Looking For The Best Battery Powered Radar Detector
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,502
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
Escort Solo S2. . . that's what I run in the Vette . . .not quite as much range as the Escort 8500 in my daily driver - - and sometimes hard to hear with the top off . . .but Escort gets my vote for best cordless.
http://www.escortradar.com/
http://www.escortradar.com/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 0
From: Rockmart GA
dont waste your money on a cordless battery powered detector. The offer far less range than the corded counterparts. They have to switch on and off constantly to save battery life. Those small gaps are enough time to get hit by instant on radar..and poof you get a ticket. Plus even when on they don't offer the same range.
Do yourself a favor..save yourself the pain now by getting a nice chorded detector..you'll wish you did down the road when you get a ticket.
top 4 detectors:
1. Valentine 1
2. Escort 8500 x50
3. Bel x65
4. Bel STi
I've got a V1 and have been ticket free since I got one.
Do yourself a favor..save yourself the pain now by getting a nice chorded detector..you'll wish you did down the road when you get a ticket.
top 4 detectors:
1. Valentine 1
2. Escort 8500 x50
3. Bel x65
4. Bel STi
I've got a V1 and have been ticket free since I got one.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
In my opinion, your question is a contradiction 
. "Best Battery Powered Radar Detector" is almost an oxymoron. 
To remove the wire, shortens the detection range of the unit. This renders the unit useless as far as I'm concerned. With that said, the best of the worst will be the Escort Solo S2, hands down. If you must go cordless, this would be my only choice.
. "Best Battery Powered Radar Detector" is almost an oxymoron. To remove the wire, shortens the detection range of the unit. This renders the unit useless as far as I'm concerned. With that said, the best of the worst will be the Escort Solo S2, hands down. If you must go cordless, this would be my only choice.
Last edited by talon90; Apr 10, 2007 at 05:40 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 819
Likes: 0
From: Chambersburg pa.
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I think as far as battery models go you have a limited amount of options and I think the recommendations that have been offered have covered the models available to you. If you have not looked into it check out a Great Lakes mount and a Invisicord. That is a close to having no wires as you can get. And it hides everythign very well. My understanding is a battery operated radar detector does not have range a radar detector that is powered by the car has.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Overland Park Kansas
dont waste your money on a cordless battery powered detector. The offer far less range than the corded counterparts. They have to switch on and off constantly to save battery life. Those small gaps are enough time to get hit by instant on radar..and poof you get a ticket. Plus even when on they don't offer the same range.
Do yourself a favor..save yourself the pain now by getting a nice chorded detector..you'll wish you did down the road when you get a ticket.
top 4 detectors:
1. Valentine 1
2. Escort 8500 x50
3. Bel x65
4. Bel STi
I've got a V1 and have been ticket free since I got one.
Do yourself a favor..save yourself the pain now by getting a nice chorded detector..you'll wish you did down the road when you get a ticket.
top 4 detectors:
1. Valentine 1
2. Escort 8500 x50
3. Bel x65
4. Bel STi
I've got a V1 and have been ticket free since I got one.
Not wanting to be off topic...but what about the new Escort 9500i ~$450
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Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,083
Likes: 29
From: Murfreesboro TN
I'm using the Escort Solo S2 which I like, It's saved my a$$ several times. But after a year of replacing batteries I bought a invisa cord which plugs into the rear view mirror and the detector. I have never bought batteries again. My detector is mounts to the rear view mirror with the great lakes mount. But if I want to remove it I can remove the cord from the detector and go unplugged. Best of both worlds.
What is a "invisa cord" and where can I get one? How does it plug into the mirror (I have a 07 coupe). Will it work with the V1?
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,734
Likes: 2
From: Southeastern PA
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,762
Likes: 2
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,083
Likes: 29
From: Murfreesboro TN
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,824
Likes: 3
From: The left Coast
St. Jude Donor '08
I have a cordless I picked up at Costco but I'm replacing it with an Escort 8500 blue. The batteries always seem to run down at the worst times and it only takes rechargeables.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 17
From: Keller, TX
St. Jude Donor '07
I've used a Solo 2 for several years and it's far from 'useless'. I wonder if any of the "useless" comments come from Solo2 owners? The Solo1 was pretty dreadful in contrast. It ate batteries pretty quick. I used 2 sets of batteries for a 7200 mile trip last summer with the S2.
I received the Solo 2 as a gift and before using it, I did some research, thinking I might return it and get a V1 or 8500. What I found was that of course it isn't as sensitive as a V1 or 8500, but the difference was not very significant and it was acceptable to me for the convenience it offers. I notice that by the time I see brake lights in front of me I've almost always got a lock on the LEO.
I move it between the vette and my wife's car as well as take it on business trips in rental cars. When I leave the top down for a quick trip inside a store, I just grab it and put it in my pocket.
I'll look into the invisacord for the vette. The manual says using external power will increase the range somewhat and I could still easily move it around.
The Solo 2 works well for me and I would recommend it to anyone looking for convenience. The exception is the really hard core speeder that needs every last foot to get on the brakes.
I received the Solo 2 as a gift and before using it, I did some research, thinking I might return it and get a V1 or 8500. What I found was that of course it isn't as sensitive as a V1 or 8500, but the difference was not very significant and it was acceptable to me for the convenience it offers. I notice that by the time I see brake lights in front of me I've almost always got a lock on the LEO.
I move it between the vette and my wife's car as well as take it on business trips in rental cars. When I leave the top down for a quick trip inside a store, I just grab it and put it in my pocket.
I'll look into the invisacord for the vette. The manual says using external power will increase the range somewhat and I could still easily move it around.
The Solo 2 works well for me and I would recommend it to anyone looking for convenience. The exception is the really hard core speeder that needs every last foot to get on the brakes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 7
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Thanks for posting link.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,363
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Escort Solo S2. . . that's what I run in the Vette . . .not quite as much range as the Escort 8500 in my daily driver - - and sometimes hard to hear with the top off . . .but Escort gets my vote for best cordless.
http://www.escortradar.com/
http://www.escortradar.com/
. That being said though, I think I'm about to move to a new Escort and invisicord.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 0
From: Valrico, Florida
dont waste your money on a cordless battery powered detector. The offer far less range than the corded counterparts. They have to switch on and off constantly to save battery life. Those small gaps are enough time to get hit by instant on radar..and poof you get a ticket. Plus even when on they don't offer the same range.
Do yourself a favor..save yourself the pain now by getting a nice chorded detector..you'll wish you did down the road when you get a ticket.
top 4 detectors:
1. Valentine 1
2. Escort 8500 x50
3. Bel x65
4. Bel STi
I've got a V1 and have been ticket free since I got one.
Do yourself a favor..save yourself the pain now by getting a nice chorded detector..you'll wish you did down the road when you get a ticket.
top 4 detectors:
1. Valentine 1
2. Escort 8500 x50
3. Bel x65
4. Bel STi
I've got a V1 and have been ticket free since I got one.
battery powered is limited at best.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,762
Likes: 2
I've used a Solo 2 for several years and it's far from 'useless'. I wonder if any of the "useless" comments come from Solo2 owners? The Solo1 was pretty dreadful in contrast. It ate batteries pretty quick. I used 2 sets of batteries for a 7200 mile trip last summer with the S2.
I received the Solo 2 as a gift and before using it, I did some research, thinking I might return it and get a V1 or 8500. What I found was that of course it isn't as sensitive as a V1 or 8500, but the difference was not very significant and it was acceptable to me for the convenience it offers. I notice that by the time I see brake lights in front of me I've almost always got a lock on the LEO.
I move it between the vette and my wife's car as well as take it on business trips in rental cars. When I leave the top down for a quick trip inside a store, I just grab it and put it in my pocket.
I'll look into the invisacord for the vette. The manual says using external power will increase the range somewhat and I could still easily move it around.
The Solo 2 works well for me and I would recommend it to anyone looking for convenience. The exception is the really hard core speeder that needs every last foot to get on the brakes.
I received the Solo 2 as a gift and before using it, I did some research, thinking I might return it and get a V1 or 8500. What I found was that of course it isn't as sensitive as a V1 or 8500, but the difference was not very significant and it was acceptable to me for the convenience it offers. I notice that by the time I see brake lights in front of me I've almost always got a lock on the LEO.
I move it between the vette and my wife's car as well as take it on business trips in rental cars. When I leave the top down for a quick trip inside a store, I just grab it and put it in my pocket.
I'll look into the invisacord for the vette. The manual says using external power will increase the range somewhat and I could still easily move it around.
The Solo 2 works well for me and I would recommend it to anyone looking for convenience. The exception is the really hard core speeder that needs every last foot to get on the brakes.
The original Solo is crap IMO. Had a ton of bad reviews as well. It's almost as if they started from scratch with the S2. Not even in the same league, the S2 is a much better detector.