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Old 04-24-2014, 07:54 AM   #1
Igster
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Default Good Radar Detector

Looking to pick up a good radar detector. Sick of getting photo radar tickets. Yes, I know, I know, I could just not speed. But let's consider the fact I do on occasion.

Any suggestions out there? I'm looking for one for under $200. Should detect all forms of radar (especially photo radar), but I fear if I grab say a $70 model, it will be going off all the time. Really looking for something that detects well but doesn't go off when someone is microwaving popcorn across the street.

I've been looking at Visions, but really unsure about some of the models. Would like to buy from a big name retailer so no issues if I need to return or exchange and would like to avoid buying one online and waiting/paying for shipping. Got another ticket in the mail yesterday

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks.
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Old 04-24-2014, 08:36 AM   #2
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over $200 but the one I have had the best luck with over the years.... Awesome unit

www.valentine1.com
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Old 04-24-2014, 08:41 AM   #3
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These are the two I was looking at, at Visions simply based on price. I would take a guess most would say the cheap one, is, well, cheap but thoughts on these ones, anyone?

http://www.visions.ca/catalogue/cate...ku=8000008505R

http://www.visions.ca/catalogue/cate...3956&sku=SSR80
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Old 04-24-2014, 09:41 AM   #4
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They detect laser too... hah.
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:27 AM   #5
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Price is a terrible consideration when buying a detector. Let's put it this way - all it will take is once for a good detector to save your ass and it's paid for itself. All it will take is once for a bad detector to let you down and you've spent the money for a good one.


Stay far away from the Cobra detectors. Junk. On the other hand, the Escort Passport 8500 X50 is a very nice detector and was considered the market leader when it was first released. But it is a bit older now and there are better detectors out there with more features.

One question you should be asking yourself is where you plan on driving with it. The Beltronics STi Magnum is undetectable by RCMP so if you plan on driving in Manitoba or other jurisdictions where detectors are banned, it's the only option (or STi-R if you want a remote mount). I have the Bel STi Driver (previous version) that did the same thing.

Laser detection is useless. It might as well be called "Instant Ticket Notification". If you want protection from LIDAR, you need a 'laser jammer'. Laser is instant. The ONLY way you will avoid a ticket by detecting laser is if they shot the guy beside you and you were far enough away from the beam source that it was able to splash over to your car. Not bloody likely as that distance is usually well past where they're targeting.

Read up: http://www.radardetector.org

EDIT: Oh yeah, and photo radar vehicles are tough to catch at the best of times (goddamn Multanova) so you want a really good detector to pick those up. Intersection cameras do not use radar (they use induction loops in the road) so you'll want a GPS-enabled detector to ensure you're aware of them.
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Last edited by TorqueDog; 04-24-2014 at 11:15 AM.
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Old 04-24-2014, 12:27 PM   #6
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Price is only a consideration because of budget. I get that you get what you pay for. Just thought I might be able to grab an affordable detector to try and save me from those damn photo radar tickets. Seems those are the only ones I get.
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Old 04-24-2014, 01:51 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Igster View Post
Price is only a consideration because of budget. I get that you get what you pay for. Just thought I might be able to grab an affordable detector to try and save me from those damn photo radar tickets. Seems those are the only ones I get.
So there's the catch... you want to detect possibly one of the hardest types of radar to detect, and the ones that do it well cost $$$$.

That said, you should be able to get away with that Escort Passport 8500 x50, but turn it 90° for better Multanova detection (at the cost of detection of normal radar).

http://www.radardetector.org/how-to-...speed-cameras/

Hope that helps.
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Old 04-24-2014, 01:57 PM   #8
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Or I guess I could just slow down...that's the cheapest alternative. Doh...
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Old 04-24-2014, 02:33 PM   #9
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Yeah, but that's no fun.

I run a Bel STi Driver. Used to have a Blinder M20X in my vehicle but I've been too lazy to get it put back in, and now I want the new Blinder system. Still no tickets in over 5 years.
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Old 04-24-2014, 02:44 PM   #10
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The only detectors you should really consider is either the Valentine 1 or the better Bell models. If your budget is under $200 don't bother, use the money for your next ticket. Read the reviews and independent tests.

I have a Valentine 1 and compliment that with a Laser Interceptor. No tickets since, and while I generally don't speed in the city, sometimes they've helped me avoid tickets at some of the more tricky spots where the cops will wait in a speed transition zone.

The V1 really shines on the highway, where I rarely drive the 110 speed limit. That being said, I've found the police don't even blink an eye if I'm going 130, to the point I don't even slow down from that anymore if the detector goes off.
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Old 04-24-2014, 04:46 PM   #11
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i have a escort 9500ix. I love it to bits. It cost me 650, but it has been worth every penny. It's saved me from at least 9-10 tickets in the past 3 years.

My opinion, spend the money, it's well worth it.
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Old 04-24-2014, 09:08 PM   #12
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Wish we could jam those annoying speed cameras all over town.
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Old 04-24-2014, 09:53 PM   #13
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Wish we could jam those annoying speed cameras all over town.
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:36 PM   #14
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Old 04-24-2014, 10:57 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TorqueDog View Post
...
Laser detection is useless. It might as well be called "Instant Ticket Notification". If you want protection from LIDAR, you need a 'laser jammer'. ...
You seem to know what you're talking about. Have you ever passed a speed trap in your vehicle while jamming the signal pointed at you? When the radar gun displays a JTG message, an officer knows immediately that you're jamming. Isn't that illegal and giving them the right to stop you/ticket you/confiscate the jammer?

P.S> BTW, I totally agree with you on uselessness of radar detectors for detecting laser guns.
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Old 04-25-2014, 12:10 AM   #16
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You seem to know what you're talking about. Have you ever passed a speed trap in your vehicle while jamming the signal pointed at you? When the radar gun displays a JTG message, an officer knows immediately that you're jamming. Isn't that illegal and giving them the right to stop you/ticket you/confiscate the jammer?

P.S> BTW, I totally agree with you on uselessness of radar detectors for detecting laser guns.
I have once, it was my first week with the jammer installed and it caught me off guard. Didn't even think to turn the jammer off. Reduced my speed, and just got the dirtiest look from the officer running the trap. I don't recommend doing it.

Some guns will give a jam code - E01 or E04 depending on model, sometimes the same code used if you were to shoot the gun in the same direction as the Sun) or they'll simply fail to get a lock.

The great thing is that we don't have laws against laser jammers. Radar jammers will get you fined and thrown in prison. Some jurisdictions do have specific laws against active laser countermeasures, but Alberta is not among them. Only province I'm aware of that does is Ontario, and some US states like California, Washington, etc.

Despite that, I would still strongly recommend slowing down and then turning off the jammer as soon as you get warning that you're being targeted. This will allow the officer to get a read on your - now legal - speed, and let you get on with your day. No need to draw unnecessary attention to yourself, even if it is legal.
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Old 04-25-2014, 10:27 AM   #17
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Amazing thought, but going the speed limit isn't that tough either, and often times (especially if you travel during commute times), traffic doesn't even allow you to surpass it.

All the money/time invested into detectors and jammers could be spent finding out what the speed limits are and slowing down, or finding the right time to speed.

In 15 years of driving in two countries, 3 provinces, and 7 states, I've never got a single speeding ticket. It's not that I haven't sped either, it's just that I'm smart enough to know where the cops often set up traps, and where I don't, I follow the speed limit until I do know.
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Old 04-25-2014, 12:56 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by TorqueDog View Post

One question you should be asking yourself is where you plan on driving with it. The Beltronics STi Magnum is undetectable by RCMP so if you plan on driving in Manitoba or other jurisdictions where detectors are banned, it's the only option (or STi-R if you want a remote mount). I have the Bel STi Driver (previous version) that did the same thing.
Not sure what the laws are in other provinces but here in Ontario dectectors are illegal but as long as they are portable it is ridiculously easy to get away with it.
Here's how this always plays out.
Officer: Turns lights on
Driver: Removes device and stuffs it in pocket
Officer: Are you running a radar detector device?
Driver: No sir.
End of story.
Officers can search vehicle for the device, they cannot search your person.
Most officers here won't even try and make a stop because the Spectre says there is a hit.
Truckers use them on the 401 constantly.
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Old 04-25-2014, 01:23 PM   #19
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Amazing thought, but going the speed limit isn't that tough either, and often times (especially if you travel during commute times), traffic doesn't even allow you to surpass it.
Well, if you would read some of my posts in this thread, you would have seen I already had that amazing thought.

The point is, there are times where I am in a hurry (work related) or you find yourself in a situation where the rest of traffic is cruising at a certain speed and you get caught up in it, or speed up to pass someone just at the wrong time, trying to get into the lane you need, etc.
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Old 04-25-2014, 01:30 PM   #20
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-In Alberta laser/lidar jammers are legal (these are light waves approx 904 nm wavelength, a jammer is just a transmitter), so JTG codoes or E01 or E04 don't lead to getting a ticket.
-Radar jammers are a different story, are illegal federally. Jamming (transmitting) that wavelength will get you in big trouble. You can buy them however, the technology is 50 years old or more.
-Radar detectors are legal in the 3 western provinces for sure. Not so sure about the rest.

-nm

-Alberta/SK/BC have so far had a different view about the ability for people to transmit in the 904 nm wavelength compared to the other provinces. The basic thrust is, government doesn't own that spectrum and people should be free to transmit over that wavelength.

-My own view is, if used responsibly the landscape will stay the same. Abuse detectors and jammers, and they'll be made illegal.

Last edited by Kjesse; 04-25-2014 at 01:37 PM.
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