Your views on radar detectors....

[2000silvers2k]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I love my detector, I use it to speed safely, yah that's right, safely, I drive 25 miles each way to work every day, its 70% back roads where the speed limit is 40mph, now there are some spots where you can SAFELY do 60, but its posted 40, so is it against the law to do 45-50 yes, is it unsafe NO. The cops on this stretch of road always use K-Band and leave it on, so my detector has saved me MANY times and has already paid for its self over and over again.

I agree with the other poster who says based on the conditions and the speed of the traffic around you is most important, if its a clear day and traffic is flowing at 85mph in a 65 (mass turnpike) Is it safe to do 65, HELL no its not, Is it legal, yes, on the other side of the coin, if traffic is flowing at 65, and you find yourself weaving in and out of traffic to do 75, is that safe? HELL no its not.

Up here in NH people tend to drive below the speed limit, which is fine if there are passing zones or two lanes, but often there are not, or you will be on a two lane highway and there are 10 cars in the left lane doing 60 and no cars in the right lane, now that's aggravating!

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I'm not convinced they detectors do all that much good, based on the observations I've made on the way our local law enforcement track speed.
Many times they use the LIDAR (laser). That device gives no detectable signal until the laser gets to the target and triggers the detector.
Long before the driver can react and slow down, the officer has their speed.
The detector may indicate radar units in your near vicinity, but the radar guns indicate the specific speed of a specific vehicle, so in some cases you weren't being tracked anyway.
The stationary built into the squad cars can be set to be constantly on, or the operator can hit a button to activate- and here again the detector won't sound till the operator already has their speed.
Just my observations from the squad car's perspective.
I've seen many cars with radar detectors in them get nailed.

Are the detectors used to break the law? Of course, but where they're legal, so what? Where they're illegal, then you're taking your chances.

Where I live, they're legal. Just not all that useful, from my experiences.

 

[scca vette]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I'm not convinced they detectors do all that much good, based on the observations I've made on the way our local law enforcement track speed.
Many times they use the LIDAR (laser). That device gives no detectable signal until the laser gets to the target and triggers the detector.
Long before the driver can react and slow down, the officer has their speed.
The detector may indicate radar units in your near vicinity, but the radar guns indicate the specific speed of a specific vehicle, so in some cases you weren't being tracked anyway.
The stationary built into the squad cars can be set to be constantly on, or the operator can hit a button to activate- and here again the detector won't sound till the operator already has their speed.
Just my observations from the squad car's perspective.
I've seen many cars with radar detectors in them get nailed.

Are the detectors used to break the law? Of course, but where they're legal, so what? Where they're illegal, then you're taking your chances.

Where I live, they're legal. Just not all that useful, from my experiences.

You are correct that the newer radar systems are pretty much instant on and that is why you also have to know how to drive with a radar detector. The high end radar detectors will come with "driving tips" on how to use the traffic around you to get a warning before you get cought. it is possible to beat instant on and laser IF you know how to use the traffic around you as scouts.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I had one in the 80's when I drove an IROC Z 28 and the speed limit was 55. Got nailed twice anyway, once on I 80 in Indiana with vascar (an optical system) and once in southern Virginia on I 85 ( no other trafic in sight so the detector just told me I got caught).
I haven't bothered with one since the hghway speed limit has returned to a reasonable level, though I wouldn't mind it being a bit higher.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Did you know...... that a bushnell laser rangefinder will set off the radar detectors

I just use my cruise control and have not bothered with a detector in many years.

I no longer feel that I have won a battle with the LEO who is monitoring speed.........

BTW have you seen the new radar equipment? It is instant on/off and unbeatable.

Well, that's technically not true anymore. While you can't "beat" an instant on radar, unless you are the only car on the road, when they "pop" someone in front of you, new detectors, including mine, can detect that "pop" radar signal and can help you avoid issues.

And ezmobee, my detector actually is more than just that. Mine shows a digital readout of car battery voltage (my truck doesn't have a gauge), a compass, etc. It has intellimute where you set it to auto mute below a certain engine RPM so it doesn't start yelling at you at a stop light.

Oh yea, my truck doesn't have cruise control.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I remember an old episode of CHIPS where they pulled over a driver who got very upset and claimed that since he had a radar detector and there was tinfoil packed in the hubcaps, they couldn't possibly have clocked his speed. That was back when CHP didn't use radar at all.

 

[jkust]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Wow I haven't had one since the 80's and then laser radar came out and made mine obselete. I also had a CB back in those days. I haven't had a speeding ticked since about 1992 and that was 53mph in a 50mph zone on the way to a night club. I drive a 10 year old minivan and seemed to get overlooked. I prefer a very nondescript car for commuting. If one fell in my lap I wouldn't be adverst to using it but wouldn't buy one. Also we don't have photo enforcement here in MN.

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Haven't used one in a while but I also haven't been caught speeding in a while. I used to speed...now that I've done my own mechanical work on my vehicles I tend to appreciate it a lil more and dont abuse the engine as much.

I got busted with a radar like 8 years ago I was doing close to 100 in a 70. Cop said he clocked me at 81 or something so I got off with a cheaper ticket...but still a ticket.

In the Twin Cities metro area it's pretty difficult to speed with all the dumbasses going under the speedlimit in the left lane, seats smashing them up against there winshield, peering straight ahead, clinching there steering wheel in fear of death as if it were approaching any second. The problem with these idiots is there not aware of there surroudings...only whats in front of them which is usually nothing since there holding up traffic. I don't understand this driving style.

If I do speed (on road trips only) it's only about 5mph over and it makes the trip a little more exciting watching out for the law knowing you're breaking it.

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I owned one years ago and would drive 10 over.....now I don't own one and do 5 over...don't really think they are worth the money.

When they came out with them police radar would be on all the time and the detectors would be useful....then the police started just shooting them for a couple seconds at a time so even with a detector you probably are going to get a ticket.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

If you are going to get one, get the best...the Valentine.

http://www.valentine1.com/

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

We are short of cops so hereabouts, everyone speeds. That's fine if everyone is doing the same speed; but really gets bad if one driver is going slower or faster. In that case I cant see how a detector can do any good; the radar reads about 6 lanes of traffic at 1/4 mile, so if all cars are speeding; either toward or away from the cop; it won't tag anyone special. If your'e alone then you've already been had. My cousin drives 35; freeway, school zone, anywhere, 35. He's a bigger problem than speeders. He drives a volvo; they advertise the safest car on the road. Of course they're safe; have you ever followed on that was doing more than 35 ? We need a detector for road rage more than speed. Most states have plates with little wheel chairs on them; we need a new plate that has a frying pan with a brain in it!

 

[mscher]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

I'd use one every day - except they are illegal in commercial vehicles.

More speed limits are set by bureaucrats, than traffic engineers, anyway.

Detectors are even more important as traffic tickets are now being written as often as parking tickets - show me the money!

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

If you are going to get one, get the best...the Valentine.

http://www.valentine1.com/

That's a 500 dollar detector. Nowadays you can get nearly identical performance for under 100 bucks. All detectors just detect radar and laser the same way...if it does it well at 100 why pay 500?

I read too many reviews of people saying valentine isn't worth the money as it was actually less sensitive than detectors costing a fourth the cost of the valentine. At one time they were the best, now they're just the most expensive.

No sane person will pay 300 dollars more to get a little arrow showing if it's coming from the front or the back. What does it matter? If it goes off, slow down!!!!! Or at least, check your speed. Duh. I find their little graphic of "coverage" hilarious! Anybody that knows how radio waves work would know that's bull, it doesn't matter if it's one antenna or two, its the quality of the receiver, and the location of the antenna (s), that makes the detector. Having two antennas in the same place doesn't give you twice the coverage, that's foolish! Pure hogwash. The ONLY way that would be true, equal coverage front and back, would be if you had a second detector on your rear glass or a second, and separate antenna on the rear glass.. Otherwise, one detector can only detect radar and laser from one place, if it can't "see" the radar, it doesn't matter how many antennas you have, or how many 100 dollar bills you coughed up to buy it, it won't go off.

It's funny the people that fall for these marketing ploys.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Getting a ticket will cost you more than the price of the Valentine. There are some other good detectors out there but they are similar priced to the Valentine.


As far as being less sensitive...may be more selective as most of the cheap detectors give too many false alarms so that it becomes you start to ignore it or don't use it. Have been in vehicles with a number of detectors and the Valentine is my choice hands down. Buying a radar detector for $100 and expecting it to work and not drive you crazy is a losing proposition.

If you haven't actually used the thing and are basing your observation from an advertisement, good luck buying anything.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

The 2 top brands out there these days are the Valentine like bruce said, the other is the Escort passport series. They are both very good detectors, and they tend to swap back and forth as to which one is better depending on the magazine you read.
Most folks who have either unit will swear by it.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

The 2 top brands out there these days are the Valentine like bruce said, the other is the Escort passport series. They are both very good detectors, and they tend to swap back and forth as to which one is better depending on the magazine you read.
Most folks who have either unit will swear by it.

Yea, because they've never owned another one, or owned an economy model in another brand and jumped up to a 500 dollar detector and are amazingly impressed by its performance. Yea, no ****.

I beg to differ about Valentine. They simply aren't what the used to be, sorry!

http://www.consumersearch.com/radar-detectors

http://radardetectorreview.net/forum/radar-detector-reviews/28-radar-detector-product-reviews.html

Valentine models have remained largely unchanged in the last decade, minor software tweaks notwithstanding. Compared to the other brands, however, Valentine detectors lack features. Even higher-end Valentine detectors lack text display, voice alerts, and a tutorial mode. In addition, many users have complained of an unusually high number of false alarms. The V1 is Valentine's most popular model, but even this style's user guide is outdated ? it claims that X-band is the most common used in radar guns, despite the fact that 47 state highway patrols have switched to Ka-band radar.

Yea let me tell you, Valentine impresses me for 500 dollars!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Yea let me tell you, Valentine impresses me for 500 dollars!

First, not sure where you get $500 from...its $399. Second, the Valentine is designed to detect Ka band radar. Third, the simple LED or beep that the Valentine gives is a perfect warning...very unobtrusive.

Funny how the "reviewer" in the one post talks about Cobra which happens to be the biggest waste of money out there no matter how cheap you can buy it.

I beg to differ about Valentine. They simply aren't what the used to be, sorry!

Really? How did you make that decision? What did they used to be like? Have you actually used one? How many radar detectors have you actually used?

 

[scca vette]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Yea, because they've never owned another one, or owned an economy model in another brand and jumped up to a 500 dollar detector and are amazingly impressed by its performance. Yea, no ****.

I beg to differ about Valentine. They simply aren't what the used to be, sorry!

http://www.consumersearch.com/radar-detectors

http://radardetectorreview.net/forum/radar-detector-reviews/28-radar-detector-product-reviews.html



Yea let me tell you, Valentine impresses me for 500 dollars!

I have used a LOT of different detectors over the years and they have ranged in prices of $60 - to well over $500 with all the add ons. I go with what "I" know works and have seen first hand. I did not go out and buy a V1 just because somebody told me it was the best, I bought it when I was following a friend that had one saved OUR ars because my Escort failed to pick up what the V1 did.

I have had a LOT of friends that told me that I was nuts for buying the V1 do to the price. Whenever one of them would buy a new detector we would put it up against the V1 using a actual police car (yes I had access to police vehicles to perform the test). Though all the detectors would eventually pick up the radar or Laser, the V1 ALWAYS, YES ALWAYS went off first. I know this was not a scientific test however it was about as real world as you could get. We tried the test from different angles and speeds and the V1 ALWAYS came out on top. This is the reason I have willingly spend 500+ on the V1 over the years.

Sorry I am not a Magazine or consumer reports however this has been my experience when it comes to detectors. I can about guarantee that if it were not for my V1's that I have used over the years I would have went a few stretches without a license.

Just my 2 cents for what it is worth!

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

Yea, because they've never owned another one, or owned an economy model in another brand and jumped up to a 500 dollar detector and are amazingly impressed by its performance. Yea, no ****.

I beg to differ about Valentine. They simply aren't what the used to be, sorry!

http://www.consumersearch.com/radar-detectors

http://radardetectorreview.net/forum/radar-detector-reviews/28-radar-detector-product-reviews.html



Yea let me tell you, Valentine impresses me for 500 dollars!

You might want to change your thread title from "Your views on radar detectors..." to "My views on radar detectors....." since that appears to be all that interests you.

If you are more impressed with your internet reviews than first-hand testimonials, you shouldn't be wasting people's time asking for their opinions which you then dump on.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Your views on radar detectors....

You might want to change your thread title from "Your views on radar detectors..." to "My views on radar detectors....." since that appears to be all that interests you.

If you are more impressed with your internet reviews than first-hand testimonials, you shouldn't be wasting people's time asking for their opinions which you then dump on.

Ok, well I guess illiteracy is a problem in this country. If you had actually READ THE OP, or comprehended it, I asked for peoples opinions on radar detectors IN GENERAL, not specific BRANDS. Once someone started saying Valentine was the best, I wanted to make sure to post evidence that this is no longer the universal thought in the radar detecting world.

If you READ THE OPTIONS IN THE POLL, NONE ARE ABOUT SPECIFIC BRANDS!!

You wonder about some people....

SCCA, while I respect the results you got, they aren't scientific enough to be taken with much more than a grain of salt. According to this review, if you weren't using X band radar, then you should get a barely noticeable difference between the Valentine and the Cobra.

Does that chart really justify costing a lot more? I guess it's a personal preference.

http://radartest.com/article_2.asp?articleid=100572