[C5Txfan]

One thing to remember about Laser is that it can't be used at night or during the rain. Many LEO's in my area use the on/off technique with radar so your detector will just tell you're about to get a ticket !

[SuperSound]

Originally Posted by C5Txfan

One thing to remember about Laser is that it can't be used at night or during the rain. Many LEO's in my area use the on/off technique with radar so your detector will just tell you're about to get a ticket !

Instant on has weaknesses too. Every time they suddenly turn it on, there's a sudden burst in energy that's different that an approaching constant radar source. Most good detectors today have POP detection for this reason. But it won't stop anything if you are the only guy on the road within 5 miles. I've detected several LEOs hiding who would turn on and off on cars a mile or two in front of me. 9 times out of 10 it's Ka band, so you know immediately to be on guard and slow down.

Speaking of laser, isn't it susceptible to wash out from the sun if low on the horizon? Or maybe it was bright sunny days where there is a lot of reflection on cars. Seems like the military has issues with laser guided weapons in those conditions. Definitely rain and foggy conditions.

[Luigi91]

Originally Posted by Tachyon

Fastball speaks the truth.

RADAR is radio and regulated by the FCC. Interfering with radio frequency will get you a fine beginning at $10,000.

LASER is regulated, amusingly, by the FDA. And by some states in terms of traffic enforcement... but it could be argued at the federal level there is no statute about my infrared parking assist system causing interference with LEO traffic enforcement devices.

Remember, innocent until proven guilty and the burden of proof is on the State.

I was coming in to say the same thing. Do your research. There are very few states with regulations regarding laser shifters.

I have an Escort redline that I have been using for about a year now. It works wonders. I believe it has the farthest distance of detection out of any of the current offerings.

Something to keep in mind after purchasing, is that depending where you are, you need to learn what frequencies your local PD uses. I occasionally see cops using K band, but 90% of the time K is falsing for me, so I generally ignore it, but I don't turn it off. What is nice about my Redline, is that I can turn off K band if I wish, and it even allows Ka band to be segmented and turn off certain frequencies which usually produce falses. There are only 3 different Ka frequencies that LEO use out of the whole band, and turning the other 8 segments off, allows the detector to find them faster, and produce less falsing.

[sgrinavi]

A pal and I tested my 9500IX against his V1 on a 90 mile trip - mine lit up first every time. I don't really care what direction the cop is in - I'm slowing it down when I hear a beep.

[bpang1234]

Originally Posted by SuperSound

Speaking of laser, isn't it susceptible to wash out from the sun if low on the horizon? Or maybe it was bright sunny days where there is a lot of reflection on cars. Seems like the military has issues with laser guided weapons in those conditions. Definitely rain and foggy conditions.

I can't remember the last time I've seen a LEO doing speed enforcement in bad weather. They're just like you and me, don't want to be out there in the crap.

Also, pretty bad decision to be going fast in rain or fog as well. I know my vision isn't very good anyways (I have contacts) and I tend to drive at legal speeds in bad weather.

[Imp]

Originally Posted by SUMMIT WHITE SS

Have you used this? I don't know anyone who has personally, but I am very curious about it...

I do, every day. It's a crowd sourced input of traffic conditions and alerts. It requires people to input via a couple taps (they're working on voice) that there's a LEO on either my side or the other side of the road. Also, if there are road conditions that may be hazardous, like construction, potholes, cars on the shoulder, accidents, etc...

Also, since it uses Google Maps as an engine (google owns Waze), it also has current traffic alerts, traffic density, etc...

You'll know 5 miles away (via an icon on the screen) if there's a LEO parked on the road. (You don't tag moving ones). And you will get audible alerts a half mile away. Essentially, you can see around corners (as long as someone else has tagged them). It's only as good as the people that are also using it.

That said, where I live, I haven't had to tag a LEO in a while. They're always tagged before I get there.

On long trips, if there's an accident that has a highway slowed down/stopped, (and you have it in navigation/directions mode) and there's a faster way around it, it will tell you of the slowdown ahead and if a faster route is available, will guide you around it on the b-level roads via alternate route.

It's a good tool. I have it on all the time, even locally, because there's a construction zone on a highway bridge (Rt 195/fall river MA) that many times backs up for miles if something happens on it. I can take alternate routes where I don't lose as much time.

--kC

[Imp]

Originally Posted by bpang1234

I can't remember the last time I've seen a LEO doing speed enforcement in bad weather. They're just like you and me, don't want to be out there in the crap.

Also, pretty bad decision to be going fast in rain or fog as well. I know my vision isn't very good anyways (I have contacts) and I tend to drive at legal speeds in bad weather.

The only time they will pull someone over if an inattentive driver passes a LEO that is doing the limit or over (I've passed LEOs that were going under the limit where no one else would... they are usually on the phone or computer and being inattentive themselves). But you have to be a moron to not notice. "Speeding for conditions" while in rain is one that comes to mind where they *can* (but as I said, you have to be going REALLY fast).

I had one where the LEO pulled me over in the rain... because conditions and I wasn't running my wipers (headlights were on). I use rainx. "Here... put your head in and tell me if I need wipers (as the rain is just beading off)." "It's even better when you are at speed and it runs UP the windshield." I was doing the limit, and passed him doing the limit... because let me go because it was obvious I prepped my car FOR the conditions. Just a warning. (And I was in a Subaru)

--kC

[Childs Play]

Originally Posted by SUMMIT WHITE SS

Mine falses less then my Beltronics detecter, actually I get very few falses. Does your have the updated software installed? Don't have it now. Have an Escort 9500ix. But I bet the software updates help.


I like the arrows, I like knowing where to look for the cop. Plus, it's useful after the threat passes as you can watch them, and make sure they disappear. But, when I drive my other car with my Beltronics, I honestly don't seem to miss it... I guess you can know once you pass the cop with them. There is that advantage.





Have you used this? I don't know anyone who has personally, but I am very curious about it... Yes I have. I love it. It's not 100% fool proof but neither is a detector. Having both of them helps your chances though. It basically lets you know if a cop has been reported ahead. Usually by a mile or two. Won't work out in the middle of nowhere with very few people on the road, but in highly populated areas it's great.


One thing, at least my me is 99% of my falses in the city are K band. I usually will lock them out if bad, as K band based radar is old school and hardly used anymore. I couldn't tell you when I got a K band radar hit last...probably been over a decade. For me it's 10% X, and 90% Ka.

See in bold.

[Lethalphoenix]

Things to remember: Cops are people too..... And we do own and drive the same cars you do. we also like having fun! Having said that, and I don't want to be a wet blanket here, radar detectors now days are more of a " Pull over, you're about to receive a ticket" device. Lidar is an instant speed calculator and if you receive a lazer warning on you're detector........ Well, you are already caught!
Also keep in mind that lazer is not the only thing used to track speed. Nor is "k" or "ka" band. In any case, if you find yourself parked on the side of the road with flashing red or blue lights behind you, remember be honest, don't make up some lame excuse for speeding, and try and be funny and coorapitive! You may just find yourself driving away with a verbal warning instead of a ticket!

Oh, and as for "rain-x", I use it on my "work" vehicle as well as my "fun" vehicle! Still though, that does not negate the verbage of the code section in you're state regarding wipers and lights during in-climate weather. Just saying.

[Curr]

Echoing what Imp said about Waze. It's freakin' brilliant, really.

The one downside is, if you travel infrequently traveled roads, low population density, or very late / very early, then you are the tip of the Waze spear, so to speak. I leave for work at 0-dark-thirty and I am routinely the first person tagging LEO's along my route to work. This is NW of Boston, so there's a fair amount of Waze uses during prime time.

All that said, it is a great tool to have in your toolbox, but I am definitely getting a detector soon. For now, I'll just stay 7 (side roads) and 12 (highways) over the limit and hopefully under their radar.

[MikeyCamaro]

Originally Posted by Childs Play

Also, in my opinion, the arrows are a gimmick. If your radar detector goes off and the front arrow goes off what are you going to do? Slow down. And if the back arrow goes off? I'm pretty sure you're going to slow down as well. Can it help with people who aren't really paying attention to their surroundings? Sure, but if you're speeding you shouldn't be rocking out/texting/day dreaming and should at least be scanning the road yourself while driving. This isn't just Valentine 1 I'm talking about with the arrows. This is all of them.

True about paying attention but back when I ran a detector (I don't anymore), once I got used to the arrows, I couldn't do without them. It at least gave you an idea where to focus looking. And more than once, I'd come to a stop sign at a 4 way intersection. It'd go off and the arrow was pointing to the side and I was going straight. Once I passed the sign and got well around the corner, I'd know I was safe. Can't know that with no arrows: could be instant on and they are waiting around the next corner. For me, often you don't see them and it's very good knowing the general direction.

Mike

[SS 1LE]

Originally Posted by Imp

I do, every day. It's a crowd sourced input of traffic conditions and alerts. It requires people to input via a couple taps (they're working on voice) that there's a LEO on either my side or the other side of the road. Also, if there are road conditions that may be hazardous, like construction, potholes, cars on the shoulder, accidents, etc...

Also, since it uses Google Maps as an engine (google owns Waze), it also has current traffic alerts, traffic density, etc...

You'll know 5 miles away (via an icon on the screen) if there's a LEO parked on the road. (You don't tag moving ones). And you will get audible alerts a half mile away. Essentially, you can see around corners (as long as someone else has tagged them). It's only as good as the people that are also using it.

That said, where I live, I haven't had to tag a LEO in a while. They're always tagged before I get there.

On long trips, if there's an accident that has a highway slowed down/stopped, (and you have it in navigation/directions mode) and there's a faster way around it, it will tell you of the slowdown ahead and if a faster route is available, will guide you around it on the b-level roads via alternate route.

It's a good tool. I have it on all the time, even locally, because there's a construction zone on a highway bridge (Rt 195/fall river MA) that many times backs up for miles if something happens on it. I can take alternate routes where I don't lose as much time.

--kC

I gotta download this and try it. Do the alerts come through the Bluetooth, or just show up on your phone?

[aa406079]

Valentine 1 has been a consistent front runner for years.... HOWEVER, it doesn't not have a good filter for lane change alerting and active cruise control systems yet... Which is a big problem considering uptrim camaros have this feature running all the time themselves.....

There's a really good YouTube channel called " Radar Vortex" that does good reviews and talks about this...


http://youtu.be/4DiU2A4c2s4


http://youtu.be/DGuTgWtnbNA

[Curr]

Originally Posted by SUMMIT WHITE SS

I gotta download this and try it. Do the alerts come through the Bluetooth, or just show up on your phone?

"Both". It depends if you have your phone set as your BT audio device, and not just as your "Phone". If so, you'll get them over the car, if not the phone. I keep my phone near my line of sight so I'll see it when they pop up, either way.

I've only tried it in my '11 Infinti so far, but it will interrupt radio, but not phone calls via BT. I'm not sure how MyLink reacts, but I'd suspect the same.