Official Radar Detector Discussion Thread

biohazard23 · 12-28-2008, 09:59 PM

STi for $375 on ebay

yay/no?

timthedrummer · 12-29-2008, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pistolwhip

Its more or less if the guy 300 yards ahead of you gets shot with laser, if your detector picks it up you can save yourself.

Yeah, but really, what are the chances of that? A laser beam is about the width of a pencil at that distance, and unless that guy's glass diffuses or deflects it in your direction (provided it's not tinted, in which case you have no chance) you're still screwed anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by biohazard23

STi for $375 on ebay

yay/no?

Eh, that seems an alright price. Do you need the stealthiness of the STi though?

biohazard23 · 12-29-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timthedrummer

Yeah, but really, what are the chances of that? A laser beam is about the width of a pencil at that distance, and unless that guy's glass diffuses or deflects it in your direction (provided it's not tinted, in which case you have no chance) you're still screwed anyway.

Eh, that seems an alright price. Do you need the stealthiness of the STi though?

Well i'm between

v1 , STi , or an 9500

trainerKEN · 12-29-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biohazard23

STi for $375 on ebay

yay/no?

the only time you would need to buy a STi is if you live in a state (or Canadian province) where RD's are illegal... the cops in those states use something call RDD (radar detector detector) to catch motorist using RDs... as far as I know Virginia and the District of Columbia are the only places in the US where Radar Detectors are illegal... in some other states, it's illegal to use them while operating a commercial vehicle... I highly doubt that applies to you...

With THAT said... you, living in Ohio... it's pointless to spent the extra money on the STi... The only thing that the STi does different vs the RX65 or Passport 8500 is that it's stealth/undetectable by RDDs... it won't do any better job than the Passport or Beltronic's RX65 in terms of detecting (btw, I don't know if it has been mentioned, but Beltronics and Passport are the same company... the Passport 8500 has the exact same internals with the RX65).

how do I know all this? because when I called the actual company to place my order on the STi, the sales lady actually told me all this and talked me out of it... she saved me money because I ended up buying the Beltronics RX65 instead... (again, RX65=Passport 8500)

WGP>You27k · 12-30-2008, 12:48 AM

My interest for a radar detector has just begun. Seeing as I know absolutely nothing, practically all the "help" in this thread doesn't really make sense to me.
What range of price do you need to get into to get something actually worth it?
I saw the chart, but then I saw other discussion on it..so for a final verdict, are they legal in California?

trainerKEN · 12-30-2008, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WGP>You27k

My interest for a radar detector has just begun. Seeing as I know absolutely nothing, practically all the "help" in this thread doesn't really make sense to me.
What range of price do you need to get into to get something actually worth it?
I saw the chart, but then I saw other discussion on it..so for a final verdict, are they legal in California?

they are legal in California... but needless to say, cops hate it when the see it mounted on your windshield... IMHO... avoid brands like Cobra and Whistler... I think they're okay... but if you're gonna get one I'd go with something from Beltronics/Passport (same company) or if you have the money... Valentine 1. Personally, something from Beltronics/Passport will doing the job...

price range? $200-$300... you can find them cheaper on eBay or even look in your local Craig's List... it's always more peace of mind when you actually meet the seller in person, and demo it.

WGP>You27k · 12-30-2008, 01:45 AM

Thanks, that helps. Regarding how you said cops hate seeing it mounted to your windshield..what can they do? Is there a better way to have one set up?

trainerKEN · 12-30-2008, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WGP>You27k

Thanks, that helps. Regarding how you said cops hate seeing it mounted to your windshield..what can they do? Is there a better way to have one set up?

you can have it mounted on your rear view mirror... see picture below. and hardwire the power cord...

it'll help a little...

but lets say, you just got pulled over... there's always a very small chance you can talk your way out of a ticket... but if the cop sees the RD mounted ANYWHERE.... guess what? your... "very little chance" just turned into NO CHANCE...

WGP>You27k · 12-30-2008, 02:20 AM

Well ****, that doesn't sound nice. Can they really be effective enough to cancel out that factor?

trainerKEN · 12-30-2008, 02:22 AM

my RX65 has saved a few times... so if you factor in the cost of the tickets, cost of traffic school... and YOUR time (NOT) spent IN traffic school....

...YES, it's worth it

with THAT said... keep in mind... NOTHING is full proof...

WGP>You27k · 12-30-2008, 02:26 AM

Damn. Well it's definitely interesting. I wish I knew someone with one so I could see one in action.

trainerKEN · 12-30-2008, 02:34 AM

out here in California... the highway patrol uses K band more (but some use laser), while most police and sheriffs use laser... if you see them hold up the unit to their face and aim at would be speeders, that's laser... the downside with laser for them (I believe) is that the cop operating the unit can NOT be moving, and has to aim it like a gun... to my understanding, it shoots out a beam about 3 feet in diameter... so, suppose you found someone that's got a radar detector to try out... and you point it at a cop with a laser, unless he's aiming it directly at you... the radar detector will NOT go off. where as K band... most (even cheap RDs) will alarm you when there's one in your vicinity

WGP>You27k · 12-30-2008, 02:48 AM

Well it sounds like the vicinity one is the only thing way that could be effective

biohazard23 · 12-30-2008, 02:53 AM

Eh

just bidded on ebay for a v1

hsilman · 12-30-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainerKEN

but lets say, you just got pulled over... there's always a very small chance you can talk your way out of a ticket... but if the cop sees the RD mounted ANYWHERE.... guess what? your... "very little chance" just turned into NO CHANCE...

I have got warnings for speeding with a RD detector mounted.

Also, I'm fairly certain that the rx65 and 8500 are completely different, irregardless of Bel/Escort being, as you mentioned, the same company. I'm not 100%, but the radar tests seem to confirm consistently different performance.

trainerKEN · 12-30-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hsilman

I have got warnings for speeding with a RD detector mounted.

Also, I'm fairly certain that the rx65 and 8500 are completely different, irregardless of Bel/Escort being, as you mentioned, the same company. I'm not 100%, but the radar tests seem to confirm consistently different performance.

I dunno... like I said... that's what the sales person told me, when I called the company directly to place my order...

DaytonLax14 · 12-31-2008, 11:04 AM

How difficult is it to hardwire it when mounting above/under the rear view mirror? And where can i go about hardwiring it? I don't have a sunroof or anything.

hsilman · 12-31-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaytonLax14

How difficult is it to hardwire it when mounting above/under the rear view mirror? And where can i go about hardwiring it? I don't have a sunroof or anything.

not at all difficult, just run the wires around the windshield/headliner.

you can wire it into your fusebox.

biohazard23 · 01-01-2009, 02:03 AM

ah success

a v1 has been purchased

sump paintball · 01-05-2009, 02:56 PM

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202650703928
Cobra - 12-Band High-Performance Radar/Laser Detector with UltraBright Display

anybody have and experience with this detector....i read somewhere that as long as it has Ka band its good becuase cops are now using Ka and Ka Superwide instead of lasers

hsilman · 01-05-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sump paintball

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1202650703928
Cobra - 12-Band High-Performance Radar/Laser Detector with UltraBright Display

anybody have and experience with this detector....i read somewhere that as long as it has Ka band its good becuase cops are now using Ka and Ka Superwide instead of lasers

just...no.