Radar Detectors: Hot or Not?

[5Sfte]

I just wanted to hear people's opinions on radar detectors?

I know mine has save mine butt countless times!

[DIRTBIKEZ]

They're a great thing to have. Saved me from a few tickets myself . Just dont let it give you a false of security.

[5Sfte]

I've found that most people who say they don't work do not have a good understanding of how and when they work.

[cman2000]

hey

i love my radar detector. Definitely saved me from MANY tix. but i use my eyes alot more. Good, alert driving is much better than a detector, but sometimes your eyes cannot spot a hidden cop. This is my first "mod" to my car.

I agree with 5Sfte, alot of people don't know how radar detectors work, or what brand is good. some people just go to best buy or something and buy the cheapest one for $40 and think it'll actually work as good as a $300 one The brand of detector and the distance it'll pick stuff up is very important. if anyone is curious, you can check out
www.radartest.com

it's pretty good and seems pretty unbiased.

btw, i have a Bel electronics 936

[5Sfte]

Hey I have a BEL 840I which I got for free from my best friend's dad after too many tickets.

[cman2000]

hey

wow, bel 840i for free? that's awesome! I paid about $125 for mine about 3 years ago. They went down in price now. Oh well, $125 is not a bad way to spend the money when it has saved me from at least 5 tix i can think of off the top of my head.

[Tex97]

Mine has saved me a few times, but I try not to rely on it.

[prana]

Where's a good place on the internet to get one?

[haa21]

I use a radar detector daily. It is only 1 part of speeding. You can't rely on it, but it certainly helps. You should get the "Speeder's Guide to Avoiding Tickets." It is a great book that gives some good tips. Anyway, if you are going to get a radar detector don't mess around with Cobra's and Uniden's, etc. Get a Valetine 1. You won't regret it. Make sure you use it! I can't tell you how many people I have talked to who say they got a ticket. I ask them if the radar detector went off and they reply I didn't have it on because I wasn't going too far. Or people will tell me they only use the detector on the freeway. A radar detector is like an American Express card....don't leave home without it! I have used the Valetine 1 for 6 years now. It is excellent. I haven't gotten a ticket in that time (I'm knocking on wood right now!). Valentine stands behind their products and will upgrade your current model when they make improvements. Essentially making it the last detector you ever have to purchase. The Valentine does have some cons. Small ones. In my opinion it is larger than most detectors and I don't like the fact that the radar bands (X,K, KA, and Laser) don't have seperate colors for thier LED's (they are all red). Anyway, those are my compliants and they are very small for the performance that you get. I did my own independent test of radar detectors by purchasing every model I could find even the Passport's. I set up a radar gun (I'm a police officer and have access to it) then seen who gave the best performance. Nobody could touch the Valentine 1. I swear by it!

[WickedGen3]

by the way .. what kind of detector is good ? cobra? any suggestions?

[Tex97]

Valentine 1 is the best hands down.......$400 later though

Second best in line would be the Escort/Passport(I forget which one)8500

[alex]

i just drive like a normal human being.......except for when i'm on the bike

[jhbhatia]

At first i assumed they sucked...but then i learnt to drive differenty with a detector..like if i'm approaching a hill...and can't see whats pass the other end..i slow down.....before i would have just speeded...
Overall, i once got a free 200 dollar rd from radioshack and it got me TWO tickets in 2 weeks...since then i went back to my BEL. and i'm happy since! I think the way you drive and the detector is crusial things to speeding!

[Tex97]

jhbhatia,
I actually don't even use my detector in the Houston city limits b/c the Houston Police won't really bother you unless you are doing something reckless.

It's the DPS officers you have to watch out for driving down 290 west

[dj14901]

I have a Passport 8500 and love it. Tons of features, like I can take X band out when I'm in City Mode, 2 mute buttons, different displays, etc. If only it had directional arrows :-) Plus, with this detector I can get the laser shifting upgrade should the need arise. Overall, I'm very happy with the detector, it's definitely a case of "you get what you pay for."

Valentine Ones are also great detectors, those arrows are invaluable. I'll probably get a second detector for my other vehicle, and that'll probably be a V1.

With all that being said, like someone else cautioned, don't let it give you a false sense of security. If you're the first car in a pack and they're using instant-on, you're toast. Plus, no detector's laser warnings will help you out, once you see the laser on the display, he's already gotten you. I've seen a definite increase in laser being used in the last few months, so be careful out there!

DJ