For those of you who own a radar detector, which one would you recommend? I have been shopping around for one but would like user opinions first.

 

I have a Bel RX 65, which is a sensitive detector that has saved me from many a potential pull over. It is sensitive and was a top rated model when I bought it, but like most it is set off by automatic doors and other electronic signals. The smartcord helps squelch the annoying beeps but I an looking to upgrade to an Escort Passport ix. This detector is one of the most sensitive available, but has a built in gps that does several things. First, it can learn which signals are false on your route and cease to be activated by them. Making for a quieter ride, and making it more likely you will pay attention to an alert when you get one. Secondly, if you drive in an area where there are red light or speed cameras, you can download a list of known locations to it, and it will alert you when you approach them. The only thing it seems not to have is a display of the speed limit (although it will display your speed), which I would like since the G's navi only shows speeds for highways. The ix came out in 08 so there could be a newer model on the horizon, which makes me a bit hesitant to commit right now. I'll probably be selling my RX fairly soon though.

 

Not to threadjack because it somewhat related, but anyone have a link or can explain the details of whether or not a radar detector truly works?!?

 

I've got the Escort 8500 and it's saved me a few times but as previous poster commented, it does pickup other signals as well. I've seen and heard that the 9500 (with GPS) is very good, just was out of my price range.

 

I just installed the Escort 9500ix a couple of weeks ago and I am supremely impressed with how well it picks up on radar. It also has technology that "learns" false alarms and stores them so that it doesn't pick up the signal anymore. You can also manually mark false alarms so that it doesn't pick those up either. I too have noticed that most of the false alarms, in my area atleast, are the X band. The unit has a mode where you can turn off the X band sensor so that it isn't picking those up. To summarize, this is def worth the money spent. BTW- Best Buy sells them, so if any of you are frequent shoppers with their Reward Zone programs, they send a 12% off coupon in the mail that is good towards the purchase of this radar detector

 

I use a valentine 1 and it is one of the best radar detectors I've seen. I have picked up signals from police guns over a mile away. Its gotten me out of alot of trouble lol

 

V1 here. People say it's old now but it's still hard to beat. The arrows and the bogey indictor are the best thing about it. +1 on picking up signals from well over 1mile.

 

Where you guys put your detector at? under rear view camera? Is it possible to hide it, make it more stealth?

 

10+ years with a V1 and would not own anything else.

 

I have the Escort Redline which is the same price as the Escort 9500ix. The Redline is more sensitive than the 9500ix and competes directly with the V1. The 9500ix is great with the GPS and the learn feature and all but I don't speed and run red lights within the city. From the reviews and videos I've watched, they claim the Redline to be better suited for hwy driving which is mostly what i need it for. It also detects radar better when on twisty roads where the radars are not in direct line of each other and better pick up of instant on/off radar.

I've had my Redline now for about 4 months and it has already paid for itself. It has saved me more than I can remember. Some people don't like the Redline because it is too sensitive and causes false alerts. But I also have a $100 Whistler detector before I bought the Redline and it had more false alerts than the Redline. Plus the Redline will beep at your desired volume level for like 3 seconds and then goes to quiet mode and the warning lights on the detector and the smart cord flashes so false alerts really don't bother me.

 

It doesn't work. All modern radar units have a stand by mode that does not produce a signal, so the radar detector units can't pick it up. Once an officer makes a visual estimation of your speed, he takes it off stand by once it's aimed at you, so unless you can slow down faster than a radio wave once it hits your car, they are useless. Not to mention a lot of agencies are now using LIDAR.

 

They work perfectly. They detect radar signals. Some work better and are more sensitive than others, and some are better at certain situations than others. If there's no signal to detect, it won't detect this non-existent signal. You just have to remember, it's a radar detector, not a cop detector. They warn you of radar signals, not of cops.

If you think it will put up a force field around your car that a cop can't get through, you're an idiot, got it for the wrong reason, and deserve the tickets you get. They're not cop detectors.

 

Perfectly? Nah... but in some situations it could be useful. Most radar detectors cops are moving towards are like the previous post said, stand by mode until they actually check your speed.

And about this force field thing.... wouldn't it be cool if you could some how intercept a radar detectors signal and bounce back false readings?

 

That's what jammer's are for, although very illegal (atleast in florida).

 

+1!!!!!!