Radar detector

[jay c]

I've been searching around for a decent radar detector and with no experience and a ton of choices I'm a little lost. If you have one can you please tell me how well it works, what you have(brand) and if possible where you got it and how much you paid for it. Thank you guys for the help.

For those of you who will say "just don't speed" I know thats the cheaper/responsible solution but when the mod bug bites you can't ignore it.

 

[scHemi]

I have a V1. Love it, has saved me a few times. paid 300 and lifetime upgrades (for a fee)

 

[namccanna]

Bought my Cobra radar detector from Walmart for $40. Works great. Plenty of advance warning on busy roads (radar detectors don't you any good on empty streets/highways unless the cop is an idiot and leaves the radar going). I've had quite a few over the years and for the price, this little Cobra unit does just fine. We run them in both my RAM and the wife's Durango.

My buddy sells K-40 radar detectors and they'll pay your fine if you get caught speeding. There are other companies out there that do similar things. But you'll pay 4-5 times or better for them.

 

[kkreit01]

Escort 9500i here, and love it. The wife runs a Solo S2, and it works perfect for her. I'd only consider Escort, Bel, or Valentine. The Walmart OTC detectors need to stay there. If money were no object, I'd get MAX. On a budget, I'd pick up a 8500 X50 refurb. Check your local Craigslist. That's where I picked up both of mine (at a bargain).

 

[Heywood]

I have the Passport Max. Mounted to the rear view mirror with a Blendmount. I'm waiting on my Invisicord products for the direct wire to take power from the mirror.

I like it. It has GPS and self learns where the false's are. Nice and quiet.

If your worried about driving in the states that the RD's are not allowed, you might want to check out the Bell Redline. Great hwy range and undetectable. Has band segmenting.

Bell and Escort are the same company. You can learn more over at the Escort Radar Forums. Lots of arguments there.

The top comparisons are always

Bell Redline - range on hwy and off axis pick up

Passport Max - new digital GPS self learning

V1 - seems to be the benchmark even though it's old tech

Escort 9500 - GPS enabled

If you go to that forum I mentioned, have a look. Those guys are pretty hardcore on their testing. The members. They don't pull any punches.

Just keep in mind, just as any forum, your going to hear more about the problems than you will about the good. It is a good place to learn about why they are different and which might be best for you.

 

[StevoTee]

I have a Whistler... something.
Had it for 5+ years, have only got a single ticket. Detector actually went off, however, it was near an area it always goes off... needless to say I didn't even hit the brakes.

I also use an invisi-cord, which draws power off the mirror. Great way to hide the wiring and easily removed.

My dad has a Bell STI which he seems to be pretty happy with.

 

[Heywood]

I have a Whistler... something.
Had it for 5+ years, have only got a single ticket. Detector actually went off, however, it was near an area it always goes off... needless to say I didn't even hit the brakes.

I feel your pain. The cops are getting smarter that way. Hide at a place that sends out a signal.

That's the reason I went to a GPS RD. If it gets an X or K band signal of the same frequency at the same location 3 times, it'll mark it as false. You'll get a little chirp and you'll see it grey'd out. You'll get the real Ka or laser if they are hiding in those zones.

This only works in X or K. You can mute the Ka and laser, but you can't store those or eliminate them

You can also manually mark locations. The more you drive with it, the more it learns, the quieter it gets. So if it squawks.... it gets your attention.

Also the downloaded updates are great if you have "Speed on green" or "Red light" cameras. Gives you advanced warning. Nice advantage of a GPS RD.

If you live in a State or province where they are not allowed, and they have RD detectors, none of the GPS models are discreet. Best for that is the Bell Redline and V1.

The Bell STI and Escort 9500i are pretty much the same RD.

I have to admit I like the way it picks up photo radar as well. (Speeding Tax).

You get what you pay for I guess? 3 cars and 4 bikes, my insurance is high enough.

 

[StevoTee]

Heywood.. another fellow Albertan. Funny how many people have RDs.

I might look into getting a newer detector and good info you posted here. Thanks!

Good to know you can update the GPS models with locations of Green/Red light cameras. Are these updated from a forum somewhere? or how is that done?

 

[charonblk07]

I've had my Passport 9500xi for 3 years now and I love it. I won't drive on the highway without it. I love the gps function the most, especially because I can program favorite cop stop areas, have the intersection cameras pop up, and the detection range of the Ka is phenominal. The lazer is only good enough to tell you you're getting tagged, but I can generally get the speed down quickly. Haven't had a ticket since I bought the thing, there have been a few close calls, but the thing's done its job.

 

[Heywood]

Good to know you can update the GPS models with locations of Green/Red light cameras. Are these updated from a forum somewhere? or how is that done?

When you first connect, you enter your info with Escort/Bell. Every month they send you a email with what regions have been updated. If you don't see Alberta in the regions updated, you don't need to update it.

Also you can also submit new locations on the escort forums. They verify it and add it to the update.

To up date the RD, just plug it into your cpu with a usb cable. Use the detector tool program and update it all. Pretty simple. It also updates the firmware as they are making improvements and changes that people ask for. The new Max is great that way. Digital. They can even change thing on the screen.

They also have a system called "Escort Live". You get a year subscription with purchase of the "Live" cord. Either plug-in or direct wire. I have both now.

Basically, if we both have it, it kind of links us and our RD's together in a system. Like a cloud.

If your driving up to Edm and there's a radar trap on an overpass that trips your RD, it automatically marks that location for anyone else in the escort live system.

So I'm driving to Calgary and I get to that point 1 hour from when you picked it up... it would warn me that there is a live Ka alert and give me a heads up and count down in distance as I get closer to where you got hit. I think it's 2 miles?

The alerts stay active for 2 hours unless someone else gets tripped on it. Starts out as a red 2 mile circle, then orange, then yellow... then it's gone as speed traps move around.

It shows up on your smart phone and the alert comes up on the RD as well.

There's some YouTube video's on line that show the system. "Escort Live" It connects via Blue tooth. That's why you need a different module to use the live add-on. Android or Apple are the only 2 supported.

It's dependent on the amount of users though. There's a few in Edmonton that I've seen. Might be more come summer. Even without the "Live" portion....it's a great RD.

If I were you, and that's the route you want to go, I'd order right from Escort/Bell. You have to phone from Canada. Not every province allows RD's so they won't take online orders from Canada.

I bought my Max from Vision locally. JB's wanted $169.00 for the Direct Wire live module. I got it from Escort for $74.00. $94 regular then another $20 off for X-mas.

Heywood

 

[Heywood]

Since the Max came out late last year, they are on revision 1.8. It's getting better. The 9500 is a great RD as well.

 

[charonblk07]

Cool idea with the Live system. Might be worth adding or making the switch, I know I can sell the 9500xi for $150-200 used as is.

 

[Heywood]

Cool idea with the Live system. Might be worth adding or making the switch, I know I can sell the 9500xi for $150-200 used as is.

From what I just looked at on the Escort Forums, you can add the "Live" to your 9500.

You can also download the Escort Live app to your phone for free. It's not linked to your RD, but you can see how it works.

It's against forum rules for me to post the link to the site. It was politely pointed out to me in another thread.

I'm sure if you try Escort radar forum dot com you'll get lots of answers.

Like I said, it's user dependent. The more people using it, the better it is. The intersection camera's are worth it alone. That's in there without any users.

Take a look for ***** and giggles.

 

[jay c]

Thank you all for your opinions on your RD. I took your advice and I'm about to pull the trigger on an escort 8500 I found on eBay.

Just a heads up don't search escort on Craig's list when your wife doesn't know it's a RD brand.

Team Destrucktive

 

[Heywood]

Thank you all for your opinions on your RD. I took your advice and I'm about to pull the trigger on an escort 8500 I found on eBay.

Just a heads up don't search escort on Craig's list when your wife doesn't know it's a RD brand.

Team Destrucktive

Hahahaha... Too funny.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[Bigdaddy]

Thank you all for your opinions on your RD. I took your advice and I'm about to pull the trigger on an escort 8500 I found on eBay.

Just a heads up don't search escort on Craig's list when your wife doesn't know it's a RD brand.

Team Destrucktive

Also if you look on ebay website by Escort sometime they will have some Bel detector with the S7 antenna which will do a little better than the 8500, they might have some 8500 that have that same S7 antenna, they have been refurbish.

 

[Gecko]

Got the Max here. Was using a buddy's 9500 till he needed it back, it was so good I figured I'd get myself one. Just happened to get the Max. It's been great so far.

 

[jay c]

Just wanted to say thanks again for all the info you guys passed. I ended up getting a passort 8500 x50. I do have another question tho. Can I leave the radar detector on (thumb wheel in the on position) and just plug/unplug it from the cig lighter? Or should a turn it off before unplugging it? TIA

Team Destrucktive

 

[powderbrad]

Don't do radar detectors, just skip straight to lasar jammer.

All the new guns are going lasar anyways, and what good is a radar detector?

Also, FWIW..I live in the speeding ticket / radar / lasar capital of the WORLD!! No joke.

 

[Heywood]

Don't do radar detectors, just skip straight to lasar jammer.

All the new guns are going lasar anyways, and what good is a radar detector?

Also, FWIW..I live in the speeding ticket / radar / lasar capital of the WORLD!! No joke.

Photo radar isn't Laser. RCMP use Ka band on while roaming the highways. Laser can not be used unless stationary. Not sure a Laser Jammer is legal in Alberta? Laser Jammers have to be built in to the car/truck.

Jammers are pretty pricey as well. You would need at least 3 filments. 2 in the front and 1 in the back. For a Truck, you might need 5. Lot of area for them to go for.

There is a film I've heard that can be put over the headlights to get some protection as we haven't got a front plate for the Leo's to shoot at. Some jammers will work with the newer RD's as well.

Trust me, I know what your talking about. I'm in an area where they always have photo radar. One of the most profitable areas according to the EPS and city statistics.

I just use my RD as a tool. I don't like to pick up rocks and some of the drivers around here are idiots. I'd rather have them behind me.

I also use my head. That's the best defense for a clean license.