Radar Detector help!

[gear02]

So I'm finally out of VA, the only bloody state in the union that prohibits radar detectors. Though I love gadgets, I wasn't going to get one until I arrived in Durham. In the DC area, there's usually too much traffic to go very fast, but traffic usually moves at about 5 MPH above the speed limit. If people see openings, they'd usually speed right through it until hitting more traffic.

Here in Durham, there's holes EVERYWHERE! There's simply no traffic here :D YAY! The problem is that people here don't seem to drive more than 5 MPH about the limit. Since I'm used to DC traffic, I've found myself speeding past everyone, and I'm in a civic, not some speed machine.

So I figure I might as well kill two birds with one stone. Satisfy my gadget lust and stop myself from getting tickets. I could slow down...but that would not satisfy my gadget lust :D

I know the best radar detector is the V1 but I'm a student now and really can't afford to spend that much money. Can someone suggest a model that's extremely affordable? TIA

[InfiniteNothing]

Target sells radar detectors. I think Walmart does too. I think they are as low as like $50

[gear02]

The question is are they worth anything. I'm afraid to spend money and get a POS that can't detect a radar even if the cop was sitting my back seat...

[Houdini]

The question is are they worth anything. I'm afraid to spend money and get a POS that can't detect a radar even if the cop was sitting my back seat...

Probably not. I've had cheap detectors before that are simply annoying. Often, you'll see the speed trap long before you get a warning. :shrug: Not having a detector can be better than having a crappy one. The usual reccommendation consensus is the V1 (about $400) or the Escort X50 (about $300.) Some -actually one guy in particular on this forum :fro:- are fans of a Bel detector. :wavey2:

[blueindian]

heh i forgot you were in durham now...we should get a beer sometime. i work downtown. . .

funny how perspecitives work...i think the traffic in durham is horrible.

[cheapie]

sweet! i'll be there in november.

[gear02]

heh i forgot you were in durham now...we should get a beer sometime. i work downtown. . .

funny how perspecitives work...i think the traffic in durham is horrible.

We should! Let me get settled down and we'll meet.

How is traffic bad here out of curiosity? I have noticed there's a lot of construction (both on the roads/freeways and at duke).


sweet! i'll be there in november.

G|A Durham gettogether!

We'll allow Chapel Hill peeps to come though. :D

Not that I'm already into the whole Duke v. UNC thing...

[chadlnc]

G|A Durham gettogether!

Let me know when. If I'm not out of town I will try to make it.


funny how perspecitives work...i think the traffic in durham is horrible.

I thought it was bad in Charlotte until I was up in DC in the mixing bowl. I just sat forever.

[glockness]

I tried out a Bel radar detector after getting high praise from my cousin. He is a truck driver and swears by it. At the time I got a Bel Vector 985 for a little over $100. I was very pleased with its performance.

Upon buying a second new vehicle, I decided to get another detector and did some research. Bel still appeared the way to go and one of their newer detectors, the RX65 (http://www.beltronicspro.com/rx65.html), had everything I wanted plus the new POP technology. I picked one up on eBay for $220 shipped and have been very pleased with it. I'd recommend it to anyone who feels the need to have a radar detector on board.

Here is a decent site (http://www.radarbusters.com/default.asp)on radar detector reviews.

[DarkFury]

Probably not. I've had cheap detectors before that are simply annoying. Often, you'll see the speed trap long before you get a warning. :shrug: Not having a detector can be better than having a crappy one. The usual reccommendation consensus is the V1 (about $400) or the Escort X50 (about $300.) Some -actually one guy in particular on this forum :fro:- are fans of a Bel detector. :wavey2:
Ha Ha... IN YOUR FACE!!!!

At least one other person likes the Bel as well... according to the post above this one.

And Escort and Bel are owned by the SAME COMPANY... so a vote for the X50 pretty much is a vote for BEL as well (although BELs do go on sale.. while Escorts hardly ever go on sale... I bought mine for around $215 online while the MSRP is around $299)

So :pfft: on you... :D

In my opinion... the BEL 995 is still one of the best values amongst the "high performance" radar detectors. But spend YOUR money as YOU want to... no skin off my nose. :D

[gear02]

Gots me a Bel 925. Has the performance of the higher models but for $85. :D

[mechmike0034]

Car And Driver comparison from 2002 - their most recent: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993&page_number=1

[DarkFury]

Car And Driver comparison from 2002 - their most recent: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993&page_number=1
Pretty old report there... several improvements to the tech have been made since then. :D

[glockness]

Car And Driver comparison from 2002 - their most recent: http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993&page_number=1
This is only helpful if you are looking to buy an old outdated model and save a few bucks. So much has changed since.

Valentine1 is still a great detector, but not worth the money they go for with all the better detectors out there today.

[thresher]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Uniden-Bear-Tracker-BCT-10-Radar-Detector_W0QQitemZ5796931077QQcategoryZ14935QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
FAR better than any radar detector. It's a police car detector. And..... it's legal in all 49 states. suckerz.

[Mike_N_Ike]

How does it detect police cars?

[irwin]

How does it detect police cars?

Product Description
From the Manufacturer
With the Uniden BCT-10 Highway Information System and Scanning Radio, you can listen to hundreds of highway patrol and police frequencies, as well as a number of weather channels. The highway patrol detection system sounds a built-in alarm when a highway patrol officer is using a mobile extender. This feature means you'll never miss any action, even when the officers are out in the field or away from their cars. Best of all, you'll never have to program frequencies. Just set the BCT-10 for your state, and the scanner will do the rest. The BCT-10 is built with state-of-the-art engineering and advanced electronics and is designed for easy operation and dependability.

[thresher]

By clicking on to HP (highway patrol) or (LP) local patrol - all frequencies are pre-programmed, you can find these guys before they find you. You see, you can set the range to, say, 1-2 miles. This means the scanner will be silent until it gets into the range of the vehicle. ALL police leave their scanners on. Who is trying to find that right? ;) So, while they leave their radar silent until you come over the hill, you already know they're in the vicinity. I haven't had a ticket since 1995 when I got my first one. I have the 12 series, but it's a cult favorite. They still ebay up to $200. The 10 series can be had for around $50-75. Warning - absolutely don't buy one without the antenna - proprietary and no longer made.

[DarkFury]

So they don't sell these scanners "new" anymore?

[thresher]

Nope. They were too expensive ($299 in 1995 for a tiny scanner with lousy marketing) to be embraced by the public and were pulled from the market. You see how the one I quick-linked to has been aggessively bid on? They rock.
T

[DarkFury]

Nope. They were too expensive ($299 in 1995 for a tiny scanner with lousy marketing) to be embraced by the public and were pulled from the market. You see how the one I quick-linked to has been aggessively bid on? They rock.
T
yeah.. but that is a "10" version... what's up with your "12"?

[MikeD]

I thought it was bad in Charlotte until I was up in DC in the mixing bowl. I just sat forever.

DC is horrible. That 95-495 interchange is the worst...




I know the best radar detector is the V1 but I'm a student now and really can't afford to spend that much money. Can someone suggest a model that's extremely affordable?

Gear, congrats on your move. Hope things are fitting in well.

I'd look at Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-FQuGrF8cZmr/cgi-bin/prodgroup.asp?g=252150&est=&search=radar) for products and reviews. If you decide to order from them, you won't pay tax...and you should be able to find a discount code online. If you can't find one, hit me up; my company offers like 10-20% off their stuff.

Good luck!

[DarkFury]

Gear, congrats on your move. Hope things are fitting in well.

I'd look at Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-FQuGrF8cZmr/cgi-bin/prodgroup.asp?g=252150&est=&search=radar) for products and reviews. If you decide to order from them, you won't pay tax...and you should be able to find a discount code online. If you can't find one, hit me up; my company offers like 10-20% off their stuff.

Good luck!

ummm....

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=896131&postcount=11

[MikeD]

ummm....

http://www.gotapex.com/forums/showpost.php?p=896131&postcount=11

Doh!

(Puts tail between legs, saunters away)

Thanks DF...

[thresher]

12 has the options on the top of the unit instead of scrolling through the same two buttons and it's a little smaller. Not any more powerful. Just a little more user friendly. And when I say smaller, we're talking the difference between 10=valentine size and 12 = passport size. They're both tiny. I used to belong to a long defunct forum of scanner users. One of the guys got pulled over in VA for having a radar detector. Imagine the cops surprise when it was a scanner?! LOL No ticket. They shared scanner stories for about 20 minutes and had a good laugh of all things. What other states are detectors illegal?
Thresh

[EvilHorace]

I know the best radar detector is the V1 but I'm a student now and really can't afford to spend that much money

Guess it really depends on how often one speeds and by how much, add in the "luck" factor ;)

If one's prone to getting alot of tickets, IMO the V1 is best and yes, I've owned one for about 2 yrs now and it's saved my butt several times. I've owned many cheaper radar detectors which are still better than nothing but not as good as the V1.
Although the V1 is costly, compare that to what tickets and additional insurance costs are.

[DarkFury]

Guess it really depends on how often one speeds and by how much, add in the "luck" factor ;)

If one's prone to getting alot of tickets, IMO the V1 is best and yes, I've owned one for about 2 yrs now and it's saved my butt several times. I've owned many cheaper radar detectors which are still better than nothing but not as good as the V1.
Although the V1 is costly, compare that to what tickets and additional insurance costs are.
17 years of driving with a "non Valentine 1" radar detector... and no speeding tickets to show for it. :thumb:

Say what you will... :D

[InfiniteNothing]

You must drive slow ;) ;) ;)

[Burzhui]

Probably not. I've had cheap detectors before that are simply annoying. Often, you'll see the speed trap long before you get a warning. :shrug: Not having a detector can be better than having a crappy one. The usual reccommendation consensus is the V1 (about $400) or the Escort X50 (about $300.) Some -actually one guy in particular on this forum :fro:- are fans of a Bel detector. :wavey2:

I'm a bel guy

[gear02]

CRAP! I just realized that I have a power problem. I'm already using my GPS everywhere I go around here because I don't know the roads. However, the radar detector requires a car cigarette plug too and I only have one. Is there a way I can use both (like some sort of cigarette plug splitter?)

[guiseppewv]

CRAP! I just realized that I have a power problem. I'm already using my GPS everywhere I go around here because I don't know the roads. However, the radar detector requires a car cigarette plug too and I only have one. Is there a way I can use both (like some sort of cigarette plug splitter?)

Yes, you can buy these at any electronics store. I am not 100% positive but I would think that the Shack would sell these. I have one in my car. :)

[DarkFury]

CRAP! I just realized that I have a power problem. I'm already using my GPS everywhere I go around here because I don't know the roads. However, the radar detector requires a car cigarette plug too and I only have one. Is there a way I can use both (like some sort of cigarette plug splitter?)
Why not hard wire the radar detector to your fuse box or battery?

Bel usually sells hardwire kits... just call them up and tell them what you are looking for. :D


You must drive slow ;) ;) ;)
Or smart with adequate warning.

Mr Focus man... (who can't help but drive slow. :heh: )

[gear02]

hardwire the...are you freaking kidding me? What do you think I am? An electrical engineer?

Oh wait I am...

Bah, screw it.

Back on topic, I got my radar detector and I'm mounting it on my dash because I want to be reachable (which it won't if I mount it on my windshield via suction cups) and I don't want a cable to go up to the top of my sunshield (which it would if I mounted there). However, I note that it's not perfectly flat. The front is tilted a little downwards. Does a radar detector have to have perfect line of sight?

[guiseppewv]

hardwire the...are you freaking kidding me? What do you think I am? An electrical engineer?

Oh wait I am...

Bah, screw it.

Back on topic, I got my radar detector and I'm mounting it on my dash because I want to be reachable (which it won't if I mount it on my windshield via suction cups) and I don't want a cable to go up to the top of my sunshield (which it would if I mounted there). However, I note that it's not perfectly flat. The front is tilted a little downwards. Does a radar detector have to have perfect line of sight?

No it does not need perfect line of sight but it should be decently level. And the higher the better only b/c less things will be obstructing its "view" (e.g. wiper arms, etc...).

I hardwired mine and I mounted my V1 to the right of the rearview mirror. You can't see it if you look through the driver's side window. I have the remote unit mounted right in front of my gauge cluster. It fits perfectly so it does not obstruct my view of the cluster. :)

[DarkFury]

hardwire the...are you freaking kidding me? What do you think I am? An electrical engineer?

Oh wait I am...

Bah, screw it.
Honestly, if you can't figure it out... then turn in your sheepskin mister... :2far:

[speedracer120]

Just finished a cross country trip of SoCal to Philly. All I can say is that the Escort Passport 8500 x50 saved me and my brother a lot of money and sorrows. Warned us of traps everywhere. We slowed down in time to avoid tickets in OK, MO, IN, and PA. Heck just outside of St. Louis we slowed down just in time to let a Mazda or Subaru pass us on the left which immediately got pounced on by the semi-marked (not fully recognizable as five-o) patrol car. Heck right out of Indy the laser warning helped me slow down a full mile before seeing the state trooper sitting in the median pointing his happy wand at passing cars.

[ShawnLee]

Yes. Props to my brother's radar detector. My insurance rates would be like fifteen times higher right now if not for his Passport.

[cheapie]

what i've gathered here and elsewhere is that unless you buy a decent one, don't bother. all the false warnings will piss me off too much. is that accurate?

for christmas i got this catalog that has a cobra radar detector and i think it's this one.

http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=shop/flypage&product_id=373&id=1

http://www.cobra.com/shop_image/product/39ee1ceeb91dee99f1b2497568b8ef67.jpg

worth getting for free or should i just get something else?

[speedracer120]

Free is always great, but I'd say go look for some reviews and see if some of the auto mags have it in a comparison as far as range and use of use go.