[cdrptrks]

Originally Posted by Allez

I really wasn't thinking about LEOs using a radar detector detector - I would think they would only have them in states where RDs are illegal. I meant more them looking in your car and seeing it. It's not like they wouldn't know where people mount them. Incidentally, if you're being pulled over it might not be the best time to try to hide something.

Ok but that is not "based on how radar detectors work" which was the post that I was replying to. There are higher end detectors with remote antenna heads like Radenso RC M that can be installed to be very hard to detect visually but those are outside of the OP's budget. My plan is to flip the passenger visor down (which my radar detector is mounted to with a clip), power it off with the switch, and hope the officer doesn't look at the front of the car to notice it through the windshield. Plus I keep proof of insurance up there so I can provide a reason for why I flipped the visor down if asked.

[cdrptrks]

Originally Posted by Davey1LE

Do not want to stretch the budget to far but willing to spend if its worth it.

What do you guys recommend? Would like one that lets me know long before I come in contact with them.. I have had some bad tickets and cannot afford another one (Also my job requires me to have a good driving record)

To be brutally honest, if you truly cannot afford another ticket, use cruise control and slow down or else you are going to need to spend around $4k to get a radar detector / laser jammer combo like this installed:

https://radenso.com/products/radenso-rc-m

https://radenso.com/products/rc-m-an...ser-jammer-kit

*Note: Laser jammers are illegal in some states and you might face additional fines/consequences if caught in one of those states. Also even the best radar detector can't warn you beforehand if an officer is running instant on radar on an empty road or a road where all of the other cars are going slowly enough that the officer doesn't activate their radar on any other cars while you are within the detection range. Waze, Google Maps, and companion apps for radar detectors can help with this but they're not foolproof and may be useless to you on empty roads. I often see cops repositioning from one u turn cut through to another one nearby when they are running traffic enforcement on the highway so it is safe to assume that a cop may still be ahead for 5-10 miles past any spots that were marked in those apps when there wasn't actually a cop car there.

[cdrptrks]

Also research the speeding details for the states you will be driving in. For Texas, if you are cited at 24mph over the limit or less (not in a construction zone) you can get it dismissed with no points on your license by taking an online driving school if you haven't already done that within the last 12 months. So I do not generally speed more than 24mph over the limit for sustained periods of time in Texas even with a radar detector and Waze because the risk outweighs the benefit.

In Georgia I do not generally exceed 84mph on the highway because there is an extra $200 super speeder fee on top of the cost of the ticket for that.

In Virginia I unplug my radar detector and put it in the trunk because they are illegal there and on top of a fine the officer can seize your radar detector and hold it as evidence until your trial. I try to stay at exactly the speed limit in VA because you get an automatic criminal reckless driving charge if you are caught going over 85mph, or more than 19mph over the speed limit, and the possibility of jail time starts at 91mph with jail time very likely for speeds over 100mph!

https://jalopnik.com/never-speed-in-...-in-1613604053

[Psyhamster]

I use a Uniden R7 myself and have been very pleased with it. As others have mentioned it is not a replacement for looking out for LEOs and really just gives you a last chance to slow down if you haven’t already. I have done quite a lot of cross country and city travel with it and have not had issues with the R7 being super chatty or giving off tons of false readings for K band from the usual suspects (blind side detection on Honda, Acura, Kia) Picks up KA band from more than 1.5 miles out depending on terrain as well. VortexRadar, linked earlier in the thread, has lots of good reviews, information and settings for detectors as well.

Doing a clean install can be done with any model of a radar detector, really depends on your mounting options. The R7 comes with a suction cup mount that I’ve had no issues with and I hear blendmount have good solutions as well. I modified a Uniden hardwire kit to work with my own momentary switch that I installed on the center passenger knee pad, and ran the plug up through the B pillar and along the headliner to sit on the left of the rear view mirror. Really hard to tell it’s there and with it up high it can pick up signals a little better.

[Briland_1LE]

I have an Escort iX that lets you adjust the radar wavelengths it picks up. Google what radar guns your state uses and what wavelength they are. I never get false alarms and I’ve never had it not pickup a speed trap. Its well worth it!

[cdrptrks]

I see no reason to exclude any wavelengths. Modern detectors generally still have good range with all of them enabled (you can check Vortex radar's specific reviews for detectors you are considering to make sure) and then you are not at risk if any of your state/local police departments decide to upgrade to equipment using a different wavelength and you can go on trips to other states without needing to remember to take time to do research beforehand and potentially have to change settings on your detector.

[cdrptrks]

Originally Posted by Briland_1LE

I never get false alarms and I’ve never had it not pickup a speed trap.

Then you are probably running with the K Notch Filter On which runs the risk of getting no alert for an actual cop using the same frequency commonly used by Honda/Acura blindspot monitoring systems (BMS). I am glad you have never had that happen but the manufacturer warns that it is a real possibility. The Radenso Pro M and RC M are the only detectors I am aware of that don't have this vulnerability although they do produce false K band alerts for the BMS of some newer Mazdas and Cadillacs if you are using K Wide. I believe using K Narrow would eliminate this but then you risk being blind to legitimate K band threats outside of the K Narrow frequency range.

Based on my research that seems much better than what other detectors do to deal with the same issue which is block both BSM and legitimate police signals in the notch range and/or block weak K band signals (again both BSM and legitimate) and/or reduce the sensitivity of the entire K band giving you less time to respond to legitimate threats and giving false BSM alerts for all manufacturers once you get close to passing them if using K Wide and not using K Notch rather than those 2 Radenso models that only false for some newer Mazdas and Cadillacs without giving up any sensitivity or frequency range.

https://www.rdforum.org/threads/109355/#post-1581763

[SS_Don]

I don’t have a radar detector yet but the Escort Maxcam 360c seems like a good model and it is also a dash cam.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[comeinpeace]

i want a clean look and dont want to spend 2k..my project will be a valentine unit under the hood for front detection only, and running the telephone wire to the cab for the remote unit . the remote unit has such a small and very desirable footprint .i will enclose the main unit in clear plexi for weather protection. i have installed a few hidden units that have worked great but they are now long outdated(go off constantly) and only work when you are within eye-contact of radar

i dont know if anyone has tried it


oops did not update yet i have a 2021 vert

[cvp33]

Uniden R7, why?

- ~$400
- Stupid long range on the hwy. I’ve picked up radar 2 miles out.
- GPS, which Valentine GEN 2 doesn’t have
- Directional arrows unlike all others except V2. It’s a gimmick until you own one.
- Consistently beats all the others in range, accuracy and value
- Front and rear facing detectors
- R7 + Waze = no tickets in 2 years

I’m hearing, reading good things about the R8, but until the R7 let’s me down I see no need to pay $700.

https://garagegeektips.com/uniden-r7...ine-one-gen-2/

https://www.vortexradar.com/radar-detector-tests/

Uniden R7 Xtreme Long Range Laser/Radar Detector, Built-in GPS with Auto Learn Mode, Dual-Antennas Front & Rear w/Directional Arrows, Voice Alerts, Red Light Camera, Speed Camera Alert, (Renewed) https://a.co/d/ej0cAjB

[arpad_m]

I run the Uniden DFR9, which is a GPS-enabled and much nicer looking version of the DFR7, the winner of Vortex Radar's sub-$200 category. It has saved me several times already, and I only got into trouble once when I dismissed its warning as a fluke.

The DFR9 looks almost exactly the same as the Uniden R3, same color OLED screen and menu system and almost the same feature set, has a somewhat lesser range, but most importantly, it performs extremely well under $200. It does have some infrequent false alerting from BSM systems, but K band isn't that important in most places anymore, or so I've seen and heard.

I typically disconnect it and pop it in the glove box when driving in or through VA, just to be a nice guy.


UPDATE: okay, it's $230 now, it was available at $189.99 two years ago. Still much better than the R8 at $700 or the R7 at $500. The R3 has a comparable price now ($300), but the RJ-45 slot is on its wrong (driver) side, which ruled it out for me.

[comeinpeace]

ill look into it

it has remote unit?with arrows and sound?

[arpad_m]

Nah, you don't get arrows and a remote at $200 Sound is the same as with high end detectors, each radar band and laser have different sound signatures, and compound alerts have another. This is all configurable in settings.

[cvp33]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

UPDATE: okay, it's $230 now, it was available at $189.99 two years ago. Still much better than the R8 at $700 or the R7 at $500. The R3 has a comparable price now ($300), but the RJ-45 slot is on its wrong side, which ruled it out for me.

R7 is consistently under $400 on sale. My link above is $414, with Amazon CC it drops to $392. I believe I paid $375-ish 2 years ago on Black Friday. The tests above convinced me when they called it the best value under $400. It’s never let me down.