I've been thinking about radar detectors for a while now, and I was just wondering who here has them. If you think they're worth it, and what kind you have or suggest.

 

I have had various models over the past 20+ years and I feel lost without one. You have to remember it is just like a tool and you need to know how to use it. The radar detector is NOT a license to speed. In my opinion, it has saved me more times then I can count and also makes aware of enforcement areas.

 

One question I do have.. In NFS, and yeah I know, stupid getting information from videogames, but it was my first "experience" with one.

Anyways, in NFS it always told you when you were near a cop. I'm not sure if that's exactly how they work though... Doesn't the cop have to have his gun on, and be using it for the radar detector to catch it? Or does it work like in the game.....

 

if they have it on it'll detect i dont like driving without one now. i have the basic cobra one works fine.

 

I haven't bothered to get one. I only speed on the Interstate, so there's really no chance of a cop hiding anywhere. I have been unfortunate enough not to see a cop hiding behind one of those 6 foot tall medians, and another time I couldn't see the cop because of an 18 wheeler.

You really don't need one unless you like to speed in areas where a cop can just pop out.

 

yeah i guess alabama has all straight roads and no mountains so they cant hide anywhere but in california we do. it'll tell you a cop is coming up behind to the side etc. saved me a few times.

 

I have a Valentine 1. Great investment. It has arrows to tell you where it's coming from. Picks up radar from VERY far away. I couldn't be happier.

 

The ones you have, are they lighter plug-ins, or are they those built-in ones? I haven't decided which I want.

Plus side for hidden ones, they're hidden.. you don't have crap on your dash, and wires... negative is they seem pretty expensive

plug-ins though, seem a bit cheaper, don't have to cut into anything for instalation, but then you have that crap in sight.

 

I looked into getting one a while ago and found this site very helpful. http://www.radarbusters.com/ Does a good job explaining all types of products and the law regarding each.

The built in ones are the top of the line but EXPENSIVE ($1500), where as upper model plug ins are ~$300.

I used a $120 model from AutoZone about 4 years ago for a trip once (it may have been a Cobra, not sure) and had mixed feelings about it. I was driving from NJ to the Adirondacks, and it went off several times but we never saw cops. I do think better to get some false alarms than miss cops though. I later sold it to a friend of mine who got a ticket using it. I don't know how the upper end models, like the Valentine or Escort compare in terms of range or sensitivity.

 

Honestly, you should get by with a basic Cobra. I too have one on my car and hate driving without one... Like stated above, treat it like another gauge, its not a shield or a ticket to speed. Mine can detect a signal pretty far. Not miles away, but enough for me to slow down and wave at the cop as I pass him by...I never understood why valentines had arrows on them. I know why they are there, but I honestly don't care where the signal is coming from. If its detected, I'll slow down either way, weather its infront or behind or to the sides..... oh yeah, make sure it can detect Lasers and K, Ka, and Ku...

 

Absolutely vote for Valentine.

 

Valentine v1.8 or the Bel VG4 are both topline units.

 

Absolutely. Been using a Valentine for something like 8 years now.

Depends what you mean by built in. If you mean the kind that mount in your front bumper, don't bother. They're too low to pick up distance. You want to mount your detector up high to see over hills better as well as through (above) the car in front of you.

My Valentine could be used with the cigarette adaptor but I don't. It's hooked into the 12 volt accessory wire in the back of my radio. I run the cord behind the door/front windshield piller. So the only cord you see is from the Valentine into my sunvisor. About 2 inches worth. I start the car, the V1 turns on. I shut off the car. The V1 shuts off. Radio doesn't need to be on for the V1 to get power. They include a nice little pinch wire setup when you buy it to hook into a 12 volt source.

 

i went on line because i did not know anything about these things. i found this site http://www.radarbusters.com/ which does a very good comparison for lots of different models. and while its good to know the names - the model numbers mean a lot more. he has testing on the Cobra XRS-9540 Radar / Laser Detector
Item# DBL046 at http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-de...erdetector.cfm and also does a complete break down for all the main units and then gives you a rating and analysis. see http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-de...rdetector1.cfm for the best buy under 200.00.
before you spend the money read read read.

 

i have a cobra, it kinda sucks, saved me today tho, but i did see the cop as it started going off, im wanten a Valetine