jdlev

Let's face it, the corvette can go 0 to speeding ticket in less than 5 seconds. so I've been considering picking up a radar detector or other similar tech to avoid a $300 (or more) mistake. Looking for actual user experiences. I haven't owned a radar detector since I was 20, and at that time they were pretty much worthless. Not sure how they'd protect against lasers since you can't react faster than the speed of light, lol.

What have you guys used that has worked?

MitchAlsup

I got to the point I actually drive within spitting distance of the speed limits. Really!

I also take the car to the road race track when the urge hits. A HPDE session (or 4) takes the need to speed away for a bit over a month.

2016C7.paul

There are many threads on radar detectors on CF. I have been researching for several weeks and have decided either to get a Uniden R3 ($399) with blendmount or too maybe wait a few months to see if anything new comes out first. I also like the Escort 360 with arrows, but the price at around $600 is ridiculous. The R3 seems to be winning the long range detection battle. If it had arrows I'd have already bought it.

uwec86

Love the 360!

jpc0011

segen77

Having had the R3 (currently) the 360 (returned after a couple weeks) and the V1, I have to give it to the R3. The V1 is a close second, but distance is better on the R3 by far. Also, frankly, I find the V1 ugly. The 360 arrows are so small they are virtually useless, and the price was too much for the value. The need for arrows is more of a novelty than anything. The reality is when you hear it pop off, you're going to slow no matter what. I have had my R3 detect at a range of close to three miles, but I would say about a mile to mile and a half is more typical. Still more than enough time. If you really want the best couple the R3 with WAZE.

Regarding Laser. If you get popped, you're screwed. Any detector will just let you know it's time to pull over.

Regarding the blendmount. I had intended on getting one, but since it took them so dang long to come out, I'm kind of liking the detector just above my dash, and not blocking my view. I may still get it at some point though. Who knows.

Your best bet is to research on a radar detector forum, and not here. You'll find a wealth of information there.

PatternDayTrader

This is a copy/paste of a post I made a while back. I'm going to go ahead and pull rank on everyone with this since I regularly average over 80 mph on a 1200 mile trip between Michigan and Texas. Here it is.


Keep in mind all radar detectors are totally worthless if you don't take the time to understand how to use them. There will be a learning curve before it becomes genuinely useful. Blind spot monitors, traffic flow sensors, and tons of other things cause false alerts. On some sections of road, non-stop full alarm alerts can make you think a detector is actually broken. I went through this just this morning on I30 north of Texarkana.
Knowing all this, my vote is the Uniden r3. Yeah its a bit more than 250 bucks but its worth it. Presently, it is now accepted as the best long range detector available at any price. My experience reflects this. A detectors range requirement is relative to the speed you want to travel. The faster you go, the more range you need. Here's some free advice from someone who knows. No matter what you buy, if even one chirp of a Ka band alert sounds, you better be on the brakes until you find the source. Also, go ahead and shut X band off unless you travel in Ohio. Turn off K POP. Don't use Ka narrow, use Ka wide to sweep for all frequencies including out of tune guns. Speed traps are a very easy problem to avoid, the most difficult thing to avoid, is catching up to a moving police car at night. Be really careful traveling over 100 mph and don't weave in and out of slower cars if you do, people just call 911 ( trust me, I know). Lastly, don't use gps lockouts (on any detector) to silence falses coming form those stupid signs that blink your speed when your over the posted limit. Just remember those spots.

2016C7.paul

Do you use the GPS functionality? Is it built-in or do you have to connect the R3 to your phone or your car's wireless? I can't find any info on that.

PatternDayTrader

The blendmount is nice but its really only better if you hardwire the power supply so that you don't have the cord hanging down. The issue I have with that is the Uniden cord has a built in mute button which is nice because there are quite a lot of k band falses. Especially in construction zones where there are traffic flow sensors ever half mile or so. So hardwiring the power supply means you lose the mute button on the cord and have to reach up and manually mute the falses. Its a choice I guess. Obviously you can still use the blendmount with the cord, but then its hanging down, so there's that ...

AL Priority is basically the only laser jammer to buy. Everything else is too easy to punch through. This is a seriously sinister piece of equipment, and you really need a very good reason to even have it. The base price is 1900 bucks and its is basically a permanent install. You need line of sight with laser, and the places that laser is commonly used are generally high density traffic and you cant safely go over the posted limit by more than maybe five or eight mile per hour anyway, but if you are serious then that is really the only way to go.

saleen556

PatternDayTrader

Nice ... I'm afraid to just turn off K band even though some very serious people do. I also use an aux cord from the detector to the radio so the alerts come through the speakers. So I love the mute button.

rrsperry

Looked at a blendmount, but it really limits your sight lines to the rt front. I use a windshield mount next to mirror, and power tap.

I really like my V1, but no detector can protect you all the time. Relying solely on a detector will get you a ticket. Ya gotta use your head too.

xwing

IMO the best detectors are the Escort 360 or Valentine V1. But there are many, many threads debating the benefits of each (and other choices.) To the main question, yes it is very much worth it to have a radar detector. It won't save you every time, but it will save you most of the time.

Tex Vette

I have not had a radar detector in 30 years. That one didn’t work very well. The 360, to me, is amazing how well it works. It has GPS and Bluetooth that works with the Escort app which I always use with the detector. It’s expensive but cheaper than tickets and insurance.
Just my opinion. Everyone has one.

PatternDayTrader

Nope they sure wont save you every time. The truth is they shouldn't save you at any time. The only reason they work at all is because cops tend to leave the radar turned on when they are sitting there. A sharp copper will leave it off until he can see someone that's speeding, then he will turn it on and try to get a reading. I congratulate the guy if I get caught in this way. It means he was doing his job.

Ed Ramberger

I have been nothing less that completely satisfied with my 9500 IX.

xwing

Right, but many of them are lazy. There are so many people speeding, traffic police can "have their pick". So many just leave the radar running and grab the easy pickings. I prefer to be a slightly harder catch. I still can get caught, but it takes a little more effort. And that will save you 90% of the time.

PatternDayTrader

Agreed.

Pzilly

R3 seems to work well for all my buds, I'm probably upgrading to that myself.
as others have mentioned laser detector feature is useless except to let you know to start looking for a place to pull over. Same goes for pop radar, best technique we have is setting the cruise 6-7 mph over the limit and relax.

now if I find a bird dog aka guy flying down the road and free way is fairly open I am gain to sit about a 3/4 mile or So behind him/her and roll for a bit, in this case what I am hoping for is my detector to pick up scatter off either my bird dog or someone else ahead and I shut her down. I also suggest using waze, it has become fairly accurate, even alerted me the other day to a tire inn the road...

another technique is a good old fashion hand held CB and a passanger who doesnt mind chatting to the big boys.

Last technique, when pulled over, don't try and over BS a cop, he has heard it all, except usually the truth, my favorite line when asked what the rush is?
" no real reason Officer, except a bad day, and now my **** poor decision making trying to feel better about it clearly back firing" this has often dropped my tickets from 15-20 over to 5 over and no points, why? Because I didn't BS the guy, sure I'm paying 200-300 bucks but points are the real cost, and when I mail the check in include a short letter stating how much i would like to thank the officer for showing true professionalism, especially in these days, well because that's true too, and I may see him/her again and it doesn't take but a few minute to give thanks to the guys and gals that keep our dumb asses in check lol....

KemahGT

I’m convinced that a filthy Shark Grey with no front plate reduces the range of a laser gun by a substantial margin over the typical vehicle out there.