radar detectors?

[maxthunder]

Does anyone have a radar detector? I'm really curious about how they work, and why I would want one. Can someone fill me in? (I'm talking about the typically-dash mounted ones). Also, what would be some good ones to check out?

I'd appreciate it.

max

[OffRoadSonoma]

They do not work. The cops radar are so good now that your little radar detector is no match. Just don't speed and don't act stupid while you are driving and you will be ok.

[sr20de4evr]

Originally Posted by OffRoadSonoma

They do not work. The cops radar are so good now that your little radar detector is no match. Just don't speed and don't act stupid while you are driving and you will be ok.

They only don't work if the cop is using laser or if you're the only car on the road and they have instant-on, they will work flawlessly in the other 98% of the situations on the road.

Do you want a "good" detector or the best? The best ones are the Passport 8500 and the Valentine 1. I own the 8500 and my friend has the V1, I like the 8500 better personally because it looks much much nicer, it has more features, and it has more power (can track up to 8 radar signals simultaneously, showing you the bands and levels for each of them at the same time). The V1 has direction arrows which tell you where the radar is coming from which is nice, but IMO it's not enough to justify the horrible appearance and the extra $100 it costs over the 8500. They're roughly the same in detection ability btw. There are numerous other brands which are not as good, but still decent. Bel is a good brand, and it appears their new model is up there with the Passport and V1. There have been many comparisons and reviews done over the years, check them out to learn more.

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090
http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...ts/Default.asp



btw - Since I got my 8500 2 and a half years ago I've been pulled over once, and it's because I was the only car on the road, it was 1am, he had instant-on, and I didn't realize I was cruising at 13 over (just got off the freeway after a 4 hour drive, didn't know I was going that fast).

[OffRoadSonoma]

I've had a radar detector since I first got my license and got 3 speeding tickets while using the radar detector. On the freeway they offer no protection and if the cop is using a laser in the city they don't. Those were the ways I got caught. I would never buy another radar detector. If I was gonna buy anything it would be a scrambler, but I haven't checked them out enough to be able to tell you more.

[sr20de4evr]

Maybe you had a bad one or maybe you had it mounted badly

[dantheman8328]

yea ive had a radar detector for the last maybe 6 months now and it works great in my part of maryland. i have one of the cheap Cobra ones and its alerted me to many speed traps in the area, but theyve all been using radar. however its still saved me from getting a speeding ticket yet.
if the cops in the area use radar guns and not laser then i would recommend one, but it doesnt always save you so still be careful from cops coming up behind you with instant on radar.
alot of people think that if you have a radar detector that your invinsible, and thats how most people get tickets. you still have to stay alert and watch for cops, but its that extra layer of protection, which i recommend.

[AndonD454]

why cant they anything detect laser? for example.. if a cop was 1/4 mile ahead, shooting laser at every car coming by him, wouldnt your detector go off indicating that there is lazer in the area? if he shoots 6 cars before yours wouldnt you get a warning before he gets back to you?

if not then whats the point of lazer detection on radar detectors?

[dantheman8328]

well the reason laser detectors are so innefficient is that the cop has to have already targeted your car for the laser detector to go off. think of the cops laser gun as a small laser beam...the detector has to detect that small beam. but the detectors sometime do detect this, and your best bet then is to just hit the brakes right away if you are speeding and hope he doesn't get you.
i know they make expensive kits that allow you to mount small laser detectors on other parts of your car like by the front license plate, but im not sure who makes them.

[sr20de4evr]

Originally Posted by AndonD454

why cant they anything detect laser? for example.. if a cop was 1/4 mile ahead, shooting laser at every car coming by him, wouldnt your detector go off indicating that there is lazer in the area? if he shoots 6 cars before yours wouldnt you get a warning before he gets back to you?

if not then whats the point of lazer detection on radar detectors?

When a cop uses radar, it comes out of the gun at a very wide angle and hits EVERYTHING, it bounces everywhere and your detector picks it up, bouncing off of other cars, signs, etc. When a cop uses laser, it's a very very narrow beam, it hits what he's aiming at, bounces back to him, and that's the end of it. In order for your detector to pick it up, the laser beam actually has to hit the detector. Since the beam is so small and concentrated the chances of it bouncing around hitting your detector while he's aiming at a car other than yours (because if he's aiming at yours it's already too late) are very small. Think of it like you're standing in a dark field with a person in the middle shining a light at people, if you get hit with light then the detector goes off. If the person shining the light is using a lantern then you're going to get lit up no matter who he's "aiming" it at, if the person shining the light is using a laser pointer, unless he's aiming right at you you won't get hit.

[tr10av]

My friend got one off eBay for $50 I think and when I ride with him it always gives pretty good warnings. Not sure what brand it was I'll check though.

Since we're on the subject of radar detectors, how important is where you mount it? I am going to get the same one my friend has and want to mount it in the pocket under my CD player(Double DIN). I know it's recommended to put it on your windshield, but if a cop pulls you over and sees a detector on you windshield he won't be giving out a warning, it'll be a ticket.

[sr20de4evr]

It has to have a clear line of sight, windshield is basically the only option, if you mount it in a pocket in your dash you won't pick up anything at all. Top of the windshield is supposed to be best, but it's not too practical for corded detectors unless you extend the cable and run it down the pillar.

[OffRoadSonoma]

That was how I ran my power cord. I had to slice in a longer section but thats how I did it. Just hooked one wire up to and acc circuit then ran the other to a switch then to ground. Then I could turn it on and off whenever I wanted. But going through the piller gives it a cleaner look also.

[tr10av]

Here's a link to the one my friend got.
http://cgi.ebay.com/WHISTLER-RADAR-L...QQcmdZViewItem