I need some input about the radar detectors. I'm looking at the Bel RX65 / the Escort X50 and the Valentine One. Any info you have I'd appreciate. Any one use the cordless models? signed LEADFOOT.

 

I've always heard great things about the Valentine one. I've never been willing to drop the money myself (as I'm cheap) but like I said I've always heard good things.

 

I've got the Bel RX65 and I absolutely love it. The only thing the valentine has on the Bel RX65 is it tells you in which direction the cop is. Wh/ personally, I don't care, I just want to know he is there.

I used it a lot more in my Cobra. I used to a lot of street racing late and night and it has actually picked up cops from a good mile (or more) away, way before they can detect your speed. I remember one time I was racing a buddy, we had just taken off, I could see some lights coming way way off in the distance (I would have guessed 2-3 miles), my Bel RX65 starts to pick up something, I shut down and pull in the parking lot. Everyone was asking me why I stopped, I told them the cops were coming, they asked how I knew that, I said my radar detector went off. Sure ****, about a minute later the cops come rolling up, everybody wanted to know what brand I had and how much I paid. I bought mine brand new off eBay for around $150-$180, it has been so long since I bought I don't quite remember, could of been less. Just to put this in perspective to other "cheaper" detectors, the guy I was racing had a WalMart special and ended up flying by the cops at 140, his radar didn't detect anything until it was to late. Cops didn't even try to chase him, they are pretty cool around here, they just have to make an appearance and tell us to go home, wh/ they did.

For the money, the Bel RX65 can't be beaten. There is a step above the BelRX65, not sure what it is called, but it like $100 more. If you do some research, the only difference is the "platinum" color and a hard carrying case. The BelRX65 comes with a soft case.

 

I personally have the BeL 995 (waiting on my optional add-on) and I love it... and have a custom mount on the dash....

A good friend of mine has 3 of the Valentine1 (one in each car) and he won't buy anything else.... until Valentine comes out w/something even better


....moved to the A/V-mobile electronics forum for better traffic.

 

Can I get some input on what models you are using or what models to stay away from. Any information would be appreciated.

 

V1 is the best of the best IMO. It has not let me down yet.

 

I have the Escort Passport 8500 X50. It's a great detector and has saved me from at least 20 tickets.

 

I have a Escort Passport 8500 ,not the X50, and have been using it daily for my trips to work and fun for the past 4 years. Absolutely outstanding performance. Picks up Ka Band Radar though hills and turns up to 1/2 mile....It has always gone off before I have had visual site on the police. I do have X band and Laser turned off on it though because no one uses X band anymore in my area and well...Laser IMO is useless...Its a beam of light and to detect a beam of light it has to hit the radar detector and by that time...I would guess its too late already. Plus when I got some falsies on it they scared the crap out of me...so Laser is turned off.

Regardless...I have owned 3 types of Radar detectors...Cobra, BELTronics, and Escort....and Escort is definitely the best I have ever used...by far.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...zz-buster.html

This was started yesterday and moved by admin for better traffic. This will probably have the same done. But my lengthy response is in there.

 

Thanks, I appreciate the info. Looks like there are at 3 great detectors out there.

 

i always thought that cops tried to wait until you were close to turn there radar on, and in this case it is too late.... he's got ya !!!

 

Their are some cops that do that and there is also what the call instant on radar. A radar detector doesn't replace common sense. 1st, don't be stupid and expect the radar to save you. When I am traveling and going above the speed limit I use my eyes just as much as I use the radar detector. Always looking for something that says COP. I have gotten 2 tickets with my radar detector. 1 was going through IL and the cop was sitting behind a bush and turned his radar and nailed the car in front of me and then proceeded to give us both tickets. The 2nd time I had just done some mods to the Cobra and I was in the river bottoms here at home and I was opening it up to see what it would do (4 mile straight stretch). I had the windows down and the radio up and did no hear the radar detector yelling at me to stop. I got in big trouble for that one (2 days in jail, 105 in a 60)). After that I don't speed as much in my vehicles. I will go 10 over and I try like hell to keep it there. But the radar detector has saved me w/out exaggeration 100+ times from getting a speeding ticket. It is not full proof but does give you an advantage.

 

I use a passport. I love the cordless feature. I leave all bands on, and here's my opinion on the laser. If there's any traffic ahead, POPO will hit them with it before you get there, and you'll know about it. it's saved my bacon numerous times. The one ticket i got was 89 in a 55. left the detector in my other car and got careless, shame on me.
I bought this unit based on a friends experience with it. Bought one for my (now ex) and myself. All of us are happy with them.
Drive safe.

 

valentine one is what i use.

 

as the bad guy in this thread i enjoy when people use radar detectors... it adds to the cat & mouse game we all like to play. Almost all detectors can pick up the radar at a good distance... if the officer leaves the radar on and is checking every car. But if done properly - he should wait and just check the cars that appear to be speeding... and I can normally check cars up to 1/2 mile plus away and the reading is instant. Now I'll let you in on a little secret... radars naturally pick up the object with the most mass (ie, semi's or trains)... so if you're hammering down it's best to stay near a semi and if you're running along side of a train and it's moving the same direction you are - have at it. Spiggy was right about laser detectors... 1000% useless. If conditions are right - I could check you about 1 1/2 - 2 miles away... at that distance the beam is only about 2 inches round... and I'm not aiming for your windshield... I'm going for headlights, license plate or bumper. let me know if you have any questions.

ps - Cops hiding behind stuff is cheating... yes I'm after speeders - but I'm going to do it fairly.