[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Radar Detectors (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 6/5/2007 6:55:30 AM EDT
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Im looking at buying a radar detector for my brothers bday. He needs one pretty bad since he managed to get a couple tickets these past 2 weeks for speeding. My mom called to give me an earful about it. What are the best radar detectors out there? I now of the Valentine 1??? What are some of the other quality devices out there? |
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<-- ticket free since 1998 due to my Valentine 1. Just had mine upgraded to POP even though they prolly don't use it 'round here. But seriously, it is the best $399 I ever spent. If it saves you from two tickets it's already paid for itself. Imagine how many tickets I've dodged in almost ten years .... PS a radar detector is not a license to speed. You still need to drive smart, safely and above all keep your situational awareness up. If you unplug your brain you WILL get a ticket, no matter what detector you have. HTH Justin |
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Had my V-1 for 9 years now. Still the same model, haven't upgraded it...yet. 2 tickets in those 9 years. 1. The detector was inadvertently unplugged. 2. I was pulled over by a cop that was pacing me...no radar involved. If it exploded tomorrow, I would have a new V-1 by the end of the week. |
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Ok, I have the newest Passport and it is great!!! I tried a V1 and it was ok, I really didn't think the arrows helped that much. The i9500 has quite a few really good features, like blocking known non-radar sources and marking known speed traps. Do yourself a favor and check it out on the Escort site. ByteTheBullet (-: |
Seems that I heard that by the time the laser is "detected" it's too late because it is "instant on" and targets a specific vehicle. I haven't had a speeding ticket in years. Remember, speeding is an ART not a science. 
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How much was it to upgrade your V1? I've had mine since 2001 or so and am thinking about it. |
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My radar detector is essentially useless anymore. Speed enforcement in the city is mostly done by motorcycle cops. They park over a crest in the road, or at a spot where they'r ehard to see, then bust out the laser gun. NO detector is gonna save you from that. Run of the mill interstate driving - a detector will probably save your butt most of the time. |
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After years of reading about the V1 on here I finally decided to buy one and have been using it for the past 4 months... My only regret is that I didn't get it sooner - it really is that good. Now I'm thinking about picking up a Blinder X-treme to cover the laser side... |
whats a laser jammer? do they work reliably? is it a feature u can add to a basic radar detector? |
The cost varies depending on the age of your current unit. What they do is take yours back and send you a brand new in the box current spec model, with all the wiring, mounts, etc. Go to this link enter your detectors serial number and it will give you the cost of the update. www.valentine1.com/upgrades/ I have a 1994 model V-1 and the last time I looked I think that it was around $275 to update it. |
Setting up a rabbit? (or pigeon). It always works for me, you just have to now how to goat someone into passing you, or if you're on the freeway, pick someone moving about the same speed as you and set them up so you're far enough behind them to keep your eye on them, but so you're not right up their ass, leaving enough room for someone to pull between you, like an officer. When on the two-lane roads it's a little more tricky, you have to be able to choose that person that you know is going to speed to be in front of you, and coax them to pass you if they're behind you. Even more important is the flip side, knowing when someone has set you up.
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Not disputing what you went through but I didn't receive any wiring or mounts with my v1.7 -> v1.8 upgrade. I got back what I sent ... the original box and my detector. I will have to double check, but I think the serial # is the same (so I suspect it is the same unit and not a brand new unit). Justin |
This is good shit <-- furiously scribbles notes There should be a thread dedicated to speeding, and how to not get your ass caught. 
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Valentine 1!!!! Its the only way to go. I've had mine for a few years and have only got one ticket only because I didn't have it with me and I was so use to not paying attention to my speed until I hear a beep from my detector. The trick to speeding is to always have someone in front of you preferably going the same speed you are but it really doesn't matter if they are speeding or not. The idea is, is that the cop will scan their car (the car in front of you) to check to see if they are speeding, and when he scans their car your detector will go off. Using this technique you can get away with speeding without a radar detector just make sure to put more space between the car in front of you. NEVER, ever ever ever EVER speed at night with no one in front of you, with or without a radar detector. You WILL get caught. Under those circumstances your detector will only let you know that your about to get a ticket. As long as you have a "rabbit" your good to speed. |
Tell him to slow down. |
You know, we were just discussing that over the weekend over at Swingset's place. I honestly have no idea, and I swear to God I don't do it on purpose. I have yet to post "I own page <x>!!!". Behold my powers. 
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Interesting, maybe there is a point where if the unit is new enough that they don't do it that way. I believe that the old one I have will require a new case. I'll look it up tonight and see what the upgrade costs. |
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Lets give our speeding tips then. These all apply for when using a radar detector. - You need to have a lead car in front of you to run radar. This car, distance already mentioned, will set off the radar detector when they get zapped instead of you. - An open road, late at night is NOT the time to be speeding. Most police use radar detectors with an instant on button so you will not get any signal until they zap somebody to check speed. That is why it is essential you have someone in front of you traveling the same speed as you. You need to leave enough distance between you and the pace car so that you can slow your speed down before you reach the cop. - If your radar detector picks up anything - as soon as it beeps - slam on the brakes and get your speed back to the legal limit. IMMEDIATELY! The cop could be zapping you or right on you and the faster you get your speed down the safer you will be. If you get ANY lazer signal this is even more essential as it is very tough to pick up even the slightest laser beam. Even if he zapped you directly slamming on the brakes could lower your speed he reads and save you $$ and license. - if it is legal in your state only have one license plate. Police use your license plate to aim their laser gun against. they need a flat surface for the beam to bounce back to their gun. Dont give them two targets when you only are required to give them one. - Wedge something underneath your license plate so that it aims upward or downward. Try to make it a surface that will not bounce the laser beam straight back. - You can purchase license plate covers that diffuse the laser beam. Kick ass!! - If you get zapped and see the cop in the median start turning around or pulling in to the highway to come get you - for heck sake dont slow down! Speed up and try to find the nearest exit and get off the HWY as soon as possible. Once he pulls up behind you and flashes the siren it is too late - he got you. - Slow down on blind corners and hidden areas that make good speed traps and your radar detector wont have time to catch a signal. - Pass on the right. Most cops hide in the median. This will give you the most distance and could put other cars in between you and his radar gun. - The radar gun picks up the biggest signal. Staying close to a big truck is excellent deniability in court. |
Bingo - Works best vs. punk ass drivers(rich douche bags in their Euro-fast cars/ricers/kids w/ their parents fast car, etc.) and women drivers! |
That might explain it. There is a blurb somewhere on Valentine's website about when they switched cases for the V1s. The "old case" models would definitely require some significant rework (as opposed to just upgrading electronics) so it would make sense to issue a new one as opposed to trying to stuff new gear into the old case. Justin |
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As promised.
Like I said this one is pretty old I think I bought it sometime in 1994. I'll snag the original box in the morning and check for the receipt which I believe should be in it. ETA-Purchased June 15 1995. |
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littlbigd's comments are right on the money. I use an Escort up front and an 1980s Whistler in the back window if I'm doing serious flying. Mount those puppies directly in front of you (so the local constable cannot see it from behind). I've run from Anchorage to Valdez in four hours. Documented. Including a fuel stop and a chance to drain the lizard outside of Glennallen. I've run across the US, east and west, north and south at high speed. The only time I've ever received speeding tickets in 30 years are the three times I was by not following The Rules. Serious traveling at serious speeds can be safely done if you follow the rules. A lead vehicle is always the best defense. Let some 20 year old punk with a flashy car, an attitude and a hot chicky-poo in the right seat get the ticket. You can laugh as he's pulled off the side of the road while a State Trooper gets his wet dream of the day before he hits the doughnut shop on the way home to a six pack and re-runs of CHiPs. What to drive? Q-ships are best (average looking vehicles, non-flashy, with what counts under the hood and under the body). If you're going to run at speeds approaching 100 mph, then use tires that will take that kind of punishment. Watch your gauges, watch the farthest point ahead that you can -- then scan back as quickly and efficiently as you can. Watch the sides of the road. You're working here, not watching the world go by from a four-wheeled La Z Boy. Same goes for out the back window. if you have a passenger, have them scan, too. Non stop. Be constantly war-gaming (thinking, "what will I do if Miss Daisy in her mini-van decides to make a left turn from the right lane). Every vehicle you approach is a hazard. There are no exceptions. Driving like this means no kids in the car and a passenger who is willing to work, not jabber, swap out CDs and eat Taco Bell. The Germans also have it right: stay right unless your passing. Never pass a big rig on the right for any reason whatsoever. If you speed at the crest of a hill, you get what you deserve. If you put the pedal to the metal after going pass a cop thinking your safe, don't. I've seen them in Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48 travelling in groups of two, three and even four to nab speeders and avoid doing anything that resembles real police work. Avoid vanity plates, bumper stickers and flashy ghetto add-ons to your car. You don't want to be memorable. For stealth driving at night, try putting interruptor switches on your tail lights to cancel a redundant bulb on both sides to change the look of your vehicle should you need to dash in front of a big rig and change your look. Use rocker switches that have indicator lights so you know which ones are on and which ones are off. Yes, I do this and it works. Has for years. If you can, scan the air. Don't forget that the cops love to use airplanes to enhance their revenue opportunities. Did I say watch your back? Watch your back. Definitely. The cops know that most people only look ahead, so they wait at overpasses, on-ramps, etc., to catch the lazy drivers. EXPECT them to be behind those obstacles and in the medians hiding in the trees. Don't signal lane changes while speeding unless you have to. There's nothing that says, "give me a ticket Mr. State Trooper" more than being at the crest of a hill and seeing those flashing turn signals jumping between left and right. Expect them to be watching from your six. Remember, this is the gang who will forgo preventing rape, robbery, murder and more to get you for click-it-or-ticket. They've nothing better to do than do their 20 and collect their pensions. Don't give them an inch, and you'll fly free for miles. |
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Mr Bananas comments are great. Speeding is a huge responsibility and needs to be done properly. Spread the love. If you pass a cop hiding in a speed trap flash your lights to oncoming speeders to warn them of the speed trap. Other drivers have saved me at least twice from speed traps. Pita made me think of another very important aspect of speeding; purchase yourself a book or two on how to beat speeding tickets. Having a badge definitely does not make them right. There is a spot in Georgia right outside of Atlanta where the county lowered the hwy speedlimit from 65 to 55 just for their county. Every Fri and Sat night they sit immediately at the start of their county line with every cop they have and pull car after car after car over for 'speeding' - 65mph. F those guys. When I was younger I had a cop lie in court against me. After that I have lost all sympathy for donut eaters who chase tickets. Learn your legal rights and dont let them be abused. |
I guess slowing down to no more than 5mph over the posted is not an option for him? 
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A few years back I was cruising across Ohio on I-80 at about 3 AM. My V1 pciked up a weak signal behind me (according to the arrow). It kept getting progressively stronger, so I slowed down to a few MPH over the speed limit. 3 or 4 minutes later I got passed by a pair of state police cars. Can't argue with the arrow  |
Sounds like a good deal. I have lost a few accessories that came with my V1 (most notably the curly power cord and the regular sunvisor mount) so it would be nice to get a "refresh" with each upgrade. PS the soft case that comes with the Kel-Tec P32 also works great on the V1. |
David - same happened to me. Seeing as you and I are locals, it was on I476 South (near the Media/Route 1) exit. Gotta love those arrows. Justin |
Is it just me or do people not flash any more? Used to see it a lot more when I was a teenager (around 15 years ago). |
A laser jammer is a device you place on the front and back of your vehicle. It detects the laser and then emits a huge burst of infrared light in the same range that the laser is. This confuses the laser gun until you get really close. The reports that I have read say the laser jammers do work fairly well. The downside is they are expensive, around $600 last time I looked. They are a seperate unit from your radar detector. The laser jammer is a legal device because it emits only light waves. Active radar jammers are illegal because they are emitting radio waves which are regulated by the FCC. |