Radar Detectors: Which one do you have?

[JMapleton]

I recently purchased an Escort Passport 9500ix and I am very happy with it. It filters out false signals automatically and uses built in GPS to remember the filtered out false signals.

 

[jlee]

I don't need one..I know exactly where my radar is.

 

[Andrew1990]

I used some sort of Escort Solo one up until I was pulled over by a cop next to me doing 85 in a 55. That thing went right out the window as soon as he pulled away.

Now I just use my eyes and judge where cops will be hiding. Although most cops dont mind me as they know who I am in town and really dont give a shit if I speed a little.

 

[JMapleton]

I used some sort of Escort Solo one up until I was pulled over by a cop next to me doing 85 in a 55. That thing went right out the window as soon as he pulled away.

Now I just use my eyes and judge where cops will be hiding. Although most cops dont mind me as they know who I am in town and really dont give a shit if I speed a little.

Escort Solo is a battery operated detector, it's only about 25% as effective as plug in detectors from the tests I've seen. If you want top performance get an Escort 8500 x50 or a Valentine V1 (V1 does however get more false signals than the Escort).

Escort Solo is not a great product, although it is the best cordless detector on the market, but the company is a top notch. Escort and Beltronics are the same company and anything by them is top notch.

 

[spidey07]

Escort 8500. Never lets me down for the last 6 years. Sniffs them out from a mile away. Got hit with laser about 3 dozen times and was still able to react without incident.

I drive 160 miles a day to and from work. The single time I got caught was cop on an exit ramp POPing people and I didn't pay attention to the warning, was only doing 90 in a 70.

You can take my 8500 from my cold dead hands IMHO.

 

[JMapleton]

Escort 8500. Never lets me down for the last 6 years. Sniffs them out from a mile away. Got hit with laser about 3 dozen times and was still able to react without incident.

I'm not sure what you saw, but you cannot slow down for laser. Once they got you, they've got you. Once in a while you can get false laser alerts or you can get reflection from another laser signal, but it's extremely rare. The only exception is using Veil, which is a product you smother on your headlights and license plate, which delays the laser return and gives you about 4 seconds to slow down.

You need a laser jammer to outdo laser without worry.

 

[overst33r]

I'm not sure what you saw, but you cannot slow down for laser. Once they got you, they've got you. Once in a while you can get false laser alerts or you can get reflection from another laser signal, but it's extremely rare. The only exception is using Veil, which is a product you smother on your headlights and license plate, which delays the laser return and gives you about 4 seconds to slow down.

You need a laser jammer to outdo laser without worry.

I think he meant when the cop was shooting traffic before him with laser. Has happened to me once or twice. Plenty of time to react.

 

[JMapleton]

I think he meant when the cop was shooting traffic before him with laser. Has happened to me once or twice. Plenty of time to react.

With laser, the laser beam at maximum I believe is 18 inches wide and needs to be pointed exactly at a car's headlights or license plate to get a speed. It's super hard to pick up laser from other cars. It's not like sonar that spreads across the entire street and bounces for nearly a mile or more.

 

[spidey07]

I'm not sure what you saw, but you cannot slow down for laser. Once they got you, they've got you. Once in a while you can get false laser alerts or you can get reflection from another laser signal, but it's extremely rare. The only exception is using Veil, which is a product you smother on your headlights and license plate, which delays the laser return and gives you about 4 seconds to slow down.

You need a laser jammer to outdo laser without worry.

Fine. Don't believe me. I got a blip (the 8500 makes it very clear for laser), and slammed on the brakes only to see a half-second later a guy with a gun on me. When the laser goes off, I know it's real...unless I'm coming up on an accident or a cop SUV which always trips my laser like crazy.

I'll take personal experience over what one reads on the intarweb. If all those times they didn't want to pull me over going 15+, well I guess they didn't want to pull me.

 

[spidey07]

With laser, the laser beam at maximum I believe is 18 inches wide and needs to be pointed exactly at a car's headlights or license plate to get a speed. It's super hard to pick up laser from other cars. It's not like sonar that spreads across the entire street and bounces for nearly a mile or more.

You're relying on what you read on the intarweb. Yes, you do pick up laser even if it isn't aimed at you. Sure, normally it's too late but you get a warning.

 

[exdeath]

I don't need one..I know exactly where my radar is.

This post wins.

 

[LTC8K6]

Two eyes, two feet, and cruise control.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Complete waste of money. I've never found one that didn't give tons of false alarms...after a while you just stop using it or stop trusting it when it does go off.

 

[OS]

laser detection is a tricky proposition, i have a beltronics RX65, i think escort is basically the same company.

Laser detection from the front in particular is doable, my detector has picked up laser from the front, on a country road and a cop hiding behind a bush and it saved me in that instance.

however from the back, the laser sensor is much less sensitive, i got nabbed by this a couple weeks ago.
i think this imbalance is compounded by the fact that on the front the surfaces are sloped and you can get away with no front plate, both which supposedly can make detection harder, where as the back the surfaces are more vertical, and everyone has to have a rear plate.

so even if you use a detector, also pay attention to curved roads where a cop can hide and basically ambush you from behind.

 

[spidey07]

Complete waste of money. I've never found one that didn't give tons of false alarms...after a while you just stop using it or stop trusting it when it does go off.

Then you've never had a 8500.

 

[vshah]

escort 8500 x50. just because you got tagged by laser doesn't mean the cop is necessarily going to ticket you (unless you were going ludicrously fast). i've been hit by laser doing 78 in a 65 and not been pulled over....depends on the cop and on traffic if he chooses to act on the info provided by his laser.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

I had a V1, but no one uses radar down here anymore, its all pop laser so its pretty useless. I sold it

 

[spidey07]

laser detection is a tricky proposition, i have a beltronics RX65, i think escort is basically the same company.

Laser detection from the front in particular is doable, my detector has picked up laser from the front, on a country road and a cop hiding behind a bush and it saved me in that instance.

however from the back, the laser sensor is much less sensitive, i got nabbed by this a couple weeks ago.
i think this imbalance is compounded by the fact that on the front the surfaces are sloped and you can get away with no front plate, both which supposedly can make detection harder, where as the back the surfaces are more vertical, and everyone has to have a rear plate.

so even if you use a detector, also pay attention to curved roads where a cop can hide and basically ambush you from behind.

That's the only time I got nabbed. Cop on an entrance ramp, no cars anywhere. Got me after I passed the exit.

 

[MotF Bane]

With laser, the laser beam at maximum I believe is 18 inches wide and needs to be pointed exactly at a car's headlights or license plate to get a speed. It's super hard to pick up laser from other cars. It's not like sonar that spreads across the entire street and bounces for nearly a mile or more.

You are correct on all aspects (including your other posts) except the beam spread; there is no maximum, it's a continually expanding cone, as would fit for any energy emission really. You're still on the right idea though, it's very precise, especially when compared to laser.

laser detection is a tricky proposition, i have a beltronics RX65, i think escort is basically the same company.

Laser detection from the front in particular is doable, my detector has picked up laser from the front, on a country road and a cop hiding behind a bush and it saved me in that instance.

however from the back, the laser sensor is much less sensitive, i got nabbed by this a couple weeks ago.
i think this imbalance is compounded by the fact that on the front the surfaces are sloped and you can get away with no front plate, both which supposedly can make detection harder, where as the back the surfaces are more vertical, and everyone has to have a rear plate.

so even if you use a detector, also pay attention to curved roads where a cop can hide and basically ambush you from behind.

You only have a single sensor on your RX65, and laser is generally LOS. If you have two sensors, it's a lot easier to pick up laser from behind. What you really want to use against laser is a jammer set, preferably with front and rear. That does get rather expensive, although if it saves you from one ticket, it will have paid for itself. Of course, to the best of my knowledge, there are only two detectors with two sensors, and only one of those has them front and rear.

Complete waste of money. I've never found one that didn't give tons of false alarms...after a while you just stop using it or stop trusting it when it does go off.

Bought a cheap one? Perhaps a Cobra?

Fine. Don't believe me. I got a blip (the 8500 makes it very clear for laser), and slammed on the brakes only to see a half-second later a guy with a gun on me. When the laser goes off, I know it's real...unless I'm coming up on an accident or a cop SUV which always trips my laser like crazy.

I'll take personal experience over what one reads on the intarweb. If all those times they didn't want to pull me over going 15+, well I guess they didn't want to pull me.

That doesn't make sense. I would suggest your 8500 may be defective; although since it works for you, no need to seek repair. LIDAR units do not leak signal during standby, they transmit on trigger, and an accident will not have an active transmission. Have you ever received a laser alert that you believe is from a rolling police vehicle?

I don't need one..I know exactly where my radar is.

Cheater.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Then you've never had a 8500.

Nor will I ever.

I'd rather rely on my experience, my eyes, and my common sense by just not speeding...much.

Besides, speeding in a car is for losers. The motorcycle is where I have my fun and you can have a lot of fun on a bike without attracting much attention from the police if you know what you're doing and where to do it. Beyond that, take it to the track.

 

[MotF Bane]

I had a V1, but no one uses radar down here anymore, its all pop laser so its pretty useless. I sold it

POP != laser.

 

[MotF Bane]

Besides, speeding in a car is for losers. The motorcycle is where I have my fun and you can have a lot of fun on a bike without attracting much attention from the police if you know what you're doing and where to do it. Beyond that, take it to the track.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

POP != laser.

Yeah my bad, I mean laser. Either they make it painfully obvious (standing in plain view) or they're hidden in bushes or something stupid. Either way it didnt do much so I got my 400 back.

 

[MotF Bane]

Yeah my bad, I mean laser. Either they make it painfully obvious (standing in plain view) or they're hidden in bushes or something stupid. Either way it didnt do much so I got my 400 back.

The trap I ran through yesterday, not only was he in plain view, he was wearing his green-yellow safety jacket, but the guy behind me still didn't figure it out. I'd like more of them to do plain view, it's another stupid tax.

V1 certainly is expensive.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I don't need one..I know exactly where my radar is.

Got a Spectre Mk IV in your car?

06 LS : Valentine One
98 Cavvy : Whistler Pro-78SE (purchased first)

Cost of a radar detector is peanuts compared to the ticket, court costs and insurance premiums, even with the "right to speed" law in IA (no insurance hit for <= 10mph over, but ONLY in a 35-55mph zone). Those of you in VA (or if you're a commercial driver) don't have much of a choice besides a Bell STi Driver, since AFAIK it's the only radar detector not seen by a Spectre IV.

If I won the lotto, I'd get a Blinder M40.