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Been an escort guy for years , since they were the size of a Kleenex box...know I have had every new one (except the smoker redline w/ no GPS)in the last 15 years and am ending up with my Max 360.
Uniden has dropped (2) of the most jaw dropping range and overall performance winning detectors the R1 (no GPS $299) and the R3 (edited I had originally R2...sorry) (w/ GPS $399)...don’t take my word for it....read. I think I paid $649 for my Max 360. One difference between the Max and the R3 (other than $240 bucks) is the “Arrows” they basically stole from the V1 (Valentine) when their patent lapsed. Escort’s Redline is known for it amazing sensitivity at long distances, however it had a mono display and NO GPS. Welcome the new and improved Redline “EX” ($599) I’ll give you 2 guesses on what those were Color Display and GPS...shocker. Oddly enough the reviews say it does not perform as well as the OLD unit... bet that is going over well at Escort...
Look I do not profess to know everything about the other top performing models like the Valentine V1 which to date still does not have GPS capability that I know of built in (I think you have to pay for an app and run it on your phone. I am sure some of your guys out there have some info to share on that ... not trying to push one over the other ... I can tell you one huge *** demon is sitting on my shoulder telling me to grab the R3 and push the protection out further, it smokes the Max 360 in sooo many areas But... I like the “Smart Cord”.. being able to reach up and mark a false signal coming from Blind Spot Mons and God knows what else..I love those damn arrows!! Once I get a hit I can tell where this-guy is coming from and by the strength ..how far. I like the (3) diferent display modes and the fact that you can identify the threats by their frequency, each band a different color Knowing for sure if it is real or otherwise. I like that you can make any adjustments to the detector thru an App (Lord knows to do it on the unit is a PIA)
Sorry for the rant...sharing my experience for those interested.
Perfect timing. Was at Costco looking at Escort 9500IX bundle this morning, with smart cord and GPS. Your thoughts? Not looking to spend much over $300
Hmmm. Well I know that unit came out in 2007/8, and is being replaced by the “IX” ($499). Not sure what the “Bundle “ is but I assume you get the “Smart cord’ ? You would lack Blue tooth mandating you Linkh with a bluetoooth capable Smart cord (again, probably in the bundle) .
Look I am not going to tell you it sucks because that is realative but that is an old Frame my man...firmware is a hell of a thing but think of what has transpired since. We all have a limit in what we would invest in something like this ....but ...I would grab the IX, it is escorts 3rd best ..upgraded much better performance (see link below). That comes with the smart cord (the IX has built in Bluetooth for the “Escort Live” app you really need too read up on this as it is way cool and very involved. They will want to sell you a subscription to the “Defender Data base” which basically lets you download all the changing speed traps and speed cam locations and will let you know well in advance. I have played with it it links you and your alerts with everyone else participating on the app and marks those spots sp you can see ...kind of like wazw. I doo not need another distraction personally.
Oh yeah ..buy from Escort and you get one year of ticket protection...you get a ticket...they will pay it ... it works ...trust me on that ...all the best
Perfect timing. Was at Costco looking at Escort 9500IX bundle this morning, with smart cord and GPS. Your thoughts? Not looking to spend much over $300
We use our 'vette for lots of long road trips, where GPS "learning" of false sites doesn't get the chance to help us much because we don't pass the same place repeatedly.
We use a Valentine, the newest versions don't look any different but do perform very well and have far fewer falses.
Our Valentine is powered from their "Savvy" unit which plugs into the OBD port and has a wheel to set a speed (I use 25 mph), below which any signals give only a single beep and then get muted. I also have their remote display stuck on top of the steering column with mounting tape.
But what's "best" for me, may not be best for you.
I have a 9500ix that I've had for years now. Recently picked up a Uniden R3, and have no regrets. The 9500ix now resides in the SO's vehicle full time. R3 is quieter and has noticeably better performance, especially off-axis. You can also mute/lockout just like you can with the 9500ix.
The Redline EX can pick up MRCD (photo radar) and it has GPS. My biggest ticket getting thing is photo radar, I never get tagged with a radar gun and in the last 10 years I've been "clocked" 3 times so I think in addition to my radar jammer and rear plate flash (which is all but useless during the day) I will have to get the Redline. It's expensive at 850 buck CAD (699 US greenbacks) but I get that much in photo radar tickets a year.
I agree with the OP that the Unidens provide a lot of performance for the buck. I used to run an LRD-950 I purchased for $150 back in Jan 16. The LRD line was Uniden's new attempt at the radar detector market after previously selling marginal detectors. The priced it too low as it outperformed many higher priced units from competitors and sold a lot of them. I purchased the LRD950 for $150 in Jan '17. Uniden realized the pricing error (relative to performance) and discontinued the LRD line and replaced them with the higher cost DFR line. Looked very similar and also had very good performance. Similar hardware, upgraded firmware and a new name. Uniden had to replace the LRD line as they couldn't just jack up the price without huge blowback. I purchased a DFR7 in Jan '17 for $260.
The DFR7 lives in the C7 and the LRD950 in a GMC truck.
Now Uniden has the latest R1/R3 line of detectors with better filtering, displays and more refinements. Perhaps I will upgrade to an R3 in the future, but the previous units work fine for me.
Having onboard GPS is a plus with the Uniden units and the Ka range detection here in CA has saved me a number of times.
Here is the DFR7 wired into the socket behind the rear-view mirror in the C7.
See the similarity between the LRD950 (L) and DFR7 (R).
Last edited by Skidplate; 10-16-2017 at 12:21 AM.
Reason: typo
The short version is there is no "best". There isn't one single radar that can do everything excellently. Some come closer to the buyer's desires than others, but they all compromise in order to cover a certain "spectrum".
There are too many parameters to meet--expense, falsing, range, incremental 8-10 level volume adjustments (vs only a choice of 2-4 settings for "cheaper" models), wavelength sensitivity, directional sensitivity, lockout capabilities and of course, ease of use.
Some offer radar jamming, red light camera ranging and GPS location (for traffic/speed sensors) etc. The very expensive offer laser jamming.
There's a LOT to read about; the author "Vortex Radar" on Youtube has posted a wealth of information there. His reviews are very highly regarded by most viewers and I'd agree that his strong reputation is deserved.
After about 40 hours of reading and 3 pages of notes, I am very pleased with my choice--but then again, I'm mostly worried about radar traps at >40mph, not commute nor city driving.
I bought a Radenso Pro SE for its' ability to handle a dichotomous clash of terrains--it's excellent at finding radar at LONG distances in both "open field" highway, AND forested rolling hills where 50mph intrastate winding two-lane road present a completely different challenge. Warnings at a distance of 1-3/4 to 1-1/4 miles out are routine, and a nice luxury when one is driving over the speed limit.
The Radenso XP is acknowledged for its' strengths at markedly shorter ranges with dependably stronger falsing filters, but it's more devoted to 'city' driving than open country... and that in a nutshell is the difference between just two models within the same brand.
If you're serious, there's a lot of research ahead of you.
Edited to add: JRYellow, this is an example of why there is no "best":
Originally Posted by bbrown450
... I like the “Smart Cord”.. being able to reach up and mark a false signal coming from Blind Spot Mons and God knows what else..I love those damn arrows!! Once I get a hit I can tell where this-guy is coming from and by the strength ..how far. I like the (3) diferent display modes and the fact that you can identify the threats by their frequency, each band a different color Knowing for sure if it is real or otherwise. I like that you can make any adjustments to the detector thru an App (Lord knows to do it on the unit is a PIA)
...
Above are quoted some of the reasons BBrown really likes his detector--I wouldn't ever use some of the features he really likes because I bought mine mainly for cross-country driving; once I pass an area, I prolly won't be back for 3-4 weeks but once a year, so marking falses is a useless feature to me--and other cars' blind spot monitors--well, I speed away from 'em . My detector has a pretty strong filter for BSMs and cuts tha alarm out after a couple beebs. Arrows? they can be extremely beneficial... on my detector, light intensity and increasing volume relay a sense of "direction"--I can't be sure of the "where", with my detector since there are no arrows, but I know for sure it's time to slow down when the volume increases incrementally towards (my personally-set) maximum levels as I progress forward--a mindful eye almost always finds the source of the signal--the source's direction doesn't matter if the signal is getting stronger (shortening the distance to me from behind or ahead); the best practice is to slow down until the radar source is confirmed by a sighting. So in my own personal practice, arrows don't have a great appeal. Thus, BBrown's choice wouldn't be ideal for me, and therefore, "not the best" detector for my wants. And therein is the rub for why there's not one "best".
I still have the old redline. Highly sensitive from a very long distance, never had a ticket while using it, but now on days I receive many false alarms with the new proximity sensors on some new cars. But still is very accurate. Probably the new model took care of this.
I own two V1s. (and no, I don't use them together... separate cars.) 1 is probably 10 years old, the other is new.
Know what I've learned in 40 years of driving with a detector in the Mid Atlantic? Nothing can save you if you don't have situational awareness.
I've visually spotted more speed traps than my detector detected. Yes, it has alerted me, but far more often you see the car, or part of the car very far away.
Alone on the road? = sitting duck. Instant on and you're toast.
speed limit (or average traffic flow) +9 and nobody will ever bother to pull you over. Way too much other low hanging fruit, like the Prius doing 90 mph...lol
Major highways are where the cops work. (that and school zones in our state) So, my back roads are unusually devoid of enforcement activities. (Except near Camp David, for some reason, there are a lot of cops near there...lol)
I turned off X band. No cops use X. Now I have to look for grocery stores.
LED tail lights are a pita. (laser alerts)
This info may not apply to those that live in other places, except for the awareness aspect...
Anyway, the V1 is simple, and effective. At least for me.
Know what I've learned in 40 years of driving with a detector in the Mid Atlantic? Nothing can save you if you don't have situational awareness.
Yep. Detector + Waze + being on the lookout is the way to go.
Originally Posted by rrsperry
LED tail lights are a pita. (laser alerts)
I turn off laser unless I'm on a road trip or something. It's mainly just an early "you're getting a ticket" warning.
There was one time I was driving at night on a long trip, and I believe laser got scattered off a car in front of me and was picked up by my detector. I was maybe doing 10-12 over, hit the brakes, and a couple of seconds later the laser warning went off again. Sure enough, State was on the side of the road with the gun.
If anyone is going to be dumb and excessively speed when they don't have visual or a rabbit, they should get a jammer . . . er . . . parking sensor. Laser detection won't save you.
Last edited by Dethsupp0rt; 10-16-2017 at 08:52 AM.
...
LED tail lights are a pita. (laser alerts)
...
What does this mean? Are you saying that LED tail lights trigger one or both of the V1s to emit falsed laser alerts?
Thank you.
Originally Posted by Dethsupp0rt
Yep. Detector + Waze + being on the lookout is the way to go.
I turn off laser unless I'm on a road trip or something. It's mainly just an early "you're getting a ticket" warning.
...
If anyone is going to be dumb and excessively speed when they don't have visual or a rabbit, they should get a jammer . . . er . . . parking sensor. Laser detection won't save you.
I agree with the OP that the Unidens provide a lot of performance for the buck. I used to run an LRD-950 I purchased for $150 back in Jan 16. The LRD line was Uniden's new attempt at the radar detector market after previously selling marginal detectors. The priced it too low as it outperformed many higher priced units from competitors and sold a lot of them. I purchased the LRD950 for $150 in Jan '17. Uniden realized the pricing error (relative to performance) and discontinued the LRD line and replaced them with the higher cost DFR line. Looked very similar and also had very good performance. Similar hardware, upgraded firmware and a new name. Uniden had to replace the LRD line as they couldn't just jack up the price without huge blowback. I purchased a DFR7 in Jan '17 for $260.
The DFR7 lives in the C7 and the LRD950 in a GMC truck.
Now Uniden has the latest R1/R3 line of detectors with better filtering, displays and more refinements. Perhaps I will upgrade to an R3 in the future, but the previous units work fine for me.
Having onboard GPS is a plus with the Uniden units and the Ka range detection here in CA has saved me a number of times.
Here is the DFR7 wired into the socket behind the rear-view mirror in the C7.
See the similarity between the LRD950 (L) and DFR7 (R).
my Uniden works great....half the price of most other units with the same features ...
Keep in mind that 98% of the radar dectector sites offering reviews are useless because either a manufacturer has put up the site or they are sponsoring someone who sells their products. Hard to sort through all that.
10-15-2017, 02:28 PM
Radar detectors.....for those interested
. My detector has a pretty strong filter for BSMs and cuts tha alarm out after a couple beebs. Arrows? they can be extremely beneficial... on my detector, light intensity and increasing volume relay a sense of "direction"--I can't be sure of the "where", with my detector since there are no arrows, but I know for sure it's time to slow down when the volume increases incrementally towards (my personally-set) maximum levels as I progress forward--a mindful eye almost always finds the source of the signal--the source's direction doesn't matter if the signal is getting stronger (shortening the distance to me from behind or ahead); the best practice is to slow down until the radar source is confirmed by a sighting. So in my own personal practice, arrows don't have a great appeal. Thus, BBrown's choice wouldn't be ideal for me, and therefore, "not the best" detector for my wants. And therein is the rub for why there's not one "best".
my Uniden works great....half the price of most other units with the same features ...
