boolala

I paid $1500 for a dual remote radar with LEDs and a single front diffuser. Work was done at my home.

THPorsche

Thanks for the pricing information

bill d cat

As far as I know the only places in the US where radar detectors are illegal are Virginia and DC. They are also illegal in the eastern Canadian provinces, I think. Laser jammers are illegal in quite a few states, including California.

The law enforcement officer's response to your car is a factor. I think it's a safe bet that if a Porsche, a minivan and a Volvo station wagon are seen doing exactly the same thing in exactly the same place, and he/she has the opportunity to stop one car, the one car that will get stopped will be the Porsche. At least significantly more than just 1/3 of the time. I see a prominently-mounted radar detector as just one more reason to annoy the officer and get pulled over. And once pulled over if there was any discretion about getting a ticket, its lost with the visible detector.

I've been using the passenger-side visor to mount mine for years, waaaaaay up by the headliner, it's hidden by the dark tint at the top of the windshield. You can't see it unless you stick your head inside the car. I've also used the V-1 remote displays for years.

Tedder Bear

[QUOTE=bill d cat] I see a prominently-mounted radar detector as just one more reason to annoy the officer and get pulled over. And once pulled over if there was any discretion about getting a ticket, its lost with the visible detector.
[QUOTE]

I agree. Why take a chance. Make sure its hidden or use an installed option like the K40.

2ndof2

I always like to read these radar detector & laser diffuser posts to see what the latest and greatest stuff is. Other than complete stealth, my wallet would not be comfortable with the pricetag of the K40 system and although it may possibly have better performance (outside of detecting radar hits from the left and right which, by the way is allegedly a time when the officer can't get a speed reading on you) I don't see the advantage for the money spent. You can do a custom install of a V1 with a remote display for less bucks and still get the advantage of stealth. I just figure the only time an officer would see my detector that sits up by my rearview mirror (with no hanging wires) is if he sticks his head inside my car. I've never had an officer snick his big nosey snout in my car when stopped and I've NEVER been stopped since I purchased my V1 (hope it stays that way!) I guess if money is no object, K40 is the slickest system out there right now. I just don't see it as a big advantage except for the laser diffuser capabilities (if thats one of its options). No matter what system suits your budget or taste I think the consensus is that stealth is the best way to go.

ds2k1

I'm new to the world of radar detectors and would like some help sorting through all the info out there. I'm really interested in ease of use and one that's ergonomically simple and aesthetically not too intrusive. I also don't want to pay a lot of money. Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Escort 8500 X50 in regard to these criteria? Anything else that's relatively inexpensive that you'd recommend over this one?

Edgy01

If you're going to exceed the speed limits in America you need good intel data. You need to know what's going on around you. Sometimes this is purely for defensive purposes. If there is a pack of cars out there and you're in there in a Porsche but not leading the pack or even going with the pack you will get singled out,--trust me. As such, it is nice to have something that can tell you about their existance on the roadways with you. You want something that works and is not too intrusive. If you're a serious speeder you get everything you can and hope the laser jammers and the Electronic Counter Measures you're pumping out are working. But, for average driving it is nice to have. Most of the current models are quite similar in detection range. The Escorts are good machines. I used them for many years. I switched to the Valentine 1 (which is designed by a former Escort engineer) for the rear and lateral detection capability. It is impossible to make the antenna invisible,--if you do, you are generally compromising your range capability which translates to warning time. In this day of instant on laser, etc., no one in the USA should be going THAT fast over the limit in their area unless they have scanned that area first and know it to be empty of threats. Otherwise, be prepared to anti-up.

Be careful of the cheapo units. They are of a super-het design (like all of them pretty much today) but don't shield the RF effectively enough and as a result will provide false alerts to neighboring cars.

What I've wanted to do, and may still do sometime, is pick up a used traffic radar GUN on eBay and use it to sample oncoming traffic. If they are going the speed of heat I would imagine that the road ahead is clear. (But first, I would want to move the transmitter and receiver off center frequency so that it isn't detected by those with detectors).

THPorsche

Is there a way to find out what type of equipment the local police is using so we know what to expect or look for?