Radar detector question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 292
Likes: 37
From: lady lake fl
Radar detector question
Each week i get to do a 150 mile trip...so rural with no other nearby roads or cross roads, and never any traffic. Lots of straight areas. Bought the car to do this drive 90% of the time. With this in mind, can i do something on the budget side? Interference would be non-existant.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 2,106
From: Left Coast, San Diego
Each week i get to do a 150 mile trip...so rural with no other nearby roads or cross roads, and never any traffic. Lots of straight areas. Bought the car to do this drive 90% of the time. With this in mind, can i do something on the budget side? Interference would be non-existant.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 613
Likes: 103
From: Farmington Arkansas
I paid around $450 for escort wireless. Great out in rural areas. Paid for itself many times. But not really good in town. Too many false alerts. I had bad results with valentine, but it was an older model. Escort is only two years old.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 329
From: North Carolina
Go with the Valentine and programs Customer Sweeps with V1 Driver and V1 Connection. It's almost a completely different detector with the custom sweeps. I hardwired it into the mirror with a mirrortap and a Blendmount.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 397
From: Madison Wi
Have you heard of a phone app called Waze? It's a navigation application that has gotten very popular. And I do mean VERY popular.
I've found there are typically a few hundred "Wazers" on the road around me.
Waze is "crowd sourced" software. That means that is collects data from every user that is connected to it. Your speed, What road you are on, etc. It then uses that data from all connected users to calculate the best route between point A and B.
It also allows its users to report road hazards. Like a truck stalled at the side of the road. It will then warn other drivers of the hazards.
It also facilitates reporting of the location of police.
When you input your route, it will tell you if there are any police reported anywhere along your route. It will also tell you of any hazards, construction, etc.
As you pass the location the police were reported, the application asks you to validate they are still there. If they have gone, you report that as well.
The more miles you log on the app, and the more accurate reports you make that other wazers verify, the more credibility the app assigns to your reports.
Check it out! Radar detectors are quickly becoming old technology.
I've found there are typically a few hundred "Wazers" on the road around me.
Waze is "crowd sourced" software. That means that is collects data from every user that is connected to it. Your speed, What road you are on, etc. It then uses that data from all connected users to calculate the best route between point A and B.
It also allows its users to report road hazards. Like a truck stalled at the side of the road. It will then warn other drivers of the hazards.
It also facilitates reporting of the location of police.
When you input your route, it will tell you if there are any police reported anywhere along your route. It will also tell you of any hazards, construction, etc.
As you pass the location the police were reported, the application asks you to validate they are still there. If they have gone, you report that as well.
The more miles you log on the app, and the more accurate reports you make that other wazers verify, the more credibility the app assigns to your reports.
Check it out! Radar detectors are quickly becoming old technology.
Last edited by TraceZ; Feb 19, 2018 at 11:07 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 11,003
Likes: 64
From: Why I oughtta....
St. Jude Donor '17-'18
This, only I went with an Escort Passport 9500ix. Got the detector used on Craigslist for about $150 and got the blendmount used here on the forum for $80. Mirrortaps are rather inexpensive but well worth it in aesthetic value. Extend your budget just a bit and do it right.
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,361
From: Chirper Island
It also only warns you of cops that others have seen, not the cop that just set up shop.
If I have to choose between a RD and Waze, I will choose the RD every time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Each week i get to do a 150 mile trip...so rural with no other nearby roads or cross roads, and never any traffic. Lots of straight areas. Bought the car to do this drive 90% of the time. With this in mind, can i do something on the budget side? Interference would be non-existant.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 99
Likes: 55
From: Utah
Uniden has some of the highest rated new detectors on the market.....they have been receiving rankings as good as escort and valentine. Search google and there are tons of articles where they compare each of the relevant models and what they offer for the price. You will be able to find a really good detector with a few less of the bells and whistles like gps and false alert programmability in your price range that will offer good performance on a budget.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
This is an OLD "ongoing" topic that never ends. 
And honestly, nobody has found the best radar detector yet. None of them are fail-safe or that don't give false signals, or miss the ones they "should catch." I wanted to get the best system possible, including laser detector/laser jammer. Laser is more precise, accurate and on-the-spot when aimed at you. Hard to detect it before you've already been detected.
So finally, I just gave up on all these devices. I "try" to not speed....well, when I do, I do. It's hard to ride a sports bike and not speed. Those crotch rockets just take off. I don't know what I'm saying... just be careful. There isn't a perfect device, there are only devices that are "made belief" to give you a false sense of security, since you spent $500 on a top-notch device.
Maybe someone will chime in and tell us what REALLY works!
And honestly, nobody has found the best radar detector yet. None of them are fail-safe or that don't give false signals, or miss the ones they "should catch." I wanted to get the best system possible, including laser detector/laser jammer. Laser is more precise, accurate and on-the-spot when aimed at you. Hard to detect it before you've already been detected.
So finally, I just gave up on all these devices. I "try" to not speed....well, when I do, I do. It's hard to ride a sports bike and not speed. Those crotch rockets just take off. I don't know what I'm saying... just be careful. There isn't a perfect device, there are only devices that are "made belief" to give you a false sense of security, since you spent $500 on a top-notch device.
Maybe someone will chime in and tell us what REALLY works!
Last edited by Vette_Fan; Feb 20, 2018 at 04:32 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 2,508
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Beware with your type of driving though........if you are on rural roads, alone a radar detector may not save you, if the cop is triggering! Radar detectors work on the premise that others are getting triggered or the radar is hot all the time!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 331
From: Long Island New York
I've had a 9500ix for 5 years now, no problems and it works great. I've updated the Defender Database once (red light cameras), something you probably won't need. I paid $500 new, they're now down to $300. I know, a little out of your budget but well worth considering.
https://www.escortradar.com/passport9500ix/
https://www.escortradar.com/passport9500ix/
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 329
From: North Carolina
This is an OLD "ongoing" topic that never ends.
And honestly, nobody has found the best radar detector yet. None of them are fail-safe or that don't give false signals, or miss the ones they "should catch." I wanted to get the best system possible, including laser detector/laser jammer. Laser is more precise, accurate and on-the-spot when aimed at you. Hard to detect it before you've already been detected.
So finally, I just gave up on all these devices. I "try" to not speed....well, when I do, I do. It's hard to ride a sports bike and not speed. Those crotch rockets just take off. I don't know what I'm saying... just be careful. There isn't a perfect device, there are only devices that are "made belief" to give you a false sense of security, since you spent $500 on a top-notch device.
Maybe someone will chime in and tell us what REALLY works!
And honestly, nobody has found the best radar detector yet. None of them are fail-safe or that don't give false signals, or miss the ones they "should catch." I wanted to get the best system possible, including laser detector/laser jammer. Laser is more precise, accurate and on-the-spot when aimed at you. Hard to detect it before you've already been detected.
So finally, I just gave up on all these devices. I "try" to not speed....well, when I do, I do. It's hard to ride a sports bike and not speed. Those crotch rockets just take off. I don't know what I'm saying... just be careful. There isn't a perfect device, there are only devices that are "made belief" to give you a false sense of security, since you spent $500 on a top-notch device.
Maybe someone will chime in and tell us what REALLY works!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,652
Likes: 2,106
From: Left Coast, San Diego
Have you heard of a phone app called Waze? It's a navigation application that has gotten very popular. And I do mean VERY popular.
I've found there are typically a few hundred "Wazers" on the road around me.
Waze is "crowd sourced" software. That means that is collects data from every user that is connected to it. Your speed, What road you are on, etc. It then uses that data from all connected users to calculate the best route between point A and B.
It also allows its users to report road hazards. Like a truck stalled at the side of the road. It will then warn other drivers of the hazards.
It also facilitates reporting of the location of police.
When you input your route, it will tell you if there are any police reported anywhere along your route. It will also tell you of any hazards, construction, etc.
As you pass the location the police were reported, the application asks you to validate they are still there. If they have gone, you report that as well.
The more miles you log on the app, and the more accurate reports you make that other wazers verify, the more credibility the app assigns to your reports.
Check it out! Radar detectors are quickly becoming old technology.
I've found there are typically a few hundred "Wazers" on the road around me.
Waze is "crowd sourced" software. That means that is collects data from every user that is connected to it. Your speed, What road you are on, etc. It then uses that data from all connected users to calculate the best route between point A and B.
It also allows its users to report road hazards. Like a truck stalled at the side of the road. It will then warn other drivers of the hazards.
It also facilitates reporting of the location of police.
When you input your route, it will tell you if there are any police reported anywhere along your route. It will also tell you of any hazards, construction, etc.
As you pass the location the police were reported, the application asks you to validate they are still there. If they have gone, you report that as well.
The more miles you log on the app, and the more accurate reports you make that other wazers verify, the more credibility the app assigns to your reports.
Check it out! Radar detectors are quickly becoming old technology.
Last edited by Vet Interested; Feb 20, 2018 at 12:57 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 910
Likes: 74
From: Nebraska
I live in a rural area and Waze is not useful at all around here, basically no users. Being rural the highways have little traffic which means one patrolman with a laser makes my V1 pretty useless if you are the only one he is targeting. Now if I am on the interstate with more traffic my V1 is great at warning me if that patrolman is targeting cars ahead of me. Waze and radar detectors are nice tools but the only sure bet is not to speed.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I will make this plain and simple. If you just depend on Waze you WILL get a ticket. Waze will NOT keep up with cops as they move around no matter how many "Wazers" are out there. And at night time you are dead meat.
The detector, such as a Valentine or Uniden can pick up the radar signal and give you plenty of advanced warning.
Wilbur the Wazer may not feel like reporting the cop on the off ramp lying in wait.
Anyone saying a RD is old technology is only kidding themselves and has never used one. But, you can not beat Laser.
The detector, such as a Valentine or Uniden can pick up the radar signal and give you plenty of advanced warning.
Wilbur the Wazer may not feel like reporting the cop on the off ramp lying in wait.
Anyone saying a RD is old technology is only kidding themselves and has never used one. But, you can not beat Laser.
A V1 and WAZE is a helpful combination but they are just tools, not magic wands.
There are some tactics that are damn near impossible to overcome, so you still have to use some discretion and restraint.
Don't 'cheap out' on a detector. This is one technology where you really get what you pay for.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
That is simply not true. Waze is one tool to find the cops before they find you, but it is very dependent on user input. In more rural areas (think road trips or any other place you might be outside a city) it is less than useful.
It also only warns you of cops that others have seen, not the cop that just set up shop.
If I have to choose between a RD and Waze, I will choose the RD every time.
It also only warns you of cops that others have seen, not the cop that just set up shop.
If I have to choose between a RD and Waze, I will choose the RD every time.
I frequently travel an 80 mile stretch of I15 between Las Vegas & Mesquite; tried Waze and found it to be completely useless. In the 3 round trips I tried to use Waze, was not informed once of any of the dozen or so patrol vehicles I passed sitting in the medians.
Last edited by Welker1; Feb 21, 2018 at 01:53 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 331
From: Long Island New York
Only time I use WAZ is when I'm stuck in traffic, it seems when people are sitting in traffic they have plenty of time to update the app so at least I have an idea how far ahead the traffic jam is and I can plan alternate routes. EVERY other time I use the 9500ix, it does what it's supposed to do, tells me where the radar and red light cameras are. It also works on laser but I've found once laser locks on to you it's too late, if you're speeding your caught! Happened to me, I came around a bend on the parkway and got hit with laser by a LEO sitting on the side of the road, fortunately enough I wasn't speeding so no ticket. 