Radar Detectors

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
0
76
Any experts here?

In the market for one right now. I am leaning towards the Bell v955.
I definitely need TSR since in Dayton, they have traffic monitoring all over 75N

Also looking at the V995, 8500ix and the RX65 ( I know they are the same).

I think Ohio has a law set in place that an officer can write up a ticket using his "trained eye". I don't know if thats true but i've heard it more than once in my area.

I don't speed too much above the limit but I've heard people getting pulled over for 6-8mph over, which is what I usually drive about. Plus I'm not always actively looking at my speedometer, and I do commute a lot on the highway (everyday).

Thanks
 

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
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Alright I'll check out those forums.
Red light cameras is not an issue around here. I'm going for the v955 I think.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
I have the 9500ix. It's good for Ka, but useless for laser, like every other detector. For K and X bands, I got nothing but false alerts for three months, so I simply turned those bands off. The cops only use Ka and laser in CA, as far as I can tell. In retrospect I would have purchased the 8500, because the GPS signal lockout is pointless once you realize that there will never be a legitimate K or X band, and it won't lock out Ka or laser even for false Ka and laser sources. After turning off X and K detection to get the damn thing to shut up, the GPS doesn't have anything left to do.
 

Hellotalkie

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2005
1,615
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Yeah, plus the 9500ix is expensive!

I bought the v955 for 89.00 after using my amazon gift cards. Should be getting here wednesday. I already have my car hardwired for a radar detector.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
I have the 9500ix. It's good for Ka, but useless for laser, like every other detector. For K and X bands, I got nothing but false alerts for three months, so I simply turned those bands off. The cops only use Ka and laser in CA, as far as I can tell. In retrospect I would have purchased the 8500, because the GPS signal lockout is pointless once you realize that there will never be a legitimate K or X band, and it won't lock out Ka or laser even for false Ka and laser sources. After turning off X and K detection to get the damn thing to shut up, the GPS doesn't have anything left to do.

Don't discount K. You're more likely to run into it in towns.
 

KDKPSJ

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2002
3,288
58
91
Radar detector without laser jammer is useless if you encounter laser. Period. So, if your state/town cops ever use laser, my suggestion is: Don't get the detector, and don't speed

Your chance of getting ticket will be actually higher with detector, because you believe your detector will save you from the ticket and you speed when there is no radar signal.
 
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Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
I threw my radar detector in the glovebox because all cops around here have laser. Radar detectors are worthless these days.
 

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,350
106
106
I threw my radar detector in the glovebox because all cops around here have laser. Radar detectors are worthless these days.

Same, the CHP is almost completely laser in the Bay Area. I still use my detector when heading out for long road trips as many rural areas use K and Ka, but it's worthless around town.
 

punjabiplaya

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2006
3,495
1
71
Any experts here?

In the market for one right now. I am leaning towards the Bell v955.
I definitely need TSR since in Dayton, they have traffic monitoring all over 75N

Also looking at the V995, 8500ix and the RX65 ( I know they are the same).

I think Ohio has a law set in place that an officer can write up a ticket using his "trained eye". I don't know if thats true but i've heard it more than once in my area.

I don't speed too much above the limit but I've heard people getting pulled over for 6-8mph over, which is what I usually drive about. Plus I'm not always actively looking at my speedometer, and I do commute a lot on the highway (everyday).

Thanks

Find out what your local force uses. If it's primarily laser, then it's going to be pretty much pointless. If it's radar, you're going to get what you pay for. I have a v995 because I'm broke as shit and that's all I can afford now. It's actually done pretty well for me.

http://www.radartest.com/
plus the others that were mentioned.

Yeah, I saw that Ohio passed a law about officers pulling people over just because of what they judge.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.co...ing-Allows-Ohio-Officers-to-Guess-Your-Speed/

edit: looks like it's an Ohio Sup Court ruling
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
I just picked up the new Escort iQ and I had before the 9500ix.

If you don't care about a navigation system, get the 9500ix, hands down.

Don't listen to what others tell you here, ignore the Valentine, it's a POS with too many false signals. If you want top performance get the Escort Redline, it beats the V1 and has less false signals and it cannot be detected by police. V1 users are fanboys are like AMD fanboys. Their detectors are second best but they'll come with a million excuses to buy it anyway.

The 9500ix is the best all around though. It has 90% of the Redline's performance but filters out false signals automatically by remembering where they are and ignoring them next time you drive by.
 
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JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
You need to make sure they're even legal to have in your state or city.

They're only illegal in Virginia and Washington DC.

If you live in one of those two places, you can just get an Escort Redline, it's magnesium coating cannot be detected by police.

Do NOT get the V1 if you live in VA, the V1 leaks like crazy.
 

SyndromeOCZ

Senior member
Aug 8, 2010
615
0
71
I've got a 9500ix and a 8500, and will probably pick up an IQ soon. I'd say the 9500 is the best deal, I've seen them online for around 350 USD new. No one around here uses laser though, as far as I know if you get hit with laser with any detector then your screwed(unless it has a lidar shifter, which is illegal in most all states).
 

jteef

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2001
1,355
0
76
i've had 0 tickets driving a fast bright yellow car for the past 7 years with the V1. It's possible the new detectors are better, but my V1 still works awesome in Florida and i don't know what I would do without the arrows.

also, lidar shifters are only "illegal" in a few states and even then i'm not sure those states that have laws actually have the authority to regulate that spectrum.
 

punjabiplaya

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2006
3,495
1
71
Laser is regulated by the FDA and currently there are no federal laws prohibiting the use of laser jamming equipment to jam police radar for passenger vehicles.
However some states have enacted their own laws and are illegal in the following states: South Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois and Washington DC.

Most states that have laws against Laser Jaming the penalties are minor. You should check the laws in your state to be sure.

If used properly the Blinder Xtreme Laser Jammer is undetectable and I personally have never had a customer have any issue with using the Blinder Xtreme Jammer.

What I mean by using right is: Get hit with Laser and you get the alert. Slow down and kill the jammer so the officer gets a speed and never gets a clue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvmJEooudi4

http://www.blinder-xtreme.net/
 

vshah

Lifer
Sep 20, 2003
19,003
24
81
i have an 8500x50...warned me 4x on a drive from pitt to nyc today.

they aren't infallible though. i've gotten caught doing a few over and my detector didn't go off even once. mounting is key. i just keep it more for fun now since i've pretty much stopped speeding.
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
I've got a 9500ix and a 8500, and will probably pick up an IQ soon. I'd say the 9500 is the best deal, I've seen them online for around 350 USD new. No one around here uses laser though, as far as I know if you get hit with laser with any detector then your screwed(unless it has a lidar shifter, which is illegal in most all states).

The 8500 X50 sells for around $299.99, while the 9500ix sells for $499.99.

Do not buy from anyone that is selling it for less than these prices. It means they are not an authorized reseller and you will not get a factory warranty from Escort. There are a LOT of sketchy people reselling refurbished Escort and Beltronics radar detectors as new. Authorized retailers for Escort and Bel participate in MAP pricing and are not allowing to sell it for less than a certain price (excluding coupons).
 
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Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
I think Ohio has a law set in place that an officer can write up a ticket using his "trained eye". I don't know if thats true but i've heard it more than once in my area.

In California CHP can "pace" vehicles from a bit behind. My LE friend (deputy sheriff somewhere in SoCal) told me their academy trained them to estimate speed through observation, and that they can use that as basis for pulling someone over if they wanted.

Don't discount K. You're more likely to run into it in towns.

K still gets plenty of use near me, but most is Ka with a bit of laser.

Regarding laser, there has been times when my detector has gone off, but clearly it was aimed at someone a bit in front of me. Yes, if you're the only one on the road and you don't have a laser jammer you're screwed, but don't completely discount laser detection.

Your chance of getting ticket will be actually higher with detector, because you believe your detector will save you from the ticket and you speed when there is no radar signal.

Not necessarily true. A lot of the time I'm just cruising with traffic. If my detector blips, I'll at least check my speed and slow down if necessary.

They're only illegal in Virginia and Washington DC.

Aren't they illegal in Connecticut too? Also, illegal on military bases.
 

JMapleton

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,179
2
81
Aren't they illegal in Connecticut too? Also, illegal on military bases.

No the CT law was repealed a few years ago.

And yes military bases because some cheap radar detectors (ahem, Cobra) may interfere with other equipment.