Radar Detector Recomendations

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by gtb75

+1

Who cares about arrows when you know the thing is going off for a legitimate reason - not a false! If you drive the same roads most of the time (like most of us I'd guess), then the ability to program out known falses is invaluable... My 9500i is dead silent during daily commutes unless there's really something to be worried about

As to your question, in all honesty, either a V1, BEL STI, or Escort 8500 X50 / 9500i would be my recommendations... Any of those would be a fine choice - just comes down to personal preference.

From coming from someone who knows a few troopers, one day you are going to get cooked. Cops know that those with radar detectors, even those without the GPS marking system, remember where false signal are because of signs or permanent mounted radar guns. The cops then sit right by the signal and laugh their ass off as you blow by thinking its just the same false signal as always. Happens all the time on 476 (Blue Route) in PA. So be careful.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

From coming from someone who knows a few troopers, one day you are going to get cooked. Cops know that those with radar detectors, even those without the GPS marking system, remember where false signal are because of signs or permanent mounted radar guns. The cops then sit right by the signal and laugh their ass off as you blow by thinking its just the same false signal as always. Happens all the time on 467 (Blue Route) in PA. So be careful.

That's why bogie counters come in handy. If you always get the same number of bogies at some particular place, but then one day your bogie counter goes up by one (or two), you know the cops are there.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by gtb75

+1

Who cares about arrows when you know the thing is going off for a legitimate reason - not a false! If you drive the same roads most of the time (like most of us I'd guess), then the ability to program out known falses is invaluable... My 9500i is dead silent during daily commutes unless there's really something to be worried about

I'd rather have false positives than false negatives. Think about that.

Originally Posted by gtb75

As to your question, in all honesty, either a V1, BEL STI, or Escort 8500 X50 / 9500i would be my recommendations... Any of those would be a fine choice - just comes down to personal preference.

I agree. Unless you're in Virginia or DC, then there is only one -- BEL STI.

[Keto]

V1 > all. Those arrows will save your ass.

[gtb75]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

From coming from someone who knows a few troopers, one day you are going to get cooked. Cops know that those with radar detectors, even those without the GPS marking system, remember where false signal are because of signs or permanent mounted radar guns. The cops then sit right by the signal and laugh their ass off as you blow by thinking its just the same false signal as always. Happens all the time on 467 (Blue Route) in PA. So be careful.

Firstly, I road race (BMWCCA, NASA, etc.) - speeding on public roads is stupid. Secondly, I haven't had a moving violation in over 11 years - and I don't drive slow cars (see my sig). I use a radar detector as a reminder more than anything.

As far as LEO's "hiding behind" other devices which emit a radar signal, read my post in this thread about how the 9500i works... The 9500i only marks an exact frequency - not the entire band. A K-band automatic door uses a different frequency than a K-band gun, and the 9500i can distinguish between the two. Also, the Escorts can display multiple bogies on multiple frequencies when using ExpertMeter... Each vertical bar next to the band letter in the display is a signal strength indicator for that specific alert. Additionally, the Escorts can also display the exact frequency of the signal being tracked when using SpecDisplay.

See here for more information on the 9500i: http://www.escortradar.com/9500i.htm

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by ersin

That's why bogie counters come in handy. If you always get the same number of bogies at some particular place, but then one day your bogie counter goes up by one (or two), you know the cops are there.

Does the 9500 count bogies?

[ersin]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

Does the 9500 count bogies?

Yes, apparently so. This was answered by a 9500 owner a few posts ago.

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by gtb75

Firstly, I road race (BMWCCA, NASA, etc.) - speeding on public roads is stupid. Secondly, I haven't had a moving violation in over 11 years - and I don't drive slow cars (see my sig). I use a radar detector as a reminder more than anything.

Dude, relax. I wasn't cutting on you or your driving skills. All I was trying to say is the troopers ain't dumb and lots of people forget they know about all of teh technology. I'm sorry I was unaware that the 9500 counts boggies. And if you think speeding is so dumb why are you in this thread---technically 10 over the speed limit is speeding, so you saying 75 in a 65 is stupid? More importantly why would you own road cars that can go fast if you think speeding is stupid? Just build a stripped down race car to take to the track. Why by a "not slow car" if you plan on going slow?

Either way, no intention to insult or attack you and I am sorry if it came off that way.

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by ersin

Yes, apparently so. This was answered by a 9500 owner a few posts ago.

My bad......

[billycorgan]

seriously, the v1 arrows WILL com in handy. if the arrow is pointing forward while the proximity beeps get flatlined, you can look from side to side and find out where's the cop is hiding. if the arrow is pointing behind you, you can keep checking your rear view mirror. being a v1 user for many years, i find this information to be invaluable. without those arrows, you just got a flashing box that makes noise.

[gtb75]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

Dude, relax. I wasn't cutting on you or your driving skills. All I was trying to say is the troopers ain't dumb and lots of people forget they know about all of teh technology. I'm sorry I was unaware that the 9500 counts boggies. And if you think speeding is so dumb why are you in this thread---technically 10 over the speed limit is speeding, so you saying 75 in a 65 is stupid? More importantly why would you own road cars that can go fast if you think speeding is stupid? Just build a stripped down race car to take to the track. Why by a "not slow car" if you plan on going slow?

Either way, no intention to insult or attack you and I am sorry if it came off that way.

I didn't take your post as an insult - I was just commenting on my driving style. I also have a friend who's a county cop, so I know their side of it as well. I personally don't consider 5-10 over speeding, even though it technically is... I was talking about the fools who street race on public roads

As far as my owning fast cars, my plan is to replace both of my current cars in '09 with an E92 M3 and then get a tow vehicle / dedicated track car (C5 or E36 M3). While I don't drive like an idiot on public roads, I certainly do enjoy my driving... I was on a GT-R kick for a while, but came back to the M3 for that very reason - driver enjoyment / involvement. Seeing as the street is where I have to do most of my driving, I might as well enjoy it

[gtb75]

Originally Posted by ersin

Yes, apparently so. This was answered by a 9500 owner a few posts ago.

Indeed it can - so can the 8500...

The 8500 and 9500i can simultenously display multiple signal indicators, for multiple bogies, on multiple bands. My V1 only had one signal strength indicator for all bands. While the bogie counter on the Escort is a signal strength indicator (not a number), it can display many of them at the same time. Just look at the ExpertMeter display on the link I provided above... Every vertical line next to the band letter is a signal strength indicator for a single source. So in that picture, it's displaying the following:

2 KA-band signals at maximum strength
2 K-band signals at maximum strength
4 X-band signals at maximum strength

The 9500i also adds a few "nice to have features" beyond the GPS... Things like an ambient noise sensor for automatic volume control and an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness. It's a truly "set it and forget it" device. For daily commuting in my area, all I need to do is get in and drive... If it goes off, I know the there's a LEO in the area because it would be silent otherwise. No, the Escorts don't have the arrows, but that's the only thing they're missing in my book.

As I said earlier, the 9500i, V1, and STI are all great detectors - just comes down to personal preference

[ersin]

Originally Posted by gtb75

Indeed it can - so can the 8500...

The 8500 and 9500i can simultenously display multiple signal indicators, for multiple bogies, on multiple bands. ...

I guess it late for me or maybe I'm just dense . But, I can't figure out how the multiple signal indicators is useful. Now, if you had say, an LCD display, something like a color iPod display, then you could have it display signal strength for each bogie and combine this with the direction that the signal is coming from, then that would really be useful. Just an idea.

Originally Posted by gtb75

The 9500i also adds a few "nice to have features" beyond the GPS... Things like an ambient noise sensor for automatic volume control and an ambient light sensor for automatic brightness.

As I said earlier, the 9500i, V1, and STI are all great detectors - just comes down to personal preference

V1 has a light sensor too, but no auto volume. They should add that. But I certainly agree that either of those three detectors are tops and any would get the job done. See one of my previous posts in this thread. If you can't decide which one you want, then get all three and send the two you don't want back before the 30 day money back thing.

One exception to this though: if you drive in Virginia, DC or certain (most) provinces in Canada then only the Bel STI will do.

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by gtb75

Seeing as the street is where I have to do most of my driving, I might as well enjoy it

I hear that........amen brother.

[oneginee]

Notice the score on radar range (Sensitivity), 61 percent higher than second-best Passport 8500, and nearly double that of third-place BEL.

[gtb75]

Wow, a review from 2002 on technology that changes on an almost annual basis - not too useful... Here's something more current: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

Bottom line, you'll be able to find articles that support all three of the leading choices... Do your own research and pick whatever suits your needs best

[M3Kevin]

Basically all the articles that you read out there are 'bait'. For the most part, paid for and written/ghost written by the winning company.

I think my best source of information was the number of people talking about each radar detector, and also knowing several people who have owned all of the top brands, and who've gone with one brand over them all.

From the thread here - it's pretty obvious which one that is.

[ersin]

Craig Peterson (radartest.com) has a known bias against the V1. Keep that in mind. He also thinks a Dodge Magnum SRT-8 > M3 (and almost any other car) too -- that should tell you a bit about the guy. Don't just read radartest.com. Search for other sites.

Guys of lidar (http://www.guysoflidar.com/) do not 'bait'. They sell none of the products. They don't get paid. They don't declare a winner. They do the tests under as controlled environment as possible and then just present facts. Their latest test was August 2007.

And here's another good site to get radar info and other good stuff: http://veilguy.blogspot.com/.

[Davinhci]

Valentine 1 best out there

[rmmcdaniel]

I have a V1 but when I get my E90 M3 delivered I was considering getting a Passport 9500ci installed (link below). What are others experience with custom-installed solutions?

The obvious benefits to me seem to be concealment and no windshield in the way to hinder performance. Cost and portability are obvious negatives.

http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm

[ersin]

Originally Posted by rmmcdaniel

I have a V1 but when I get my E90 M3 delivered I was considering getting a Passport 9500ci installed (link below). What are others experience with custom-installed solutions?

The obvious benefits to me seem to be concealment and no windshield in the way to hinder performance. Cost and portability are obvious negatives.

http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm

I'm not sure if the 9500ci install is DIY, but I have always done the install for the V1 by myself. It's pretty easy as far as mods go. However, if you have never done anything like this before, then maybe have a professional do the install.

You can conceal the V1 pretty good with the concealed display module. But, at least for the V1, the main V1 unit is still up on the windshield. I hide it pretty good but it is still not stealth as say, installing a little thing in the bumper. The windshield does not hinder performance any amount noticeable unless you have metal tinted windows. I never consider portability. I install it and leave it. If I do want to bring into another car, I just slide it out of the mount. It's pretty easy with the V1, I don't know about other detectors. Still, it's not a concern for me.

[rmmcdaniel]

I definitely would not be installing this myself. My dealership group is an authorized reseller/installer for it.