My little story about what just happened.

[97GSTspyder]

Well i got off work early today because i feel like shit. Anyway on the way home, the speed limit on the road i travel is 60. I was pushing almost triple digits. Now since i travel this road back and forth every day, my radar detector NEVER goes off (meaning no false alarms from radio towers, electronic doors, etc). So here i am in the left lane doing a tad bit over 95 going up a very minor incline, and all of a sudden my radar detector went off on the X band. I looked at it, the signal strength was at 1 for about 2 seconds, then went to 2. I immediately hit the brakes. So as i'm slowing down, the strenght gets higher. Got up to 4 and i seen the state trooper traveling on the other side of the highway, he was maybe 2/10th's of a mile away when i seen him. By that time i was at 65, and by the time the strength got up to 5, i was at 63-64. Sure enough after we passed eachother, the strength got lower and lower, then died off.

A couple things i have to say about radar detectors...

First off, i'm so fucking glad i spent the $110 on mine because it has saved me quite a few tickets.
Secondly, if you have one, know the roads that you travel around you. I know my entire city, and my route to work. I know when i'll get false alarms, and so on.
Lastly, if you have one is DOES NOT mean you can go 140mph on the interstate. Especially if you're all alone and not with a pack of cars. If there's a cop ahead sitting on the side of the road, your radar detector may not go off until you're right next to him (i found that one out in arizona a couple years ago, heh).

I thought X band radar was extinct up until today. The only time i EVER get X band radar is on false alarm...Until just a little bit ago. I was so surprised to see he was using X band. Most cops around here (on interstates, and in OH) use K, KA and laser. I've only ever been lasered twice while driving (both in OH). The sound that my radar detector makes with laser is the most annoying sound i've ever heared. Supposedly laser is never a false alarm. But usually if i'm taveling on a road i'm not familiar with and i get an X band, i usually don't pay any attention to it (especially if i'm only doing 5-10mph over the limit).

All in all, my radar detector just saved my ass today. I bet i would've gotten a pretty hefty fine.

[AbsoluteGTR]

Well if say you were going triple digit speeds, they can consider that felony speeds and you can get arrested for that. I spent $25 my detector (some knock-off band) on ebay. It is decent for the money. The one time the laser part when off was when i was right next to the cop, but other than that it is always chirping (atleast it is working). It honestly works the best when there is a cop traveling in the oppsosite direction, and once it started to chip about a 1/2 mile away once. I wish I bought like a whistler or a cobra now, but oh well, I always go just 9 mph just to be safe!

[SilvrEclipse]

I have been saved a few times with my radar dectector. They are definately worth the money. But you still have to be careful because most cops here dont ride with their radar on and if you are traveling very fast they will still get you.

[sganc4life_4]

I spent about 240 on mine, and it picks on cops about a mile away

[Talon69]

I have a valentine 1

[AbsoluteGTR]

How is the valentine 1? Those babies are like $400 right? But you get what you pay for!

[tfoti]

I just sold my valentine 1 off ebay. There's a stretch of road along I-90 from buffalo thats pretty straight. I remember going home one day and it goes off on Ka band. Around here usually only state troopers use that radar band. As soon as it went off I looked at my odometer because I wanted to see just how far away he was. When I finally saw him I looked at the odometer again and IIRC it was about 1.8 miles.

So yeah, you get what you pay for.

I had X disabled on it because the only time I ever saw it used was in New Jersey and auto door openers.

I always recommend it. So what if it costs $400. I think of the money I saved from it. I only speed when I am late and never make it a habit.

Besides, I bought it for $405 and re-sold it 2 1/2 years later for $315 on ebay. So it holds its resale value.

[Thor06]

Well, a cop detector is going to be one of the first things I get for the DSM, but I dont want to shell out $400 for it. What is a decent radar detector for not too much? I know I will benefit from one, I used to go everywhere 10-15+ over but I got pulled over 3 times (50 in a 35 with a verbal warning first, 60 in a 45 with another verbal warning next, and 48 in a 30 with no proof of insurance and a written warning ) and after that I slow down. My luck wont hold forever and I know there will be more trouble in the bigger city next year. I was looking to spend $100-$200. Thanks guys.

[AbsoluteGTR]

Get a whistler or cobra, good name good price, $80-150

[imtheoneandonlyD]

I cant really remember the laser sound my cobra made but the VG2 alert drove me insane the 3-4 times it went off. Curse the jackass who stole it.

[XeVeNskyLiNE]

Originally Posted by Talon69

I have a valentine 1

Those have to be the most awesome radar detectors on earth. My uncle has one in both his Elise and STi and I've never heard of him getting a ticket. When I rode with him that thing was picking up cops way before I could ever see them. I'll eventually get my hands one of those.

[nova1313]

mine is built into my car as a dealer option. mounted on front plate, controls where power mirros would be and the indicators in my guage cluster. Nice system does work.

I was cruising last week, forgot to turn it on. Not thinking thats the first time I got a ticket because it didn't go off and I didn't slow down because it wasn't on doh! But at least it wasn't a speeding ticket I got a "disobeying traffic control device"

[97GSTspyder]

Yeah i have a Cobra and i'm perfectly happy with it...Maybe some day i'll get something better. But my inexpensive Cobra picked up a radar sign (you know, those signs on interstates that tell you how fast you're going) from a mile away on Ka band. I was surprised with that. The signal must have been pretty strong. Let's see, the only times i've gotten pulled over with it was...
When i got it 2 years ago or so, was coming home from california, traveling through arizona...83 in a 75, i was passing some cars and right behind this barrier was a cop, as soon as i got to him she gunned me. DAMN! At least he gave me a written warning.

Then when i was racing my friend on the local highway that runs through town. Was doing 110 coming up over a small hill and there was an undercover city cop sitting there. Local cops (in my city) don't use radar, but they can sure tell if you're exceeding 100 lol. Got a ticket for that one.

And the last one was completely my fault...Was going to the mall, doing 79 in a 65, Ka band went off and i ignored it because i figured it was a false alarm or a sign...Sure enough it was a cop. Cited me...Ticket was only $98 though.

Other than those times, it's saved my ass quite a few times...I don't cruise at 100 all the time, but you know, the normal amount over the speed limit the almost everyone does.

[SilvrEclipse]

I was coming home one night, I was only going about 5 over and my radar detecter picked up a cop, so I slow down a little bit. About 200yards behind him there was another cop, by this time I was slowing down to turn left. He turns around and pulls me over. I got a $400 ticket for noise nuisance.Luckely I know a judge and got it taken away.

[Talon69]

the valentine 1 is sweet, yeah you get what you pay for. I paid $400 for it, its the only one on the market that tells you which direction the radar is comming from. If any of you have the money to spare BUY IT!!!!!!!!