I have decided I should probably purchase a radar detector. I was hoping to spend $100 - $200 for it. I don't know much about the market or which brands are good or even where a good place to buy one would be. I looked at the selection at circuit city but I only worry that I would buy one there that is actually out of date. I am in a state where they are not illegal and have little intention of being in one of those states.
radar detector suggestions
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Gunslinger08
Lifer
- Nov 18, 2001
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Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
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Exactly. Buy a cheap one, preferably one that doubles as a digital compass so that you have an excuse to give the cop for when you do get pulled over.
No radar detector can save you from laser and "Instant-On" radar. Paying hundreds for a V1 is just dumping money down the drain. Plus, you're likely to get more tickets because you'll have a false sense of security.
Coming from a cop, I would say that you're taking a chance no matter what, radar detector or not. It's a little known fact that most radar detectors have a delay in them before it registers. I can turn on my radar, clock your speed, lock it in and shut it off in the time it takes your detector to detect and register, sometimes well before it ever makes a sound. I've seen it happen first hand running radar. I've ridden in my patrol vehicle behind cars with detectors where I could clearly see the LEDs on the front, lit them up with radar and shut it off without ever seeing it register.
However, if you're using it for freeway driving, you may benefit from it. Many state troopers drive the highway with it on all the time so that they can monitor speeds of the vehicles around them at all times. This naturally gives away their position and presence for folks with detectors to slow down.
However, if you're using it for freeway driving, you may benefit from it. Many state troopers drive the highway with it on all the time so that they can monitor speeds of the vehicles around them at all times. This naturally gives away their position and presence for folks with detectors to slow down.
Hayabusa Rider
Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
- Jan 26, 2000
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I have an escort 8500. Works very well, and in my state, you do not have to speed to get a speeding ticket. I like knowing where "they" are, even if I am legal.
Those three, in that order (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
But you can only benefit from such a device if you understand what it is telling you, how police radar and laser work, and how the police use them. For example, nothing can save you from instant-on mode in very light traffic when they get you the moment you crest a hill. You've got to use your head.
I recently got one. I got pulled over the next day. 
The cop wasn't using any radar detector. I guess he figured I was speeding if he was going 80 or so and not catching up. It sucks because it did give me a false sense of security...I rarely go above 75 in a 70 but I figured I'd test the new device out.
I've learned since then that an absurd number of cops don't use speed detection devices when patrolling the roads (at least not ones that my detector picks up...and it claims to pick up everything). If they are using one though, it detects it really well and from a pretty good distance away. I've had it detect from 1/4 to a half mile away. But that's IF the cop is using one.
The cop wasn't using any radar detector. I guess he figured I was speeding if he was going 80 or so and not catching up. It sucks because it did give me a false sense of security...I rarely go above 75 in a 70 but I figured I'd test the new device out. I've learned since then that an absurd number of cops don't use speed detection devices when patrolling the roads (at least not ones that my detector picks up...and it claims to pick up everything). If they are using one though, it detects it really well and from a pretty good distance away. I've had it detect from 1/4 to a half mile away. But that's IF the cop is using one.
Schadenfroh
Elite Member
- Mar 8, 2003
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my uncle works for boeing and one of his coworkes took it a step foward and created a "counter measure". when placed in the trunk and powered on, it fries the thing the cop uses to dectect your speed with when they try to analyze your speed
I'd go with a V1 mine is awesome, gotta kinda know when to trust it though. if your in dense traffic unless theres laser theres a good chance your going to get a good warning also if your in the middle of nowhere and there are some sparse cars, if the land is flat I've had warning a minute or two b4 i saw a squad, it just beeped every few seconds when he turned it on as a car passed him. V1 all the way
I seriously doubt that someone created said "countermeasure" that fries their equipment. First off, that in and of itself is illegal. Second, the "device" if it does work probably violates several other laws and/or regulations with the FCC and other standards bodies. Third, if that jackass is somehow "miraculously" damaging this police equipment, he is only costing the taxpayer, himself included, more money to replace and/or repair that equipment. RADAR units are not cheap by any means.
FYI, we don't run our RADAR units down near the airfield because the RADAR from the aircraft and towers cause too much interference with our equipment to legally consider it accurate for ticketing purposes. If an expensive RADAR unit on a military installation and aircraft can't fry our units, I doubt someone else can create one. Even more interesting is how he's proven that his unit works. I'm sure he drove by a cop, zapped his RADAR and then stopped to ask if he's having any problems with his equipment. That story is BS, pure and simple. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. May god have mercy on your soul.
Oh, one more thing. His "countermeasure" zaps Laser based units as well as stopwatches and aerial speed measuring systems too? I throw the bull$hit card big time on this one.
FYI, we don't run our RADAR units down near the airfield because the RADAR from the aircraft and towers cause too much interference with our equipment to legally consider it accurate for ticketing purposes. If an expensive RADAR unit on a military installation and aircraft can't fry our units, I doubt someone else can create one. Even more interesting is how he's proven that his unit works. I'm sure he drove by a cop, zapped his RADAR and then stopped to ask if he's having any problems with his equipment. That story is BS, pure and simple. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. May god have mercy on your soul.
Oh, one more thing. His "countermeasure" zaps Laser based units as well as stopwatches and aerial speed measuring systems too? I throw the bull$hit card big time on this one.
So is the consensus here that the cheap ones are not worth the money and only the $300 - $400 units are worthwhile? I find that hard to believe and it sounds more like marketing hype to me.
Also, Rogue, thanks for the info above. It does make sense when you think about it that the radar detectors would have a delay so that it reduces false alarms but how many people think about that? My feelings about getting one are that it would be good for longer trips and might help once in a while in local driving which correlates with what you said about the State Troopers.
Also, Rogue, thanks for the info above. It does make sense when you think about it that the radar detectors would have a delay so that it reduces false alarms but how many people think about that? My feelings about getting one are that it would be good for longer trips and might help once in a while in local driving which correlates with what you said about the State Troopers.
The V1 is the only one worth the money. One word: arrows.
But you also have to know when to use common sense. A V1 will help pick of patrols on the highways easily, but if you think it'll save you on an empty country road at night, think again.
Your second best bet is a good radio, to listen to the truckers and cops.
But you also have to know when to use common sense. A V1 will help pick of patrols on the highways easily, but if you think it'll save you on an empty country road at night, think again.
Your second best bet is a good radio, to listen to the truckers and cops.
Originally posted by: Rogue
I seriously doubt that someone created said "countermeasure" that fries their equipment. First off, that in and of itself is illegal. Second, the "device" if it does work probably violates several other laws and/or regulations with the FCC and other standards bodies. Third, if that jackass is somehow "miraculously" damaging this police equipment, he is only costing the taxpayer, himself included, more money to replace and/or repair that equipment. RADAR units are not cheap by any means.
FYI, we don't run our RADAR units down near the airfield because the RADAR from the aircraft and towers cause too much interference with our equipment to legally consider it accurate for ticketing purposes. If an expensive RADAR unit on a military installation and aircraft can't fry our units, I doubt someone else can create one. Even more interesting is how he's proven that his unit works. I'm sure he drove by a cop, zapped his RADAR and then stopped to ask if he's having any problems with his equipment. That story is BS, pure and simple. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. May god have mercy on your soul.
Oh, one more thing. His "countermeasure" zaps Laser based units as well as stopwatches and aerial speed measuring systems too? I throw the bull$hit card big time on this one.
gotta love rumors though, eh?
the problem is there aren't many situation where it would be useful. in urban traffic (city/freeway), the cops rarely use radar, they just cruise around and either sneak up from behind and match speeds, or just create the usual rolling traffic jam behind themselves. out in the open road, they'll nail you with instant on, and if you've got someone in front of you for cop bait that made the cop give themselves away, well then it still didn't change the situation any. either you and your bait were going fast enough for a ticket and the bait gets it, or you weren't. wouldn't be any different if you had the detector.
I'm happy with my Cobra 110-130 dollar talking/laser/k-band detector. Like I posted before, I've been in a few situations where the delay was irrelevant (15-20 second warning, with many cars between me and the cop). If it saves you from one ticket, then it is worth it. But if you speed constantly because you have one, then you are bound to lose money.
most cars have a built in radar detector, it says 'cruise control' on it. it also may say 'brake'.
the built in delay while it process's the signal can't be anything more than a split second.
thats not really a good point say the guy in front of you is going 60 and the cop tags him the radar makes its way back to you thats going 65 and you have time to slow down b4 he actually tags you.
Originally posted by: Keego
my cruise control keeps me out of tickets
me too I have my detector, cause I used to do alot of speeding, now I just use it for the hell of it. Its saved me acouple times when I'm not using cruise and slowly climb up to speed
'
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