Driving to work today, toons blasting, weaving in and out of traffic on a local highway, I noticed my speed was in excess of 100mph:) WOW smooth as a babies behind! WHAT A CAR! Prior I drove a 99' M3, and let me tell you over 100mph was not nearly as stable.
Realizing, that driving over the speed limits is surly to recur regularly, protecting myself with a radar detector might just be a good idea. I'd appreciate any input to the question of rador detector or not and if so which one?





silver -GT,appearence package,navi

Contary to the popular belief, I think that to pay 300+ for the detector (for the casual speeder like myself) - is too much. So Valentine 1 and Passports were not it for me.

After some research, I bought a PNI Traveller radar. It has proven an excellent choice. Very sensitive (but good filtering so not a lot of false alarms). Search around, in detection it ranked pretty much on the par with Passport 8x I think...

Can be had for about $100 on Ebay, new. It is cordless if you want it too. I did not care for voice alert so I got Traveller I and not II (voice is apparently the only difference). My only complaint is that it is a bit bulky, but - then again, all better detectors seem to be...

Escort 8500 is my choice :)

You may want to try a search in the Audio and Electronics forum.

http://www.rx8club.com/search.php?s=

That’s just a suggestion to not overload the server with repeat threads….

Well for what it's worth, one ticket over 100 mph will prolly cost you over $300. Not too mention the points and the insurance increase.

On a personal note, just yesterday my escort passport 8500 saved my ass on I-25 southbound. I was doing 110, the detector went nuts and i slowed down. A sheriff passed me about 30 secs later in the north bound lane. Not only would that have been a huge ticket, in this state they can take you to jail!

Recently rated almost as good as Passport(they are the same company) in Road&Track and highly recommended by me the Bel 985 which I got for about $220 is without a doubt the most bang for the buck radar detector out there today...I own a Valentine also and while yes perhaps more sensitive it also falses a lot more.

I love my Passport 8500.

Some head to head comparisons say the 8500 is the best, others say the Valentine is tops. There seem to be subtle trade offs with both but I found that most who put the Valentine over the 8500 were influenced by the directional arrows...which are definitely great, but $100 great? Not my $100.

Also, from a purely subjective and aesthetic viewpoint, I also don't like the way the bulky Valentine looks.

-Eric

Valentine 1 rides shotgun with me. I like knowing how many radar sources there are and from what direction they are coming.

Passport 8500 for me, too. Sometimes I think that I'd like the directional arrows of the Valentine, but I understand that the V1 is prone to more false alarms than the Escort - in particular many folks have been reporting that they have a problem with false laser alerts triggered by modern LED brake lights on the car in front.

Originally posted by Speed_D
Valentine 1 rides shotgun with me. I like knowing how many radar sources there are and from what direction they are coming.

Amen to that. Only had mine three weeks an it already saved me twice. Last time doing 101 mph, V1 shows 2 sources. Slowed down to 68 and passed the first, rear arrow lit with front arrow still flashing. Guy behind me on a bike took off after the first trap and got nailed by the second one. Took them 10 miles to catch him though.

I would say go with the Passport 8500 or the Bel 985. I personally went with the Passport 8500 just for the ease of programming.

Take a look at Radar Test (http://www.radartest.com) , they do a comparison between a few of the top radar detectors.

Bel 985 for me. Got it for dirt cheap at CC too.

I personally like the Valentine 1 the best because you know how many soucres and from which direction. I think that's a nice tool to have so you know if u've already passed the cop or not. Never got a ticket after getting the valentine 1

As a passport 8500 owner, I feel I should point out that expert mode on the 8500 will show multiple sources as well, as well as the band and strength of each signal.

anyone know if these radars work in Europe?

Passport 8500

With a situation as sensitive as this... don't skimp. Buy the best. If you get one ticket you will have already paid for even the most expensive radar detector easily. Those lesser detectors may be good, but if they miss ONE TIME, where a better one won't, then you get a ticket and the radar detector is useless.

That said, my choice is the Valentine1.

Originally posted by eccles
... Valentine... many folks have been reporting that they have a problem with false laser alerts triggered by modern LED brake lights on the car in front.

Yup, Valentine 1 does that. Weird at 1st, but if that and a few extra falses are all that is wrong with it..... then I'll take it, pimples and all, cause it tells me how many sources of AND where the radar(s) are.

Those that own detectors that don't have the arrows and bogey counters plain and simple don't know what they are missing... and that is the little extra feeling (and reality) of being in control when you need it most! :) Like they say, it's the REAL McCoy!!

I just talked with bel- BTW they are owned by the same company as Escort and share technology.

It seems the new RX55 (and 65 if European radar is needed) are thoer latest models with the pop technology.

the EX55 runs about $210 to $230 I am thinking about picking one up. It can also be hooked into either thier or Escorts laser jammer. that get pricey though- I may look into painting the license plate with a high gloss clearcoat to relfect laser. A detective recently told me though to repaint the plate with flat
paint- of course maskingfor the numbers/letters first- he thought that gave good preotection from photo cameras at red lights.

Originally posted by winter
As a passport 8500 owner, I feel I should point out that expert mode on the 8500 will show multiple sources as well, as well as the band and strength of each signal. Indeed, that seems to be a common theme when reading radar tests - depending on which brand the "tester" favours, they never seem to fully explore the capabilities of the opposition's device. I have found that the V1 and 8500 offer almost exactly the same functionality as each other with the exception of the V1's directional arrows.

Originally posted by emailists
I may look into painting the license plate with a high gloss clearcoat to relfect laser.Um... that will make you more susceptable to laser. The reason they target your licence plate is precisely because it is a good reflector.

If you got the bucks the Escort SRX. It is a built in unit that includes laser shifters in the front and rear. You don't have to mount them as a license plare frame (too obvious). Instead you can mount them around the license plate frame area in the front and rear and they become more stealth. You can also install the control unit anywhere it will fit including in the ashtray. Purchased and installed it ranges between $1,700-2,200. But what a beauty it is.

Originally posted by winter
As a passport 8500 owner, I feel I should point out that expert mode on the 8500 will show multiple sources as well, as well as the band and strength of each signal.
Reading my mind on this one. :) In expert mode I've gotten both the lead and trail cruiser when faced with a one-two trap.

those guys who were saved my their detector, don't the cops have instant-on radar guns in your area?

Here it's a lot of motorcycle cops waiting behind a bush/ corner.. no radar active until they see you speeding and then their radar is on, for a second maybe.

Detectors seem useless here.

(I'm ptiemann, NOT MICHAEL TAYLOR, something went wrong w/ my cookie)

The Bels offer great performance for the $$. I'd suggest trying the V1. If you don't like it ... send it back ... My bet is that once you've seen how effective the directional arrows are you will stick with the V1.

Escort Solo S2!

Cordless is great! I just keep a pack of AA's in my glove box for back up.

Originally posted by michael taylor

(I'm ptiemann, NOT MICHAEL TAYLOR, something went wrong w/ my cookie)

[/B]


Hey Peter,

That sounds like a personal problem! hehe

-Monique :D

Valentine 1 is hott, not only does it have the arrows which are really useful, but you can like hotwire(or w/e it's called) to your car so that you don't have to plug it into your cigarette lighter. I dunno if it will work for the 8 but my friend did it on his BMW and everytime he starts it up it turns on without batteries or cig. lighter. Kinda cool...don't get a cobra though failed for me $140 too. and the reason i did get a ticket was cause of my radar! he had it in for me. (just incase you do get pulled over, yank your radar off, i learned that).

Just about any detector can be hardwired to the car, both the V1 and Escort 8500 have kits available.

Regarding instant on, it's important to use common sense. If you're the only one on the road, yeah, they'll get you. However, if they're using it on people up ahead, you'll get a signal on your detector each time they do. This is one of the reasons having a detector with low falses is so important... my first detector was a bel with a poor layout, it falsed quite often. As such, I took alerts with a grain of salt.

The 8500 is pretty good about falses, especially if police don't use X band in your area (I've turned X off). The display is bright and easy to read at a glance (tho you can adjust brightness to suit your needs), and if I hear a Ka tone, I know it's the real deal.

Originally posted by Navybeardbb
the reason i did get a ticket was cause of my radar! he had it in for me. (just incase you do get pulled over, yank your radar off, i learned that).

Former cop here. If you get pulled over for speeding and the officer sees that you have a radar detector, you will get a speeding ticket and the ticket will almost always be for the full amount of the speed. Its pretty much standard practice to not give breaks to people that use radar detectors under the assumption that, by virtue of their use of the detector, they are a habitual speeder.

Oh, and if I see you trying to hide something from me, I'm going to ask you what you are hiding from me. If you fess up, I'm going to ask you to show me the detector. If you show it to me, fine, youll get your ticket and be on your way. If you try to deny that you hid anything from me, or BS me in any way, I will take you into custody and search your car for "officer safety". If I find anything at all illegal in your car, the remainder of your day will be spent down at the station, maybe even overnight, depending on the court's arraignment schedule. Bottom line: trying to hide your detector after the cop has started pulling you over is a very, very bad idea.

briguy,

the joys of tinted windows :D

My research has lead me to the 8500 also. A speeding ticket is at leat $180.00, so one saved ticket is worth an extra $100!!! I want more toys!!!!

My Passport 8500 has paid for itself several times over. I'd follow the suggestion about checking into the Audio & Electronics section, plenty of debates about which one is better. There's also a few good installation DIY's about how best to install one.

Originally posted by meridak
briguy,

the joys of tinted windows :D

Tinted windows rule! If they are dark enough to prevent a detector pitch from being seen, turn on your inside lights after the detector is gone. Being able to see you more clearly will give the officer a warm and fuzzy feeling, especially if he/she sees that you are making the effort to be visible.

BriGuy,

Just FYI, I have gotten out of many tickets by stating to the police officer that I had a radar detector and that as soon as my indicator went off I checked my speed to make certain that I was going the speed limit. See usually an officer asks you what speed you were going and it is important to know the speed limit where you are. Then state to the officer that it is the speed you were travelling. They have to write it down in the report if they issue you the ticket (which may help you later in court). If you admit to speeding, even if it's only by 1 mph it is an admission of guilt (which will not help you later in court). Most officers don't want to deal with it if you were going 5-25 mph over with someone who will likely fight it. They would rather go after someone who is traveling just as fast or faster who will admit to guilt and is less likely to fight it.

That said I have been looking at the K-40 system as well. It is about $1,900 for laser and radar shifting... Yes, I said radar shifting. It is undetectable and has a 2.5-3 mile range with radar and laser detection in 360 degrees. I may have to go with this built in system over the SRX.

Valentine One Has been on car and drivers top 3 scince i started reading the mag. many many years. reliable and good. it's illegal here (canada). but i've got one:D

sssshhhhhh....

Highway radar jamming




Most drivers wanting to make better time on the open road will
invest in one of those expensive radar detectors. However this
device will not work against a gun type radar unit in which the
radar signal is not present until the cop has your car in his
sights and pulls the trigger. Then it is TOO LATE for you to slow
down. A better method is to continuously jam any signal with a
radar signal of your own. I have tested this idea with the
cooperation of a local cop and found that his unit reads random
numbers when my car approached him. It is suprisingly easy to make
a low power radar transmitter. A nifty little semiconductor called
a Gunn Diode will generate microwaves when supplied with the 5 to
10 volt DC and enclosed in the correct size cavity (resonater). An
8 to 3 terminal regulator can be used to get this voltage from a
car's 12v system. However the correct construction and tuning of
the cavity is difficult without good microwave measurement
equipment. Police radars commonly operate on the K band at 22 ghz.
Or more often on the X band at 10.525 ghz. most microwave intruder
alarms and motion detectors (mounted over automatic doors in
supermarkets & banks etc.) contain a Gunn type
transmitter/receiver combination that transmits about 10 kilowatts
at 10.525 ghz. These units work perfectly as jammers. If you
cannot get one locally write to Microwave Associates in
Burlington Massachusettes and ask them for info on 'Gunnplexers'
for ham radio use. When you get the unit it may be mounted in a
plastic box on the dash or in a weather-proff enclosure behind the
PLASTIC grille. Switch on the power when on an open highway. The
unit will not jam radar to the side or behind the car so don't go
speeding past the radar trap. An interesting phenomena you will
notice is that the drivers who are in front of you who are using
detectors will hit their brakes as you approach large metal signs
and bridges. Your signal is bouncing off of these objects and
triggering their radar detectors! HAVE FUN!




P.S. If you are interested in this sort of thing get a copy of
POPULAR COMMUNICATIONS. The ads in there tell you where you can
get all kinds of info on all kinds of neat equipment for all kinds
of neat things!

Actually the K-40 unit does shift the radar signal but it is undetectable. Here in the states if you were to use the above mentioned device and get caught it is the FCC as well as local law enforcement that will come down on you. I know that the fines for using such a device are quite high.

Originally posted by Smoke_Weed_RX-8
... most microwave intruder alarms and motion detectors ....contain a Gunn type transmitter/receiver combination that transmits about 10 kilowatts at 10.525 ghz. These units work perfectly as jammers...... HAVE FUN

Wow, 10 KILOWATTS!!!! Holy Batman! :eek: I'd say you got one heck of a toaster there!! :D Does it have a 'Light Sunburn' to 'Instant Cremation' knob? Otherwise we'd have a bunch of crispy critters (burglers and people entering supermarkets) every time!! LOL

Now I see how you got your name... hee hee!

Originally posted by Spin9k
Wow, 10 KILOWATTS!!!! Holy Batman! :eek: I'd say you got one heck of a toaster there!! :D Does it have a 'Light Sunburn' to 'Instant Cremation' knob? Otherwise we'd have a bunch of crispy critters (burglers and people entering supermarkets) every time!! LOL

Now I see how you got your name... hee hee!

no the instant cremation is my security system lol

Perhaps we meant 10 milliwatts?

Aww hey, it's just a million x difference, surely it couldn't be too bad?

I would definately not want to walk into that store with the 10kW door opener.. especially considering my microwave oven is only 1kW !

yes we ment milliwats.
this really works by the way, i'm not just trying to microwave all other 8's. i swear. no seriously, it works like it says i tested it with actual police radars, (canadian. i don't know if us radars are different.)

Valentine 1 -- Simply the best detector I've ever owned!

Front and rear radar and laser sensors.

Bogey counter with directional indicators.

Remote display mounted under the steering wheel just in front of keyswitch within easy reach (for mute button). This blacks out the main display.

Suction cups mount right above the rear view mirror (on that stuff that everyone says it DOESN'T stick too (get the cups REALLY wet -- they'll stick and stay -- mine's been on since 2/9). The detector peaks out from under that grid yet doesn't touch the headliner nor the mirror.

You get a ticket it's not just the fine. It's your fine, your points, your higher premiums for X years. It'll probably cost you $600+ just for one ticket by the time you're through. Get two and you're screwed.

A must have if you're going to have any fun with your RX-8!

Tinkerer

valentine 1 without a doubt

i have the bel 910 no complaints here $125 great deal

Originally posted by 93rdcurrent
BriGuy,

Just FYI, I have gotten out of many tickets by stating to the police officer that I had a radar detector and that as soon as my indicator went off I checked my speed to make certain that I was going the speed limit.

Here is how the radar/laser game works. First, I visually identify you as a speeder and I estimate your speed. In my training jacket is a certification that I have been trained to visually estimate speed to within x mph. Once I have visually identified you as a speeder I confirm my estimation of your speed with the radar or laser. Only then will I pull you over. If I know damn well you are speeding but the radar won't lock (not uncommon) you get a walk. Without the radar to confirm my estimation I won't make the stop. Generally, when I pull you over, I have already decided whether or not your getting a ticket. Saying that you checked your speed after your detector went off will not impress me nor would it have impressed any of the folks I worked with. Maybe it would work on a rookie?


QUOTE]Originally posted by 93rdcurrent

See usually an officer asks you what speed you were going and it is important to know the speed limit where you are. Then state to the officer that it is the speed you were travelling. They have to write it down in the report if they issue you the ticket (which may help you later in court). [/B][/QUOTE]

When I ask you if you know why I pulled you over, do you know what speed you were doing, etc, I am conducting an attitude check. I already know how fast you were going. This is your opportunity to show me your ass, if you are so inclined. A bad attitude gets written for the full speed. A good attitude might get the ticketed speed knocked down.

QUOTE]Originally posted by 93rdcurrent
Most officers don't want to deal with it if you were going 5-25 mph over with someone who will likely fight it. They would rather go after someone who is traveling just as fast or faster who will admit to guilt and is less likely to fight it. [/B][/QUOTE]

Going to traffic court is (er, was) part of my job. I never wrote nor failed to write a citation based upon the liklihood of the violator going to court. 25 over, BTW, could include an additional charge of careless or reckless driving, depending upon the circumstances.

[/B][/QUOTE] Then state to the officer that it is the speed you were travelling. They have to write it down in the report if they issue you the ticket (which may help you later in court). [/B][/QUOTE]

Here is a clue: everyone who shows up in traffic court is denying responsibility, otherwise they would not be there. The judge will not be impressed.

[/B][/QUOTE]
That said I have been looking at the K-40 system as well. It is about $1,900 for laser and radar shifting... Yes, I said radar shifting. It is undetectable and has a 2.5-3 mile range with radar and laser detection in 360 degrees. I may have to go with this built in system over the SRX. [/B][/QUOTE]

One word: F-E-L-O-N-Y

BriGuy,

Pretty cool...

1) Do you own an RX8?

2) What's the fastest you'll routinely drive?

3) Do you have a radar detector?

Nice to hear the other side of things...

Originally posted by Tinkerer
BriGuy,

Pretty cool...

1) Do you own an RX8?

2) What's the fastest you'll routinely drive?

3) Do you have a radar detector?

Nice to hear the other side of things...

1) not yet. I am drooling over the 8, but just bought an Audi A4 1.8T last year. I'm just about even with my loan vs trade in, but part of my brain says to wait until 2005--let the first year bugs get worked out.

2) Ummmm, well, let me say that I can confirm that flashing a badge did get me out of one ticket. Though, I can also say that if a cop gets clocked doing 96 in a 65 on I77 just north of the W. Virginia state line in Ohio, the trooper will very apologetically write the ticket, for the full speed, while shaking his head and saying "......son, if they caught me going that fast I'd have to write myself a ticket...". He was impressed that my car could hold 96 so easily (89 SHO) and we shot the bull about how well the car performed. I did not tell him that a few miles earler I had the cruise set on 110, but had to slow for traffic.......

3) No radar detector. I find the false alarms to render the unit effectively useless. Maybe they have improved in the last few years since I have used one, but the falses drove me nuts. I generally drive 10 over on the highways (when traffic allows) but usually stick to right around the speed limit on surface streets.

If I am going to go gonzo on a public road, I make sure the road is lightly traveled, such as doing 1/4 runs on a deserted industrial road on a Sunday.

To be fair, when I was on the road, I rarely wrote speeding tickets. My criteria for a speeding citation was that the speed was inherently dangerous under the circumstances in addition to being a violation of the statute. Rarely did I find both of those things occuring at the same time. I once pulled a guy over at 2am who was running 20+ over on a deserted highway. I let him off with a warning when I saw he was one ticket away from losing his license. (all tickets for speed-no DWI or anything). While, a few days later, I caused a motor cycle dude to loose his license via reckless driving for weaving in and out of traffic and sliding around a corner during rush hour. Never even tried to get a radar speed on him. He was DLAH (driving like an asshole) :=)

I was a madman when it came to other moving violations, however. I never once let anyone off for running a red light or stop sign. Not once in six years of LE duty. (puffing chest out with pride...)

BriGuy, I'm glad to hear a cop that has (had) the right priorities - i.e. nabbing someone for DLAH while intelligently assessing the reality of someone over the limit in light traffic in good conditions. I wish I saw more of that. It's one of my pet peeves since the majority of dangerous behavior I see daily has little to do with absolute speed and everything to do with lack of situational awareness or understanding of vehicle control. Bravo.

I also gave up on detectors because the driving experience turned into "Hunt for Red October". It's better (and far more enjoyable) to analyze the geography, behavior of other traffic in both directions, conditions, etc. This will often alert you to law enforcement and make you a safer driver in addition. The last speeding citation I got was about 10 years ago. The patrolman said it wasn't the speed per se, but the fact that I didn't notice he'd been shadowing me for a couple of miles (no radar). It was the lack of situational awareness that convinced him I should be cited. It was a good lesson. My advice is to dump the detector, and get your head outside the cockpit.

My advice is to dump the detector, and get your head outside the cockpit.

To quote Charlton Heston, "From my cold, dead hands."

Good post BriGuy -- I enjoyed that.

If you get the chance to try out a Valentine1 I think you'd be impressed. It has three modes: standard (beeps like a loon); programmed (what it determines is a motion detector on low beep (volume fullycontrollable)), and what it determines COULD be real on high beep; and lastly adv program which is pretty quiet unless it really thinks it sees something. I keep it on the middle setting because I'm not sure I trust it to determine what's real completely!

Nubo -- on the contrary I find it's too easy to drift off without the detector. The detector keeps my head out of the cabin.

I had been driving for about an hour and going across Staten Island 3-4 years back at 5:45 am and heard sirens. Looked up in the rear-view and all I could see was a windshield behind me (no lights, no grille, no hood, no roof!). He was THAT close! I pulled over and completely off the road. The two left tires were barely on the road (I do that for the cops safety -- too many nightmare stories and videos about cars getting slammed in the breakdown lane). Window down, sunroof shade open (tinted windows), one hand on the door the other at 10 o'clock on the wheel.

I had NO CLUE as to why I was being pulled over. The cop asked me, I told him the same, and he said 'let me start from the begining'...

Long story short I came speeding up on his ass in the passing lane and he "apparently wasn't going fast enough for" me so I backed up, switched two lanes without a directional passed the truck in the middle lane, and believe it or not, those two lanes turned to solid white lines after I went low, then came back high across those two lanes in front of him, again without directionals.

Now, in all fairness he was in an unmarked CrownVic, with a big chrome spotlight above his mirror, and had about four antennaes on the trunk, but I swear I never saw him. He pulled me over after I'd gotten back up to 75 in a 55. I told him I didn't recall any of that, and it was the truth, but I wasn't arguing at all -- very polite in fact.

I was in shock thinking how bad could this be. How many points, how big will the fines be, and I quickly counted seven offenses (speeding, 2lanes no dir, 2lanes back no dir, 2 white lines). Who knows if tailgating is an offense!

Either he was in a great mood, my off road parking impressed the hell out of him, or SOMETHING (I did have a clean license), but when he came back he said he was only going to ticket me for failure to use a directional and let me go. This is a NYC cop -- shocked the hell out of me!

He started to explain the back of the ticket and I stopped him and just said if I did everything he said I did, I'd be happy to pay the ticket and I thanked him!

Trust me the detector keeps me alert not only as to what is going on down the road, but what the hell I'm doing to boot! The middle setting on the Valentine1 is tolerable. If my confidence goes up I might try the adv program but I think I'm better off hearing a beep ONCE IN A WHILE!

Tinkerer

Do some research ~ www.radartest.com &/or "Radar Roy" www.radar-detectors.com.

FWLIW, I've had several Valentine 1's for several years and recently traded one for a Passport 8500. If you can get over multitude of directional signals spit off by the Valentine display, IMO the newer Passport is a much easier unit to live with. If you feel you have to go with a Valentine 1, I think the remote display option is a "must" have, if only to keep tailgates off you rear bumper trying to read the display if you have the unit mounted high up under on the windshield, by the rear view mirror. Having now run the two units, swaping back and forth between them for the last several weeks, for a portable detector, I'd go with the newer Passport 8500 or 8500x50 over the Valentine. I haven't tried one of the newer BEL detectors (the Rxs75 / 65 or 975r) but they are supposed to have tested very well too.