I'm in the market for a Radar Detector, any suggestions?

Indian SummerIndian Summer Posts: 2,296
edited August 2013 in All Encompassing Trip
I've never owned one before, and I'm not like a dangerous hazard to the roadways, but I have had my share of speeding tickets in the past. My main area, is driving to and from work in the mornings....I drive 30 miles on a rural interstate at like 5:30am. There are hardly any only drivers out that time of the morning. But on occasion a cop will hide in the median with their headlights off......its a 70mph speed limit, but I like to take it to 80-85 on my cruise control.

Any suggestions? My friends have said Cobra and Escort are decent brands. I don't want to spend a fortune either, the $200-$300 price range would be nice....definatly under $500 for one. Thanks for any help.
"It's all happening"
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • eddieceddiec Posts: 3,859
    My dad has used this company for his detectors for the last 20 years. They are the best.
    http://www.escortradar.com/
  • norm wrote:


    This one has been recommended to me as well. Thanks guys
    "It's all happening"
  • unlost dogsunlost dogs Posts: 12,553
    Drive slower!

    You want to borrow my Mighty Honda Element? I guarantee you'll never get a speeding ticket in that...
    :lol:
    15 years of sharks 06/30/08 (MA), 05/17/10 (Boston), 09/03/11 (Alpine Valley), 09/04/11 (Alpine Valley), 09/30/12 (Missoula), 07/19/13 (Wrigley), 10/15/13 (Worcester), 10/16/13 (Worcester), 10/25/13 (Hartford), 12/4/13 (Vancouver), 12/6/13 (Seattle), 6/26/14 (Berlin), 6/28/14 (Stockholm), 10/16/14 (Detroit)
  • Drive slower!

    You want to borrow my Mighty Honda Element? I guarantee you'll never get a speeding ticket in that...
    :lol:
    I'll trade ya one for a nice white motorcyle helmet ;)
    We were but stones your light made us stars
  • unlost dogsunlost dogs Posts: 12,553
    Drive slower!

    You want to borrow my Mighty Honda Element? I guarantee you'll never get a speeding ticket in that...
    :lol:
    I'll trade ya one for a nice white motorcyle helmet ;)

    :lol:
    I'll ask Crazy Joe Davola to drop it by your place.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrtwWraQDn8
    15 years of sharks 06/30/08 (MA), 05/17/10 (Boston), 09/03/11 (Alpine Valley), 09/04/11 (Alpine Valley), 09/30/12 (Missoula), 07/19/13 (Wrigley), 10/15/13 (Worcester), 10/16/13 (Worcester), 10/25/13 (Hartford), 12/4/13 (Vancouver), 12/6/13 (Seattle), 6/26/14 (Berlin), 6/28/14 (Stockholm), 10/16/14 (Detroit)
  • mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 5,868
    Don't they use lasers more often than radar now? Or are they the same thing?
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
  • unsungunsung Posts: 9,487
    The most common application from the car enthusiast website that I frequent is the already suggested ValentineOne combined with Laser Interceptors.

    Or you could go this route for stealth mode, I just found these guys and I am going this way.

    http://radar-mirror.com/V1.html
  • FrankieGFrankieG Posts: 9,100
    Don't they use lasers more often than radar now? Or are they the same thing?

    They use lasers more to actually find hoe fast you're going. The radar detector just alarms if any radar is in the area, which is assumed that all cop cars have an active radar-type device in the car. So you're not detecting the speed trap, you're detecting a cop car.
    2003: 7/14 NJ ... 2006: 6/1 NJ, 6/3 NJ ... 2007: 8/5 IL ... 2008: 6/24 NY, 6/25 NY, 8/7 EV NJ ... 2009: 10/27 PA, 10/28 PA, 10/30 PA, 10/31 PA
    2010: 5/20 NY, 5/21 NY ... 2011: 6/21 EV NY, 9/3 WI, 9/4 WI ... 2012: 9/2 PA, 9/22 GA ... 2013: 10/18 NY, 10/19 NY, 10/21 PA, 10/22 PA, 10/27 MD
    2015: 9/23 NY, 9/26 NY ... 2016: 4/28 PA, 4/29 PA, 5/1 NY, 5/2 NY, 6/11 TN, 8/7 MA, 11/4 TOTD PA, 11/5 TOTD PA ... 2018: 8/10 WA
    2022: 9/14 NJ ... 2024: 5/28 WA, 9/7 PA, 9/9 PA ---- http://imgur.com/a/nk0s7
  • RKCNDYRKCNDY Posts: 31,013
    Radar beams are wider and more broad...easier to detect a cop from far away....laser beams are more narrow and your warnings aren't as early.

    I had one for years...we were able to detect cops on radar from about a mile away...4 on an open flat highway. Laser would tell us, 'ha-ha you're getting pulled over' but then again, the cop was hiding behind a jersey barrier. Some states outlaw them others don't...but I will say that it saved us at least 6 times one summer. The laser detectors are probably a lot more better now, but I'd make sure to get one that detects both. I've had 2 Cobras and been happy.
    The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.

    - Christopher McCandless
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    eddiec wrote:
    My dad has used this company for his detectors for the last 20 years. They are the best.
    http://www.escortradar.com/

    I had the 8500 X50 for a few years, loved it!

    Just ordered the 'RedLine' a couple days ago, should arrive later today.
  • dougfloyddougfloyd Posts: 2,580
    I have this one and really like it if you're looking for something cheaper, but if you can afford the valentine one go for that!

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009SCMKY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    1998 - Noblesville
    2000 - Noblesville
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    2011 - EV solo St Louis, PJ20 Alpine Valley
    2012 - San Fran (Oracle)
    2013 - Wrigley, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
    2014 - Cincy, St Louis, Detroit
    2016 - Lexington, Wrigley
    2018 - Wrigley
    2022 - Nashville, St Louis
    2024 - Noblesville, Wrigley
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    The best thing about the Valentine 1 (for me) would be the directional arrows, alerting the driver to where the 'signal' is coming from.

    But as far as pure 'range' goes, it falls a bit short compared to the Redlineby Escort.
    (That's based on lab tests (apparently))

    I also like this one with GPS http://www.radardetector.org/reviews/escort-9500ix-radar-detector-review/
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    Idris wrote:
    eddiec wrote:
    My dad has used this company for his detectors for the last 20 years. They are the best.
    http://www.escortradar.com/

    I had the 8500 X50 for a few years, loved it!

    Just ordered the 'RedLine' a couple days ago, should arrive later today.

    Been a few weeks with it, so far so good. Too many false alerts but I can live with that (for now), I need a laser shifter. :)

    http://www.laser-interceptorusa.com/901.html

    Been reading good things about the 'laser interceptor', probbably will get that next.

    Anyone use the 'Veil Stealth Coating' for cars? http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detector-accessories/laser-veil/laserveil.cfm
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    I did end up buying the LI, installed the Laser Shifter Jammer 2 weeks ago. Yet to get hit with Lidar, but I should be ready for when/if it happens.

    Took 4 hrs to connect the system to the battery,wires and through the cars fire wall.
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    My Radars less than a few months old. Working great,

    But Escort is coming out with a new detector

    http://www.prweb.com/releases/escort_radar/passport_max/prweb10815615.htm

    ESCORT Debuts PASSPORT® Max™ ‘High Definition’ Radar Detector with Advanced Military Technology - All-New PASSPORT Max™ Exceeds Three Key Category Benchmarks


    (Gonna sell mine and get the Max Radar)
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    http://www.radardetectorforum.org/wiki/index.php?title=RDF_Geographical_Survey_-_Georgia

    Geographical Survey of laws and types of radar and Lidar guns used, state to state.
  • IdrisIdris Posts: 2,317
    New Detector arrives today, (Passport Max)

    I have 30days to test it out,
    -

    One day..http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/05/01/tiny-device-will-detect-domestic-drones
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