Posted: 1/31/2013 5:10:13 AM EDT
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I need a good radar detector for my speed demon wife, I have never needed one our wanted one, but she stats a new job where she will drive 40 min. What are features to have and avoid.
Please recommend some. Whats considered the best also? |
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Depends on the driving conditions.
If the commute entails a mix of city driving, I'd look at the Escort 9500ix for its ability to lock out false positives using the built-in GPS. Once you have driven on the route for a few days, it "learns" and will only alert if a new signal is detected. It has saved me from at least 4 tickets. If the commute is mainly highway, I'd look at the Valentine V1 in addition to the 9500ix Neither will be of value with laser. You'd need to look at alternatives for laser depending upon your state laws. |
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It won't help with GA State Patrol, but it might help with county and municipal PD...
http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-40/chapter-14/article-2/40-14-8/ 2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 40 - MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC CHAPTER 14 - USE OF SPEED DETECTION AND TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL MONITORING DEVICES ARTICLE 2 - SPEED DETECTION DEVICES § 40-14-8 - When case may be made and conviction had O.C.G.A. 40-14-8 (2010) 40-14-8. When case may be made and conviction had (a) No county, city, or campus officer shall be allowed to make a case based on the use of any speed detection device, unless the speed of the vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by more than ten miles per hour and no conviction shall be had thereon unless such speed is more than ten miles per hour above the posted speed limit. (b) The limitations contained in subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply in properly marked school zones one hour before, during, and one hour after the normal hours of school operation, in properly marked historic districts, and in properly marked residential zones. For purposes of this chapter, thoroughfares with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or more shall not be considered residential districts. For purposes of this Code section, the term "historic district" means a historic district as defined in paragraph (5) of Code Section 44-10-22 and which is listed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places or as defined by ordinance adopted pursuant to a local constitutional amendment. Use a GPS to verify the accuracy of her speedometer and then tell her to set the cruise control for 9mph over the speed limit and keep it there. |
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Quoted:
Depends on the driving conditions. If the commute entails a mix of city driving, I'd look at the Escort 9500ix for its ability to lock out false positives using the built-in GPS. Once you have driven on the route for a few days, it "learns" and will only alert if a new signal is detected. It has saved me from at least 4 tickets. If the commute is mainly highway, I'd look at the Valentine V1 in addition to the 9500ix Neither will be of value with laser. You'd need to look at alternatives for laser depending upon your state laws. Both are quality units and what I would have came to recommend. |
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Quoted:
I need a good radar detector for my speed demon wife, I have never needed one our wanted one, but she stats a new job where she will drive 40 min. What are features to have and avoid. Please recommend some. Whats considered the best also? Escort Redline or Escort passport 9500ix Redline if you don't want to be able to be detected. (oriented more towards highway use) 9500ix if you want the gps feature to avoid false alarms and redlight/speed camera warnings. (oriented towards city use) The valentine was great once upon a time but is really outdated these days (and the price does not reflect that). |
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Does she have a smartphone? Does she drive in urban areas? If the answer to both is yes, you might consider adding Waze to the tool box.
Waze is a navigation app for iphones and android phones that allows users to update the maps. One of the updates is if someone spots a police officer. It certainly isn't perfect, but I've found it pretty good for my urban commute. Obviously if she is driving in a rural area it will be less helpful because there will be fewer people to report things. Best part is that it doesn't cost anything (although it does require a data connection). |
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Quoted: Quoted: I need a good radar detector for my speed demon wife, I have never needed one our wanted one, but she stats a new job where she will drive 40 min. What are features to have and avoid. Please recommend some. Whats considered the best also? Escort Redline or Escort passport 9500ix Redline if you don't want to be able to be detected. (oriented more towards highway use) 9500ix if you want the gps feature to avoid false alarms and redlight/speed camera warnings. (oriented towards city use) The valentine was great once upon a time but is really outdated these days (and the price does not reflect that). You're wrong about the V1 being outdated. It gets regular software updates. Also, over the years, every single component in the V1 has been updated. It performs better than the 9500ix in every category, has both front and rear antennas, has a better design, is more durable, has better customer support, and tells you which direction the radar is coming from. At $399, the V1 is a bargain compared to the $499 9500ix. |
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I've got pretty extensive experience with radar detectors (and laser jammers), and have used them daily for over 30 years. I've owned and tested all of the latest models from Valentine 1 and Escort that have been mentioned in this thread. In addition to the detectors, I've tested the add-on components like Escort's Escort Live system, and Valentine One's V1Connection. My take on the V1 vs 9500ix debate ... Effective range: V1 outperforms the 9500ix in virtually every category. Additionally, the V1 has both front and rear antennas, while the 9500ix only has a front antenna. Price: 9500ix is $500. Add Escort Live DirectWire for $100, visor mount for $20, annual subscription for $20, and you're up to $640. V1 is $400. V1Connection adds another $50. It comes with visor mount, and requires no annual subscription fee. $450 total, which is about $200 less than the 9500ix. Controls: 9500ix buttons/controls are on top and difficult to see and use when driving. V1 controls are on front and easy to see and use. GPS/lockout/filtering: 9500ix has this and it is very useful for preventing false alarms. V1 does not have this functionality. Durability: The V1 is very well built and is impervious to heat, sun, cold. The case is virtually indestructible. It is very rare for a V1 to fail or need repair. The 9500ix has a plastic case, and has problems performing in extreme cold or heat. Check the official Escort forums and you'll see MANY MANY complaints about Escorts malfunctioning or breaking. The standard Escort customer service response is that the detector is broken and needs to be shipped in for repairs. I have no confidence in the 9500ix reliability as a result. Software updates, detector upgrades: 9500ix can be updated yourself via USB cable and a PC. Relatively easy to do, but the updater software is buggy. The only updates you're likely to ever see are Defender database updates. V1 has to be sent to V1 for updates, and turnaround time is about 2 weeks. 9500ix unique features: TrueLock/GPS filtering - relatively useful, but their Defender database is outdated, has lots of errors and omissions, and does not have a very large userbase providing updates. Variable speed sensitivity - useless feature. Autolearn - uses GPS and smart filtering technology to learn and lockout false alarms. Useful feature ... when it works. Laser shifter add-on: The ZR4 "laser shifter" (ie. laser jammer) is shit and performs VERY poorly. Defender database - this database of red light cameras, speed traps, and speed limits would be useful, if the info was frequently updated and accurate. Unfortunately, the red light camera data is often wrong or outdated, it'll alert you to red light cameras that are on nearby roads you're not even driving on, and the speed trap data is worthless. The speed limit data is usual;ly wrong or missing altogether. Escort Live - with this web-enabled add-on that utilizes your smartphone, you can get instant updates about speed traps and police, in real time, from nearby drivers. Unfortunately, the user base is relatively small, and you have to pay for an annual subscription. The smartphone app sucks ass, freezing frequently, failing to connect to your detector, and failing to connect via bluetooth to your smartphone (or tablet). I found that I had to physically disconnect all of the cables, turn the power off/on, and restart the app ... EVERY TIME I got in my car. Real pain in the ass. Also, the app software would occasionally stop working or freeze up, and you won't know it until you get a ticket. Waze is a free alternative to Escort Live. It has MANY more features, it is more stable, it is free, and it has a MUCH larger userbase. It works with any radar detector too ... or even without a radar detector. The data in the Waze database is accurate and updated. Also, it includes all of the real-time and stored data from the Escort Live database! V1 unique features: Directional Arrows - This is the single greatest innovation in the V1. The arrows will tell you if the cop is behind, to the side, or in front of you. This is very useful info. Escort does not offer anything like this. If you spend time using both the V1 and an Escort (like the 9500ix), you'll quickly realize how useful the directional arrows are. Front and rear antennas - you get much better rear detection, and this is critical for avoiding tickets. V1Connection - this add-on is a bluetooth device and smartphone app that provides a simple interface for programming your V1. Also, it provides detailed real-time data about the type, direction, and duration of radar guns. The device functions flawlessly, always maintaining the connection to your V1 unit, and always working perfectly with the smartphone app. I never have to unplug or power off/on the devices, and the app software has been completely reliable. Savvy - an add-on that turns down V1 alerts based on vehicle speed. Same as the 9500ix speed sensitivity, and in my opinion not very useful. Overall, the V1 is the better detector, because it outperforms the 9500ix and Redline, it is less expensive, and it is much more reliable. For the best protection, and best value, I recommend: 1) Valentine 1 2) Laser Interceptor four head unit - this is a laser jammer, and it works very well. It jams laser, not radar, and is legal in most states. 3) Invisicord hardwire kit - power your V1 from your rearview mirror. 4) Waze - free smartphone app that provides GPS-based, real-time red light camera, speed trap, and other data. The userbase is huge, and it is MUCH better than the Escort version (which requires annual subscription fee). The above 4 items will cost about $1250 total, and have no subscription fees. This combo offers better protection than any Escort product, or combination of Escort and/or Bel, K40, Blinder, Cobra, Whistler, etc etc. fwiw, I currently have 0 points on my license, and have not even been pulled over for speeding in years. My daily driver is a Viper ACR, and my other ride is a 900HP Corvette. I drive them the way they were meant to be driven too.   |
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K40
Blocks laser detection and has separate units for the front and rear, also has 0 false positives and they are so confident in their product they will pay for a ticket if you get one and your stupidity isn't to blame( seeing the lights flash and maintaining your speed) Also it's undetectable it's an internal system with hidden sensors even if they do pull you over and check. |
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Quoted: K40 Blocks laser detection and has separate units for the front and rear, also has 0 false positives and they are so confident in their product they will pay for a ticket if you get one and your stupidity isn't to blame( seeing the lights flash and maintaining your speed) Also it's undetectable it's an internal system with hidden sensors even if they do pull you over and check. I have to respectfully disagree. The K40 is crap. It performs worse much than Escort 9500ci, 9500ix, Redline, V1, etc. The only pro K40 videos you find online are the same old videos that K40 posts/plants. It's funny that when K40 tested vs the V1, they ran both detectors at the same time - a big no-no because of interference. Also, they mounted the V1 in the worst possible location (behind the windshield wipers at the base of the windshield). The V1 should be mounted high up and obstruction free. The K40 "Defuser G5" (aka "laser jammer") is pathetic. It jams basically nothing. Instead of using laser diodes like the Laser Interceptor, it uses LEDs (like the Escort ZR3/ZR4), which are proven to be very inferior to laser diodes. The K40 is NOT undetectable. If installed for best performance, the sensors can be seen from outside the vehicle. If installed inside the bumper and rear hatch, the performance is significantly degraded. Tickets? K40 will only pay for your tickets for the first year, and they only pay the fine and court cost .... IF YOU PLEAD GUILTY. That's a completely worthless guarantee. Pay a lawyer $300 to fix the ticket if you want to keep points off your license and keep your insurance down. All those pro-K40 videos you see online? They come from K40 themselves or K40 shills, and as mentioned above their testing methodology is severely flawed and obviously designed to impair the performance of the V1 and 9500ix. Note that two radar detectors should NEVER be tested side by side, or at the same time, due to interference. Why do you not find any legitimate reviews of the K40? Because they sue anybody who posts reviews of the K40, and they actively work to remove any online content that is critical of their product. When K40 can't innovate (or compete), they litigate. A few links to K40 user reviews and comments on their experiences ... http://www.radardetectorforum.org/showthread.php?t=16288 http://forums.corvetteforum.com/audio-electronics/2760765-best-radar-detector.html http://radartest.com/article_2.asp?articleid=100584 http://www.radardetectorforum.org/showthread.php?t=4598 http://www.radardetectorforum.org/showthread.php?t=7782 http://teamspeed.com/forums/car-audio-electronics/52632-new-radar-comparison.html http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2387424 http://www.fordgt500.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9600 http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/997-turbo-gt2/258613-passport-valentine-k40.html http://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/231583-radar-detector-k40-valentine-passport.html http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/997/237638-need-feedback-latest-radar-laser-defense-passport-9500ci-vs-k40s-rl360.html http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482434 http://teamspeed.com/forums/car-audio-electronics/54145-k40-radar-detectors-vs-escort-radar-detector.html http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/997-forum/614645-question-about-k40-rl360.html |
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I need a good radar detector for my speed demon wife, I have never needed one our wanted one, but she stats a new job where she will drive 40 min. What are features to have and avoid. Please recommend some. Whats considered the best also? Escort Redline or Escort passport 9500ix Redline if you don't want to be able to be detected. (oriented more towards highway use) 9500ix if you want the gps feature to avoid false alarms and redlight/speed camera warnings. (oriented towards city use) The valentine was great once upon a time but is really outdated these days (and the price does not reflect that). You're wrong about the V1 being outdated. It gets regular software updates. Also, over the years, every single component in the V1 has been updated. It performs better than the 9500ix in every category, has both front and rear antennas, has a better design, is more durable, has better customer support, and tells you which direction the radar is coming from. At $399, the V1 is a bargain compared to the $499 9500ix. How do you explain results like this: http://radartest.com/Redline-Valentine-One-Review.asp |
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I had the V1 (updated to last version) and am currently using an Bell Sti Driver/Magnum (since I'm in VA)
The V1 has better build quality even when compared to the Driver's magnesium case. The controls are a little better to operate. The V1 was great in rural / interstate use but it fell on it's face in urban locations. Driving through downtown New Orleans, I get 10+ alarms at the same time the entire trip. In Smart or City mode. In other major cities the detector would never stop showing some kind of signal. It rendered the V1 essentially useless for city use. Driving the same route through New Orleans, my Driver/Magnum picked up two alarms the entire trip while in smart mode. However, it does have reduced range on the highway/interstate. So, super sensitive with a solid build = V1. Less sensitive but better for city = Driver/Magnum. The V1 never hickuped or had a malfunction. The Driver/Magnum died after 10 months and was repaired under warranty. Just FYI TYCOM |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I need a good radar detector for my speed demon wife, I have never needed one our wanted one, but she stats a new job where she will drive 40 min. What are features to have and avoid. Please recommend some. Whats considered the best also? Escort Redline or Escort passport 9500ix Redline if you don't want to be able to be detected. (oriented more towards highway use) 9500ix if you want the gps feature to avoid false alarms and redlight/speed camera warnings. (oriented towards city use) The valentine was great once upon a time but is really outdated these days (and the price does not reflect that). You're wrong about the V1 being outdated. It gets regular software updates. Also, over the years, every single component in the V1 has been updated. It performs better than the 9500ix in every category, has both front and rear antennas, has a better design, is more durable, has better customer support, and tells you which direction the radar is coming from. At $399, the V1 is a bargain compared to the $499 9500ix. How do you explain results like this: http://radartest.com/Redline-Valentine-One-Review.asp The Redline performs well - better than any other portable Escort product. BUT, this review is posted by an Escort dealer, on a site that sells only Escort products. Craig Peterson has a long history of being biased against V1, and of receiving compensation from Escort. So, that review is meaningless. That said, the Redline has front detection range that is on par with the V1. The Redline doesn't have a rear antenna though, doesn't have directional arrows, doesn't have controls that are visible and facing the driver, costs $100 more than the V1, and is not as durable/reliable as the V1. If the V1 was not available to me, the Redline (or Bel STi Magnum) would be my second choice for portable detector. The 9500ix would be my third choice. |
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I have a V1 and an Escort 9500. There are two stationary radar speed signs on my commute, and I have switched between detectors several times and tried them in several different cars over the last year or so. The V1 always detects the speed radar earlier than the 9500... not by a huge amount, but it does work better. The one time the V1 really convinced me it was "the one" is when I was speeding (just a little) through the zone where the radar signs are- the V1 doing the usual warning when I saw the number change to TWO radar sources. I slowed down and wouldn't you know it- a town cop sitting off in a parking lot looking right at me. The 9500 would have detected it, but it wouldn't have given me that extra bit of information about the second radar source and where it was.
The other thing I don't like about the Escort is that the GPS will learn these locations where there is always a radar signal and filter them out... until there's a legitimate radar threat and the Escort will lead you like a lamb to the slaughter without a peep. I will still use them both, but when I fire up the faster cars in the stable I make sure the V1 is the one I take with me. Oh, don't even consider the Passport Solo... the worst excuse for a radar detector I've ever seen. It didn't warn of those same radar signs until I could read the speed indicated by the sign for the car only 100 feet ahead of me. All the solo would do is warn you to put on your blinker and get out your wallet if confronted by police radar. I wish Valentine would make a version for permanent installation so it would be a little more stealthy. Even with the remote display, there's a large box stuck to the windshield. |
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Quoted: I have a V1 and an Escort 9500. There are two stationary radar speed signs on my commute, and I have switched between detectors several times and tried them in several different cars over the last year or so. The V1 always detects the speed radar earlier than the 9500... not by a huge amount, but it does work better. The one time the V1 really convinced me it was "the one" is when I was speeding (just a little) through the zone where the radar signs are- the V1 doing the usual warning when I saw the number change to TWO radar sources. I slowed down and wouldn't you know it- a town cop sitting off in a parking lot looking right at me. The 9500 would have detected it, but it wouldn't have given me that extra bit of information about the second radar source and where it was. The other thing I don't like about the Escort is that the GPS will learn these locations where there is always a radar signal and filter them out... until there's a legitimate radar threat and the Escort will lead you like a lamb to the slaughter without a peep. I will still use them both, but when I fire up the faster cars in the stable I make sure the V1 is the one I take with me. Oh, don't even consider the Passport Solo... the worst excuse for a radar detector I've ever seen. It didn't warn of those same radar signs until I could read the speed indicated by the sign for the car only 100 feet ahead of me. All the solo would do is warn you to put on your blinker and get out your wallet if confronted by police radar. I wish Valentine would make a version for permanent installation so it would be a little more stealthy. Even with the remote display, there's a large box stuck to the windshield. Lots of great, valid points here. btw, for stealthy installs, you can get your V1 built _into_ your rear view mirror. Several individuals/companies who do this. Alternatively, you can use the V1 remote display so no radar detector lights are visible from outside the car. Lots of people like the Blendmount, or knockoffs, that mount the radar detector below the rear view mirror. I'm not a fan of this because it puts the device in clear view and shows it off to thieves. I've found that the easiest, safest way to mount it is to use a visor mount. Visor mount prevents it from being seen by thieves, allows you to easily tap power from the rear view mirror, puts the radar detector in good position for superior performance, and often prevents the detector lights from being seen outside of the car or by a cop pulling you over. |