if I am 2 miles ahead of him I ain't worried

 

.....xcaliber?.....who makes it?

 

NEVER be the lead car. Let the 5 liter shake the bushes.

Charlie

 

I have a Bel 985 mounted to the windshield next to the mirror and love it. Like the others, I use common sense and it has saved me many times. Did a lot of research before buying, and it has served me well. I would not leave home without it. Good luck!

 

I got the bel 895 for $160, its the cheaper version of the 985, a week after getting my car and is has saved me a couple of times. You just have to learn to understand the readings, and realize which are false k in city. Well worth the investment IMO

 

My Escort 8500 works just great when I can hear it. The problem is when I am really cranking my tunes I tend to push harder with my right foot. Don't have a solution - just a warning.

 

There is no strength meter with laser warnings. This is explained in the manual. Laser produces no scatter, so as soon as the detector gets the signal you need to slow down IMMEDIATELY. Even then, you're often toast. I was popped in my GF's Mazda w/ the X50 by a residential speed trap that way.

 

I'm unsure of the statement that you can't mount a laser in a car. Although you may lose some of the niceties, it should still work.

However, in checking that out, I read this...pretty interesting reading, and I dont even have a V1

http://www.laserveil.com/laser/polic...-police-lidar/

 

excellent description...i use one as it can drastically reduce the chance of getting caught..he may flash the radar on the car ahead and you can get notice a mile ahead of the radar....i have been saved many times w/my escort passport

 

I'm not sure to which statement you are referring, but based on all info I have read, laser isn't "mounted" aywhere. All those I have seen are handheld devices with a scope that the LEO must point at his target. A LEO could conceivably sit in his car perpendicular to the target and shoot out the lowered side window. However, all cases I have seen down here are LEOs standing by the road targeting. They're usually in residential (not highway) areas. They'll typically have one or two LEOs with laser and a bunch more who literally step out into the road and flag you over to the side where they write you up. in fact, they usually make you pull around a corner while they write you up to avoid drawing attention to the trap. Ask me how I know.....

 

I found that the radar detector is particularly useful when your cruising along in traffic and everyone is going over the speed limit. The whole group is a potential target and who do think will get nailed the corvette or Ford Focus? The cars with the detectors will get an early warning and be able to slow down and get to the right.

If you are cruising solo, there won't be any warning and you will get nailed if its instant on.

I tested the Valentine 1 and the Escort 8500 x50 for a few weeks each in both city and highway driving. The V1 is a great unit but it is little too sensitive for me and put out a lot of false alarms. People make a big deal over the V1s "arrows" but honestly what difference does it make - when the thing goes off you slow down.

The Escort is a great device with plenty of range to keep you out of trouble - no arrows but its $100 less expensive. A few months back it gave a warning on a laser hit for a car up in front well before I got close enough to get nailed so I could slow down.

You will need to learn the way your detector gives warnings so you can respond correctly.

My escort has saved me a bunch of times - not being crazy but just cruising at 75 or 80 in a 65 zone on the highway. It would have been a ticket for sure without the detector.

 

Yeh, I knew that it just comes on that way. It's just that I have never seen a warning from a burst up ahead of me which I would expect. (Maybe if it detects it up ahead (on other cars in front of me) it locks on and stays on?)If it hits you and your the target, you can forget about trying to slow down.

 

Gotcha. As I understand it, when it picks up laser, no matter how strong or weak, it sounds that full alarm for a set interval (5 seconds?).
I agree though that it does scare the **** out of you when it goes off. You get relatively used to the audible tones for the radar bands starting weak and steadily building. When you're cruising and all of a sudden that shrill tone and the word LASER in the display...

 

Anyone have thier 8500 go off in Laser mode under hard acceleration? Mine does this every now and again, and scares the crap out of me....it must be a special order feature.

 

Glad I bought a black vert

 

Valentine 1 & Passport 8500 are the best in the world, V1 Is #1 ever made.