Radar/Lidar detectors

scotian

When I listen in on the HP and LP, I get a lot of appropriate chatter, but I don't use it for that -- just the alarm. I think the built-in frequencies are good, but I just wonder how useful the repeater proximity alarm is as a practical matter.

bhepler

Any of the Bearcats will not beat a good radar detector for protection. But I live in VA, so you do what you can...

Joe166 - In my admittedly limited experience, the only time the police change their frequencies is when they go to a trunked system. It usually moves them from the 159Mhz into about the 600-700 MHz range.

scotian

Seems like a pointless thing to do, since the remote display is primarily intended to not inform other drivers and the police that you have a radar detector by moving the display below the window line.

SPYDER98

Anyone ever hear of it?

http://www.formsite.com/rizler/phantom/index.html

sounds interesting..

scotian

like the Phantom do little more than make your car more visible to police radar. They are illegal in some areas, such as Minnesota.

molloni

I just wanted to give my input on the Bel980. I have had very good experiences with this unit since I got it a few weeks ago. The unit is much more sensitive than the Bel6xx that I had. I have picked up a real radar signal from an officer who had to be at least 1/2mile away, around a gentle corner, and over a slight grade, and out of my line of sight. I also picked up another officer while sitting second at a stop light facing east. He was traveling south, and he was probably 1/4mile up the road when my detector started going off. Again, I did not see him through the dense trees and brush that is at this particular intersection. I also picked up a trooper on a back road, several cars behind me, and I have no idea how far back, as I didn't even know he was behind me until I was waiting at in intersection, and I saw him several cars back (funny story, after that intersection, he was right behind me, I was doing just 2MPH under the limit, I even set the cruse control, and he got right up on me, turned on his lights, and as I pulled over, he flew past me...way up ahead, at another intersection, he turned his lights off, and went on his merry way...I hate when police do things like that...)

I know the Valentine is usually rated as the best, but with this Bel unit mounted high at the top of my windshield, I think I'm getting really good coverage.

bronfman

I did some research on-line and found that Valentine One is the best.
Check www.carreview.com/reviews/radar_detection/

Now, I bought "V. One". It's bugs counter, arrows and ability to detect behind really do good job.
Different logic modes are good too.

The most dangerous thing is to think "I'm getting really good coverage" if it is not.

Thanks,

Mike

raztec99

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with laser defusers and knows if they really work. Radar detectors, even the Valentine One only detect the laser after it's got you. Thanks for any feedback.
Raz

scotian

No personal experience, but here's some links:

http://www.radarbusters.com/blinder.htm
http://www.epoint.dk/blinder/uk/index.htm
http://www.radarscramblers.com/blinder.htm
http://www.gadgetonline.com/ECM.htm
http://www.online-catalog.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/gizmos/html/rt_menu.html?E+gizmos
http://www.laserbuster.com/
http://www.lidatek.com/
http://www.blinder.dk/
http://www.delta.se/~denis/

scotian

Does anyone know of any fog/driving lights or types of lightbulbs that can interfere with laser guns?

pat84

The lights would have to be at the exact same frequency as the laser gun and at higher power . I know of none manufactured for commercial use. I am not sure all laser guns operate at the same frequency.

shekharpatel

Follow the speed limit.
Drive in left lane.
You are not obliged to change lane if you are not driving "BELOW" speed limit.
Just imagine you are the "pace" car driver.
So do not get panicky when you find yourself piloting a zigzaging caravan of cars behind you.
Left lane driving on freeways is recommended especially at night because this is the only way you can avoid the reflected glare from your driver's side-view mirror.
Choose LIFE over speed.
Better Late Than Never.

By the way this will drive the cops crazy. They will have no use to purchase/maintain/carry the sophisticated speed detection devices. Saving us "the taxpayers" a bundle

philly7

I think Al Gore needs some more "vote counters" in Florida. You seem up to the task.

Don't speed on your way down there!!!!

joe166

You actually CAN be charged with obstructing traffic if you are driving the speed limit but won't yield to passing traffic, although it is not often done. You sound like the kind of dunderhead that doesn't even let emergency vehicles pass. For the sake of everyone else in the world, I suggest you drive like that in the Greater Miami area. I would give you a six or seven day lifespan and that is if you are driving an armored vehicle. You would seem to be a carrier of road rage. Good luck! Have a lovely day and thanks for deciding for all of us what is good for us. Sounds like you have figured out what is right for us and we can count on you to keep us straight. Thanks again.

philly7

I think "dunderhead" is way too kind an adjective.

But I guess it's the strongest we can use in this forum.

This person is a living example of one of the biggest hazards out on the road today. One day He/She will get squashed like a bug in their Toyota Echo (or whatever) by a bulldog on the fly.

Oh, well...another looser bites it!

this_is_nascar

Let me tell you something. Don't let me catch you driving the speed-limit in the left hand lane with me behind you. Poeple that do that are cause more issues and accidents than simply moving over to the right lane.

scotian

I hope that was sarcasm! If I were to follow your counsel, I would be just about the most dangerous person on the road. While it is easy to say "If we all obeyed the speed limits, we would all be safe," it does not justify knowingly and willingly being an obstruction to the efficient flow of traffic. There are people, like myself, probably even the majority of drivers, who exceed the speed limits as a matter of course, and no law, or appeal to law, will ever change that fact.

philly7

Well spoken!

molloni

This is a forum for people who use radar detectors. Now we all know why we purchase some of the most expensive models...so we can detect police radar, right? Well, we'll leave the obvious alone for now. So why is this dunderhead even reading the posts? Maybe to give us all that safety advice...I love being behind that person doing 55 in the left lane and you just know they are thinking "Look at all the lives I'm saving by having this long line of cars following me..." I know you are well within your legal right to drive at the speed limit in any lane, but there are states (and PA is one of them) that require you to be in the right lane unless you are passing. Thanks for your "advice", but my advice is to get you butt over to the right and keep it there...This is the kind of person who caused me to create a driving CD collection that I call Road Rage...
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

scotian

I couldn't be the first to think of this, but the
following bumper sticker just popped into my head:

SPEED THRILLS

this_is_nascar

What mode of operation do you leave your V1 in?

joe166

Advanced Logic--The big L. But I don't have any idea why anymore. I read the book when I started, but don't remember what the modes are and what they mean.

scotian

L, except when travelling in the middle of nowhere I have it on A.

dnk1

Advanced logic is probably the way to go because it doesn't reduce sensitivity; it just filters out falses.

It can be pretty annoying driving locally if you don't filter out the falses.

trippdogg

I've issued about 35 speeding tickets in the last two months. Before I get badgered, I'm very lenient, AND I givr a 15-20 mph leeway, it all depends on the time of day, and with that leeway, that leaves the drivers nearly double the limit.

Anyhow, about 20 of the had radar detectors, everyone I asked the driver out of curiosity, when did the radar detector go off, answer was almost the same, it didn't go off, the all of a sudden it went off full blast. That was when I hit them with stand by mode. Do radar detectors work? I guess they help when a car is running radar all the time, but that usually means that either the cops more or less just being a visible means of deterence not necessarily out to get speeders. ANyhow, they don't need to have an exact speed, there are plenty of other signs to watch on a vehicle to write it for careless driving...

SPYDER98

Hate to say it guys...but he's right.
Even the legendary V-1 won't protect you 100%.
But it still blows away any other detector on the market.

Back in late march when I got mine. I kind of went on a speeding rampage. My average speed on the interstates was between 90-100. I felt invincible.
Well in May I got pulled over twice.
Both times were late at night.
The cop was simply driving behind me and he "clocked" me speeding 80 in a 55 once and 68 in a 50 another night.
Since he clocked me, I fought both tickets to the end and did not end up paying a cent. Neither of the cops showed the 3rd time around and I didn't get points issued against me.
The only loss was patience at the court house, work time and a driver retraining class I had to attend in the summer.
I know try to keep it below 80 and keep a good eye on whos following me.
Especially at night! Anything suspicious looking, IE. camaro, crown vics etc...I slow and let them pass..

SPYDER98

I've only told a few people about this.
Everyone knows I drive around with a $400 detector. It would of been very emabarrasing telling them I went to court 6 times because of it!

div2

The best radar detector in the world(i.e. the V1) is worthless if the driver fails to use his/her eyes,ears,and brain. In the past ten years I have received one speeding ticket- and it was my fault because I was distracted and thus disregarded/misinterpreted what my V1 told me. Simple as that. You can't merely stick a V1 on your dash and assume you are safe. Look as far down the road as possible. Evaluate the approaching cars as possible threats. Ask yourself: Where could a threat be concealed? Any white marks on the shoulder(VASCAR or Aircraft)? Observe the reaction of other traffic-particularly their brake lights. Check your six frequently(that's where I screwed up). Before you go on a trip, check out: http://speedtrap.com/ . And strive to be the SECOND fastest car on the road. My ideal scenario: following a non-detector equipped bright red Porsche or Corvette from about a 2500' distance.

this_is_nascar

I agree. Anyone under the impression that the V1 or any other radar detector will make them invisible is just setting themselves up to be stopped.

scotian

I would rather have the car in front of me have a detector so they will likely apply their brakes when tagged. There's no better indicator of road conditions ahead than brake lights.

pcleveland2

But a lot of radar cops leave it on. You would not believe the number in my area of the country! I think the units, in my home town, are hard wired and have the switch wired on bypass. They never turn it off.

Have to agree with div2.

My last speeding ticket ended up as a parking ticket. A fifty dollar parking ticket!

dnk1

Even if cops use instant on, it's unlikely that you're the *only* person on the road. (And if you are, there is nothing that can save you from instant on, so slow the heck down.)

I've had the V1 save me numerous times by catching a powerful reflection from a cop using instant on for cars in front and behind me.

I stand firm: the Valentine One is worth every single penny you pay for it.

SPYDER98

Our interstates in CT, mostly 91 and 95 are usually covered with laser traps. I've seen cops park their cars in the bushes and stand behind trees with their laser guns. I don't risk speeding as much on these highways. Sometimes 1 cop with do all the laser work and about a mile down the road theres 5 cops flagging people down for speeding. Assuming the laser guy radios them.
Where the V-1 has come in handy the most is in the backwood towns where the radar technology is not advanced. Its saved me numerous times on back roads and I have never come close to getting snagged.

A V-1 with a laser jammer would be a great defense IMO.

dnk1

*Jamming* anything, radar or laser, is illegal.

SPYDER98

and so is speeding. so whats the point?

joe166

I guess the point, if there is one, it is that speeding is a non criminal infraction while jamming radio signals is a Federal crime. I don't mind getting an infraction record, but I really don't want to get a criminal record and have to list it for the rest of my life. It would probably cause me a lot of trouble in my line of work. That is a BIG difference to me.

SPYDER98

If you receive enough speeding tickets and keep getting your license suspensed. I'm sure it would lead to a criminal case as well. The same can be said if your caught going 30 mph over the speed limit, hence reckless driving.
Don't get me wrong. I can't afford to get one either with all my travels.
I originally was just backing up trippdoggs comment about how he has flagged down many speeders, even with radar detectors.
If your on an open road, with no cars around you and you are exceeding the speed limit. If a cop hits with his first shot from his laser gun. You will have no reaction time to slow your vehicle down back to the original speed limit.
The laser jammer was simply an idea thats all..
It does'nt matter whether you have a V-1 in your window or a cheap $60 detector against this type of radar.

scotian

As far as I know, jamming (or confusing) police laser is only illegal in a few states. There are federal regulations covering laser devices, but most laser jammers use LEDs, and those that use lasers apparently use eye-friendly ones.


Speaking of police lasers:

http://www.snopes2.com/
Horror/Techno-Industrial Terror/missile

titopuente

Are radar detectors legal in Toronto/Ontario?

pcleveland2

NO!, unless it is in a sealed package and you have a bill of lading to transport it thru Canada. It is a violation even to have one in your vehicle unhooked.

scotian

Another reason to avoid Canada.

Amazingly, the term "The land where nothing is allowed" applies to Canada even more than it does to the Peoples Republik of Minnesota!

molloni

Here is a question for everyone...do any of you have any stories of evading tickets because you are a card carrying contributor to the police? I've been giving to the Fraternal Order of Police for a few years now, probably $25-$50 a year. The programs are valuable: they have a big campaign against DWI/DUI this year. Last year, not only did they send me a sticker, but they also sent me a card to carry in my wallet. I would rather give a small amount of money (to a good cause) over time than pay a big fine and insurance premiums. But I want to know if anyone had a good experience by giving an officer the card, or just the fact that the sticker is in the window.
Thanks!

vac23

If the Police doesn't see the money the organization is collecting on their behalf then it probably doesn't matter. I received a solicitation from one of these organization on behalf of the State Police. I decided to email the State Police to find out if it's a ligi. org. or not. Well, it turned out that no one is authorized to collect money for the State Police & the families of the troopers that this organization is suppose to help-don't. You're probably better off sticking one of those Stop DWI sticker from the state or county if they have it instead of the ones you get in the mail. At least it'll look familiar to the cop & hopefully think twice about the ticket.

bobs5

My brother-in-law is a police officer here in NJ. He gives me a PBA (Policemen's Benevolent Association) card each year. It has helped me get out of a speeding ticket once. If the infraction is small, they will usually let one off with a warning.

SPYDER98

I think the best way to get out of a speeding ticket from what I've seen, is to get on the cops side. What I mean by that is...most state troopers are marines. About 75% of them from what I've heard here in CT.
Don't ever call them an X-marine though, they take offense to that. So...I've learned
One of my buddies who works with me is a marine and he has got out of numerous tickets by showing troopers his drivers license, insurance card and yes the (Almighty get out of jail free card most of the time) "his expired marine ID".

This is no joke...it actually works!

Of course..if none of you were in the service like me, this means absolutely nothing..

Just my $.02 worths....

vac23

That actually works in alot of cases. A Friend of mine was driving around in Philly with a suspended license. He got pulled over & the trooper saw my friend's marine cap in the back window. As soon as the trooper walked up to the car he asked if my friend was a marine & show the trooper his card. Didn't ask for a license or anthing. Just let him go.

pcleveland2

Anybody know anyone who updates old (large style) Escorts so it will work on a band also?

pcleveland2

Whoops, should have read Ka band. That's what I get for using the "Check Spelling".

Pat

drmaddog2022

Dnk1 I agree, the V1 is definitely worth it. I've had mine almost 5 years now, and it has paid for itself and then some. There have been numerous times where it has gone off as a result of a reflection from an instant-on radar that no-one else picks up. They just keep zipp'n by, and sure enough, a wall of brake lights appears 1/2 mile ahead. Better yet, people assume that because they've just passed a cop that's already pulled someone over, they're safe...wrong-o...sometime's it's a set-up, and they have numerous squad cars sitting on an on ramp, just waiting for people who speed back up.

Same goes for the laser. Just like a flashlight, it bounces off things, and can therefore be picked up. I'll admit though, that if you do detect laser, you're probably screwed.

pat84

Lasers are a much more concise beam than a flashlight. The laser gun has a dot type projection sight. You put the dot on a car and pull the trigger. It reads distance and speed. It can pick individual cars out at 900+ feet. If your laser detector goes off, just look at your speedometer. That's what they've got you at.