Picking up my TL-S in the morning. Can't wait, I'll be driving for hours!

I am looking for a radar detector that is built-in. I researched, and found the K40. It installs in the front grill and rear license plate holder so it has 360 degree detection. The display is discreetly hidden within the gauge area and it has hidden speakers. Has anyone ever tried this one or something like it?

 

I've never had a K40 but was considering it before I purchased my TLS. I did a little research (can't remember the websites, sorry) and found that the K40 didn't perform anywhere near as well as the Valentine One or the Escort Passport 8500 and was considerably more expensive. Both the Valentine and the Passport also offer 360 degree detection but of course they don't offer the stealthiness (i.e., built in and hidden) of the K40, which may be important in states where radar detectors are illegal.

A friend had a K40 in his car and he was happy with it. I would just do I little more research before you make the purchase. I believe Escort may also make a model similar to the K40. Check their web-site.

 

http://www.radartest.com

 

Passport or Valentine One is the way to go. You can move 'em from vehicle to vehicle, you can take 'em on trips when you fly and THEN rent a car; I just find it much more versatile to have a portable unit. Yeh, I gotta plug and unplug it when I use it but that's the trade off I guess.

 

Motor Trend just did an extensive test.

Motor Trend Radar Detector buying guide

 

From the reviews I've read, the K40 is VERY bad at detecting anything...
The V1 has a remote display module that a bunch of people on this board have.. it allows you to mount the V1 somewhere where its not seen (by the rear view mirror for instance) and wire up the display anywehre you want. I've seen this setup in ZodiakTL's car and it works really well .. and it actually seems that mounting it up high gives you better range and coverage (despite the tint on top)

 

(despite the tint on top)

I think the only thing the tint might affect is lidar, and we all know that in most cases, if your detector is screaming laser, it's too late.

 

Great suggestions, it looks as if this board saved me over $1,000 on the installed K40. Sounds like it's a waste of money.

 

What radar detector companies don't tell you is that, just about every radar produced has a hold mode. When you get within range, the operator simply releases the hold button and gets an instant speed reading. By the time your radar detector picks it up, it's already too late. Simply put, even the most expensive radar detector is about as effective as a paper weight. I guess my question is? Why would someone pay 32k for a vehicle and treat like a piece of ****.

 

"I guess my question is? Why would someone pay 32k for a vehicle and treat like a piece of ****."

Not following you?

I do know about hold radar. What a radar detector is for these days, is to determine hold radar up ahead being used on other drivers. You should get this warning in time to slow down. If you are implying that buying a radar detector is treating a new car like a POS, that's warped.

 

What radar detector companies don't tell you is that, just about every radar produced has a hold mode. When you get within range, the operator simply releases the hold button and gets an instant speed reading.

While this is true....

By the time your radar detector picks it up, it's already too late. Simply put, even the most expensive radar detector is about as effective as a paper weight.

I don't agree with that general statement.

Yes it is true that if you are the only one on the road speeding, the technique mentioned above will nail your a$$. Now I have driven with a detector for close to twenty years and I always make sure that there is ALWAYS someone in front of me if I'm exceeding the limit. Radar travels a long distance and you are sure to catch a stray signal long before you can be clocked. RADAR requires you to be within a certain distance for an accurate reading, but the signals travel farther. Think of the radar signal as a cone, with the pointed end coming from the radar gun and the wide end getting wider as it travels. The same cannot be said for LIDAR (laser). With LIDAR guns, the police actually have a sight on it and point it at a specific car in traffic. The "cone" is much narrower and as a result, does not allow for the ability to pick up errant signals. Hence my earlier comment on it being too late if your detector has picked up laser.

My detectors have saved me many times and have paid for themselves (in terms of potential tickets) many times over.

The key is to get a detector that does a good job of filtering and to treat any warning, no matter how early, as potential radar. My wife has an old Uniden in her car and it "falses" so bad that even pictures of police cars make it go off. I'm kidding of course, but I find myself ignoring it and one day one of us will get caught. I just need to fork over and get a better one. Or maybe I'll give her my old Passport (which I love by the way) and upgrade to a newer model.

Now with that said, does a detector give you a "passport" to speed anytime? Absolutely not. First of all, one should be aware of his/her surroundings. Second, detectors don't save you from the police pacing you from behind or from VASCAR, where you're timed from an airplane or helicopter. Lastly, as I alluded to earlier, if it's 2AM and no one is on the road and you're flying along at 100mph, you'll probably get nailed.

Why would someone pay 32k for a vehicle and treat like a piece of ****.

Don't understand your comment here. I don't beat on my car. As a matter of fact I have run into very few people who treat their cars better than I do, but I do consistently drive 10 to 15 mph above the limit on highways (depending on conditions). Just because you have a radar detector doesn't mean you flooring the gas pedal at every light, and racing every car that comes along.

Sorry for the long rant.

 

Why don't we just get rid of speed limits altogether. There are cemeteries full of people like you and their victims. You may have been lucky for the past 20 years, but as the old saying goes (there is a first time for everything). Hopefully it will be a citation and not a manslaughter charge.

 

I put the Escort SR-1 in mine. The interior panel sits right atop the steering column very nicely. Works great and is programmable. Its pricey, but not as much as the K40.

 

Please spare me the lectures. To speed or not to speed has been debated through various thread ad nauseum. As much as you may not believe this, I am well aware of the risks involved in driving.

 

Hey Cow Chip,

Get off the soapbox. No one advocates speeding. But you know what, I sometimes exceed the posted limit and I've never had an accident or a speeding ticket in my 15 years of driving.

 

I believe I know one of those cemeteries you speak of: The St. Ludicrous Cemetery for Deceased Speeders who Eat Burgers while Talking On Cell Phones, Adjusting Their Stereo and Operating Navigation Equipment At The Same Time.

Please spare us your narrow-minded diatribe about speeding and contribute to the discussion for a change.

Somewhat back on topic: I went to the local Circuit City looking for the Bel 980 to give it a little test drive. Unfortunately they didn't have it. Does anyone know where I can find a unit? I want to be able to return it if I'm unhappy with it, so a local retailer would help.

 

Amen

 

somebody has a saggy diaper that leaks...

 

There's a big difference between speeding and being reckless.

You can be going 90mph on a wide highway w/ little or no traffic staying in your lane, in a well maintained car,

or

you can be going 45mph in a 1988 buick w/ a loose exhaust, original brakes and suspension with 150,000 miles on them, weaving in and out of traffic and tailgaiting.

who's speeding? but who's reckless?

speed limits are arbitrary #'s originally set to conserve fuel, but still remaining as a money maker, they hardly have any correlation to safety.

Speeding does not kill people, lack of common sense, poorly maintained vehicles, and lack of attention while driving do.

daverman, crutchfield sells the Bell 980, I'm pretty sure they have good return policy. I'm leaning towards a bell 936, which is about $150.00, or if I go all out I'm leaning towards a passport 8500.

 

Lazer is becoming very popular with the cops now a days. What is the best lazer detector/jamer out there? I would be great if one of the gadgets could detect everything? is there something out there like that.

 

Turboara

I was going to go through the same explanation you did, but I figured why waste the time. It'll just start another long thread like occurred not to long ago.

Besides, driving 55 on Chicago area expressways (during no-rush hour of course) is tantamount to suicide. Everyone, I mean everyone is going at least 15mph over the limit. The troopers don't usually bother pulling someone over unless it's excessive.

BigPed

Most of your highend detectors warn against them all, it's just that by it's nature, laser is hard to detect before actually getting caught (see my previous post on this thread).

 

So are there gadgets that detect them all and also jam the laser signals effectively then. Ore do I have to buy items separately. I already pay $3400 insurance for my car and I got a ticket a few months ago. I can't afford to get any more tickets and I can't stop speeding on my TLS. Help please

 

Big Ped

I don't believe there are any combo detector/jammers. You're going to have to buy the seperately. Keep in mind that (as mentioned earlier) jammers are highly illegal and you may get pulled over anyway once the cop realizes you've jammed him.

I'd say, get a good radar detector, use common sense and follow some of the tips mentioned in this thread.

Or maybe you can rig your car so that everytime you exceed the limit, a recording of BLUE CHIP's message will play over your stereo.

 

Oh, sh!t! You shouldna said that! You might as well call your insurance company right now and have them raise your rates 'cause that ticket is coming for sure.

 

Oh brother! Getting back to the question about the K40, my boss has one and he hates it. He said that it is extremely sensitive but has poor filtering (the worst combo). He said that he usually ignores it. My brother-in-law has a V1 and he says that it is easily worth every penny. I'm content with my Bel.

I've heard advertisements on a syndicated radio show for a product called the Phazer. I seem to recall seeing an ad in a magazine too. Anyway, it's supposed to "make your car invisible to radar and laser." My guess is that it's basically a jammer. It's legal in all states except: OK, VA, Washington D.C., and some other obscure states like Minnesota, according to the ad. Anyway, that's all I know about it. Maybe someone has heard about how well it works, if at all...

 

The Blinder has both a laser jammer and detector built into the same unit.

Another cool unit is the PHOTOCLOAK, when you are hit with the photo radar it fires a strobe both from your dash and license plate down at a 15 degree angle obscuring driver and license plate, very cool.

 

Found a website on radar/laser jammers and Bel & K40 detectors. Check out http://integrity.eburg.com/phazer.html.

 

Those phazers are junk, absolutely do nothing at all. The phazer and phantom both made by rocky mountain radar, have been proven to do nothing, might as well buy a toaster.

If you want to check out actual tests of jammers go to speed speedzone.com they have the radar detectors in this article and if you go to the bottom click on 'other evaluated products' and you'll see some of the jammer summaries.

SML (speed measurement labs) are the authorities on testing this stuff, they test all of the guns so they have access to them when they do their detector/jammer testing.

 

Like I said. There's a first time for everything. End of discussion!

 

...get the BEL 945i. You can use it in your car and also inside your jacket with an earpiece while you are on your bike. Slick system.

 

Welps, there are two options, to my best knowledge, to avoid detection by LIDAR. One is to use one that sends back a DIRTY signal to the cop gun. However, this one is illegal is most every state.

The second option is to get covers for your license plates. Which, by the way, is where the cops aim the guns. The covers are basically filters that only allow light to pass in one direction, directly ahead. Since cops are usually hitting you from an angle, the gun won't get a reading, allowing you time to slow down once your LIDAR detector goes nutts.

The best part about the second one is that it's totally legal. According to the law, any license plate covers have to allow unobstructed view of the license plate from directly infront or behind the car. Which makes it within the law to use.

A third option, a mix between the first and second, but not legal are diffusers you can put above your license plate, and on each corner of your bumper, which diffuse the laser beam, thus giving you time to slow down once you detect LIDAR on you.

 

I read several days ago about a person who used the unused button located next to the dash dimmer as a custom solution. I can't seem to locate this post and am also interesred in installing a remote detector.

Does anyone have the post?

Thanks

 

Another option that was mentioned in C&D a few years ago and also on this board somewhere is driving with your high beams on. May not be feasible, but if your driving in an area where LIDAR is popular, it might be an option.

 

Personally i don't see why you would shell out all the money for unessary thing like a hidden radar detector. You live in J-ville, Fla its totally legal i say pick up a great detector for a nice price and save up the rest that you were going to spend on the hidden one and save it for like a Intake System or some kind of a modifcations i have radar detector in all three of my rides and they do come in handy especially living in atl where the cops don't play comin down 85.

 

Because I think wires and a metal cube stuck with suction cups on the windshield looks like sheet! That's my opinion, however I have had them before. They are cumbersome. After research on the web and this forum, I have decided against the K40. It appears it sucks. Unfortunately I will probably get the V1, Bel or Escort.

 

Just remember this is not true in every state. In MA it is illegal to have *any* type of covering over the entire plate, including a clear plastic piece.

 

I like what the person did with the Escort 8500. Check it out at:
http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...threadid=18503

As for me,, I ordered the Bel 975R. I'll let you know how difficult or expensive it is to install next week.