I'm going to be spending a lot more time on the road with my new job and I'm thinking about getting a radar detector. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

I have had a spectrum for over ten years. Has worked great, paid about $200.00 when I bought it. Had A Cobra for 6 months, it went bad, Cobra in essence said tough luck. The cheap ones do not last long, about a year or so. Check Car & Driver magazine, there are some more expensive and state of the art detectors advertised. A couple of things when traveling, do not be the lead dog, that is the one who gets caught. If you are lead dog slow down some and stay alert. Some times you can spot a patrol car before they hit the instant on switch. I always try to have a rabbit about a quarter of mile ahead. New radar can pinpoint a vehicle, older ones tend to pick the largest target. A ticket would not be so bad if the insurance companies did not use it as an excuse to gouge a higher premium. Good Luck.

 

I would like to add a suggestion. As one who has driven around 50,000 miles a year for most of my adult life. Invest in a decent CB radio, I have a Uniden that I paid about $100.00 for. I would rather have it than the radar detector if I could only have one. First the truckers will keep everyone advised as to where the patrol cars are. Secondly the truckers are the best, and most current, info out there for road conditions, accidents, detours etc. thirdly it gives you another source in an emergency situation.

 

FBINA109 : I was also doing the kind of milage per year you do and used an Audi Fox plus in the province I lived in where they were legal to own . It worked fine and also detectet the lazar guns .

I run a CB in my own Ford for years as well the last one being a President Gold .

I recently moved back to a province where detectors are illegal and bring a hefty fine as well as the loss of the unit .

I reinstalled my President in the truck to get back into the road reports and
highway news you refer to only to find that CB is totally unregulated in Canada if I open my radio up enough to talk to anyone farther away than 300 yards I get nothing but Spanish on the skip from off shore . Once in a while in this location I would get some interesting listening from Texas or Florida but much too far away to save me any tickets .

I left the radio in the truck and usually monitor the emergency channel if I turn it on but seldom do .

This is a real shame for me as I always enjoyed the banter even when just listening and miss the updates on the road conditions or where the Bulls may be working or going back to a trucker with some local information that would be of use . FM band or private band are about the only ones here now that are not obliterated and with FM one must put up with the local boat traffic in summer as well .

 

I personally recomend BEL (BELtronics?).
I've only used a couple of other types that have belonged to friends and relations and wasn't happy with them.

the only time I've recieved a ticket with my BEL is if I ignored its warning or the cop hasn't used his radar within a mileor two of me.

 

I have had a succession of Unidens from the mid 80s to present. I would guess I have bought maybe 10 over the years.

They all gave me excellent service except for 2. One died after maybe 5 years(I think it was hot and cold cycling). Another newer unit died after maybe 3-4 months of use, it wouldn't remember settings and beeped at everything. Otherwise the other units have saved me plenty and not just because I speed as a habit. Detectors help keep you alert and remind you to slow down every once in awhile.

I usually bought the Unidens since the models I bought were usually rated in the top 2 or three at the time.

Don't leave home without it.

BTW, "Learn" how to use the detector. It takes awhile for you to figure out what is a real hazard versus just noise. The detectors have gotten so good they detect almost anything, but the police units have gotten into so many spectrums and types that it is getting to be a real arms race in the more popular areas.

And like the other guy said, always have some one going faster than you in front. 1) They will attract cops, 2) They will set off radar traps in time for you to see them.

I have a CB but the wife hates it to be on, lotta good that does me. But then most of the time it's just noise.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

During the many years I have used radar detectors in my truck, (I know, you are not supposed to have them in a commericial truck,) I have found the Valentine One radar detector to be way ahead of anything I ever used. The different functions and warnings it can accomplish are amazing.

It will tell you how many different signals you are picking up, to a total of 8, and what band they are. This way, if you usually travel a section where, because of burgular alarms, you usually pick up 4 false signals at one time, and you go through and this time pick up 5, you know they are waiting for you, and are trying to hide their signal within the false burgular alarm signals.

This feature alone has saved me many tickets. After some use you will be able to pick out false from real signals just by the pulse of the tone and the band you are geting a hit on. You can also tell how far away they are very easy. But nothing will detect "instant on" radar.

Do a "google" on the Valentine One and read about it. It's not cheap, but it sure is good.

 

The "Valentine One" is one of the top names that I could not remember. In my first post I forgot to mention that "Radar Detector" is not an acceptable term. The politically correct term is "Doughnut Shop Locator" or you can use "Coffee Shop Locator" if the person asking is slender. This will get you a lot of laughs and probably a ticket.

 

i will second the BEL. i have had one in my jeep the entire time i was at school and driving between home and school has saved me more than enough times to pay for it a couple times over.

 

lol you guys are making my job so much easier
if ever in florida don't look me up easiest way to avoid points and fines is to drive slow duh . obey the law .

 

I use the CB now but I used to have one that worked pretty good. I think it was called something like "Maxim". Don't really need one now though. I got slower in my old age and my van gets a bad wobble at about 65. But I always hear everything on the CB ahead of time.

 

Some times detectors are more trouble then they are worth. I have had quite a few different ones, false alarms and different sources of radar make them nearly useless in town and like mentioned you need a car in front of you to get hit first or your screwed unless the cop is using lazer. Lidar (lazer) supposedly isnt accurate unless it on constantly and they claim there are no false lazer readings. In all the years I drove with detectors I was only saved twice, the look on that cops face in a construction zone speed trap was priceless since every single car was speeding down the hill except us. I think they all work about the same cheapo and expensive. IMO the fewer the buttons the better.

I just got a used Cobra CB but I really dont know how to operate one, guess it a good topic for a new thread.

 

VALENTINE ONE.........They're the best Ive ever seen.

It shouldnt be legal to outlaw radar detectors IMO, but thats another thread.

 

yeah I second the guy who says keep it simple. I have had the simple beep and light flash detectors and gone thru the voice alerts and even one that has GPS which records the location of traps and updates on the fly etc.

The best detector is one that you can use without fuss. For me, the best is beep and light bar detectors.

I don't have time/good enough vision to read the display of the alphanumeric displays which tell you that there is a cop hiding behind the Dunkin Donuts ahead. The voice alert one I used was too hard to understand in a noisy car(radio, window open etc). The GPS unit is fine but has the problem of needing to take your eyes off the road to read the display. All the text display ones take your eyes off the road for too long in my opinion, especially the scrolling/marque type displays.

I like the sound alerts which have a specific tone and volume to id the kind and strength of signal. The light bar is also good since it only takes a glance to read.the same details.

Never tried the Valentine but heard it is good and it essentially sticks with the sound and light alerts with the added benefit of arrows pointing which way.

The key to any detector is learning how yours reacts to signals and surrounding conditions. Once you learn to "read' the detector and know what is normal, they are very useful. Still best bet is stay under the limit and an alert driver, but a detector helps remind you and can save you from blatant traps.

Just my opinion,

Jim Henderson

 

Best Radar Detector?
The one that goes off.....when painted with a signal
I want a detector that will point out the police cars.....that is all I need to know!