Radar Detectors

[omboy]

Do Radar detectors actually work? I thought they were useless..

[ABPTSX]

yes they do work. mine has saved me several times, depends what type it is, but you cannot depend on it.

[omboy]

hmm and where are these avilable from? Just curious as I have had my share of tickets in the past few months ,..

[ChinchillaX]

I heard they work and sometimes they don't. My cousin has a V1 and it saved him many times!

Best Buy sells them, or you can go online and buy the Valentine 1. The V1 is only available on the Valentine website, ppl say its the best one out there. I've been looking into getting one. I am looking at the Escort 8500 X50 blue for now, I'll get the V1 later on. I am a relatively slow driver, but to be safe I don't want them mobile revenue collectors to phish and collect from me.

I changed the title of your thread. This way people know what they are opening.:thumbsup:

[ABPTSX]

circuit city, best buy, anywhere online. can range from $100-400
there only illegal in virginia and washington dc.

i do get some false alarms with mine but its worth it when its really a cop waiting ahead or coming in the opposite direction

[Tsx536]

Valentine 1 FTW!

[omboy]

I am sure they are illegael in Canada, so how easy is it for a cop to know you have one installed? Is it possible to make it undetectable?

[(209)Stockton]

whistler pro 75 best bang for the buck

[code85]

they arent illegal in all provinces, like you're allowed to have it but not allowed to use it. plus they have radar detectors detectors <-- no its not a typo

[tex929rr]

I heard they work and sometimes they don't. The V1 is only available on the Valentine website, ppl say its the best one out there. I've been looking into getting one. I am looking at the Escort 8500 X50 blue for now, I'll get the V1 later on.

I go way back to the original model Escort (designed by Valentine - he left to start his own company), so I have more experience with them than I should admit. I have owned several Escorts, Passports, and Solos - I used the Solo on my bikes for a long time (until Ka Band became common). I currently use a Valentine, but I have read and heard good things about the Escort 8500. Just remember, a good quality detector always works, but all it does it detects a signal. It's not a Romulan cloaking device. Most of the time it just buys you enough time to brake hard and reduce the reading the officer can get. I even had it save me once from Laser when a trooper lasered a van in front of me, and them me a few seconds later - but it was enough.

There is no way to hide an operating detector from electronic detection. The detector generates a signal as part of its operation, and some police (I read about it happening in Canada) operate - well, I guess they are detector detectors.

[armandov99]

Yes, they work. You just have to know how to use them. Don't expect a magic warning anytime there's a cop around. Detectors simply pick up the radar waves the cop's gun sends off, whether it's aimed at YOU or the waves are bouncing off of other things (cars, road signs, etc...). Radar bounces around like it's nobody's business. Some are better than others, but in general, the more sensitive the better because you want to pick up radar BEFORE it's targeting you.

The Escort 8500 X50 is an excellent detector...I had one before I moved to Virginia and had to sell it, but I loved it and it did its job very well. I'm not sure if the V1 is worth the extra cost, as they always come pretty close in range tests (google radar test for more info) and it seems the only benefit is the arrows. Some people swear by the V1, some by the Escort 8500. BEL makes an excellent high-end detector as well but it can be pricy.

If it detects YOU being targeted, it might be too late, but GOOD detectors like the V1, Escorts, and high-end BELs are MUCH better at sensing stray radar bouncing off of other things ahead, enough to warn you to slow down BEFORE you're the target. Cheap detectors aren't nearly as good at sensing these weak signals. You get what you pay for. But a lot of times, a cheap detector may be enough - it all depends on the situation. But for me, it was always better safe than sorry. The one time I got a ticket, I had chosen to ignore the detector because it was late, I didn't see anyone around (except for one car a long ways off behind me), and it was a weak signal. The cop was like 10 blocks behind me and got me, I was pissed at myself for having ignored it. But my detector saved my ass numerous times, enough to pay for itself many times over in avoided fines and insurance costs.

[gerardo]

use the search option ;)

http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19062&highlight=radar+detector

[stuntman]

DEFINITELY worth the price, and yes THEY DO WORK.

You do get what you pay for. More expensive = better, more accurate, notify you sooner. $50 detectors from radioshack are more like a "you're screwed" detector than a preventative tool.

Get Passport 8500 X50, Belltronics ___? or Valentine 1.

-All are good but 100% reccomend V1.

[DAYTA]

Yes, radar detectors work BUT they won't protect you against lasers.

I have a Valentine 1 and I love it (still do). However, I got tagged with a laser last week doing 67 in a 40 and there was nothing my V1 could do about it. It went off when it detected a signal, but once it did it was already too late. This holds true for ALL radar detectors. The only way to beat a laser is to get a laser scrambler/diffuser in addition to a radar detector.

[bernardtamhk]

I wouldnt say they are totally useless against laser. A laser detection sends out a laser signal in bursts of 3-5 secs. If the laser is directed at your windscreen, then it is possible for you to brake in time, as if there is a big speed differential within the 3-5 sec window, the laser reading error's out and they cannot use the number.
The problem is, sometimes they shoot the laser at the license plate or other parts of the car. Usually, the envelope for the laser beam when it reaches your car is around 40cm wide. As such, if the envelope does not reach your radar, then your radar will not detect it at all.

for the V1 I would say its around 30-40% effective. I have been saved around 3 to 4 times out of 10.

And yes, v1 is worth the extra money. I used a 8500 x50 for around 1 year and traded up to a v1 3 months ago. Felt the difference immediately. I'd say I can detect the same signal (on the radars on my route home) 30% earlier than when I was using my x50.

For obstructions on the road (like road signs and trucks), the V1 deals with it much better than the x50.

[stuntman]

for the V1 I would say its around 30-40% effective. I have been saved around 3 to 4 times out of 10.
So you've had 6-7 tickets?

Last month alone it saved me 5 times to vegas and back. So technically it saved me 5 tickets = $100-300 = $500-$1,500 (assuming I kept my speed like an idiot ticket after ticket).

It defiantly pays for itself and I reccomend them.

[SoCaliTrojan]

I speed almost everywhere, and I've only been caught once in like 12 years. (The second time was entrapment...I was going at the speed limit, and they had a vehicle race up in front of me, cut me off, and then slow down to like 5 mph under the limit. This was at 3 or 4 am...so I changed lanes to go in front of him...the cops then turned on their headlights and light bar, and ticketed me for going 5 mph over the speed limit (because I had to accelerate to get ahead of the vehicle)).

If you drive sensibly and keep an eye on your surroundings, you should be fine. I always drive nearly triple digits to vegas in whichever vehicle i'm driving =P

I guess I was turned off from radar detectors when I was only 10 or so years old. I remember being driven by a family friend late at night, and I couldn't sleep because his radar detector went off every minute

[stuntman]

I guess I was turned off from radar detectors when I was only 10 or so years old. I remember being driven by a family friend late at night, and I couldn't sleep because his radar detector went off every minute
Technology changes. Their 'filters' are much better now, and the detectors are much more accurate to true signals.

[bernardtamhk]

So you've had 6-7 tickets?

Last month alone it saved me 5 times to vegas and back. So technically it saved me 5 tickets = $100-300 = $500-$1,500 (assuming I kept my speed like an idiot ticket after ticket).

It defiantly pays for itself and I reccomend them.

4 ..... 2 times i was able to talk out of it.

[occdoc]

I have one that came with my TSX. I bought my TSX used and the guy that sold it to me threw it in with the car.

It doesn't work all the time, but there have been several instances where it did detect a radar gun which may have helped save me some money.

Unless you drive way above speed limit all the time, it's probably not worth getting (IMO).