Who uses radar detectors?
06-30-2003, 02:47 PM
#1
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Who uses radar detectors?
Im thinking about getting a radar detector but just realized I dont know much about them. There are so many of them and they range in proce pretty drastically. I dont mind spending the extra cash if I know its gonna work well. I was just looking for peoples' opinions/ reasons for using the ones they do? Have any of you gotten tickets while using them?
06-30-2003, 03:01 PM
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I've had a little over a dozen detectors since I started driving in 78', my Valentine 1 is by far the best detector I've used. Having the directonal arrows alone is worth the price of admission.
06-30-2003, 03:46 PM
#3
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Does it have tangible benefits? If you're speeding and it goes off, do you have time to slow down and avoid a ticket? I've never used a radar detector, and I'm not a big speeder, so I can't see any reasons to buy one, personally.
Also, are they accurate? Do you usually see the cop after it goes off? Sorry about all the stupid questions.
Also, are they accurate? Do you usually see the cop after it goes off? Sorry about all the stupid questions.
06-30-2003, 04:13 PM
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Every situation is different. Depending on how the radar is being used, weather and traffic conditions. Older style X band can be picked up miles away. The newer Ka instant on is tricky. The benefit of a good detector is the ability to pick up an officer sampling traffic w/ instant on at a good distance. The V1 does this very well. After a while you get to know your detector. The benefit of the V1 is when it goes off it also shows the direction the signal is coming from, now many signals, how strong and what band (X, Ka, K) it is. All detectors will false or rather go off where there are auto door openers and such. This isn't really a false signal because it's the same frequency as the radar. It's just not a speed trap. You get use to where it goes off and how. You have to live with it for a while to learn how it works. There is no 100% with anything. If you never want to risk getting a ticket, the only way is to not speed. Common sence first, then a detector will help. Weaving in and out traffic and tail gateing will get you a ticket quicker than speeding IMHO.
Peaty
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06-30-2003, 05:32 PM
#5
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I used to have a cheepo detector a few years back. But I know technology has come leaps and bounds. Ive heard good things about the solo2. Does anyone own one? Is the valentine 1 a new detector? I can definitly see how knowing what direction its coming from can be a big help.
06-30-2003, 05:48 PM
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The V1 has been out since 92, I got mine back then and sent it back to be upgraded 3X since then. It's usually rated at the top. The guy that makes them use to work for the escort company
07-01-2003, 07:36 AM
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I have a V1 that I bought last summer. It's worked the best of all the ones i've tried, including the escort, which is an overpriced p.o.s. Be careful with all radar detectors if you have a replaced windshield, some have a coating (metallic I think) that kind of mess of the reception range of the detector through the front. Other than that, V1 is the best, hands down.
07-01-2003, 11:39 AM
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Whistlers are the worst possible detectors...maybe if you want to find someone's garage door opener, electric fence, walmart doors, car dealerships, etc.
I forgot to mention I owned one of these...I think it's somewhere on I-87 (upstate NY) around exit 20. It got catapulted out of my window after I got pulled over twice in the same trip. Then I bought the V1, night and day difference.
There is no other detector you should consider, V1 is the only one that does what it's supposed to. It sucks they are so pricey, I paid 400 from their website. You can find ones on ebay, but they are usually older versions that still bring bids around 300. May as well drop the extra cash for a brand new one. They are sweet ***. Everyone I know who has one raves about it. And they are upgradeable, so you don't have to have an old detector. You send it back to V1 and they upgrade the internals and send it back to you with brand new specs. You can check your version by finding the serial number, go to the website, type it in and it will tell you what is available. The upgrades aren't cheap either, but we're talking about paying for what you get. The casing is magnesium, don't worry about it breaking. The arrows will change the way you look for 5-0's, and helps immensely.
I forgot to mention I owned one of these...I think it's somewhere on I-87 (upstate NY) around exit 20. It got catapulted out of my window after I got pulled over twice in the same trip. Then I bought the V1, night and day difference.
There is no other detector you should consider, V1 is the only one that does what it's supposed to. It sucks they are so pricey, I paid 400 from their website. You can find ones on ebay, but they are usually older versions that still bring bids around 300. May as well drop the extra cash for a brand new one. They are sweet ***. Everyone I know who has one raves about it. And they are upgradeable, so you don't have to have an old detector. You send it back to V1 and they upgrade the internals and send it back to you with brand new specs. You can check your version by finding the serial number, go to the website, type it in and it will tell you what is available. The upgrades aren't cheap either, but we're talking about paying for what you get. The casing is magnesium, don't worry about it breaking. The arrows will change the way you look for 5-0's, and helps immensely.
07-01-2003, 12:27 PM
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i use a cheap $100 cobra detector, it works, but i have to react fast when it goes off, it usually doesnt give much of a warning before it goes off, but most times, before i can see the cop, it goes off. my next detector will be the valentine v1, hands down. it has recieved nothing but praise from any review or owner experiance
07-01-2003, 12:57 PM
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www.radartest.com
Using that info (I was on a TIGHT budget) I picked up a Whistler 1760 and am quite impressed. Its saved my behind several times now. I've used several other similar price range detectors over the years and this thing blows em out of the water. It isn't a V-1 but it is pretty good.
Using that info (I was on a TIGHT budget) I picked up a Whistler 1760 and am quite impressed. Its saved my behind several times now. I've used several other similar price range detectors over the years and this thing blows em out of the water. It isn't a V-1 but it is pretty good.
07-01-2003, 01:46 PM
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While one may be tempted to get an inexpensive detector, it really pays to wait, save your money and get a good one. The less expensive ones tend to false a lot more. The cheap ones even will leak signals and set off other detectors. When that happens you get to ignoring the beeps after a while. Then there is no point to owning it.
07-01-2003, 01:54 PM
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Which is why I really like the 1700 series Whistlers. Mine has 3 city modes (I use city 1 mode religiously) and it gives an audible "X-band" once and just visuals after that. If the signal freq changes it will sound off another single "X-band" yada yada yada. Now, if a K or Ka is detected it takes priority over the X and if (heaven forbid) laser is detected is sounds like you just played a round of PacMan. On the hwy I'll let it run in hwy mode and it has pretty good range. Over the hill Ka detection range is limited but it has picked up almost every over hill speed trap I've come across in plenty of time for me to check speed/slow down. Like I said before though, this IS NOT a top dollar detector, do some research and make your own decision. All the detector reviews I've read (from MANY sources) all agree that some of the cheapest detectors can whoop up on the big boys on some features, and some of the big boys are seriously lacking features you'd expect from their price tag.