im using the 1670 whistler radar. its a 8 yearold junker that stopped workin. the company said they wont help me fix it. but they will give trade in deals.
i dont know how newwer whistler radar stand up t othe new products.
i was looking at the bel pro 904 but you need to install the outter antenaas and that seems likea lot of work. as well, i was lookin at the valentine 1 radar.
both me and my dad are gonna buy one, so im looking for the best performance and quality.
ill list whilsters offer

 

Whistler 1743 $119.95 $ 70.00
Icon Display, Safety Warning System ™, Real Voice Alerts, Stay Alert, Vehicle Battery Saver

2. Whistler 1748 $129.95 $ 80.00
Icon Display, Real Voice Alerts, Compass with cardinal points, Safety Warning System ™, Stay Alert, Vehicle Battery Saver

3. Whistler 1753 $129.95 $ 85.00
Text Display, Real Voice Alerts, Safety Warning System ™, Stay Alert, Vehicle Battery Saver

4. Whistler 1763 $159.95 $ 85.00
Text Display, Digital Compass Headings, Safety Warning System ™, Stay Alert, Vehicle Battery Saver

5. Whistler 1783 $229.95 $ 100.00
POP™ Mode Detection, High Visibility Text Display, Digital Compass Headings, Safety Warning System ™,
Stay Alert, Real Voice Alerts, Vehicle Battery Saver

6. Whistler 1793SE $249.95 $ 120.00
POP™ Mode Detection, High Visibility Text Display, Digital Compass Headings, 90 Second Memo Recorder,
Vehicle Battery Monitor, Safety Warning System ™, Stay Alert, Vehicle Battery Saver, Selectable Bands, Real Voice Alerts

7. Whistler Pro 3450 $329.95 $ 185.00
POP™ Mode Detection, Remote Installs Out-of-Sight, Intense Blue Text Display, Improved Sensitivity, Quick Disconnect Cables,
Provides Outdoor Temperature and Battery Voltage, Safety Warning System ™, Stay Alert

 

second price is the offer.

 

Well im just putting my vote in as one of the V1 die-hards that wouldnt trade my Valentine for anything...

But you know after its saved your ass more times then you can count in 4 years you tend to get some respect for an object.

 

I think you should get the Valentine 1. $400 Rated #1

I use to have a Bel Vector 985. $200 Rated: ?

I have friends who have the Passport 8500. $300 Rated #2

But I currently have the Valentine 1. IMO this is definitely the best radar. The thing that makes it stand out from the rest is the Arrows. The arrows will tell you what direction the "bogey" is coming from. This is very important because if he's coming from the other direction and it is a divided highway, you usually don't have to worry. I sold my Bel 985 because everytime it went off i would be looking around everywhere to see what set off the radar. This gets old, especially if he's coming from the other direction.

The valentine 1 is also the most sensitive radar. It is based on military radar technology. My friends took a trip and drove with the Valentine 1 and Passport side my side and the valentine would go off about 1/4 mile farther away. The only thing about having a sensitive radar is that does create more falses though.

The valentine is the most expensive radar though. YOu might be able to find a deal on ebay, but even the used ones go for close to retail. The valentines have a very high resale value. That's good when you want to sell, but bad when you're buying. Look at it this way though, if it saves you from 3 or 4 tickets, then it is definitely worth it. Plus if you keep it for 4 years, you'll get your money's worth and Valentine does offer upgrades that allow you to trade in the old one for a new one. Also take a look at the valentine1.com and look at the concealed display and see if this is something you might want.

If you want to save some money go with the Escort 8500. It's cheaper and I heard it is a very very good radar. You can get a cool one with blue lights, it falses a little less than the valentine, and comes with a mute button on the cigarette plug which is very nice. The only drawback is the arrows, it doesn't have them since valentine has patent on the arrows.

No matter which radar you get make sure it is a digital radar. Some of those Whistler's you list are analog I believe. Let me know if you have more questions!

Good luck!

 

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

My friend has the V1 and I find it really doenst even compare to the new Escort X50. The arrows are nice on the V1 but both the new Bel and Escort have way more features for your money. I also find that the Escort X50 has a way better range than my friends V1. I feel the pop mode in any of the new detectors completlely worthless as it goes off all the time for no reason whatsoever, in fact it comes deactivated on the X50 and you must turn it on if you want. I am not a fan of the voice alerts so i went with the Escort. But it really is just a matter of choice.

 

Ive had a v1 for about 3-4yrs....I loved it at first and Ive even bought two different versions of them....IMO they are over priced for what they are currently offering. My friend has purchased about 5 escorts between the 8500's and x50...for friends and family and has been satisfied completely. The v1 has just released a new version which offers POP mode which is currently worthless according to reviews and even escort states it hiddenly in their manual. I am going to be selling my v1 soon and purchasing a x50. Unless V1 drops there price below the x50 or comes out with a new version do not buy it IMO

 

In this area(Tampa), I've found radio detectors are almost useless now. I had a 8500 I sold on ebay a few months ago. All the cops here use instant-on radar, which turns the radar detector into a you're-about-to-get-pulled-over detector if you were speeding when it went off. It's a lot easier and cheaper to just drive the speed limit or a few over, and not worry about it.

I'm not trying to preach to the forum to slow down, I'm just pointing out that as time goes on, radar detectors are getting to be a waste of money, IMHO.

 

Yeah, but if you have a sensitive radar, you should be able to pick up the 'blips' in a lot of cases. (assuming there's other cars on the road, if not, you're SOL). These things definitely aren't foolproof, but they're helpful. As long as you use common sense and don't entirely rely on them.

 

Im seriously considering this unit: click which is both a laser and radar, detector and scrambler. It detects the signals and then scrambles them. What do you guys think?

- Jeremy

 

 

IMO radara are really only good for Freeway driving. Here in Cali. then all of the California Highway Patrol are on KA band. I pick them up from 2 miles away with my valentine!

I do 95% freeway driving during my commute everyday, so it's GREAT for me!

I don't even turn it on in the city.

When my friends see how well my radar works they usually want one too. I tell them that unless you do a lot of freeway driving in doesn't really do crap so don't waste your money. Most of the city cops in our area use instant on KA anyway.

While I'm driving on the freeway, then there is nothing better than having my Valentine! It has saved me numerous times and I get to work a lot quicker!

 

This one looks really cool. Never heard of it before. Anyone have any experience with it? I've always wanted a jammer, but it sucks to have to use 2 units.

 

It seems like a really good unit and I will probably order it next week (as long as the hurricane doesnt do too much damage). It also protects against POP and instant-on radars which is an important feature for many people. And you get a free license plate diffuser to protect against those damn red light cameras.

 

I'll vote for V1 and its arrows. Saved me from a few tickets, since I installed it in March.

 

There is nothing better than the arrows! I like to know where the cop is coming from without having to look all around me. When I had my Bel 985 I hated having to try to locate the cop. I would be feverishly looking in all of my mirrors trying to find him. It's really distracting while you're going 95 mph

 

It seems like the Bel Pro RX65 and Escort 8500 X50. Here's a link

Radar Detector Shootout

 

the arrows are worthless...either way ur radar is going off... slow down who cares which direction there comin from...are u going to speed up if they coming from in front of u?

 

After reading some reviews on the unit I mentioned, I found out its a POS. They say that passive laser and radar jammers are worthless, the active laser jammers are great (legal in most states), but the active radar jammers are illegal everywhere. I found this active laser unit which is also a laser detector:

http://www.sbhcorp.com/scripts/homeViewItem-30.html

I guess I will have to get an additional radar detector and just forget about the radar jamming. At least I will be protected from the laser guns which are used a lot out here, and I will be alerted of radars. So now I have to choose between the passport 8500 X50 and the Bel Pro RX65 in addition to the Blinder X-20. BTW, the have the Blinder X-40 available which protects both the front and back of the car but its almost twice as much $.

Escort makes the Shifter ZR3 active laser jammer which links to the X50 radar detector so you only have 1 unit out in the open. At $500 for the laser jammer and ~$300 for the radar detector its a bit pricey though.

 

95% of my commute is on a divided highway. If I'm on a divided highway, then I will almost always maintain the same speed if I'm getting hit with radar from the front.
I don't consider that a big threat. There is no way for him to turn around on the freeway I drive on and the cop coming from the other way is usually not worried about trying to see if cars on the other side are speeding unless they are driving ridiculously fast.

There are also lots of times they are also pulled over on the side of the road, either ticketing or helping someone. I use to hate it when my Bel 985 would go off and I would slow down only to find the cop parked or coming from the other direction.

Why slow down when you don't have too?

Coming from a person who has used radars with and without the arrows, I will never go back to another radar without arrows. Just my

 

Jammers are not effective....they just suck....don't play that game...get a good radar detector. I have a Escort X50 blue and it looks so hot in the tsx.

 

And don't forget that jammers are illegal in most states.

 

Yeah one of my friends has the Escort x50 blue. That thing looks sweet at night! Blue goes well with the TSX! He had it in a CRX though....

Lol...

 

Read this:

http://www.radardetectortest.com/art...articleid=8502

Scroll down and read the reviews about Escorts ZR3 Active Laser Jammer. I am now set on going with the blue 8500 X50 with the ZR3 laser jammer. Plus the units link and communicate together. The retail value is ~$825 for the set but I found a source that has them a couple hundred cheaper.

 

I got the Blue 8500 X50 and ZR3 lazer shifter system in today. I was playing with the X50 and it seems pretty cool. The blue screen is real nice too. Im gonna hopefully install the ZR3 system this weekend...

 

My vote goes for the V1 (hardwired into the car for power).

The arrows actually make a big difference because when your radar detector is just beeping, you have no idea if you have passed the source or not. Sure, I don't need the arrows, but they are definitely an added convenience. Your comment about speeding up if they're infront of you doesn't work, but if they're behind you that's different. If you're driving down a street and the arrow is behind you with a weak signal, you know that you probably don't have to worry about it. Again, if all you hear is a beep, you don't know if you're coming up on one or going away from one.

If you can afford to spend the money, there's nothing like it in my opinion.

 

"And since V1 owners love to hide the V1 and its laser-bright status and alert lights in a bid to keep them away from prying eyes, reaching the unit sometimes isn't an option. For that you'll need to shell out $39 for a remote display and hard-wiring kit and string the wires around the cockpit. Including the optional $29 carrying case, when equipped similarly to the BEL and Escort, the Valentine's all-up price is $467."
Compared to 300 bucks for an Escort with the hard-wiring kit that's a lot of extra money.

"With the V1 removed from its mid-windshield position we also saw the directional arrows become confused , frequently hunting around in response to weak signals."
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

Sorry but I agree with Linner and the people doing the tests. When the V1 first came out it was way ahead of its time and there was no doubt that it was the best detector in the market. Many years later however, tests have shown year in and year out that it just does not beat the newer models.

 

Hey Abrams,

The links not working dude.

Although I respect your opinion, I'm still a big fan of the Valentine. I've become really dependent on the arrows, I just don't like looking all around me for the cop cuz it distracts me from the road. My friend has the Escort 8500 x50 just like yours and he really likes it. I think that's a good radar too, the blue lights are especially cool. Plus it's cheaper. The valentine is definitely way overpriced. Fortunately, I got mine on Ebay for $225! It was a steal!