Can someone explain RADAR DETECTORS for me

[diabloxx14xx14]

ummm i been searching the net and all but im still puzzled. What exactly does a radar detector do. i though it would detect when a nerby cop was coming near your car but all i read is that it is used against just laser/radio speed measurement guns used by cops....so whats the deal here, can someone clarify, i was thinking of buying one because i though they would tell me when a cop was coming near me so i could do a 'quick get away'...especially useful for mexico, i hate cops in mexico

[MRQtwinturbo]

what kind of ilegal activites are u into??.....

radar detectors are designed to warn u if u are entering a radar (SPEED) trap....not to tell you if cops are coming your way...

[diabloxx14xx14]

just your basic speeding activities i guess, well, im not buying that crap then cause i never race in the US, too dam cheap, and in mexico cops are too poor to buy radar detectors, except in tijuana and i hate tj, so i guess thats 100 back in my pocket :-), thanks any way

[The Wolf]

When a radar is aimed at your car, the detector is designed to detect it, and alert you of its type and strength. Like my beltronis, for example. If a cop has his K-band radar on, it tells me it detects K band and displays its signal strength, which I can use to guess his distance.

[RichMann]

I'm sure I got caught - for the first time - this week with some dumb ass cop peering out of the back of his van with a speed camera

Very rare I miss them but he was well hidden behind a telecom truck, that sucks!!!!!!!

Waiting for the bill in the post

Anyway, an example of such a system (in the UK, although probably availabele in the US) is 'Road angel' here are some details...

http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/roadangel.php

http://www.boysstuff.co.uk/product.asp?id=11942