Radar and scanners?

What is the difference between a radar detector and a scanner? I am thinking about getting one but im not exactly sure what it will do? I've looked at the escort 8500 and some other ones. Just drop any info you have about them and what they do. THANX:)

a radar detector will sense the speed radar that police use. A scanner will pick up their radio communications

That is true that the detector is for the radar and the scanner is for the communications. Where that plays into getting a "radar detector" I recommend either a valentine 1 or 2 also K40 makes hella nice detector for radar and laser.

So there is no way to get somethin that will detect cops in your area unless u have a scanner?

there used to be something called a beartracker .... but someone told me not too long ago, that it no longer works with standard police radio equipment.

ARGHHH!!

I really wanan get something that is gonan help me avoid the police. I know that they setup speed traps sometimes around the city but im more worried about driving aroudn and suddenly passing one or something. I just wanna be able to avoid them as much as possible.

I like avoiding cops as much as possible too :D

So anyone got any suggestions on what to get?
:rolleyes:

Here is my two cents...I've had a radar detector in my last 2 cars for last 6 years....very nice to have and have saved my ass a million and one times....but alas when my new accord got busted into, they jacked it along with everything else you could think of....I bought a scanner and I like it better than a radar detector for two reasons....1) I've only gotten tickets from laser on the highway (on a scanner I can know if there's a speed trap anywhere cuz I hear "red chevy extended cab...77, gold honda accord 76, etc"....that's nice to hear...2) I don't know how, but from having a radar detector for so long....it's like I don't need one anymore....I guess you start to figure out where cops are and how they think....

Another cool thing about a scanner is like when you and your friends are all piled up in a parking lot just shooting the shit and some bitch rollin down the street thinks your all up to no good, she calls the cops...boom....on the scanner...."blah blah blah we got 10-xx at this address, complainer says there are a bunch of kids behind this building at xxth and xx St.." How nice is it to roll out of dangers way 10 min. before cops show up.....handy for street racing too....hope this helps you a bit.

I have both mounted in my car, they are great. I live in the suburbs of Chicago and the scanner picks up southern wis, and northern ind. without a huge antenna. The scanner is great cause cops usually say where they are and what they are doing all the time and stuff, its also fun to listen to the cops and try to find them, or even beat them to a certain location. i recommend them they have saved my wallet a few times

Are there any name brand scanners and where should I research the different brands?

uniden makes some nice scanners, thats what i got and i love it.

But if you have a scanner, don't you have to listen to cops talk all the time? That would suck... I'd rather listen to music. Or does it only turn on sometimes? Being able to know when you gotta roll out is a pretty good benefit, though.. I can think of a few times that would have been handy.

the scanner plays whatever is being broadcast ..... sometimes it's just silent

When i used to race i would just put it on the local channels and scan them, so i knew what was going on in the area. But if i was cruizing around i had it on full scan and it would pick up anything, even fast food and cell phones, kinda funny sometimes.

You know, a scanner sounds like a pretty cool toy now that I think about it. Know any good online stores to buy them and detectors at?

Lol I want one too!

Ah damnit, I just found out scanners are illegal in my state (ny). I guess that wouldn't totally stop someone who was determined to listen in on stuff, but they fine you and take the scanner if you're caught. Radar detecters are totally legal though, so that's something. Here's the site I found that out at:
Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The United States (http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/)