Just asking.... Radar options?

duane_sword

duane_sword

Well-Known Member
Messages
592
Reaction score
7
Location
Boston MA
I don't use an online name or 'handle'

So my question is just that , a question

What is the best radar detector these days? and why?

I can see prices for new units from $150 to $500 for the Escort 9500ix - I am not fearful of $500 but I am skeptical of bogus features and marketing (given I am a sales and marketing guy myself).

What is the best radar detector money can buy these days?

Again , just askin'
 
escort

escort makes a version of the 9500 that is meant to be permanently installed and hard wired, i think around $900 (i didnt get the jammer option). ive had it in the coupe for a couple years, and its paid for itself many times over. warnings are audible 'ka band detected', plus small red/green led. no perm mods, all easily removable. first pic shows detector mounted behind grill using headlight mount bolt. second pic shows small led bottom center of radio. 3rd pic shows tiny control unit attached with velcro to lower seat frame (not very accessible but all you ever really need to do is press the mute button, and i can now do that by feel).
 

Attachments

  • 2011-05-13 13.57.58.jpg
    2011-05-13 13.57.58.jpg
    80.6 KB · Views: 137
  • 461.jpg
    461.jpg
    94.4 KB · Views: 132
  • 2011-05-13 13.52.11.jpg
    2011-05-13 13.52.11.jpg
    85.3 KB · Views: 133
The times I've been pulled over for speeding in my coupe they've let me off with a "what is this?" and "nice car" warning :-P

But I'm all ears for my daily driver...
 
about to take the plunge - Escort 9500ix

alanmcg said:
escort makes a version of the 9500 that is meant to be permanently installed and hard wired, i think around $900 (i didnt get the jammer option). ive had it in the coupe for a couple years, and its paid for itself many times over. \
Click to expand...

Thank you - wow, impressive and 'cunning' installation there alanmcg!

I need to make a decision, leaning towards the standard Escort 9500ix based upon online reviews. $500 for the windscreen-mountable with cigarette lighter power.

Has anyone purchased this and express regret?... Valentine has more advertisements (at least here in the USA on the Roundel magazine etc) but I am using this as my guide so far...

http://radar-detectors-review.toptenreviews.com

Thanks for any contrary opinions and advice.
 
Rear antenna

Reading the reviews was helpful, but the scoring seems biased. They specifically left out (on the feature table) the rear antenna on the Valentine One. Here in MA, it's been my experience that away from the Boston metro area, the highway patrol cruises the interstates at around 85-95mph and catch people from behind.

Otherwise, the Escort looks like a far better detector.
 
Stevehose said:
The times I've been pulled over for speeding in my coupe they've let me off with a "what is this?" and "nice car" warning :-P

But I'm all ears for my daily driver...
Click to expand...


that is my case too ;-)

ALANMGC, question to you, can they be detected ?, I mean, we have now and then unexpected controls that stop you in the highway and scan the vehicle with a device (not sure if it is a handheld radar) and they "discover" the hidden anti-radars installed in cars. Fine is exhorbitant 3.000 euro !!
 
They are legal here except in VA and DC, any other states illegal?

deQuincey said:
that is my case too ;-)

ALANMGC, question to you, can they be detected ?, I mean, we have now and then unexpected controls that stop you in the highway and scan the vehicle with a device (not sure if it is a handheld radar) and they "discover" the hidden anti-radars installed in cars. Fine is exhorbitant 3.000 euro !!
Click to expand...
 
replies

dq: not sure if they can be detected, if they have something that scans for them explicitly, that would guess that they can. thankfully they are legal here in wa (i think).
bfeng: amazingly my front mounted detector is GREAT at picking up radar from the rear. have no idea how this works so well, but it does.
duane: i also have the 9500ix portable one (for other cars), and it works just as well as the one in the coupe.

in the 2+ years ive used this unit, it has never missed - it even gets the sneaky cop standing on side of road behind a bush with the short blast gun.
 
detectors

I have 2 9500 passports with satellite and hardwired with the jamming option in the panamera and ferrari 456. Both give excellent signals and the laser jammer works. I have two valentines as well and I love the continual feedback for how many and what kinds of radar are out there. I also like the directionality. Very helpful to me. They are both good.
 
Duane,

The radar detector gets very expensive on your car . .. with the CR transmission and the 4.10 gears you'll need a diff to be able to speed effectively as fast as some of your MA cohorts, :razz: also on this forum, so I won't incriminate them . ..

My own personal experience over a life time of driving very fast cars and many a speeding ticket in years gone by, (clean now for 10+ years) is that I rec'd tickets when using a detector, but never when driving w/o one. And I don't feel that I drove faster with one, but am more alert and aware w/o one.

Mario L.
 
Mario L. said:
Duane,

The radar detector gets very expensive on your car . .. with the CR transmission and the 4.10 gears you'll need a diff to be able to speed effectively as fast as some of your MA cohorts, :razz: also on this forum, so I won't incriminate them . ..

My own personal experience over a life time of driving very fast cars and many a speeding ticket in years gone by, (clean now for 10+ years) is that I rec'd tickets when using a detector, but never when driving w/o one. And I don't feel that I drove faster with one, but am more alert and aware w/o one.

Mario L.
Click to expand...

Ah Ha! So what you are saying is that I should always follow TodB when cruising ;-) thereby allowing his attractive NACHTBLAU coupe to be the bait.
 
Last edited:
There are radar leakage detectors

I think they work by detection radiated energy from the IF circuit oscillator (crystal).
In the old days, good detector tests include a check on the detectability of various units. This is an issue of good design to minimize radiated emissions. Something Dave Valentine mastered a long time ago. Didn't see anything like this in the link to detector tests.

Are all detectors well designed enough to be undetectable or the organization doing the reviews isn't doing a comprehensive job?
 
Its Nachtblau :).

Radar detectors don't help detect our police friends in the air. They are also merely warning devices for laser based or instant on systems.

That all said, I'd like to here more from CCR2002 about the 9500 system with the jamming option.
 
with the CR transmission and the 4.10 gears you'll need a diff to be able to speed effectively as fast as some of your MA cohorts, also on this forum, so I won't incriminate them . ..
Click to expand...
A sales pitch AND an excuse for being slow all in one sentence!

That said, neither of us could keep up with John S. in his 635 last year on the way back from LRP.

Here in MA, it's been my experience that away from the Boston metro area, the highway patrol cruises the interstates at around 85-95mph and catch people from behind.
Click to expand...
Yep, Vermont also. My latest experience in Vermont was a tail coming up doing 100MPH+. Fortunately, I saw him and just slowed down before he was close. Crazy.
 
Some comments from a guy who doesn't use either his valentine or escort anymore......

Here in Cali the CHP has gone to Laser from Ka band.
When your laser detector goes off it means you have just gotten a ticket and you need to find a safe place to pull over for your $600.00 fine. There is no warning.
They don't chase cars anymore- they wait on the side of the road for you to come to them.
When you see a cop on a bridge over a freeway he has a laser detector, a radio and 6 buddies waiting down the road.
 
TodB said:
A sales pitch AND an excuse for being slow all in one sentence!

That said, neither of us could keep up with John S. in his 635 last year on the way back from LRP.


Yep, Vermont also. My latest experience in Vermont was a tail coming up doing 100MPH+. Fortunately, I saw him and just slowed down before he was close. Crazy.
Click to expand...
just wondering, but has some lawyer challenged them for driving at super speeder pace without their flashing lights / sirens on? they are breaking the law to find others breaking the law, and endangering the general public.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top