to downshift to 3rd and walk him when I realized that my exit was pretty close, so I just put up with the tailgater until I got off on the ramp.
He followed me off the ramp and we both pulled into a 7-11 parking lot.
When the driver got out of the Monte Carslo I almost crapped my pants...it was a Va. State Trooper!:eek:
We both went into the 7-11 and I couldn't resist asking him why he was tailgating me.

He looked at me and said: "OH! You're the guy in the Mustang...I thought for sure that you were going to run me."

I acted innocent and said: "Nope, but why are you driving a Monte Carlo?

"It's my pursuit vehicle and I get lots of guys in Mustangs to race me like that...then I write them a BIG ticket!"

I left it at that, but was thinking: "What a DICK!"

[the_pack_rat]

True, but Valentine 1 detectors do not emit a 'carrier signal', so its is impossible for a VA Trooper to detect* that you are using the Valentine 1 unless it is hanging out in plain sight.

I tuck mine up tight to the upper left corner of my rear view mirror and hide the power wire along the headliner so it is very difficult to see.
I always pay close attention to WHO is beside and behind me while driving.

*YEP!...The VA Troopers use a radar detector detector that can sniff out cheaper radar detectors which leak their carrier signal out and give away their presence/use.
The cheap radar detectors also used to set off my Escort all the time.

BTW: Years ago, while driving my 85 GT around the Virginia Beltway I had an 85 Monte Carslo pull up on my bumper.
He was right on my A$$ and I was getting a little pi$$ed. He was so close that I could not see his front grille!:mad2:
(I had lots of Monte Carslos trying to run my GT back then, as they mistakenly thought that their 305 cid could actually run with a 5.0.)
I was about to downshift to 3rd and walk him when I realized that my exit was pretty close, so I just put up with the tailgater until I got off on the ramp.
He followed me off the ramp and we both pulled into a 7-11 parking lot.
When the driver got out of the Monte Carslo I almost crapped my pants...it was a Va. State Trooper!:eek:
We both went into the 7-11 and I couldn't resist asking him why he was tailgating me.

He looked at me and said: "OH! You're the guy in the Mustang...I thought for sure that you were going to run me."

I acted innocent and said: "Nope, but why are you driving a Monte Carlo?

"It's my pursuit vehicle and I get lots of guys in Mustangs to race me like that...then I write them a BIG ticket!"

I left it at that, but was thinking: "What a DICK!"

I think that really SUCKS when they try & "bait" you.

A valve tapping - oil leaking & timing chain jumpin' 305 Chitty wouldnt have had shat on a good FoMoCo 5.0 anyway ... so fark em'.

:D

[Eric91Z]

I have only used Bel detectors in the past and have been pleased with them, but they seemed to have a life span of about 3-4 years. That being said, I will be picking up a V1 soon.

Between all the reviews I have read and all the people I know that have them, I can't imagine buying something else. It may not be the prettiest unit on the market, but it is functional and upgradeable. That goes a long way in my book.

[rookie1]

I've owned several Escorts and I've liked them but then I saw the comparison tests on the the Valentine 1 detector...

Hands down the best I've ever owned...I won't drive my Marauder without it.

DITTO DITTO DITTO

[KillJoy]

may not be the prettiest unit on the market, but it is functional and upgradeable.

:up:

I will agree on the "ugly" part.

If it did not look like it was out of an 80's Sci-Fi Movie....I probably would have bought one...

KillJoy

[SID210SA]

Well I must say that I dont think that spending a lot of money is the way to go....I got my first radar detector when I was in Highschool...it was a Whistler....I actually still have it and I am on my second Whistler..with laser dectection....I paid 75 bucks for it about 7 years ago new and still have it and it has not failed me yet...I recently got a ticket in Oct. but that was because I did not have it on...luckily I got it dismissed. The display is just now starting to go out on it so I figure it is time for a new one now....and I will keep going with the Whistler.

[dwasson]

:up:

I will agree on the "ugly" part.

If it did not look like it was out of an 80's Sci-Fi Movie....I probably would have bought one...

KillJoy

You just may be missing the point.

[sailsmen]

I have never had a problem w/ heat. We have more of a humidity problem.

I bought my first detector in 1978 in NY. Flew up w/ my dad to help him drive back his new 928.It cost $28,000.

The Whistler worked well. I then bought an Escort, the one designed by Valentine. The Escort worked well.

Then Laser came out and at the time I did not like the products that Escort was offering. I purchased a Bell which also worked well.

I now have a Escort X50 which is the best I have had so far.