[Venom]

Originally Posted by ft1337

My understanding about laser is you just can't escape this shit. Laser travels at the speed of light obviously, so by the time they hit you with it, they already have a reading. You can slam on the brakes if you want but you ticket is ready for you regardless.

I don't know how some people can claim that they got their ass saved a few times from a laser, it doesn't add up.

You can escape if you jam signal to gun via a laser shifter.
A great detector will catch scatter from the nearby car that had laser pulsed on it. The best method to avoiding a ticket by laser/radar gun is to blend with traffic.

[kdiggz]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

I have had the same Bel RX65 for nearly a decade now. I normally would get a new one every three years.

This one is just too damn good, too damn accurate.

Same. Have had mine for 7 yrs. Have not found a reason to get anything else since. It was only like $200 as well, can't beat that. Has saved me too many times to count. The thing is though, no radar makes you invincible so don't go around speeding like an idiot. I am usually about 10 mph over the limit. When it goes off I'm able to decelerate enough to not have any issues. Cops don't usually care if you are 10-15% over the limit.

Unfortunately nothing is going to save you if they laser you or "gun" you. If your radar detector sees them then they already see you too in those situations so it's too late. I've had 2 speeding tickets as a result of those circumstances. So yes I recommend having a good radar detector but it doesn't give you an excuse to speed. It is just a safety blanket in case you end up going a few mph over the limit when coming up on a speed trap

[andybui82]

Valentine 1 FTW!!!

[mrmomo313]

Originally Posted by StabPreflop

BTW does anyone know just how much window tints affect radar detector performance? My V1 says it makes it significantly worse.

unless you have a metallic tint it doesnt have any noticeable effect from my experience (and I have my windshield tinted with v1)

[Astephens94]

Originally Posted by ft1337

Just from reading speed-related topics on this forum I have seen several references to radar detectors. We've all heard about them but I've actually never seen one being used in the real world. I've been reading a bit about them and the various technologies. But the big question remains: does it actually work?

From what I understand the most recent devices detect if a laser beam is pointed at your car and warn you in consequence. I can't help but think that by the time a laser hits your detector it's basically too late? And that most of the time the laser will be pointed at the body of the car not the detector?

What is the process by which these things work? Let's say a cop car hides somewhere on the highway fully stopped. He points his radar beam at oncoming traffic. He sees that you are speeding, and takes off in order to pull you over. I don't see at which point the radar could have detected the beam while giving me enough time to slam on the brakes before the cop gets a reading?

Do they work? In a word: Yes. If it saves you once it pays for itself (ticket+insurance hike).

Mine has saved me 3 times in the last 2 years; I never leave home without it!

[MPOWERD]

I have an Escort QI45 with the laser shifter pack. I can detect a cop from 2+ miles out on a straightaways. The last time I received a ticket was from an airplane. No kidding.

[Torn]

I have the escort 9500ix! I love it

[bozola]

The 9500ix and the V1 are the best IMHO, but the 9500ix has GPS which allows the unit to 'remember' static signals and stop bugging you. It also allows you to tag a reminder location to remind you to slow down.. such as a school zone. These 2 features gives the edge to the 9500ix.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by ft1337

My understanding about laser is you just can't escape this shit. Laser travels at the speed of light obviously, so by the time they hit you with it, they already have a reading. You can slam on the brakes if you want but you ticket is ready for you regardless.

I don't know how some people can claim that they got their ass saved a few times from a laser, it doesn't add up.

Aah, so do radio waves...

Both Lidar and Radar use the doppler effect to detect speed.

[dragonxflare]

Originally Posted by bozola

The 9500ix and the V1 are the best IMHO, but the 9500ix has GPS which allows the unit to 'remember' static signals and stop bugging you. It also allows you to tag a reminder location to remind you to slow down.. such as a school zone. These 2 features gives the edge to the 9500ix.

Anyones thoughts on which is better in their opinion? I am aware its somewhat subjective, but any thoughts?

[Rafale]

I've had both. It depends on what you like better. The V1 tells you where the signal is from. I miss it at times but I am now accustomed to the quietness of the 9500ix (no false alarms)

[vasmir]

To answer the question, yes they work, and there are a bunch of models that work very well.

Don't think you'll be able to throw a radar detector in your car and magically go speeding without getting caught though... that's why most people with detectors end up getting more tickets then they did before. They don't know how to use them.

You've really got to know the environment you're operating in to be effective. What radar/lidar bands your LEOs use, where the common speed traps are, etc. http://www.radardetector.net/forums/forum.php can help you with all that. Oh, and don't recklessly speed.

Originally Posted by StabPreflop

BTW does anyone know just how much window tints affect radar detector performance? My V1 says it makes it significantly worse.

Originally Posted by mrmomo313

unless you have a metallic tint it doesnt have any noticeable effect from my experience (and I have my windshield tinted with v1)

Yeah, typical tint won't effect performance much... it's the tints with metallized layers that will effect reception. Car windshields with a metal film between laminations (silver based) is what you've got to worry about as well. If you're running with a tint, check the manufacturer specs. It's not how much tint, but rather the material used, that matters. You don't have to worry about stock BMW windshields.

Originally Posted by dragonxflare

Anyones thoughts on which is better in their opinion? I am aware its somewhat subjective, but any thoughts?

I've owned both a Escort 8500 and V1. Generally, Escort products will give you less false alerts than the V1... V1s will go off for just about everything (including radar-based car cruise control and other folk's cheap radar detectors that have leakage). Both the high-end Escort (any 9500 model) and V1 will have 95% the same peak range. It really comes down to features. The V1 has the arrows, and the Escort has better false signal filtering. But I wouldn't get anything less than a V1 or 9500.

[TheInsurgent]

Some of you know what you are talking about and have done your research, but those of you driving around with radar detectors you bought, even a few years ago are quite unprotected.

POP radar ... if you had a state of the art radar detector from +3 years ago, you will see the strobes before your detector makes a peep. Most departments have these now.
My top of the line Escort from 10 years ago is about useless, since most departments in my area have POP. All it seems to signal in advance now are automated doors and construction speed signs.

Best defense is using a social network app in combination with your radar unit. Escort live is good, but there are many more notifications of hazards, speed traps and roving patrols with Waze. The larger the social network application you are using, the more accurate, relevant and timely the information is going to be.

Waze works better for where I live b/c the app is free and there are thousands of people actively using it every day, all day.

Ultimate protection would be a hardwired system linked to social network. That's about $1500 to $2K when it is all said and done.

YOU NEED TO CHECK THE SPECS OF YOUR DETECTOR AND READ REVIEWS TO SEE IF IT WILL HAVE ANY RANGE FOR POP RADAR. Not many detectors on the market are capable of picking up POP, and they are all top of the line. If your radar detector does not alert until you are within a couple of hundred yards from the source … you radar detector is not capable of alerting to POP.

[ShocknAwe]

On the laser front, has anyone used Veil?

[brn2skifst]

All you ever want to know about Radar and detectors www.radardetector.org
An ex-cop developed the site. Very informational.

[Sniz]

V1 is now 8 years old at least, still works great. Does not have POP option but I still have not gotten a ticket since I bought it assuming it was in the car.

I honestly find myself driving slower when the V1 is in the car, it makes me more aware of the 'threats' on the road.

Get one, need one for my fiance ASAP she keeps getting damned speed zone camera tickets and they are starting to add up.

[techietaichi]

I've recently been interested in getting a detector of some sort, but don't exactly know by which methods the troopers or police use to gauge our speeds. That said, is there a detector out there that combats whatever methods are currently utilized by law enforcement? Is there a "one size fits all" detector on the market?

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by techietaichi

I've recently been interested in getting a detector of some sort, but don't exactly know by which methods the troopers or police use to gauge our speeds. That said, is there a detector out there that combats whatever methods are currently utilized by law enforcement? Is there a "one size fits all" detector on the market?

No, you need both a radar detector and a laser jammer. A Valentie 1 plus a Laser Interceptor will do what you want and give you the closest thing to immunity as long as you use them intelligently.

[sexy_ninja_goat]

Radar detectors won't save you if you are the only car on a stretch of road unless the radar gets an invalid return the first time.

Like many above have stated, the detector will only work if you use common sense, and blend in with the traffic around you (move to the right lane as soon as done passing, etc...).

Police are trained to pulse their radars these days and target smaller groups of cars. They wont just leave them on if they are actually out to write tickets. They will also use the terrain to their advantage by parking in blind approaches, on onramps, at the crest of hills with valleys between, where you will get hit with the radar as soon as you crest your hill making it easier to know which car the radar hit and give you much less time to react.

The only time they will keep the radar on is when they are doing preventive and overt type posts, in which they are meant to be seen, and your radars are meant to pick them up.

So detectors can help warn you that other cars (and yours) have just been hit, giving you enough time to slow down and blend in before the officer can figure out which car he wants to target.

Lasers are tougher for obvious reasons (they are aimed specifically at you).

And nothing will save you from the trooper in the air plane above with his stop watches. Just slow down when you see the white hashes spaced 100m or so apart, because that's how they are measuring your speed.

I have a Passport 8500 and I would guess it's saved me from at least 6 or 7 tickets, but I've also had two since I started using it (both times I was the only car in view).

I've been hit with the laser several times, but to be honest, never while speeding so I'm not sure if I would have gotten away with anything or not.

[TheInsurgent]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Get one, need one for my fiance ASAP she keeps getting damned speed zone camera tickets and they are starting to add up.

A cheap solution in the meantime would be to DL a free social network app on her smartphone. Try "Waze" (what I use) or "Trapster" and see which has the most users in your area. All dedicated traffic social apps have verified stationary speed cams mapped out. No need to set the alerts for miles out, the default distance provides plenty of warning.

I drive with Waze running on my phone every time now. It is more reliable on traffic jams, plus it has all the info on hazards, wrecks and speed traps reported by all the other users. A ton of other navigation and trip sharing features too.

Biggest problem is that apps like Waze, Trapster and Escort Live make the BMW iDrive and Mercedes Benz mbrace navigation functionality Jurassic.

[bboss258]

Does anyone heard of stinger? Any good?

[bmellion]

K40...