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Radar detector

6K views 52 replies 26 participants last post by  4Bimmers 
#1 ·
In addition to my daily commute through NYC, I have a road trip coming (NJ to MI). I was looking to buy a radar/laser detector, and have narrowed down to potentially 3 options: The Escort Passport 9500ix, Escort Red line and the Bel GX 65. However, then the decision becomes harder! I am looking for a windshield mounted one and hence these choices.

Would love some guidance from people who have radar detectors - which of the above is the best option? Or am I missing a good one out there totally?

Thanks.
 
#2 ·
Valentine One

I have Valentine One. I believe it is on par with Passport 9500xi in terms of performance, but addition of arrows pointing to danger and also number of alerts is actually a supreme addition. I recently had a case when I just went to highway and Valentine start showing a light (1-2 bulbs) alert pointing to the front of the car. I was driving for 10 min and nothing changed - the alert did not increase in intensity - so I thought it is probably a faulty alarm or interferance from a car that is driving before. However, after 10 min if this I finally see a police cruiser (150 yards in front of me) turning all the lights and catching the guy. So, because cruiser was driving with my speed in front looking for a target my Valentine still show me the danger but did not increase intensity. Now, let me ask you what should I do if I would not know is a danger in the front or back (as other radars would not show). I could easily speed up and got caught by the police. At lease, when the danger is in front I would probably see it and brake (if it would not be too dark), but if the cruiser in the back and it is dark - it is NO WAY to recognize it.
Think about it!
 
#5 ·
Do you actually know how to use it!?!?!?!?!

There are settings, volume knobs, etc.

PM me, I'll take that crappy POS off your hands.

A

PS I swear by my V1. But I find radar detector threads to be even stupider than oil threads.
 
#7 ·
I have both the Escort 9500IX and Valentine 1. My daily commutes are a combination of freeway and side streets. The 9500IX is a nice unit and the GPS does work in cutting out know false alerts. The suction cup mount however, is cheap and I just could not find a position on my windshield that would not cause the detector to rattle. The red light camera alert is OK, but doesn't always help in my area with the numerous mobile units being used by police.

The Valentine 1 has the best suction cups I've run across and the unit is rock solid. Valentine 1 updated their software last July to eliminate false alerts from highway traffic monitoring sensors used in Ohio and other states that use to always set the detector off on my trip to work. The arrows and bogie counter are still best feature and have saved me many times from getting caught. False signals can be reduced by selecting the proper filters on the unit and in the option menu. It will however, false more than the 9500IX

Bottom line for me is that I'll still stick with the Valentine 1.
 
#10 ·
I have both a V-1 and a 9500ix. I like the V-1 for radar-only, but it completely lacks the GPS function for fixed speed and red light cameras. If I'm going to be cruising the open highways and backroads, I take the V-1. If I'm going to be in metropolitan and built-up areas, I take the 9500ix.

If the Escort Live function ever becomes widely adopted by people, the V-1 will be dead in the water.

It seems like Valentine has given-up on new technology and is going to let the V-1 fade-away over the next 10-15 years. It's sad really, as Valentine use to be the innovator in the industry.
 
#11 ·
Would love some guidance from people who have radar detectors - which of the above is the best option? Or am I missing a good one out there totally?

Thanks.
The first basic question you have to ask yourself is whether you want only radar/laser detection, or whether you also want a GPS/database function for fixed position speed and red light cameras.

The V-1 and the Redline do not have the GPS function.
 
#16 · (Edited)
First of all, it helps to know about radar and laser. X, k, and ka band, and Laser. Let's look at Laser, If you are paying attention and the cop is not hiding, you will see him shooting the laser. There is a law that says cops can only use the speed they capture if it is within 1,000 feet. The laser gun will read your speed further out but when you are within 1,000 feet, he can use your speed for his purposes. You will definitely see him if he is not hiding. Harder to do in the city. Easy on the interstate.

Radar. You don't have to worry to much about x band***8230;.***8230;.especially on the interstate. K band and ka band***8230;...very dangerous. 2 modes for k, on all the time and instant on. 3 modes for ka***8230;.***8230;.***8230;... on all the time, instant on, and pop mode. Ka band is the only band used in the pop mode. The bell is your best defense to ka band. The ka band is so wide it takes time for a radar detector to detect it.
There are 3 frequencies allowed for police radar on the ka band and the bell has a function that it will only scan these 3 frequencies making it more sensitive to that band than the other detectors. Instant on...... if you are speeding, and you are the only car, or if traffic is very light***8230;...I don't care what kind of detector you have***8230;.***8230;..it wont help with instant on. The cop doesn't turn his radar on until he sees u, by the time you detector goes off***8230;..its too late.

Ka band in the pop mode. Most detectors don't pick this up. The bell is the ONLY detector that caught this. Police are not supposed to use the pop mode for speed readings because it's so fast, it's been proven to be inaccurate. This is what they are supposed to do. Use the pop mode to get the reading, (your detector probably wont go off) then use instant on to verify the speed. (your detector will go off)

With this being said I would go with the bell or the escort. I own the escort. All of these detectors are good. I guess the arrows are good on the V1, but if YOU KNOW HOW TO USE A DETECTOR, you can do without the arrows. When I say, know how to use, I don't mean plugging it in and turning it on and slowing down when the thing goes off.

Just keep this in mind. It's a RADAR detector. Not a cop car detector, or a police officer detector.
Police people are smart, if they have been doing traffic for a while, they can estimate how fast you are going by just looking at how fast you are approaching. I went to a bridge that crosses over I95 and just spent some time watching the cars go by. I'm no where near a good judge on speed, but after watching for a while I could tell the cars that were speeding.

Another thing, (this was true 2 years ago, I don't know what other type of motion sensors or devices that has come out since then to set a detector off on the ka band, so don't hold me to this) IF YOUR DETECTOR GOES OFF FOR KA BAND IT IS DEFINITLY POLICE RADAR, as this is the ONLY thing that will set a detector off on the ka band. Hope this helps.
 
#17 ·
First of all, it helps to know about radar and laser. X, k, and ka band, and Laser. Let's look at Laser, If you are paying attention and the cop is not hiding, you will see him shooting the laser. There is a law that says cops can only use the speed they capture if it is within 10,000 feet. The laser gun will read your speed further out but when you are within 10,000 feet, he can use your speed for his purposes. You will definitely see him if he is not hiding. Harder to do in the city. Easy on the interstate.
10,000 feet is TWO MILES.

Forget about if there is such a law, but YOUR EYES cannot discriminate a cop car at that distance. I submit that even in plain sight, they can get a read on you with laser BEFORE you can say "Oh, that's a cop".

Next, they can shoot the rear of your car from an overpass/on ramp...you are looking ahead and he is clocking your butt. Laser (and radar) works coming and going.

If you think ANYTHING other than an active laser JAMMER will protect for LIDAR, you are kidding yourself. Situational awareness, never lead, choose your stretches...all good, all vulnerable.

And then there is the plain old "Cop lies and says he clocked you" which you can never defeat.

A
 
#22 ·
I can vouch for the active jammers for laser, has saved me exactly 2 times. Once I only noticed the cop when relatively close (I just use the laser diffuser no detector as I only drive fast in areas I am familiar no long trips). I actually saw the cop look down at his gun as I got closer and was driving driving past. He looked puzzled. That was in fl. The other time im not sure it was laser (didnt get a good look at the car) actually but was in md and he must have known I was 80 in a 55 but never pulled out. Eitherway I am a fan of active laser diffusers now. Mine look like license plate brackets. No tickets in 10 years so I think my way of driving works. (Only speed in known areas, only where you have long fields of vision, not in underpasses, blind hills, or curves.)
 
#24 ·
Thanks everyone. I definitely understand the stuff better now and seems like more research especially on the V1 before any decisions. I likely am going to get the V1 and the IX and test them together and return the one that does not work as well. The idea of laser diffusers is new and will look into that. Thanks again.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Apparently few others agree with me that V1 = lots of false alerts...

I guess this is more relative to where you live... I live and drive near NYC and the V1 is almost useless...

I do like it when I'm on i95 though.. I think the better choice for people that live in metro areas would be the escort.
 
#26 ·
Radar in the city

I just do not get it - why someone need to use radar detectors in the city like NYC? I am not aware of police using radars on the streets. Also, in regards to Red lights alerts in IX:
I understand of anyone speeding - basically the speed limits are often set too low, but going on a Red light? It is really too dangerous and should be a"NO-NO", so I do not see how anyone should buy 9500IX over V1 because of availability of "red light"/camera option.
 
#31 · (Edited)
so I do not see how anyone should buy 9500IX over V1 because of availability of "red light"/camera option.
I don't know about NYC laws, but overall, the biggest number of "red light camera" tickets are for turns on red after stopping. There are many cases of the cameras issuing tickets even after the vehicle has come to a complete stop before proceeding.

http://photoradarscam.com/malfunctions.php

Many cities have stopped using the camera for right turn on red violations due to their frequent mistakes.

My issue with camera tickets is that few people can remember every bit of their driving days afterwards. If the police stop me to give me a ticket, I can discuss what happened and know whether or not I really violated the law. With a camera it is difficult to argue, as the ticket comes long after the violation. I would be much more comfortable if they were stop light "videos" rather than stop light cameras.
 
#27 ·
read up on light delay changes from yellow to red when red light cameras are imstalled. also look up accident volume increases when they are installed.

powered by lemings
 
#29 · (Edited)
The best choice is the STi Driver plus. With its integrated GPS, if you drive by the same frequency at the same location 3 times, it will lock it out as a false. If you drive by and that signal is not there, it will unlock it out. If its a speed trap, you mark it as a speed trap.

Its eerily silent until you really need it, unlike the V1 which is like chicken little crying the sky is falling. You inevitably ignore it because it falses so much.

If you live in Virginia and 3/4 of the Canadian provinces, you can't legally use an RD anyway, so you need something thats invisble to the Spectre RDD used by VSP and OPP for example. Thats when you need a hidden display
 
#33 ·
Its eerily silent until you really need it, unlike the V1 which is like chicken little crying the sky is falling. You inevitably ignore it because it falses so much.
This is exactly true for me... Sometimes I turn it off and sometimes when I do have it on I just turn down the volume. V1 is hardly useful due to so many false alerts.
On highways and interstates it is a blessing though... in the city, forget about it...
 
#35 ·
I run a LI laser jammer front and rear in my e39 M5. It seems to work. At least I have not been ticketed going thru obvious laser traps. It goes off so rarely it scares the crap out of me when it does, thus I automatically back off the throttle. Which is probably a good thing as the laser will eventually punch through. It was expensive and not an easy install. The customer support at LI is terrific.

Have not gotten around to putting jammer into this x5. Just do not travel the speeds I do in M 5, plus winter. If anybody has done the LI install on an e70 please post the front and rear pictures of heads.

I have run concealed v1for many years and bought one for x5 too. It works well if you pay attention and know what it is telling you. I don't spend much time in urban jungles, or speed above the flow when I do. So the v1 suits my northern new England, adirondack, central ny and western pa territory pretty well.

I like the concept of real time gps community of habitual offenders providing real time updates and other gee whizz technology. But I just don't believe the critical mass is there to make it useful at this point. At least on the routes I frequent. Fwiw.
 
#32 ·
I have both a new V1 and Redline. I used to depend mostly on the V1 but now with Escort LIVE the V1 has little to offer other than the arrows.

Currently I run the V1 early in the morning on the way to work but RL + EL all the other times. When driving hundreds of miles on an open road, you really can't survive without EL.

V1 is promising ESP but their little experiment with newer technology called SAVVY is a complete waste.

There are good threads on EL at http://escortradarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45
 
#37 ·
Hands down the Valentine One is the premiere unit out. It has paid for itself 10 times over. Don't be swayed, get the V1 NOW

glboater
And you'd be wrong, It may have been the best, but I think the latest dectors from Belscort have dethroned it.
 
#38 ·
I have the V1 and it has saved me many times. I drive between Las Vegas and L.A./San Diego and most of the drive is pretty straight, through large empty desert valleys and knowing which direction and how many bogeys is invaluable when you want to exceed the posted speed limits. Is he behind me moving up through the traffic or is he ahead of me? Is there 1, 2, 3 radar patrol cars? I like knowing the answer to these questions. Just my two cents.
 
#39 ·
Escort/Bel detectors in tech mode will show you how many and the signal strengths as well. V1 patented the arrows, so no other detector will ever have those. V1 also has incredible sensitivity on all bands. The problem with the V1 is
1. Its detectable by the spectre
2. Its falses way to much

Both of those have been addressed by Bel/Escort via the use of GPS and the using local oscillators with low leakage. V1's sensitivity has been matched and better by Escort through the use of selectively turning off parts of the superwide Ka band.
 
#44 ·
Kzang, I grew up in NY on Long Island and drove up and down the east coast. Moved out to Vegas 15 years ago. There is way, way more RF being transmitted in the NY metro area that causes so many false alarms a radar detector is almost useless and I'm going off experience from the 80's and 90's. It must be even worse now.
 
#45 · (Edited)
Thats where the STiR Plus with GPS comes in. You drive the same route every day. It sees the same frequencies at the same spots, and it flags it as a false. Everything is nice and quiet, until tomorrow, you drive, and there is a new frequency, a LEO using radar. It gives you an early warning due to its superior range on Ka

Like I said earlier, its eerily silent on my daily loop, until it detects a new frequency. The detector will unlock a frequency as a false if you are at a location and the frequency that it was expecting isn't there
 
#51 ·
Over the last 10 years I've had both V1s and 9500iXs in all my cars. I prefer the 9500iX. (All hard-wired, of course),

Reasons:

  • Smaller, more attractive and more discrete placement above/right of the rear view mirror.

  • I get bi-weekly emails from Escort indicating which state databases that just have updated with newly installed redlight locations. If one of my states has been updated, I connect my laptop and update the detector. Takes 5 minutes.

  • 9500iX has AutoLearn. That means the 3rd time it Falses when I drive by the Dunkin Donut shop's automatic door openers, the GPS remembers that location/frequency and won't go off there again unless something changes.

  • Less expensive (reputable eBay sellers or you can usually deal with your local car stereo dealer if you ask for the "fleet" salesman who works with the car dealers. Give him an opportunity to "steal" a sale from his retails sales guys and you can probably save $50-75).

  • I never found the arrows to be particularly useful. If the arrow is pointing ahead and keeps beeping, I know there's a cruiser ahead going in the same direction and I'm wary. If the 9500iX keeps beeping (especially Ka band) I know there is "probably" a cruiser ahead of me going in the same direction. I am still wary. Do I wish I had an arrow? Ehhhh. If the beeping stops, I'm guessing that the arrow would have pointed behind or to the right/left. Do I then immediately speed back up to 80 mph? Probably not and when I used the V!, I didn't right away then either.

  • If there is a school zone in my regular pattern, I can manually mark it on my 9500iX so that I then get a reminder alert 1250 feet before, to remind me to slow down to 20 mph.
Overall, I found that the GPS, redlight locations and AutoLearn features of the 9500iX FAR outweigh the arrows on the V1.

As an aside, I get a kick out of the marketing "save" stories on the boards about how the V1 alerted them to the Police Academy class on on the interstate with 12 rolling and fixed police cars with Ka radar blasting. That the arrows saved them. Only someone with severe ADD would ignore the still-blasting 9500iX and not be wary that there may be more radar ahead and instead immediately jump back on it after they passed the first one they saw.

If either one are wailing away, you don't need arrows. You slow down.
 
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