Police Radar/Laser detectors...

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Police Radar/Laser detectors...

Posted: 11/22/2003 11:51:50 AM EDT

What kind do you have, and how well does it work???

I've seen only 3 different ones, and cannot decide if it's worth throwing down the $100-$150 for one of these... They work pretty well when an officer is patrolling with active radar (but this is rare as they most often passively click it on right as you're passing, rather than driving with it always running)...

What are your opinions on these devices? The ones that SCRAMBLE the radar are illegal in this state, so no suggestions on those models, please.

Posted: 11/22/2003 12:06:29 PM EDT

[#1]

Valentine One period. End of file.

www.valentine1.com/

Posted: 11/22/2003 12:19:52 PM EDT

[#2]

escort/passport for me, always have worked great.............at the high end of the price spectrum though. although i have had many, many, many tickets, none have been for speeding

never used a valentine1, but supposedly the guy that started that company came from escort/passport thinking he could make a better detector so maybe it is..............

Posted: 11/22/2003 12:23:37 PM EDT

[#3]

Another vote for the Valentine One, you will not find a better unit. It is pricey, but will pay for itself with one ticket considering fines and insurance rate increases. I have never read a detector shootout where the Valentine didn't come out in 1st place by a wide margin.

Posted: 11/22/2003 12:25:00 PM EDT

[#4]

I use a cheap Colbra 99.99 , keeps me out of trouble. Valentine One is by far the best, no arguements on that.

Posted: 11/22/2003 12:57:36 PM EDT

[#5]

Let me add that while I and many many many other people and reviewers find that the Valentine is the best radar detector (locator!) available on the commercial market it's also damn expensive!

You do have to ask yourself if you need to have the very best.

Who among us doesn't know that a Leupold scope is better than a Tasco yet we still have some Tascos at home?

Posted: 11/22/2003 1:00:44 PM EDT

[#6]

Another happy Valentine One owner.

If everytime I got caught shooting with a Tasco it cost me $200 and points on my driver's license I'd only own Leupolds.

Nothing except an expensive lawyer and deep pockets is going to protect you if you're the only idiot speeding down the highway running 10 miles an hour faster than anyone else. A proper cop doing his proper job with radar is pretty hard to beat but 99% don't do it right. Rather than sniping at speeding cars they simply park at the bottom of a long grade and let their guns run awaiting for a fast one.

With the Valentine one I feel plenty comfortable to run 20 miles over the limit on the wide open highways. You still have to keep an eye out for the ones who will sneak up from behind and follow you in your blind spot but that's SOP for me.

I never speed on the side streets but it's still nice to know when I'm being illuminated with radar. Around here the cops strickly use K and Ka bands - any X band warnings I completely ignore.

The best thing about the Valentine One is that it lets you know if the signals are in front, behind or along side of you. That plus it count's how many signals you're getting hit with letting you know if there's a Ka trap sitting inside of an X band shopping mall false alarm or there are two K band guns hitting you from in front and from behinds as an example.

Posted: 11/22/2003 1:06:27 PM EDT

[#7]

Valentine One or forget it. Everything else is an imposter !

Like compairing a flint lock to an AR-15.

Well, they both fire projectiles ,don't they???

Posted: 11/22/2003 1:06:28 PM EDT

[#8]

I have a Passport. I have seen a ValetineOne in action, they are nice too.

ByteTheBullet (-:

Posted: 11/22/2003 1:26:25 PM EDT

[#9]

http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html

Read it and weep Valentine boys! When someone actully puts them thru their paces, the Passport 8500 is king!

Posted: 11/22/2003 3:05:08 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html

Read it and weep Valentine boys! When someone actully puts them thru their paces, the Passport 8500 is king!

Read this and weep.
www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993

Valentine Overall Score: 97
PAssport 8500 Overall Score: 73

Posted: 11/22/2003 3:13:40 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Quoted:
http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html

Read it and weep Valentine boys! When someone actully puts them thru their paces, the Passport 8500 is king!

Read this and weep.
www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=4&article_id=1993

Valentine Overall Score: 97
PAssport 8500 Overall Score: 73

It is like a gun when trouble happens, any gun is better than no gun.

Posted: 11/22/2003 4:03:43 PM EDT

[#12]

I have a Cobra. Suppose to be a radar/laser detector. Not the best but works ok.

Posted: 11/22/2003 4:19:09 PM EDT

[#13]

Valentine 1.

The "Radartest" site is run by a self-described expert (Craig Peterson) who also happens to sell reports on which detector is best and consults for other companies.

Mike Valentine was the brains behind the company he left & the one he started. Speaking as a fellow engineer, I will state unequivocally that his product is exceptionally well-designed (and its performance has been faultless). Once you use the unit (particularly with the directional arrows identifying the source of the radar signal), you will never go back to anything else.

Check ANY high-performance automotive enthusiast site (BMW, Audi, NSX, Corvette, etc. etc.) and the opnion is unanimous: V1 is the best out there.

Yes, I have one, and the V1 is vastly superior to any other detector I have ever owned. Two tickets avoided and it has paid for itself.

For laser countermeasures, the Lidatek was recommended by another member.

Posted: 11/22/2003 4:29:24 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html

Read it and weep Valentine boys! When someone actully puts them thru their paces, the Passport 8500 is king!

The guy that does this was an employee at Escort/Cincy Microwave and tried to go to work for Valentine.
Valentine didn't think he was very good so he would not hire him!

To say he is slanted/biased would be an understatement.

I am going to get a V1 or I will continue with nothing!

I do own 1 Tasco scope on a 10/22 for plinking...I would not put one on anything I depend on though.

I'll keep using Leupolds for my cheap scopes until I can get a S & B!

BigDozer66

Posted: 11/22/2003 5:11:45 PM EDT

[#15]

I pulled a guy over the other day and he was bitching up a storm. As I was talking to him I found out he wasn't mad at me but his radar dector. A passport. I wrote him for speeding (55 in a 35) I don't give breaks to people with RD's. When a cop is using instant on and there are no cars in front of you, you are screwed.

Posted: 11/22/2003 6:36:32 PM EDT

[#16]

I have always used Escort RDs.

Currently have an 8500 in the Dodge Ram.

V1 may be better, but Escorts have saved me TONS.

All of my rifles have Leupolds. No Tascos, but no Schmidt & Benders either.

Posted: 11/22/2003 6:57:08 PM EDT

[#17]

You get what you pay for. Its like comparing a SKS and an AR15. Both will do the same thing but there is quality and performance to consider.

I agree when you are alone on a dark road its best to stay near the limit. Youre naked and youll get zapped. If there are lots of other cars its relatively safe to go faster as long as you keep your eyes far ahead and look for tail lights going on. Even without a detector. Trucks are good source of info if you have the equipment ot talk to them.

Posted: 11/22/2003 7:27:28 PM EDT

[#18]

sherrick.. thats why mine is high up where a officer cannot see it, and a remote switch to cut power to it if the officer pulls me over.

Posted: 11/22/2003 7:29:40 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
I pulled a guy over the other day and he was bitching up a storm. As I was talking to him I found out he wasn't mad at me but his radar dector. A passport. I wrote him for speeding (55 in a 35) I don't give breaks to people with RD's. When a cop is using instant on and there are no cars in front of you, you are screwed.

I love it when you activate instant on and the tango car nose dives during hard breaking as driver realizes way too late he's been busted!

Posted: 11/22/2003 7:53:03 PM EDT

[#20]

I love it when my RD alerts me to the presence of an armed tax collector before he can even see me.

Posted: 11/22/2003 8:02:25 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I pulled a guy over the other day and he was bitching up a storm. As I was talking to him I found out he wasn't mad at me but his radar dector. A passport. I wrote him for speeding (55 in a 35) I don't give breaks to people with RD's. When a cop is using instant on and there are no cars in front of you, you are screwed.
I love it when you activate instant on and the tango car nose dives during hard breaking as driver realizes way too late he's been busted!

Heh yep. Happened to me once, the cop comes to my window and says "Radar detection didn't do you much good did it?" I said "Nope". He says "You went from 55 to 40 reeeal fast". I stopped using radar detectors after that and just watched my speed.

Posted: 11/22/2003 8:18:15 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
I love it when my RD alerts me to the presence of an armed tax collector before he can even see me.

All is fair in love and war.

Oh and btw, you all lost.

Posted: 11/22/2003 8:21:24 PM EDT

[#23]

I used to get my jollies by turning my lights off and creeping up behind cars doing 80 at night when I could see the little lights of the RD. I would then fire everything up and watch the little lights peg. Instant braking and head on a swivel. Quite funny. But I don't work near the highway anymore.

Posted: 11/22/2003 8:23:51 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
sherrick.. thats why mine is high up where a officer cannot see it, and a remote switch to cut power to it if the officer pulls me over.

That is smart cause most cops won't cut you slack if they see one. To me it is not personal but the only reason I see having one is to speed faster than normal traffic flow.

Posted: 11/22/2003 8:28:57 PM EDT

[#25]

I have one... and I'm a LEO. take from that what you wish.

radar/laser detectors work against lazy cops who just drive around blasting their radar or if some poor sucker ahead of you gets the beam and your detector catches some scatter off it.

however, a smart officer selecting targets carefully and only using the radar/laser to verify the speed of the target will get you no matter how good your detector it.

Posted: 11/22/2003 8:45:28 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
I have one... and I'm a LEO. that from that what you wish.

radar/laser detectors work against lazy cops who just drive around blasting their radar or if some poor sucker ahead of you gets the beam and your detector catches some scatter off it.

however, a smart officer selecting targets carefully and only using the radar/laser to verify the speed of the target will get you no matter how good your detector it.

I'm the 2nd type. I already know how fast the target car is going, the radar just confirms it.
The 1st type will lose all his tickets in court if the ticketee fights them, at least in OK.

I don't need a RD, my badge gets me out of tickets.

I keed! I keed!

Posted: 11/22/2003 9:36:55 PM EDT

[#27]

Im really good at spotting unmarkeds or speed traps, but I stick to the limit or 5 over. I cant afford another ticket.

Well, actually, there are some spots I drive fast, like when I got my truck lifted, with a new air system, and I wanted to see how fast it would go with the governor removed. But I know the area well, and there was a 99% chance I wouldnt run into anyone at all.

Posted: 11/22/2003 9:45:40 PM EDT

[#28]

We used to get some funny reactions around the plant when we were testing some of our "emitters" (military radar systems). We'ld get the unexplained brakings and head swivels on some of the main streets around the plant.

Your best bet is to stay with the flow of traffic especially on the interstates. Like in Japan the nail that sticks up gets hammered.

Posted: 11/22/2003 10:24:33 PM EDT

[#29]

P.S.

Active (allways on) police radar jammers are banned due to interfearance with aircraft on-board radar...

Passive (comes on when it detects radar) ones are state-by-state, but they don't work...

Posted: 11/22/2003 10:43:29 PM EDT

[#30]

Get a CB radio.

It won't help much on the streets except in high semi-truck traffic, but you can expect to hear constant bear reports on channel 19 on the highways and freeways.

Mike

Posted: 11/23/2003 7:42:26 AM EDT

[#31]

Since I have gotten my Escort Solo S2 I have found that about 80% of cops leave their radar on all of the time.

Posted: 11/23/2003 1:14:21 PM EDT

[#32]

Thanks for the help so far guys!!!

Do any more people have different models of detectors???

I generally drive 10-15 mph over the limit on the busy MN freeways, but that's ticketable (though it's still pretty safe because everybody drives 10 above here). I know out in the middle of nowhere if a cop clicks it on just to clock me, I'd be screwed. I've done many ride-alongs with my brother, and have seen people get pissed because their detector didn't get shit... What did they expect??? They don't always work because cops can passively keep the radar gun on, but not emitting, and can turn it active to instantly "Clock" someone whenever they want...

In this case (which happens pretty often) there's nothing a guy with a detector can do but take the ticket. However, I'm going to be in busy highways/freeways mostly, and as a result, there's a high liklihood of catching the radar emissions ahead of time when they bounced off someone else's car.

Laser detectors don't work very well at all, AFAIK. Wouldn't the laser have to hit the reception point on your detector in order for it to work? And if this happens, you're still basically screwed, because by then it's too late... Or can you catch laser light that is clocking other cars nearby as well? The radar is pretty easy to understand because I've seen police using it often, and the different techniques they use to employ it. The lasers confuse me though...

Posted: 11/23/2003 1:42:22 PM EDT

[#33]

Sorry to burst your bubbles but the only thing a radar/laser detector will do for you is let you know ahead of time you are getting pulled over for speeding.

ME: that car looks like it's going at least ___
YOU: Boy, driving fast is fun!
ME: (turn laser on)
YOU: beep beep beep.....SH*T! I better slow down.
ME: Too late, pull over.

Better solution, don't drive reckless and fast. Do I speed? Yes, I won't be a liar and say no. But I'm talking 5 over and sometimes 10 in the most extreme cases. I don't write for that and neither do most cops. People doing 20-30 over, you bet! Why, because it causes accidents.

I'm not here to preach and try to dissaude you from speeding, however, you know it's wrong so don't be one of those people who complain that "I can't believe I got a ticket. I was only doing 55mph in a 35mph." If you speed and get caught, fess up. You're more likely to get a break anyway.

My .02

Posted: 11/23/2003 2:03:57 PM EDT

[#34]

Another vote for Valentine 1... I've had a lot of detectors and NOTHING comes ANYWHERE close!

You get what you pay for, if you want the best, V1 is it. It's OK if you can't afford it, but don't be fooled into thinking a lower cost one is almost as good, it's not, I've tried, they all suck compared to V1.

My .02

Posted: 11/23/2003 3:04:55 PM EDT

[#35]

The only times I've been pulled over for speeding is when I wasn't following the "nine your fine, ten your mine" rule.

If I have to get there in a hurry, I follow about 1/8 of a mile behind some idiot who thinks his radar detector makes him invincible.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Police Radar/Laser detectors...

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