Radar Detectors

[Drummer]

I'm looking to purchase a radar detector to use on the highway - I don't need it within the city. So, laser only? Does anyone have any advice on what I should get? I'm hoping to spend under $250.

It seems only Best Buy and Visions sell them in store in Calgary?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/car-safe...ce%20skuidsaas

http://www.visions.ca/catalogue/cate...categoryid=487

[Regulator75]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=140895&

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

I see no reason not to buy a used one on kijiji. Seriously, this seems like an area where you get diminishing returns really quickly. How advanced does this technology truly need to be?

I've actually been thinking of getting one since buying the Datsun but I have a few other priorities there first.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

JB's sells them too. Not sure where they sit for price compared to the other stores though.

[Kjesse]

There are only 2 you should consider:

-The Valentine V1 (my favorite by far), available only directly from the manufacturer

-The Escort Redline

Both will run you over $250 though. For highway only use I'd take the V1 every time, if it was city use the Redline has more city-friendly features.

I sold my V1 for $250 when I sold my M3 last year... as I figured I didn't need it any more. Regret the decision as got two tickets on the highway this year doing barely 12km over the limit. Once I had the V1 I didn't get any tickets for 7 years.

radardetector.net is the best forum to read about what the strengths and weaknesses of the various detectors are, I've been reading that site for 8 years and it really comes down to the two choices I've listed here.

[Kjesse]

One more thing, if its Alberta Sheriffs, they are all (at least as of last year) equipped with KA band radar guns. RCMP typically use lidar but some have KA.

[Kjesse]

Recent article which also talks about the Cobra: http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...px-5400-page-4

I suppose the Cobra is better than nothing, but I'd splurge on the V1, it will inspire confidence where the Cobra will have you worried.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Drummer

...I'm hoping to spend under $250....

There's nothing of real value in this price range. You may get some advanced warning on a police vehicle with Ka radar on, while on the highway, that's it. A good radar detector with updatable GPS trap locator will cost you around $450-$500 (Passport 9500ix or equivalent). It will give you decent advance notifications but no protection against laser guns. A good jammer (Blinder HP-905 or equivalent) will cost you $500+$300 to install. And you will need to update the equipment, once there is another new laser/radar gun technology sold to the police by the same companies that manufacture and sell the detectors ...

Other, and safer, option - is to never speed, of course, but you knew that already.

[ThePrince]

I've always thought laser detectors are useless because by the time it can detect it, the cop's already got you lasered...

Radar on the highway is the biggest application for these things, IMO

[Jackpot_Smooth]

If they're using the KA i think you have a chance but like the post above, i think when it detects laser I see it as the detector laughing at you because you are getting caught.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

How advanced does this technology truly need to be?

Extremely advanced. Now that they're using lasers your only hope is to jam it, and that's very complicated to do successfully. But it is possible.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Absent actual jamming though, what you're doing is detecting that there is a trap up ahead, isn't it? If the goal isn't to prevent them from clocking you but to give you a few seconds' warning to slow down or whatever.

I appreciate the info as I clearly don't know much about this.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

I've always thought laser detectors are useless because by the time it can detect it, the cop's already got you lasered...

Radar on the highway is the biggest application for these things, IMO

Originally Posted by Jackpot_Smooth

If they're using the KA i think you have a chance but like the post above, i think when it detects laser I see it as the detector laughing at you because you are getting caught.

Close to true, but not totally true.

I've won the laser lottery twice. Caught scatter off a vehicle ahead of me, and was able to slow down by the time I was painted with the laser. This was using a V1.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Delgar

There are only 2 you should consider:

-The Valentine V1 (my favorite by far), available only directly from the manufacturer

-The Escort Redline

Both will run you over $250 though. For highway only use I'd take the V1 every time, if it was city use the Redline has more city-friendly features.

I sold my V1 for $250 when I sold my M3 last year... as I figured I didn't need it any more. Regret the decision as got two tickets on the highway this year doing barely 12km over the limit. Once I had the V1 I didn't get any tickets for 7 years.

radardetector.net is the best forum to read about what the strengths and weaknesses of the various detectors are, I've been reading that site for 8 years and it really comes down to the two choices I've listed here.

This post x1000.

The arrows on the V1 make it so you don't have to slow down for every highway detection, as you can figure out if you're still waiting for the cop to pass.

In the city, the GPS based stuff is more useful now.

The big thing in the city is the ultra low power K band photo-radar is basically impossible to prevent tickets with a detector, and you have to turn on a band that is used by adaptive cruse control and collision detection systems, so you'll false all day long.

In my opinion, the best setup now is a V1 with only laser and Ka enabled, and use your eyes to look for boxes on roofs of cars, or poles with cameras on them while in the city.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Absent actual jamming though, what you're doing is detecting that there is a trap up ahead, isn't it? If the goal isn't to prevent them from clocking you but to give you a few seconds' warning to slow down or whatever.

I appreciate the info as I clearly don't know much about this.

Right. With radar, a good detector will start picking up the trap as much as 30 seconds in advance depending on topography and what not, which gives you plenty of time to slow down before they are able to read your speed.

With lasers, as soon as you are able to detect it, they have read your speed. So the idea with laser jamming is to detect that you're being shot and they're trying to lock on, reduce to the speed limit, and then it's good practice to immediately disable the jamming so it's not so apparent that you're doing it, though you're free to continue jamming right up to the gun.

Laser trapping is waaay more prevalent in Edmonton than in Calgary, to the point that a device that does not detect laser is 100% useless.