Radar Detectors?!?
 

im in the market looking for a radar detector and i was wondering what kind you guys have and how well it works? i dont think im gona look into the valentine1 or those expensive a$$ ones...but something thats good value you guys recommend.

thanks! :tup:

most peeps say its not worth it.
my story: driving home @ 3 am and wasn't speeding. car behing me in my subdivision(usually pretty enpty) i was at a stopsign turning left and then out of nowhere this cop light go on. turns out there was a cop behind the car behind me! heh. so you never know. i have no idea why the guy behind me got pulled over either.
idk

www.radartest.com
www.escortradar.com The best on the market! 8500 x50 And I got one!
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=1064
The Passport 8500's platinum exterior helps visually distinguish Escort's new entry. There are two multi-function switches atop the case and a simple thumbwheel power/volume switch on the side. A high-visibility red text display on the front of the case is flanked by an audio manual-mute button that remains easily accessible regardless of where the detector is mounted, a thoughtful design touch.

The Passport 8500's microprocessor can be reprogrammed to combat future radar and laser guns and provides nine user-selectable features for an unprecedented level of customization to user preferences. Aside from the standard bar-graph display there's also a unique ExpertMeter that tracks up to eight simultaneous radar threats and displays the band and relative signal-strength of each. Techno-geeks will find favor with a third option, the SpecDisplay that identifies the exact frequency of each radar signal and displays it numerically.

Other programmable options include seven different power-on indicators, an abbreviated power-up self-test sequence, five levels of display brightness including full-dark, an alternate set of audio tones and selectable band defeat to disable individual bands in areas where only one type of radar is used. (The BEL 980 also has this capability, making both models good choices for foreign travel.)

Standard is a unique SmartCord with built-in status LED, alert light and mute switch. Plugged into the cigarette lighter, it allows the 8500 to run in full-dark mode for discrete nighttime operation or to be tucked away out of sight, safe from inquisitive eyes.

Despite this array of programmable features we found the Passport 8500 a paragon of user-friendly operation. Depressing both of the extra-large, textured top buttons enters programming mode; press the left button to scroll through the menu, the right button to make selections. It's the most intuitive programming method we've seen and the only one that doesn't require prior consultation with the owner manual.

Instead of manually selecting city or highway mode we tested the Passport 8500 in its unique Auto Mode and let the microprocessor automatically regulate sensitivity. Apparently it's a pretty smart microprocessor, allowing a single false alarm on the urban loop with no compromises in detection range on the road. It ferreted out the lethal digital Ka-band radar gun at 40,222 feet, a virtual tie with the BEL 980 but fully 3.2 miles before the Valentine One. In the difficult curve test its X-band city-mode range bettered the BEL 980's by 1,681 feet and the V1's by 4,260 feet, a staggering 311 percent.

Except in one X-band test where the V1 led the pack, the Passport 8500 and the hotshot BEL 980 shared top honors, scoring within feet of each other nearly every time. (The exception: X-band highway mode/curve--V1: 6,348, Passport 8500: 6,280, BEL 980: 4,599.) We awarded the Passport 8500 extra points over the BEL mostly for its ease of operation and unique features. Judged solely on performance and value it would be nigh impossible to choose between the two.

The new Passport 8500 displays considerable refinement and attention to detail, a practical example of how decades of experience, coupled with leading-edge technology, combine to raise the bar another notch in high-performance police radar and laser detection.

im selling a semi-new escort passport 8500 for $200.. stores sell it for $399 and internet stores sell it for around $299

Go with the Escort Passport 8500. I have one of these; the range is incredible. You may want to look into xproductionz's slightly used one, it sounds like a good deal.

i have a bell and i love it

i havea cobra 9110, its ok. only like $100, but im gonna upgrade to a nicer one soon like an escort passport i think.

Go to rockymountain radar. They make a passive jammer/radar jammer combo, and yes passive jammers a legal in all but a few states, and they list the states you can use it in. Passive jammers like these basically scramble the signal that they hit you with and through back at them thus confusing the computer in the radar gun. They even have a warranty that if you get a ticket in the first year, they pay for it. I have had one for 2 years now and can attest that it works. In Ohio we have those goofy signs that tell you how fast you are going, and it always goes blank when I go by. When I see cops on the side of the road try to hit me with radar, they alway look at there gun and wunder what's going on.

But here's the deal, I was told about this company and the detector by a cop that I know. Ends up this Rocky mountain radar is the sister company to the company that makes the radar guns for the cops. He bought one and tested with his and two of his friends patrol cars, no one could get a lock on the his mustang (his personal car) unless they where with in 100 ft (which is what the company calls the burn through zone) Most cops, once their radar gets messed up, they spend a minute or two to run a systems check on it, and by that time you are long gone :). I'm looking at getting anouther one, but they are going for 300 or 350 for the better model.

Here is their site
http://www.rockymountainradar.com

8500x50 has incredible range. Just remember that you probably won't be able to talk your way out of any kind of ticket if you have a radar detector or jammer visible.

(FYI - i know nothing about radar detectors n waht not)

but how come everyone puts them up on their front dash. obviously if u get pulled, the cops gona see it right away. why not put it down n off to the side somewhere where they cant see it? if the range is great, ur not sacrificing much by putting it somewhere else right?

So you can see it easily. They aren't illegal, in fact in some places, cops like them because they make you aware that someone is watching so you naturally slow down.

I don't use them because I pay attention to the speed limit.

I bought one right before I turned 16 (that was 6 years ago) it was remanufactured, but still works today. It has saved me no telling how many times. The only bad thing was when I was living at home, in a small town, cops would go past you at night and hit you with the radar from behind and by then it was too late.

Oh and I only paid $60 for it :)

i have a cobra, forget what model.
i love mine. it has voice alert and detects emergency vehicles, construction zones, and even trains, as well as police bands.
lol, i love it because it talks and says "be careful, emergency vehicle approaching" or "be careful, k alert" or "be careful, train approaching" hehe i think mine helps

what kind do u have caucasian.asian?

I have gone thru 3 radars.. all of which had no problems, 1st radar was about $40 from walmart I got when I was 16 because I wasnt sure how much i'd use it or if i'd get annoyed.. so then after that I said... well im sure a $100 would be better, and I thought I'd never buy a $300+ one... but when I got my civic, the insurance is so high and all that I was like... I can't get a ticket... so I paid $300+tax @ bestbuy for the escort 8500 passport this was when I got my civic in November of 03. bottom line, you get what you pay for, and radars are most effective on the interstate of course...also.. I've never experimented with putting it elsewhere besides on the dash but I guarantee you... thats where it should be if you want the most accurate readings.

IMO go all out and get the 8500 X50...

my 8500 has saved me dozens of times..

had I bought the 8500 or maybe only 7500 was out when I got my first one, but had I spent the $300 up front i'd have saved $140... my total radar costs now are $450+tax.. however my $100... or maybe it was only $80 radar is in dad's car and he is using it.. so whenever i use his car i still get use out of it.. and he uses it 5+ days a week.. my cheapo 1st radar I gave to my ex gf.. doesnt matter they're being sold for $30 now.. but if i had that i'd use it in mom's van but thats on rare family trips... 4-5 times a year, so overall i've more than got my moneys worth..

sorry about the rambling... BUY THE 8500 X50!

also since im not a big instruction manual reader I had my radar for almost 6mos before I found out it had a voltmeter... which is nice cause of the drain on my battery from the stereo.. (7500 DOES NOT have a voltmeter..) X50 I dont know but i'd assume it does since its a level above the regular 8500.

i have a Cobra ESD-9220 WX. i got it two years ago so i'm sure there is an upgraded version from cobra. and now it's only $90, it was $140 when i got it. (i only paid $70 for it brand new though :sweet: )
oh yeah, it also has a weather chanel so when you switch the weather function on it tells you all the weather information in your area.
http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Cobra_ESD_9220_WX

x50 has a voltage meter.

what about the solo s2

my friend has that. it has a little bit more range than mine but i wouldn't pay $350 for it. it's good though, i guess if you have nothing else to spend your money on :shrug:

interesting why no one mention the valentine radar detectors...

The Valentine IS the best. . .

FULLY Upgradeable software, free for the life of the detector

Options to hide the detector

AND it monitors 360 degrees

yeah, its like $400 though =/

If you are going to spend $300+ why not get the jammer/detector combo? It's got all the stuff these other $300+ detectors have and block radar and laser upto 100yards from your car, and if you can't slow down by then, you deserve a ticket. And it protects from 360 degrees too...

i love my bel vector 940. i bought it for 170 more than a year ago. it's great esp if you're coming home from a party and you had a couple of drinks(still not legally drunk ofcousre). it helped me drive carefully(???), but yeah i think it saved me from a trip to jail and a couple of $$$ for tickets. it was worth the money for me

I have a Valentine for sale if you want it. It comes with many extras. Its brand new

if i remember right i think k40 radar detectors pay for any speeding tickets within the first year, i'd go with them.

www.radartest.com all the information you need. you don't nessesarily need the best depending on your driving habits.

:nono: tisk tisk

If there's a radar gun pointed at the detector and the detector picks it up, wouldn't it already be too late, especially when you're going 80mph or something like that?