OT: Radar Dectors

[Dave B]

ok, while this isn't exactly for cycling, I am headed down to Pisgah this summer with pals for IFBRO and my fuzz buster has crapped out on me.

It has been a decade since I purchased one and know very little about them other then the Uniden one i had.

Can someone tell me what is decent now?

Maybe i the $100 to $150 range? I already have GPS so I do not need that function.

Thanks

[MattTuck]

My understanding is that speed traps use Lasers now. and they basically aim it like a gun and then pull the trigger and get an instantaneous read out of your speed.

Even if a detector is able to pick up the laser burst, they'll already have your speed before you get a chance to slow down.


Best solution is just to keep an eye out for them. or get a CB radio. :rolleyes:

[oldguy00]

Or stop speeding?? :rolleyes:

[Dave B]

Or stop speeding?? :rolleyes:


yeah, like that is going to happen.




I knew that about lasers, but if you are behind folks it still shows or detects that.

[johnnymossville]

My understanding is that speed traps use Lasers now. and they basically aim it like a gun and then pull the trigger and get an instantaneous read out of your speed.

Even if a detector is able to pick up the laser burst, they'll already have your speed before you get a chance to slow down.


Best solution is just to keep an eye out for them. or get a CB radio. :rolleyes:

Yep, get a CB. Probably the best way to stay on top of where all the Revenue Generation Stations are located.

[bking]

this i'm just about an expert on.

valentine one is what you want, though at 400 bucks it may not be what you need. on the other hand, it is in a league of it's own.
I've got a 911 turbo that i've put 90000 (yep) miles on it, road trip type miles all over this country, and it saves me every trip. One ticket and you'll then spend the extra money to get one that works.
I suggest you go to their web site and read up. For independent verification, go to some of the car forums, 6speedonline is a good one, and do a search or ask the question (asked a zillion times on these sites). I'd guess it's 7 or 8 out of 10 for V1.
You can also call Valentine and Mike, owner, inventer, will answer your questions. Once purchased, you can periodically send it back and they'll update your unit with all the latest and greastest to keep you "up to speed", so to speak.
Bruce

[johnnymossville]

this i'm just about an expert on.

valentine one is what you want, though at 400 bucks it may not be what you need. on the other hand, it is in a league of it's own.
I've got a 911 turbo that i've put 90000 (yep) miles on it, road trip type miles all over this country, and it saves me every trip. One ticket and you'll then spend the extra money to get one that works.
I suggest you go to their web site and read up. For independent verification, go to some of the car forums, 6speedonline is a good one, and do a search or ask the question (asked a zillion times on these sites). I'd guess it's 7 or 8 out of 10 for V1.
You can also call Valentine and Mike, owner, inventer, will answer your questions. Once purchased, you can periodically send it back and they'll update your unit with all the latest and greastest to keep you "up to speed", so to speak.
Bruce

Well this post settles it for me. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[bking]

My understanding is that speed traps use Lasers now. and they basically aim it like a gun and then pull the trigger and get an instantaneous read out of your speed.

Even if a detector is able to pick up the laser burst, they'll already have your speed before you get a chance to slow down.


Best solution is just to keep an eye out for them. or get a CB radio. :rolleyes:

Yeah, this is why it's best to travel with a little traffic on the road when using a detector. A good detector will pick it up well ahead as they pop cars ahead of you. I'd still say most of the hits i get are from other then "instant on" type hits. But if you're alone on the road you really have to be alert, cautious.

[Kevan]

it's a whole lot cheaper and seems to have worked perfectly for the past 20 years for me.

[sg8357]

Valentine 1, bah humbug, try an ALQ-99, takes out cellphones too.

[Dave B]

this i'm just about an expert on.

valentine one is what you want, though at 400 bucks it may not be what you need. on the other hand, it is in a league of it's own.
I've got a 911 turbo that i've put 90000 (yep) miles on it, road trip type miles all over this country, and it saves me every trip. One ticket and you'll then spend the extra money to get one that works.
I suggest you go to their web site and read up. For independent verification, go to some of the car forums, 6speedonline is a good one, and do a search or ask the question (asked a zillion times on these sites). I'd guess it's 7 or 8 out of 10 for V1.
You can also call Valentine and Mike, owner, inventer, will answer your questions. Once purchased, you can periodically send it back and they'll update your unit with all the latest and greastest to keep you "up to speed", so to speak.
Bruce

well if someone buys my campy struff then maybe i can swing this, but fo rnow, maybe a cheaper version would do nicely.

Thanks for the heads up though.

[Steve in SLO]

A second for the Valentine 1.
I have had mine for over ten tears and I can't count the number of times it has saved me. It has such a long range that sometimes it takes me minutes to pass by the officer using it. It also has a great directional feature and can show the number of threats in numerical fashion, so if there is a sequential speedtrap you know about it. Unfortunately, nothing works well against laser or instant on radar if the partolman is using it sparingly. Thankfully, few officers use instant on sparingly, and most sit by the roadside with the radar constantly on.

[Ken Robb]

well if someone buys my campy struff then maybe i can swing this, but fo rnow, maybe a cheaper version would do nicely.

Thanks for the heads up though.

well the cheapies just don't work as well so they may give you a false sense of security. As others have said lasers are becoming more common and have all but replaced radar on San Diego roads. The CHP still use radar but they don't even look at cars that aren't going 11 mph over the limit. On freeways that's usually 65-70mph so 76+mph is fast enough for me.

[DY123]

Yeah we need more people in cars speeding.....

[OtayBW]

Illegal in VA, fyi.

[benb]

I have had a Valentine 1 since 1999... they sent me a new one a few years ago through a warranty claim, and the new one is even better.

It works great but I don't bother with it much anymore.. I haven't had a ticket in 9 years and while I do drive slower I still speed a ton I'm maybe just more watchful.

But the big thing is the police have really switched heavily to laser. I do feel based on my personal experience that the Valentine 1 *can* pick up laser scatter when the police "paint" a car near you, but it doesn't really matter.

If they are using laser, they have to be able to see you to paint you.. if they can see you, you have no excuse for not seeing them. So the only way they should be able to catch you is if you're not paying enough attention. And if you're not paying that much attention.. you need to slow down.

Maybe you can consider it a good tool to "train" yourself to avoid getting in trouble?

Of course attitude is everything.. in the 9 years ticket free, I've been pulled over 7 times, all well in excess of the speed limit, all on my bright red motorcycles, and I've never received a ticket. Treating the police with respect and not getting repeatedly caught in the same area goes a LONG way!

[Nil Else]

I see time and time again doing 55 where everyone else is doing 75-80mph causes more havoc. Just to go with the flow requires going over the PSL. I bet 90%+ judges and cops, minimum, keep up with average traffic flow. I've been using Escort detector for some 30 years now. I personally take it as a bit of entertainment to monitor who's monitoring me when I can't spot them... but my eyes and alertness are simply the best detector though.

I'd suggest getting a used clean or Escort refurbished/tuned Escort 8500x50. I think these are in your price range. It's sensitive enough for K/Ka bands (ranks high up there) which is your primary concern and has laser detection as well. (the older 8500s had some serious false laser detection issue but I think they fixed it with the X50 models.) Escort/Beltronics also have other similar models in that range.

As for laser hits it's good to have laser detection capability as sometimes when the laser beam bounces off other cars and your detector will pick up the scattering beams letting you hit the brake before the cop aims at your license plate or head lights. But other than that once you are hit it's too late. Best remedy is look ahead; they need to be aiming from fairly straight in front of you (or behind... but rarely) and aim at the most reflective and flat area of your car (light reflective color and big rectangular cars = not good). You need to visually spot them ahead (look far ahead or move slightly left occasionally and peek out... however this doesn't work well when it's dark out) or see cars ahead hit brakes etc (recon) or slow down when in doubt. Of course there is option of laser jammer/shifter that jams the laser signal altogether so they can't get the speed reading but that's going much further into this cat and mouse game requiring installation and the cost etc and also illegal in some states (misdemeanor to have devices that actively defeats any law enforcement effort).

V1 is definitely rated the best for K/Ka band sensitivity ("Redline" is Escort's version to compete with V1) however for the very reason it might drive you batty... it's the choice/compromise between maximum alert against peaceful driving experience (V1 will let you know of every signal out there including all hotdog joints, strip malls and bank alarms etc etc). There are detectors out there that will filter and *learn* false signals so they stay considerably quiet. You don't want your passengers yelling out "Take that %*&# thing off for god sake!!!" Yeah your whole driving experience can get to be way too much about this detector enthusiasts thing... unless you're into that kinda thing.

[djg21]

Illegal in VA, fyi.


The only one worth the money is the Valentine One (http://www.valentine1.com/), and it costs more than $150. On the plus side, you'll never have to purchase another, because Valentine will upgrade the detector (at a cost substantially less than the cost of a new detector) whenever the technology improves. I've had mine for close to 15 years, and its been upgraded twice. It works for radar and lidar, but as other have indicated, the value with respect to lidar is limited.

[Mr. Squirrel]

use a rabbit, and watch for tail lights. rabbits are stupid...and they like my nuts.

mr. squirrel

[djg21]

nt

[palincss]

Where's the Pisgah you're going to? There's a Pisgah MD where I ride a lot, a few miles from Indian Head.

[pjm]

The only one worth the money is the Valentine One (http://www.valentine1.com/), and it costs more than $150. On the plus side, you'll never have to purchase another, because Valentine will upgrade the detector (at a cost substantially less than the cost of a new detector) whenever the technology improves. I've had mine for close to 15 years, and its been upgraded twice. It works for radar and lidar, but as other have indicated, the value with respect to lidar is limited.
The Escort 8500 X50 is an excellent detector and has actually outperformed the V1 in some tests. Its also $100 cheaper. Its more compact and not as clunky as the V1. You can program it to filter out all X-band alerts in city mode, which are the most annoying ones, and most likely false. This is what I do with mine as I don't know of any cops still using X-band radar. Escort also has a nice single suction cup windshield mount now that holds the detector rock solid and not rattling around.

I've owned a V1 and it is a nice detector, the directional arrows are a really useful feature.

Funny though, even as a radar detector user, I find that I'm usually one of the slowest ones out there. I'll be in the slow lane at 10 over the SL, and I'm usually being passed by everyone - little old ladies in their Camrys, soccer-moms with a minivan full of kids, young girls more concerned with texting than driving.....

Its the tailgaters I hate!! :crap:

[BumbleBeeDave]

. . . Maybe I'm just getting old, but I do 75 on the NYS Thruway and so does everyone else and I've never been stopped. It's plenty fast enough to get me where I'm going and no problems with cops. My police sources tell me they won't bother with you unless you're over that by a decent margin. I get more of a thrill out of handling on smaller roads anyway now rather than sheer speed.

"Grandpa" BBD

[gemship]

. . . Maybe I'm just getting old, but I do 75 on the NYS Thruway and so does everyone else and I've never been stopped. It's plenty fast enough to get me where I'm going and no problems with cops. My police sources tell me they won't bother with you unless you're over that by a decent margin. I get more of a thrill out of handling on smaller roads anyway now rather than sheer speed.

"Grandpa" BBD


yeah I was told a few times that they give chase to anything 7mph over the limit.

[Nil Else]

"· Don't speed when you are the only car on the road. If you ignore this warning it's the equivalent of plastering a "ticket me!" bumper sticker on your vehicle. Even if you're only doing five mph over the posted limit, if there's a cop using radar, he's got nothing to look at but you. Lonesome speeding is even more dangerous in small towns, where radar traps and aggressive enforcement by cops can be common. And never speed late at night. Drunk-driving patrols are heavy and cops are more inclined to pull you over for any offense in order to check you for signs of alcohol. Don't give them a reason.

· If it's OK legally, get a radar detector. Yes, they're expensive (good ones, anyhow). But a one-time hit of, say, $300 for a decent radar detector is cheaper than even a single big speeding ticket and the higher insurance costs that will come with it. Radar detectors are legal in most states and well worth the investment to avoid a speeding ticket." from "10 Ways to Avoid a Cop Giving You a Speeding Ticket": http://autos.aol.com/article/how-to-avoid-a-speeding-ticket/

An interesting stat: "Cars Most Likely to Get You a Speeding Ticket": http://autos.aol.com/gallery/vehicle-traffic-ticket/

Yeah if you are getting a radar detector get a good one coz cheap ones will just confused you with all the false alerts (some of them trigger themselve because of bad leaky antenna/shielding etc) that you won't pay attention to it after a while = useless. I'd personally stick with Valentine or Escort/Beltronics because they are on the top of this field but there are other brands such as Whistler etc that some people like that supposedly perform okay but I couldn't say. Some detector brands are down right scams and absolutely stay away (if you are tempted to buy one do google search beforehand). And also these detectors are not automatic meaning they don't interpret the signals they are detecting for you; you will need to get familiar and get to know what they are saying... a bit like getting to know all the sound your dog makes such as difference between barking and growling for no particular reason or your neighbor getting home to an actual intruder in your backyard.

[burlsube]

I have head great luck with my Escort. Sometimes they even offer refurbed models for a decent price. I'm pretty sure those Cobra detectors don't work...

[retrogrouchy]

Yeah we need more people in cars speeding.....

Our Interstate highways were designed for safe travel at 80 mph, with 1950s vehicle technology and no seat belts! Speed doesn't kill, speed differential (and/or an idiot driver that is texting, reading the newspaper, etc.) kills.
Hang up and drive, people!

[retrogrouchy]

I have had a Valentine 1 since 1999... they sent me a new one a few years ago through a warranty claim, and the new one is even better.

It works great but I don't bother with it much anymore.. I haven't had a ticket in 9 years and while I do drive slower I still speed a ton I'm maybe just more watchful.

But the big thing is the police have really switched heavily to laser. I do feel based on my personal experience that the Valentine 1 *can* pick up laser scatter when the police "paint" a car near you, but it doesn't really matter.

If they are using laser, they have to be able to see you to paint you.. if they can see you, you have no excuse for not seeing them. So the only way they should be able to catch you is if you're not paying enough attention. And if you're not paying that much attention.. you need to slow down.

Maybe you can consider it a good tool to "train" yourself to avoid getting in trouble?

Of course attitude is everything.. in the 9 years ticket free, I've been pulled over 7 times, all well in excess of the speed limit, all on my bright red motorcycles, and I've never received a ticket. Treating the police with respect and not getting repeatedly caught in the same area goes a LONG way!

Very, very well said!! :banana:

[oldfatslow]

I have the Escort 9500ix. It features a GPS which it uses to remember where radar is identified and automatically (after 3 times) blocks out false signals like automatic door openers. It also has a database of red light cameras and known speed traps and will alert you.

Mine has saved me countless times on the backroads of Texas where some jurisdictions are famous for making most of their "tax revenue.

http://www.escortradar.com/passport9500ix-details.php

I run mine in Auto no X and it only alerts to Ka (most frequent used police radar) and K (some older police radar).

As for laser detection, as some have said if I car in front of you gets hit a good detector will pick it up. Mine has done that more than a few times which allowed me to slow.

As many have pointed out, don't be the fasted car traveling down the road and in 99% of the cases you'll be fine.