Radar detectors

[y3kbuddy]

hey guys. im starting to get interestedin these radar detectors and i dont know which one is the best for me. I know that the V1 and the passport 8500 are the best but run up to about 300. Im looking for something that will detect pigs from a descent distance, low false alarms, good look, and cheap. i really dont like the look of the V1 although it is best and the passport is much to expensive. Please give any suggestion. BTW i ran a search and no good results came up.

P.S. just got a new digital camera, pics of the X coming soon!!!

 

[Biteme2718]

Hey not to be an ass or anything but there are all kinds of people who drive Xplorers on this site and even police officers find time to get on this site. My dad is an officer and has been for 24 years so if you dont mind please dont refer to people who put there ass on the line everyday for you (yes you) as pigs.

Ben

 

[Gonzo]

You get what you pay for

If you want decent protection, you're going to have to pay for it. The v1 and passport 8500 are the best (having owned the v1, I am partial to it). I have heard that the upper end Bel detectors can be good, but I have no experience with them. I wouldn't trust anything not mentioned here.

 

[metstalker]

from what i have heard the only way the radar will set off is if the radar is pointed to your car or the car next to you? use the best radar on the market 20/20 vision worked for 3.5 years 0 tickets and yes i do speed but not reckleselly

 

[Gonzo]

the only way the radar will set off is if the radar is pointed to your car or the car next to you

No, that is how laser detection is. Radar can be detected (to a degree) around corners, over hills, etc. Picture yourself in a dimly lit room. If someone turns on a light bulb in an adjacent room, you will be able to see the reflected light from around a corner (like radar). But if the person in the other room has a laser pointer, you won't see it until it is pointed at you or close to you.

 

[ipozestu]

Hog Wash is what I say. If you are going to speed you need a radar detector plain and simple. Radar detectors are very sensetive, they can detect different types of radar miles away. They do not need to be pointed right at you either. At this point it is to late. So what good would they be. Spend the money for a good detector. I own the Passport 8500. Best damn thing I have ever bought. This thing has an awesome range. I am a habitual speeder (yup guilty) and I won't travel without it. I take it with me when I travel about even. I have no experience with the V1. Its was more expensive, and had the alert directional. I figured that regardless where they are your action should be to slow down. Duh right. Once you get to know the detectors alerts they become pretty aparent what you are dealing with. I.E. The signal rapidly becomes stronger you know that you are detecting a signal that is coming torwards you. Just something that you learn when you use one for a while. Seriously if you are going to speed get a good detector.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Bel 985. I just cant justify the difference in price for the difference in performance.
http://www.speedzones.com/
This plaace has some testing info.

 

[Black Magic]

I have the Passport 8500. It is fantastic. Works great and very good at low false. Also get the remote hard wire for it. That way you don't have the coiled wire from the lighter to the detectors. I need to take pics of my set up and post it.

 

[AintNoFantasy]

i have one of those base whistler's. do a good job for the town police but don't pick up troopers until they are on top of you. i haven't hooked it up since about 4 weeks ago, i don't go as fast as i used to and considering i'm going to be a "pig" i really don't need a ticket.

 

[poconosms1]

better yet, get a radar jammer like the truckers use. Can't stand it when the truckers use them to mess with regular drivers. (keep em off untill a driver w/ a detector speeds by, and then turns it on so they can watch the car slam on the brakes.)

 

[Black Magic]

I just read ipozestu's post and agree completly!

 

[Gonzo]

get a radar jammer like the truckers use

Radar jammers are illegal. There is one called the phazer or something that is legal, but it doesn't work. You would be better off getting a speeding ticket than getting caught with a jammer. You are much better off with a radar detector, and even then it will not always save you. I sold mine because I don't drive as fast as I used to in high school, and the cops around here use mostly vascar, laser, and some instant-on.

 

[gordonma]

Hey Black Magic,
What exactly is the remote hardwire for the Pasport and how did you go about doing it. Also, did you get the pictures of your setup yet?
Thanks
Mike

 

[X~FACTOR]

I don't know what is the best Radar Detector but I do know that Cobra sucks. I bought one for my trip from NY to Florida and it was useless. It beeps when the trooper is about 20 feet away. Totally useless!

 

[ipozestu]

The hard wire set up is available from Passport. I think that it was $29.99. It allows you to run a switched 12V supply to your detector. This way you don't have to have the coil to the cigarette lighter. You can tap into just about any switched 12V source. I opted to tap into the source supplying my over head console. No wire nice and clean.

 

[huskyfan23]

I bought a Passport 8500. Works great! Very helpful, also lets me know which stores have electric doors (but that's good). I didn't get the hardwire kit, though I have a switch built into my stock cigarette lighter, so I had none. I took a one-into-two lighter and pulled one apart, then wired that to my radio fuse in the fusepanel. I didn't wanna wait for a hardwire kit delivery so I just did this. Been working for the past 2 weeks I've had it. I definitely think this is the 'World's Best', or one of them at least!

 

[y3kbuddy]

Wow, im surprised at the response this thread got. I'd like to take the time to thank everyone who put it their two cents. After reading all the posts, I guess im gona have to get a passport then. Kinda expensive though. I would also like to point out that I wont be driving much on the freeway, mostly in the city. (cant bare to go 25-35 mph) if anyone knows of any good deals or other comments please post. Again thanks to everyone.

 

[terdrocket]

go to radartest.com

I used that site about 2 years ago to pic out a BEL 980. It came in second to the passport 8500 (a close 2nd) and was 70 bucks cheaper. It has been a great detector. The cheaper BEL's are crap, my dad has one. It looks just like mine, but goes off constantly.

 

[brendan]

Seems like I'm the only one with a V1 so far. I bought it about 6 months ago and it has saved me quite a few times so far. Everyone uses instant-on up here and traffic is quite sporadic so it's kinda scary when I'm the only one getting gunned. But it has worked flawlessly so far. I rarely get false alarms on the highway (like 2 so far out of 30 signals) and it detects everyone from a good distance. I really enjoy the directional arrows because it gives you a sense of where the signal is coming from and where to look.

It works excellent against radar that is continuously on and as good as possible with instant-on; it detects right away but that time is only the time the cop hits the trigger.

The only complaint is that all of the different radars have the same color signal light, they do have different tones though. And now I know from the tone what's shooting me, laser sounds pretty sweet!! And I've actually been hit by laser in this tiny town of International Falls!

The other thing about the Valentine1 is the accessories it comes with. You need to buy nothing essentially, unless you want the cigarette lighter display which I find no need for. I have mine hard-wired with the phone cord wire running up A-pillar. That way I don't forget to turn it on or off.

I recommend it, but I'd like to see a side-to-side with an 8500 to tell you the truth.

BTW, it's not as gaudy as you think when installed. Mine's above the rear view, below the tinted glass and it looks fine.

 

[Black Magic]

Originally posted by y3kbuddy
..I would also like to point out that I wont be driving much on the freeway, mostly in the city. (cant bare to go 25-35 mph)...

* * * Everyone please read * * *

When you are driving arround in the city arround houses and parks. Please, PLEASE use extra caution! Kids are everywhere and they don't pay attention to cars. A lot of the time they never even look if they are heavy into playing. If they run out in the street from between a couple of cars you will never see them. I would hate to see a child killed or even hurt. You have no idea the pain you would feel. I have never hit a child myself and hope I never will. Just take your time and keep an eye open for them. There are a lot of parents that just put their kids outside and do not watch them like they should. There was a little 6 yr old girl hit here by a big truck right in front of here mother. That is very sad and messed up!

I am not pretching, just trying to bring awareness to those that might not be aware of little kids.
Thanks for reading and understanding.