Hey people does anyone know of some good radar detectors and some reviews on them?
Thanks

 

I have a Passport 9500xi & it's great. However so many people have them now that cops usually do not keep their radars on at all so you have to continually scout. I live in So.Cal and about 85% of the cops I drive by have their radars off. And this is only CHP, the regular officers on the streets in cities rarely have their radar detectors on. For long drives it's useful, and it has saved me before. Since I purchased mine 2 years ago I have not received any tickets, however I drive extremely actively and am always looking around for cops. I drive pretty fast.

 

Valentine One. I have two along with Bel's top model but find the directional arrows to be a huge advantage. Don't want to jinx myself by saying how long it's been since a 'you-know-what' but in the northeast, LEOs are out consistently with radar and laser. If there's traffic, they'll hit approaching cars so I look for that. It's actually harder sometimes when there is little or no traffic. As to laser, I have a black vehicle and a laser shield on my front plate. These two things reduce laser's ability to track me at long distances - so you still must remain vigilant.

THere are lots of sites evaluating radar detectors and most also sell them (not sure how impartial they are). But anyway, Escort makes a great detector too but having gotten a ticket 15 years ago when there were TWO cops (one writing a ticket and the second hidden who came out and got me), the fact that the Valentine COUNTS the signals visually AND shows you if they're left/right/front/back if an advantage in my opinion.

 

I think the 9500xi and Valentine One are one of the best choices out there at the moment. You can't go wrong with either of them.
If you do a lot of freeway driving, I think it's a good idea.

 

When comparing the V1 and 9500xi, the difference really is firstly the price, and secondly do you want directional arrows on your radar or do you want GPS functionality which blocks out bogey radar signals once it detects the same signal 3 times in the same place (using GPS). I've never used a V1, but have heard nothing but rave reviews, however when I was buying mine I didn't really care for directional arrows and I wanted to be able to block out that annoying beeping sounds that were not threats to me. Now (after owning it for 2+ years) i'd kind of like to have directional arrows cause sometimes when Ka band (CHP band) comes up I find myself trying to spot the officer and I have no idea which direction or where they are, also the GPS functionality on my 9500xi doesn't always seem to remember GPS marked locations.

All that being said, I love my detector. But I was just on the Passport site, i'd look at their new Max.

 

I have both a valentine 1 and a 9500xi, distance wise they are about the same, (usually a 1.5+miles in detection) at least. While the Valentine has the arrows, it also has more false alarms than the escort. Personally i like the 9500 more, but both are good. Even the 8500 x50 i have is a good detector

 

The Valentine One and Escort 9500ix are the best. I have the Escort and it comes in handy when I'm cruising the streets with my friends. However you still have to stay alert because you never know where the cops could be hiding.

The Valentine One's arrows seem like they would be really useful. Sometimes my radar goes off and I have no idea where the alert is coming from. This wouldn't be an issue if you go with the Valentine. It gets more false alarms though.

 

I've owned a v1 for the last 8 years and although it doesn't really come in handy often, if it saves you from 1 ticket it has paid for itself. If youre lucky enough to have a chp running the onboard detector itll be easy to spot given you know the pattern the detector gives off. If you're getting tailed, or they're running laser its going to be almost useless and you'll still end up getting a ticket.

The directional is nice as you know where its coming from but the false alerts are many, and if you dont memorize where they are (driving somewhere new) it can be a little overwhelming the amount of false alerts. Overall, being proactive and keeping an eye out has kept me from getting as many tickets as the V1 has.

 

I too have the Escort Passport 9500ix and it works, but like Coldfuzion mentioned, a lot of CA police turn their radar off lately. Annoying

 

I installed a Beltronics StiR Plus and Quad Laser Interceptors on my GS. Seems to work. I like on the STIR that it has GPS so it will lock out false signals and also alert you of any red light/speed cameras.
Most are using LIDAR now, so the laser interceptors will Jam the signal so the cop can't get a reading. Some states they are illegal so do your homework.

https://www.beltronics.com/store/stir-plus.html
http://www.laser-interceptorusa.com/

 

i have tried almost all the products listed above.. an for me NONE held a candle to the K40 RL360 (with 4 laser defusers) total stealth install.. instant on radar detection & guaranteed laser protection (unlike all the others listed) K40 has true front AND rear radar sensors (plus its upgradeable so u can add as many laser defusers as needed) not just limited to 3 or 4 like the rest..( had a system on my escalade 8 lasers total 4 front 4 rear) which made the brick wall of my caddi invisible to laser......

an they back up their product in writing!!!

IF YOU GET A TICKET THEY'LL PAY IT!!!! (as long as its not in a school zone for obvious reasons)

seeing as your in cali i'd chk it out (if memory serves radars are illegal there) it comes with VG2 detection so if a cop has a radar detector detector the K40 will signal VG2 alert an then turn itself off til your clear of the cop..


http://www.k40.com/rl360i-radar-detector-pages-165.php

 

fyi NO ONE makes a product to block radar in anyway shape or form!!!! emitting a radar signal is 100% illegal in all 50 states an no manufacturer will take that liability of that...(even cars with radar cruise control are limited to 15-20ft....now laser jamming is available.. as emitting light cant be regulated...(especially infrared which is in the non visible spectrum)

the 9500 cant give directional alerts because it only has a front mounted radar sensor...(with no option for adding a rear)

as for the V1 its a great product for detection (of radar, and laser to a degree) but for protection its just not up to the task.. if it goes off from laser. just pull over because you just got a ticket..


http://www.k40.com/rl360i-radar-detector-pages-165.php

 

heres a heads up if your getting false alarms (k band) more often lately... many car manufactures are now offering radar assisted cruise control (audi,bmw,lexus,mercedes,porsche,etc) if you are in close proximity to any of these newer cars it will set off your detector.. simply pass the offending vehicle an all should be well... i rode behind a bmw 745 for an hr (radar blaring) before it dawned on me it was his cruise.. once i passed him silence again...

safe travels....

 

Great observation, didn't think of that but you are right. I do get a lot of "K Band" these days, and 90% of that must be DRC and PCS systems

 

Radar detectors are only illegal in VA, D.C, and military bases, as well as on commercial trucks. While K40 has the "band-aid" option of shutting itself off when it detects a VG2 RDD, it cannot detect the newer RDDs and won't shut off.

The better solution is to buy a detector that is actually undetectable by all RDDs. The only ones in current production that cannot be detected by an RDD are as follows:

Escort Redline (best windshield mount detector available)
Beltronics STi Magnum (Redline's reduced-range brother)
Beltronics STiR Plus (installed in your bumper)
Escort 9500ci (reduced performance version of STiR Plus, if the Plus is configured correctly)

For those of you that actually have a K40 laser jammer installed (no talking heads please), I would encourage you to meet up with a member in your area that actually owns a few police LIDAR guns in order to get your setup tested. You'll find that their performance probably isn't as good as you thought it should be for the amount you spent.