Radar Detectors - need advice
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From: IA
You gotta use the logic modes. I drive in a city of about 500k, and I've gone days without a single false.
And vice versa, but I'll take stick with the arrows.
Huh? Mike Valentine was by far the first guy that seemed to understand that software updates were an essential part of owning a detector. I understand that Escort offers them now, but there seems to be no mention of them on its web site.
And arrows are no substitute for GPS aware Radar units, such as the Passport
Mike Valentine needs to stop peddling old 80"s tech, and spend some $$$ on R&D to catch up with Passport and the 21st C
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From: Philadelphia, PA
Gotta agree with this, I've found the same. However, if you are set on getting one, vist: www.radartest.com for unbiased reviews.
The V1 is good, but Bell supposedly has a new one that's even better.
The V1 is good, but Bell supposedly has a new one that's even better.
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090
Here's the problem. Even if you're driving in the flow of traffic and not doing anything that would provoke a ticket, if the detector goes off you are going to react and touch the brakes. That used to drive me nuts. I knew that I was not doing anything outside of what others were doing, but instinct and reflexes made me hit the brakes and slow down further.
Now that's all well and good when you don't have that many police around, but in this area it generates paranoia and makes life hell because the police are everywhere. It literally made me miserable to be driving this great car and be so paranoid of getting a ticket, so I simply stopped using it and went back to my usual method of avoiding tickets and relying upon being aware of my surroundings. I still don't get tickets, but I'm a lot happier as a driver.
The experience made me believe that unless you're a chronic and compulsive speeder, then a radar detector is a waste of money and will make you miserable. If you're measured and careful in how you put your foot down, then a radar detector is an expensive toy that you do not need.
Nordschleife Master
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From: Philadelphia, PA
There is no protection from laser. You have a hit on laser and it's nothing more than notification that you just got a ticket, but they haven't put it in your hand yet.
Last edited by Wellardmac; Jun 7, 2008 at 02:49 PM. Reason: corrected typos
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It warns me way ahead of this bend in my area that cops are working the area every 0-dark-30 in the morning when I go to work with their stray signal / before they could lock me on in a straight shot comfirmed , you're the only in road read-out. I see than as a fair protection for me in not getting a ticket.
This is before I get to the bend. Well enough time for me slow down. I call that protection. Even in long stretches of road. V1 gives me subtle warning beeps way before the patrol car's radar get a positive lock on on me.
Last edited by Carrera Mike; Jun 7, 2008 at 01:28 PM.
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From: Philadelphia, PA
Huh???
It warns me way ahead of this bend in my area that cops are working the area every 0-dark-30 in the morning when I go to work before they could loack me on with their stray signal. I see than as a fair protection for me in not getting a ticket.
This is before I get to the bend. Well enough time for me slow down. I call that protection. Even in long stretches of road. V1 gives me subtle warning beeps way before the patrol car's radar get a positive lock on on me.
It warns me way ahead of this bend in my area that cops are working the area every 0-dark-30 in the morning when I go to work before they could loack me on with their stray signal. I see than as a fair protection for me in not getting a ticket.
This is before I get to the bend. Well enough time for me slow down. I call that protection. Even in long stretches of road. V1 gives me subtle warning beeps way before the patrol car's radar get a positive lock on on me.
Laser does scatter, but not to the extent and distances that radar does because it is more focused and precise, therefore in many cases the first knowledge you will get of laser is when they hit you with it.
Last edited by Wellardmac; Jun 7, 2008 at 02:49 PM. Reason: corrected typo
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Wellard, I think you misread my post. I was refering to laser protection, not radar. Like I said, for Radar detection,warning, I still consider Valentine One as my number one choice.
For Laser protection/shifting, this is the one I see that has the latest technology put into it
http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm
For Laser protection/shifting, this is the one I see that has the latest technology put into it
http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm
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From: Philadelphia, PA
Well, I think you misread my post. I was refering to laser protection, not radar. Like I said, for Radar detection,warning, I still consider Valentine One as my number one choice.
For Laser protection/shifter, this is the one I see that has the latest technology put in to it
http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm
For Laser protection/shifter, this is the one I see that has the latest technology put in to it
http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm
My Bel RX65 did warn for laser pretty well, but I remember one particular drive through CT where it was going off every 5 minutes because they were running speed traps all down I-84
Last edited by Wellardmac; Jun 7, 2008 at 02:50 PM.
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Nordschleife Master
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Philadelphia, PA
here's a review on Laser detectors performance - note the relatively short distances compared with what you would expect for radar detection.
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...adar-detector/
... yes, in those tests the V1 came out best for laser.
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...adar-detector/
... yes, in those tests the V1 came out best for laser.
Last edited by Wellardmac; Jun 7, 2008 at 01:49 PM.
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From: Another Ex pat Brit in SoCal
You gotta use the logic modes. I drive in a city of about 500k, and I've gone days without a single false.
And vice versa, but I'll take stick with the arrows.
Huh? Mike Valentine was by far the first guy that seemed to understand that software updates were an essential part of owning a detector. I understand that Escort offers them now, but there seems to be no mention of them on its web site.
And vice versa, but I'll take stick with the arrows.
Huh? Mike Valentine was by far the first guy that seemed to understand that software updates were an essential part of owning a detector. I understand that Escort offers them now, but there seems to be no mention of them on its web site.
Any sort of manual intervention means that you're:
a) Going to forget to do it one day and miss that early alert you needed
b) Just compensating for the lack of intelligence in the unit by effectively switching detection down/off to avoid the constant false alerts.
The arrows were a great gimmick back in the day - but they are long past their sell by date.
As for software updates on the V1 - if Mike can squeeze a GPS update into the V1 via software, with real time velocity detection, GPS speed trap location tracking, etc etc - then maybe I'll be impressed.
I'm not holding my breath obviously....
Nordschleife Master
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From: Philadelphia, PA
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From: Another Ex pat Brit in SoCal
No, I read you correctly. Laser is tough (although not impossible) to get advance warning, radar is easy.
My Bel RX65 did warn for Radar pretty well, but I remember one particular drive through CT where it was going off every 5 minutes because they were running speed traps all down I-84
My Bel RX65 did warn for Radar pretty well, but I remember one particular drive through CT where it was going off every 5 minutes because they were running speed traps all down I-84
First ocassion, they hit me 'early' as I was accelerating out of a slow speed zone heading N out of Vegas - my Passport alerted me, I backed off the throttle and happily passed them by within the speed limit.
Second time - they either hit me at long range (outside of opperational range) or I got scatter off the car in front - either way, I was going slow enough when they hit me again to avoid the ticket.
Even without arrows - who'd have thought!
Latest case was heading along surface streets towards the I5 - early AM - round the corner at the top of the hill, nice empty road, about to cross from legal at 40 mph to considerably more than that - and BLEEP!
Cruise down the hill within the limit, and waved at the CHiPs dude under the tree on his motorcycle.
He gave me a hard stare - guess he was pissed he didn't get a black 911 as an early 'kill' that morning
So - because LASER still relies on the operator - and LEO thinks he can hit you early and often and still bag a kill - a decent LASER detector is a good investment - coupled with some good reaction times and decent brakes.
Nordschleife Master
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From: Philadelphia, PA
You got lucky, because laser is an immediate and accurate hit - you're talking about a pin-point dot on the car - if their aim is good and they hit your car, then they've got you.
If he hit you and got your speed, then he must have made the decision not to pull you over.
If he hit you and got your speed, then he must have made the decision not to pull you over.
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From: Stillwater, MN
Lots of logical discussions here . . . There is also a certain "fun factor" with a RD. If locals are using constant on Ka, you can pick the traps up a mile or two in advance. I have both Escort and V1, and have to admit it feels pretty odd not to have the arrows when I use the Escort. Again, not a logical argument, but i do have a P-car so you can see what I think of logic