the best one that i know of on the market is the passport 8500 x50 ($300 for red $340 for blue). passport also has one that can be built in but its like around a grand or two.

 

I'm on my third Escort detector-the second battery powered one.Don't remember the model number but it's the current battery powered unit.Just realized the "third" might sound like a lot of units but it's not.That's over the last ..counting in my head here...21 years.These are superb detectors made by a great company.My current one uses 2 AA batteries that last 5-6 weeks used 2 1/2 hrs per day.Get one!

 

I have a Valentine One which is popular but a bit pricey ($400 I think). I have seen some really trick installs - I think one guy put it in where he had his third brake light. The V1 has a remote display, so you can mount the unit itself where you want to, and then mount the display in the dash, or wherever you want to. I have the remote display in my mustang, and it sits right on the steering column cover. The unit itself is mounted above the rear view mirror and is hard wired into the car. No lights show on the unit itself when you use the remote display. I am also thinking of getting a laser jammer - those appear to be getting quite adept at blocking laser.

 

Don't think you can lose'em?

 

Valentine 1 is the only choice

 

they don't work. Cops in NY use lasar now. How do I know this? I am one

Tom

 

There generally seem to be two camps, the V1 folks and the others. Personally, I use the V1 and would have a hard time trusting another detector. I've seen and used them. The Bell's and Escorts have more bells and whistles, but the V1 has been dead reliable for me and the arrows are a must in my opinion. It has saved me a number of times. Based upon my recommendation 3-4 friends have picked up a V1 and I've heard nothing but positive feedback.

M.

 

They all alert you that you are about to get a ticket.

 

Waste of money. All major metro areas either already have or will soon switch to laser radars and there is no stopping of that one. I have one of those pricy ones and all it detects now is supermarket alarms and garage door openers. I was shown a demo of a laser against my Escort and Cobra detectors.

-Kouros

 

I have a valentine and it worked great until i got a big fat 83 in a 55 a month ago. The damn thing didnt even go off. Either the cop was lying, which i think there is a good chance he was, or my Valentine just completely crapped out momentarily. Never even saw the guy till he was right on my ass-did not see him hiding on the side of the road anywhere-got me????????

 

the v1 is no longer the best. the 8500 x50 and one from beltronics has surpassed it. it still one of the top.

laser = worst sound ever.

 

Instant on radar and laser are impossible to defeat if they are aimed at you. In traffic, you can only get the effective radar warning if a car ahead of you is being clocked.

Radar signals go out in a cone. The detector will pick up the scattered signals that are not directed back to the radar unit. Laser is as fine as a pencil, and stays that way. There is no scatter. When the laser alarm goes off, you're being clocked or the operators aim is way off.

Laser jammers don't exist. But the signal can be scattered a little bit. That doesn't keep them from working, it just decreases the effective range. A popular aim point is the license plate. If you eliminate the front license plate, the range is significantly reduced.

Radar jammers do exist. But they are expensive and bulky. They are also illegal in most states.

In over 10,000 Cobra miles, I have yet to recieve a speeding ticket. Why that is I have no idea, because I speed all the time. Just been lucky, I guess.

 

Laser is very easy to defeat as is X K and Ka band. What is somewhat tough are the spreadspectrum radar guns. I use an Escort 8500 and a Valentine V1. The Escort is better for less money. One thing to remember about laser is that it is only a stationary unit and needs to be aimed at the vehicle through a scope. If you pay attention this type of speed trap is easily spotted. I have not had a speeding ticket since 1985 and drive every day.

 

I don't have any experience with jammers, but I think it's technically possible to jam either laser or radar if you spend enough money. I would bet, however, that it's easy to get scammed on exaggerated performance claims.
There are situations where you can’t beat the cops. If you are the only car on the road and you round a corner or go over a hill, you are dead meat for anything that’s “instant on”. The cops on the highways in Wisconsin are using laser and hitting you from above and behind as you go under an overpass. Sometimes you can see them parked on the overpass before you get to them, sometimes not.
I still use a Valentine. It won’t prevent all tickets, but it will prevent some.
I wanted the V1 to see threats from the front and behind, but didn’t want to be too obvious. I hid it in an aluminum box with red plastic ends and mounted it to look like a CHMSL (center high-mounted stop light). I used Valentines remote kit to put the display under the dash.
Some pictures:

CHMSL

Remote Display

Close Up

 

I have a Passport 8500 that has been great. I'll sell if you are interested. I'm in Alaska now and there aren't many cops to worry about and not too many freeways to speed on so I don't use it.

 

I know in my Crown Vic, if I don't keep the stereo volume down, I can't hear the radar detector go off. And the little display lights are hard to see unless it's night time.

There is NO WAY I would ever see or hear it in the Cobra!

Steve

 

let's hear more of our friendly officers chime in with there $0.02, please

 

So what's better a Valentine or a Passport 8500?

 

Here is some interesting info on detectors.

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

I have the 8500 and it seems to work well. The only time I got a ticket was when I was lazy and hadn't turned it on. Doesn't work well in off mode.

 

In my own experience, all the top brands work well with radar, but with laser, they usually just tell you that you've been hit. By the time they detect the laser signal, it's already too late to slow down. At least you'll have a couple of minutes warning that a ticket is coming, though...

If I ever add one to the roadster, there is no doubt that it will have to be a hidden system, because I don't want anything dash, or windshield mounted. Does that significantly reduce my choice of brands/models?

Brian

 

The BEL Express 795 for 100 bucks seems like a decent unit for a low price...

 

I've got a V1, but it sucks with POP radar

 

Thanks to all who have responded so far.
Any other opinions?
Or as Hazmat Matt says:
"let's hear more of our friendly officers chime in with there $0.02, please"

 

I'm currently using a BEL 980 - works pretty good.

However, the police here in upstate NY use tactics that cut down on a any radar detector's efficiency.

The police here mostly use laser and Ka instant on. They like to park just past overhead bridges with laser or Ka band instant on radar and shoot perpendicular to the traffic flow. In either case, there is minimal reflection back to your detector from them shooting the car ahead of you. In other words, if your detector goes off in such a situation, it usually means that they are shooting YOU. You will almost certainly be clocked by the radar or laser in the officer's car with minimal warning. Slow down in places like this. Usually if you are going more than 15 mph over the speed limit in a situation like the above, all your radar detector going off means is that you are going to get a ticket, in most cases.

They also use VASCAR. This is basically a fancy stop watch system. They usually park on a hill and start the clock as your nose crosses the first timing mark on the road, and then stop it as your tail crosses the other timing mark down the road. This usually gives you a slower reading than you are actually doing, since this method gives you the length of your car to some what make up for the officer's reaction time. They know how far apart the timing marks are, and a computer calculates how fast you are going from the distance/time relationship. NO radar detector will detect VASCAR, since it is merely a visual reading by the officer. Look out for white lines across the highway in places that seem to have no reason to have them.

In the above cases, there is usually a passle of police just up the road waiting for the officer who clocked you to radio them a description of your vehicle and your speed. They will then issue you your ticket and say "Have a nice day!".

Cheers!
Dave

 

I have a passport and it has saved my butt a few times.
Passport also has a great line of accessories. I use it on my bikes with a handlebar mount and an earpiece. This might be a great thing in a cobra. Wear it in the left ear and it might even cut out a bit of the bark.