Do Radar Detectors/Scramblers work?

[Slick]

What are everyones opinions on radar detectors and/or scramblers? do they work or no? which models? experiences?

 

[yob_yeknom]

Some radar detectors I've seen used work rather well. 'Scramblers' are illegal, federal offense, so they don't actually scramble, it's just BS. Never seen a laser scrambler, but laser detectors don't work for crap. The beam is so small is nearly impossible for it to get picked up before you're already busted.

 

[Slick]

So in other words they dont do much? Im not sure if cops out here use laser or radar?

 

[terdrocket]

everything i've heard about laser says that at about 200 yards the beam is 4' in diameter. so, if your laser detector is going crazy, you've got little or no time to react. he is pointing at you, not in a general direction

 

[99explorer5.0]

The only thing radar detectors are good for is to tell you what house is using the microwave as you drive past it and its pretty good at picking out house and buisness alarms. It might even be able to pick out which houses in your neighborhood has a dog in the backyard.

But as far as going off and giving you enough of a chance to slow down before the cop sees you. Not good at all. You dont really want that thing to warn you anyway. you know how many rear end accidents happen because someone sees a cop and jams on his brakes and goes from 85mph to 55mph in 1 second with people behind them trying to scatter so they dont hit eachohther.

First reaction from you would be to jam on the brakes and the car behind you might not see what is going on and slam right into you. But of course there are those people that will respond to this saying that they do work and it saved them from plenty of tickets etc..... But i dont believe it.

I am sure that in the labratory where they make them they point a lazer or radar beam at it and it works perfectly but in real life situations the thing will constantly be making noise and going off for everything. Save your money.

 

[sideswipe]

I can tell you from firsthand experience, my detector has saved me a ticket at least a couple of times. It has alerted me to cops hiding behind bushes, curves, etc. Thats my experience. I have the Cobra 9250 (I think).

 

[Alec]

My radar detector has also detected cops for me before I've seen them (over a 1/2 mile before I've seen them). Most of the time my innate "cop sense" tells me there's gonna be a cop around, so I'm already slowed down a bit anyways; but it gives me peace of mind sometimes.

I do agree about the whole sudden brakes thing. It is very dangerous. But like any driving situation, sudden, harsh manuevers are usually bad.

 

[EO]

I have a Bel 936 Express (I think). Used to have a Cobra for 10+ years. In all cases, the traditional radar detection has saved my butt many times (X, K, Ka). Definitely worth it.

Can't speak for the laser detection, which it has. I've only seen "Laser" light up once, for about 2 seconds. Never saw a cop.

Use your eyes. If you're on a highway, pay attention to lots of brake lights 1/2+ mile ahead - that always warns me before anything else.

My detector also has the "safety warning system" - what a laugh! There's virtually no transmitters anywhere in the nation that supply this coded information. Further digging revealed the SWS is sponsored by - surprise! - the radar detector industry to help legitimize the radar detector as a "safety device".

 

[Brian's98XLT]

Wel the cheap one work for crap but the good one do work well. I have a Passport 8500 with the Shifter ZR3.
I was sceptical when I heard what the shifter did but when I went to traing for Escort they had the top of the line Lazer gun there and with the Shifter on it could not get a speed reading. I have gone by plenty on of police with my radar going nut from lazer but so far no tickets

 

[karter74]

Jammers....

I do have a radar jammer for about 4-5 years now, and I have mixed feelings about the result. Of course, technology has gotten better since then so my data may be obsolete, but here it is anyway. I noticed that from a distance my jammer does scramble the signal and doesn't give the police a speed reading, but once I get to a certain distance... they have me covered. I have tested this out on one of those "speed reading" things they set on side of roads, both with and without my jammer, so I know it does work, but not all that well.

 

[Mustangc1923]

i use a radar detector and i know for a fact it has saved me from quite a few around here .... our cops are always hiding around bushes and stuff like that

 

[Fischer]

Originally posted by Alec
Most of the time my innate "cop sense" tells me there's gonna be a cop around...

Alec=Spider Man?...LOL

Alec,
Is that something you will be working on for your dissertation? j/k
I am game for the implant, I just got a 6 point ticket.

Tee, Hee!!

 

[Alec]

Dunno, guess it's a combo of observation, deductive reasoning, and dumb luck.

But I am Superman

 

[yob_yeknom]

You better watch it, you won't be able to fit that doctor's mask with that big head.

 

[terdrocket]

goto radartest.com

i bought the Bel 980. It is great. when the K band or Ka band starts the slightest beep, be it a constant beeping or a somewhat intermittent one, there is a cop up ahead somewhere in the area of a mile.

the X band only beeps in the parking lot of grocerystores, not 3 miles away.

i had 3 unidens and a crapler (whistler) before this one. they all pale in comparison. bottom line - you get what you pay for.

 

[Robb]

Originally posted by yob_yeknom
Some radar detectors I've seen used work rather well. 'Scramblers' are illegal, federal offense, so they don't actually scramble, it's just BS. Never seen a laser scrambler, but laser detectors don't work for crap. The beam is so small is nearly impossible for it to get picked up before you're already busted.

But for you and I John, They are all illegal!!!

man, VA laws blow!

Robb:smoke:

 

[EO]

On I-90, they put up 2 or 3 of those yellow, electronic dot-matrix signs on the side of the road that say "Right Lane Closed", etc. My detector starts going off just as if it were radar as I approach the sign, and goes crazy by the time I pass it! Soon as I pass it, all is quiet.

 

[MONMIX]

Lazer ? Worthless SWS ? Yeah , okay any way.
Radar , as long as you have Ka band and there is plenty of other vehicles ahead of you. Your best defence is as others have said , be careful. Watch five or six cars ahead. Look at bridges , curves , or bushes in the median. Crowded areas are less safe for speeding ( in more ways than one )

Don't be ****y , I read this at
www.speedtraps.com
In some state ( I think Indiana ) they have a few unmarked Mustang GT's for cop cars. What they are doing is putting this GT on the side of the road WITH a marked car behind it with his lights on. ( like he just pulled over the GT )
You think he is too busy with the GT to mess with you so you fly on by. Next thing you know you have a State Police in a Mustang GT running up on you to ruin your day.
Be careful gang.

 

[LudusHatesReese]

1) If you can't outrun the cops, you don't need a laser/radar decetor anyways.

2) Isn't it easier to just pay attention to your surroudings and LOOK for the po-pos instead of fiddling with your DVD/Cellphone/Diaper-Changer combo you picked up fromm Car-Toys?

3) Drive the speed limit if you're really that worried about it.

 

[99explorer5.0]

Now those are truely words of wisdom. If you think about it speeding is against the law and they are looking for an electronic device that will help them break the law.

I hope to god they never make an electronic device that will let people get away with murders because it looks like there will be a bunch of homicides in our neighborhoods.