Hey guys, just wondering what's the best radar detector for the Maryland and Virginia State Troopers? Basically, I don't know what kind of radars they use for tickets, but I want to make sure I get a detector to protect me from them.

Yes I know they are illegal in Virginia, but I am just curious...

Also, I need to keep it relatively cheap, around $100.

Thanks!!!

 

$100?

Get a better pair of glasses. You'll spot more popo more reliably with those than a $100 radar detector.




Valentine V1 or Escort 8500/9500 is the way to go to protect yourself.

 

^i tested my beltronics rx65 vs my friend v1 in my car. my rx65 alerted before the v1. sometimes the v1 didn't alert when i was shot with laser. only ka.

and your never going to get a GOOD radar detector for $100.

oh and since you live where its illegal, you might want to get this

http://www.radarbusters.com/motorcyc...ardetector.cfm

 

^^



I have read (somewhere) good things about Belltronics.

Most on this forum seem to have the V1 or one of the Escorts.

 

beltronics and escort or now one company. V1 is also a good brand, but not anything good for a 100's lol. The beltronics i always found to be too sensitive therefore it picks everything up. I actually have both beltronics and v1. I like them both, the only thing the V1 has over the escort is the direction of where the attack is coming from

 

was just wondering if the police radars they use in canada are any different from the ones in the states? i live in toronto and am considering getting one.

 

honestly, what does direction matter? everyone always bitches about the sensitivity, but DEAL WITH IT!!!!!!!! you bought a radar detector because you dont wanna get caught breakiing the law. sometimes you need to take 1 step back to move 2 steps forward!

ill take my sensitive rx65 over my buddys v1 ANY DAY!

like i said before, the v1 didnt alert when i was being Ka'd or laser'd!

 

Agreed!

 

Nothing for a hundred dollars. Plus Maryland, DC, Northern Va they using laser. Dont speed. If you drive in VA, then you need one with VG-2 Cloaking so its not detectable. For that Bel STI Driver. about 4x what you wanna spend though

 

Just to keep it interesting, the VA State Troopers now have radar detector detectors.

 

The RX 65 is a very good radar detector, but when it comes to all out sensitivity, the V1 has no competetion on X band and laser. The V1 will routinely pick up laser scatter if they're shooting a car in front of you. Maybe your buddy's has a software problem. The Bel STI and Passport 9500's are very close to the V1 on K and Ka bands in a straight line oncoming, but the Valentine whips them on the curve specs and also on the forward facing traps. (cop hiding on an on ramp, shooting you from behind as you pass)

Yes, the V1 is annoying and rather archaic by today's standards, lacking many of the features of some Bels or Escorts, but for the serious driver it's preferred by most. The arrows are a HUGE plus. I don't know how many times I've come up on a double radar trap, spaced out by a half mile or more. With other detectors I'd think I was still picking up the first gun and the threat was behind me, but the V1 will differentiate.

 

thank you

I have both of them like I said, and I like em both

 

OP, don't waste 100 bucks on a cheapo radar. Check out the Bel Vector line. The two lower end ones (940 and 955 if I'm not mistaken) are priced around $170/200, respectively. They may not perform like the higher end units, but they're still pretty good. It's worth it to spend a little more and get a much better detector. Bel makes a great unit. If I lived somewhere detectors were illegal, I'd buy the STi Driver in a heartbeat.

 

I suggest the Escort Passport Solo S2! I swear by it and all my passengers that ever ride with me are always shocked. I've had mine for 4 years now, and never had an issue with speeding by a cop. MAIN THING IS, IT'S CORDLESS!!! Can be easily hidden when being pulled over, (not that I would know) ..and can clip onto your sun visor. Also has VG2 where it reconigizes cops trying to check if you have a radar, it notifies you and shuts off! Its fricken crazy!

But for $100 bucks...man save up some more money, I've had many and this is definately the best. Don't bother with Radio Shack crap, not worth it period.

Another plus with the escort, they sell a laser jammer that can intergrate with the Solo S2 and block laser completly!

 

Very sneaky! I like....

 

the Escort PASSPORT 9500i !, which is illegal in those states and D.C.,but is difficult to detect by there radars (VG2 ...etc ) "BUT for a $100, there is no such animal...save your money and get the 9500i ...check out the reviews for radar detectors!

 

Escort Passport 4600 from 1996. Still does the job, a-ok. Although I'm eyeing the new 9500ix. They have a trade in program I might consider.

Not to hijack but what happens if VA state trooper catches you using a radar detector? a fine?

 

From what I'm told, you will receive an additional ticket for a non approved radar detection device ($100, I think) and will be told to unplug it and place it in your trunk or glove compartment. Some have fought it and won stating that it is unlawful for the Commonwealth of Virginia to make a law that is in direct contradiction to federal law (radar detectors fall under rules of the FCC). I don't have one and honestly, I think it has made me a better driver by being more observant.

****Thread Jack over****

 

ok I know this thread died down 3 months ago but my question relates to it......

I currently have a cobra XRS9600 radar detector and I'm looking to replace it since the range in this is not as much. I have my eye on the Beltronics RX65 and the Escort 8500 X50. I can get both of them around $240-$280 Brand new. Is one better than the other? What are your experiences with it?

 

if you reply to my question your SEXY!!! lol....

ok on a serious note...anyone got any experience? I've read all over the internet and they seem to be on par with each other.

 

the 9500 ix is great

the cobra is good for red light cameras and thats it...

i did however get a ticket 3 weeks ago for a 71 in a 55 in VA coming home from the airport but its because somehow my power cord was pulled out a bit and i wasnt even paying attention to push it back in...

other than that the escort is great...i locked out all the bogus X band crap(x band isnt used anywhere...ecept like one state in the US)

 

I would pony up and buy a good detector and not try to skimp by on a < $100 detector. A speeding ticket takes any savings away from buying a weak detector and then there is increased car insurance rates for another few years. If you have to skimp, you may as well also slow down and save on fuel.

Check out www.radartest.com and see what they say. I have a Bel Sti Driver and love it- I don't think you will go wrong with either Bel or Escort unit since they are made by the same manufacturer anyway.

On a side note, I still don't see how left/right arrows of the V1 really matter. I still will slow down on a legitimate Ka alerts regardless of if the cop is left or right of my current direction of travel. The signal strength meter works very well and replicates the Forward/Back arrows- so I'm good. The Sti smokes the V1 in sensitivity: 11 miles .vs. 7 miles and has VG2 stealth capabilities. That's my choice and it really does work.

 

Why would you even want 11 mile sensitivity? So if it goes off, you have to slow down and watch out for cops for the next 10 miles? Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of having the radar detector? I'd be good with just 1 or 1.5 miles at the most, as long as its reliable in that range.

 

You want the sensitivity when you're on a less travelled rode that you can actually speed on. If there are no other cars ahead of you, the best radar detector won't get you out of that bind because you will have zero warning when a cop sees you coming and decides to shoot the radar at the last minute- you are toast. With the added range, you're hoping that there is another car ahead of you that will smoke out the radar before you get to where the cop is.

This exact scenario happened to me on my way to Palm Springs on highway 79 a few years back. The cop was very proud of his kill and even taunted me on how he got me even though I had a detector. That night I upgraded to the Sti (from Cobra) and also slowed down. It was kind of embarrassing because I had my Boss and some coworkers in my car so the ticket was a joke at work for a while.

 

Ok, I guess I could buy that. If you're travelling outside the city a lot on roads without a lot of traffic, then it would be good. But if you're in the city with more constant traffic flow, 11 miles wouldn't really be beneficial and possibly somewhat annoying. Even in the situation you talked about, the cop would have to have one of the "instant on" type of radars that only send signal when the trigger is pulled, otherwise you get a pretty constant signal that can be picked up by the detector.

 

Do you have a hookup or something, because that is about $100 under the going rate?

 

Escort 8500 refurb for $150 on eBay.

 

^ agreed - most cops are pretty lazy and just leave their units blasting all the time. Occassionally you will encounter a 'sporting' cop that does the pop/instant on tactic. This can also happen in the city as well-particularly with motorcycle cops. I have not found the sensitivity annoying in the least because it's only Ka I car about and my unit mutes pretty quick. There's always the 'city' setting to dull things even more if I want.