kab1994

What do you boys recommend for radar detectors, this would be my first one and have no idea what to look for!

hooger

i have a Valentine One wired through the OBD which also lets you set a speed limit at which the detector is not distracting. It works great, but had to change the settings recently cause of those new Audis

kromdom

be ready to get a LOT of opinions on this FWIW, I am a currently using Passport 9500iX. I opted NOT to hardwire so I can easily move it around (I have 3 bikes and a few cars)

This site helped me when I was researching: http://www.radarbusters.com/

In case you missed similar threads:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...detectors.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...hat-brand.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...your-vote.html

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...or-or-not.html

5CHN3LL

Beltronics RX65 with SmartCord Live. Awesome detection, voice prompts, and the smart cord live uses bluetooth to download speed camera, red light camera, and speed trap info via your phone's data plan. Put the detector display in "advanced" mode and it can track multiple sources for each band - like V1, except it doesn't indicate whether the threat is ahead or behind.

The detector plus a hardwire installation and a good rear view mirror mount is a great setup. In CA, a detector isn't illegal, but having one suction-cupped to your windshield is.

RickMiller

I went with a Valentine 1 paired with a Blendmount mounting bracket. It was the first "mod" that I did after purchasing the car
Watch out for motorcycle cops with lasers - even as good as these modern detectors are, by the time they are signalling to you it's probably already too late.

R

alpine003

+996

It will basically boil down to which color lights you like(red or blue), and whether you want/need red light camera/false warning GPS detection or want bogey directional indicators.

Jscaramella

I've had the Valentine products for 10+ years and have been saved more times that I can remember

5CHN3LL

Laser, unless you're in tight traffic, is pretty much just an indication that you want to start pulling over, since the guy you see jumping into his cruiser in your rear-view will be lighting you up shortly...

Laser jammers are illegal in CA, but if they weren't, I'd have them.

nismosd

+1 valentine v1...

white out

I'm a big fan of V1.

Passport seems to be the other good option.

gnat

Rocking the V1 for 15 years now. No complaints. It uses standard phone cord hardware so it's insanely easy to build custom wires for a hardwire install without forcing your location or having tons of extra cable running around.

The last ticket I got (knock knock) was a laser. I came around a corner where they sometimes like to sit and I rolled craps. He popped me at 85 in a 55. The laser warning went off so I immediately pulled over. The conversation went something like this.

Cop: Do you know how fast you were going?
Me: Probably a little fast.
Cop: What's that? (pointing to V1)
Me: Radar detector
Cop: You know those are illegal in VA?
Me: Yes
Cop: Didn't do you much good did it?
Me: You didn't have to get in your car and chase me did you? (I stopped about 10' in front of his car)
Cop:

He let me off with a 74 in a 55 (not reckless, didn't have to go to court, and 3 points instead of 6) and the rest of conversation we had was pretty good and I learned something (why they touch the rear of your car as they approach).

Chances are if I wasn't so honest I probably could have gotten away since I also illegally run without a front plate and there was enough traffic that I would have been able to take a few alternate directions before he could have gotten in and caught up to me. He got me dead to rights though and I'm OK with that.

CDLVancouver

so what was that?

I have the 9500ix and its been great...paid for itself many times over already. i get monthly updates i can download...as in the latest red light camera location or speed trap locations (although I dont run red lights or speed too much in urban areas so i tend not to update very often).
Even helps when theyve pulled you over when your alarm didnt go off...you know theyre just making a point in front of other drivers and they cant charge you (they dont have your speed recorded).

jammers are neat...illegal in a lot of places. so you have to be careful.

lagodue

I have been watching the radar forum for the past 3 months in anticipation of a purchase. Frontrunners there are V1 and Escort Redline. Both have equally ardent fans, but Redline is supposed to give best detection range.

JohnCK2014

The Valentine 1 seems to be the best one. All of the various Cannon Ball Run record holders in the last few years used a Valentine 1 and Waze app.

The complaint about the Valentine I is that it has too many false alarms. The top of the line Escort has software that is supposed to be able to tell what is real and what is a garage door opener or whatever. Valentine's response to that is that you are risking legal jeopardy on the effectiveness of those programs. They are not fool proof. Valentine 1 is the only detector that tells you in which direction the signal is coming from. If it is coming from the side or rear, it is a false alarm since you can't a car's speed from the side and it is very unlikely a cop you missing is gunning you from behind.

The thing goes off a lot, but you can tell what is false by where it is coming from. If you are looking to use it driving the same route every day, the top of the line Escort might be better since it will learn all of the false alarms. If you are looking to use it on long trips, I would go with the Valentine I.

One thing everyone agrees about though is don't bother with anything besides the very top of the line ones. The cheap ones are worse than no detector at all since they have poor range and give a false sense of security.

cretinx

I own 3 valentine ones (one in each of my "fast" cars and one in my wife's car)

You are a fool if you use anything else.