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radar detectors

6K views 36 replies 22 participants last post by  big6x6 
#1 ·
Does anybody use these detectors. Do they work an are they worth the coins. Me being a school bus driver in the state of MD 4 points an your unemployed. So trying to protect myself anyway I can. Radar traps here in small towns are getting ridiculous.
 
#10 ·
VA also has radar detector detectors. There are some radar detectors that can evade them but they're a lot of $$$.
 
#3 ·
I use them and have used them for years. I got a Whistler XTR-445 on my EG. I got it off Ebay because it was cheap but I like it because I can hear it go off on the highway and the display is easy to see in sunlight. I just use Velcro to stick it to the fairing.

I don't typically speed but stay just under the ticket limit but its nice to know where the cops are and when to slow down. Also, most emergency vehicles now have radar and will be detected. Some construction warning signs also have radar on them.

There is a learning curve on how to interpret them and how to use them to your your advantage. They are not 100% protection but the can pay for themselves if you know how to use them.
 
#5 ·
I should add;
to use them effectively, you need to break hard immediately when the detector goes off. You will need to learn when the signal means a cop is in the distance and when you're getting zapped right now. The trick is to give the cops radar a bogus report on their radar. If you're quick enough when breaking, the radar can't get an accurate measurement of your speed.

The other trick is to never admit what speed you were going when the cop stops you and asks you "do you know what speed you were going?" If he doesn't know then sure as hell don't admit to anything. I've gotten out of a few possible tickets with this technique...even after being stopped and knowing I was speeding but betting on that the cop's radar didn't get a good measurement.
 
#7 ·
You can spend $1000 on a detector. I spent $35. I won't feel as bad if it flies off the bike or if I forget to take it off the bike and it gets swiped, which is a stromg possibility with me. Gettin older and all.
 
#8 ·
, I haven't used one in years but thought with the narrow beam and instant on of laser radar guns, radar detectors weren't really effective. Anybody know any different?
I do know a guy who swore by the valentine 1. He justified it by saying it was a lot better and saves him money on tickets and insurance.
 
#9 ·
There is what is called "instant on" radar guns, so if they are out to get you specifically they are gonna get you....


But how radar detectors are able to detect the laser guns is by the dispersion of the laser beam when the gun is used on other vehicles.... so far the laser type guns are rare, atleast in my part of the country.


The good thing about V1 is that they are upgradable. I just checked on my 10 year old V1, and there is a major update on mine... I would be getting a brand new current V1 for half price in exchange for my 10 year old one, if I decided to do that.

Price of the updates vary depending on how extensive the update is... mine would be just about as extensive as you could get.


I noticed today that V1 recently released an Android app, in addition to different display options, you can also run your detector in stealth mode (no lights), and use your Android as your detector's display output.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.valentineresearch&feature=search_result#?t=W10
 
#11 ·
Thanks for the info. Just seems in this state with the need of Income the poe poe have double there efforts. An seem like every town has red light cameras speed cameras radar. Now I know we are not suppose to speed. But my last ticket was 42 in a 30. Cop said this is the best speed trap in the county.
 
#12 ·
When I lived in MD, I carried 2 detectors. My good one and a cheap dummy incase I got popped in VA, they would confinscate the crappy one and not find the good one. I want a stealth fighter fairing so I'm invisible... which is how I ride anyway.
 
#13 ·
#14 ·
Radar detectors tell u that you are getting ready to get a ticket. Radar jammers scramble their signal. Both are useful if you are anticipating exceeding the posted limit or just want to know if someone is watching you.
 
#15 ·
My V1 saved me from getting a ticket just west of Topeka along I-70 more than once. :nod


Radar jammers however, are illegal in the US.

Although it is legal to receive any radio signals (ie a detector), it is not legal to transmit all radio signals (ie a jammer).
 
#17 ·
They work ok but pick up a lot of false alarms. I had a decent one and wasn't happy with how many false alarms it threw out. It had me slowing down when no cops were around. Then sometimes it gives short warnings, maybe that was cop operating a speed gun. I wont say it didnt pay for itself because it did many times over.

Now I just use other drivers as blockers. I get on the tail of someone who is driving the speed I want to go then just pace them. If there tail lights go on for no reason then its probably a cop. Works great on the highway but not so great on the side roads if you dont have someone in front of you. In that case I just slow down a little.
 
#21 ·
I wish someone would combine a radar detector with a GPS. Going one more step, it would transmit to the Sat so it could be tracked on the GPS so as people trigger it or you blip the detector as you pass a cop, it would map it.
 
#22 ·
I tried an app on my phone called Trapster where people update road conditions (construction, traffic jams, police, etc). But I went on a 7 hour trip and didn't get any hits showing there were police, so I don't think many use it.
I just started using one called Waze. There seem to be a LOT more people active on it.

Basically they depend on people updating the position of police (and construction, road hazards, etc) into the app. I think it might also tell you where a "known enforcement" area based on previous data are.

So it's not perfect, but could help. I generally ride 5 miles over the speed limit -- up to 9, so I haven't gotten a ticket in probably 15-20 years. Hope I didn't just jinx myself.
 
#24 ·
Basically they depend on people updating the position of police (and construction, road hazards, etc) into the app. I think it might also tell you where a "known enforcement" area based on previous data are.

So it's not perfect, but could help. I generally ride 5 miles over the speed limit -- up to 9, so I haven't gotten a ticket in probably 15-20 years. Hope I didn't just jinx myself.
I still flip my lights to warn oncoming traffic about speedtraps when I'm in my truck although I very rarely see others doing it.

5-10 miles over the speed limit seems to be forgiven around here too. I've had plenty of times when I was 15mph over and cops watched me go by. Either they just got settled or more than likely they wanted to go for a bigger fish. Luck plays its part sometimes.
 
#23 ·
Got rid of my garmin zumo. Now I'm using my iPhone with a app called waze. Lot better than the garmin.
It tells you where camera lights are , cars on the shoulder and where the police are. When people see something they hit the appropriate button and it ells everyone in that area what's there. If you get to that area an nothing there anymore just hit the not there button.
I was skeptical about it at first, but the other day I was on the highway and I was alerted numerous times. Must be a lot of people using this app.
Also the turn by turn direction where right on. My Zumo never did all this.


Sent from Motorcycle.com App
 
#25 ·
The range in nautical miles to an object can be found by measuring the elapsed time
during a round trip of a radar pulse and dividing this quantity by 12.36 microseconds. As stated earlier the radar detector is an early warning device that a ticket is soon to follow.

The LASER even faster. The down side for the officer is they have to hit high reflective surfaces.
Best reflector: Front/rear license plate. For motorcycles or states where front license plates are not required police are trained to aim at the headlight. Chrome not so good.

Most likely if your radar detector beeps and the cop doesn't pull you over he's passed you up for several reasons; Not paying attention, Looking at a different vehicle, think about a doughnut break...
 
#29 ·
Another tip to using a radar detector effectively; have it turned on but use it on your everyday routes that you know. Also, always drive the speed limits and behave for the first few weeks as you get use to the radar detector signals. Soon you'll learn when the detector is hitting on security devices and other false hits and when its picking up cops, emergency vehicles and road work areas.

The more familiar you get with the detector the better you'll know it.
 
#30 ·
I have a V1 in my car that is the best detector I've found. Works very well. Smaller, older version of Escort's unit on my bikes that also work well.

I have a unit that plugs into the sound system of my Concours and Wing that gives me alerts in my helmet speakers. Also, a unit that Velcro's to the top of the Escort that has a very bright LED light that goes off. The LED light can be moved to a more inline placement with my eyes.

I typically ride 10+ over posted. Also, ride same/same routes often. I know that if an alert goes off that it is unusual and that radar is in use. I agree that 'instant on' radar units are difficult to brake for, but most LEOs just keep the unit on all the time. This allows our detectors to pick up the 'trap' sometimes 1/2 a mile or more away. I see this often.

I'm still looking into how to hook up a detector and GPS on my Harley.
 
#37 ·
I have both the Valentine1 AND the Escort 9500i. Basically they are about equal when it comes to radar detection. The difference is the features. The Valentine1 of course DOES tell you where the radar signal is coming from. The Escort 9500 uses GPS technology so you may "block" FIXED radar signals, therefore false alarms based on GPS location. Another useful feature of the 9500 is when it alarms the vehicle gps speed is given instantly.

OVERALL I'd go with the Escort if I had to pick...
 
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