scottsan

I'm about to pull a Black Friday impulse buy on this

Escort Max 360 Radar Detector Best Price

I figured if it could save me from even 1 ticket, it's worth it.

Any experience on these radar detectors or they are pretty much useless?

thoiboi

Yes get it!!

Chief F1 Fan

Valentine1 ownz ju

nist7

So looks like V1 doesn't have the monopoly anymore on the directional arrows with the Escort's new MAX 360. (patent expired probably) I think you need to do lots of reading/research before deciding. The top two seems to be either V1 or the top of the line Escort. Some are diehard fans of V1 and swear by V1 but others not so much.

In the end I think you can't go wrong with either camp, BUT you also need to be smart AND you need to have passive countermeasures as well as active countermeasures for LIDAR. (Radar detectors essentially useless vs LIDAR and I think certain PD use instant-on radar as well, though these are not as accurate and not sure how well they can hold up in court).

Some of the more affluent PDs are using LIDAR guns and they are essentially no match for your radar detectors. Radar relies on the broad reflection off of other cars and your car to detect. With LIDAR the LEO focuses on reflective parts of your car to get a read and its instant and focused (ie, license plates, headlights). It is MUCH more focused, tight beam vs the wide ping of the radar. There is a thought that large headlights (ie Supra) and angular/shiny cars are more prone to LIDAR attacks. (a matte, dark colored car with curvy/hidden headlights may fare better....ie a C5 Z06)

This is also why they say you want to place the detector lower on your windshield for better LIDAR detection, and higher on your windshield for better radar detection.

Veil actually makes a polymer coating you can smear over your license plates to reduce the LIDAR reflection and tries to absorb it. Other things include specific license plate covers AND if you really want to go out and spend money you can get active laser jammers (check your local laws) installed to actively jam any LIDAR signals.

Radar jammers are illegal federally due to FCC rules, so you'll never be able to do this (and for good reasons). Laser jammers are legal in some states. Radar detectors are illegal in some states as well. (DC, VA, IIRC....)

I haven't been in the radar/lidar game in a while (have slow car, so no need....lol). But when I upgrade to a faster car this is one area where I will definitely invest lot of time/research into. (And as always, if others have more updated/correct information please feel free to contribute)

KaMLuNg

iTrader: (5)

V1 over here... 8+ yrs old and still solid..

Chief F1 Fan

I have owned V1 detectors for at least 23 years and swear by them. The single most important thing about speeding and not getting caught is learning how to spot potential hiding spots for police. In NYS it's rather a "sport" as the Troopers stand on bridges, park on on ramps and shoot you as you go past, hide between trees and so forth. You have to check your review mirror every 5 seconds to make sure a cop isn't catching you, watch ahead for cars slamming on their brakes for no apparent reason and so forth. I will drive 90-120 MPH on limited access highways but only in certain spots.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

I put my car on cruise control at 70mph everywhere nowadays. Never really thought about getting the radar!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I have the 360 and it's pretty awesome!
mile in advance warnings with KA
laser is instant tho

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the v1 is old and outdated,sure you can get the same features as the 360 on the app and extra hardware, but who wants extra hardware???
the 360 has all the new features without adding extra hardware

MTEAZY

fsttyms1

My Escort is 10x the detector my V1 could ever hope to be. (yes, i have both) The max 360 is the best out there and will be in my arsenal soon.

fsttyms1

Agree 100% they are there to assist you. You cant be ignorant and think that you can drive however you like and not pay attention and they will save you every time.

dallison

CCColtsicehockey

I love my V1 it has served me well for the 3 years I have had it now. Back when I got it I said I would add a Redline as well down the road for long highway trips. Is the Redline still the best on the highway or is the Max360 almost as good now?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

2 different uses.
2 different radars

the redline is specifically for long range highway driving.
the 360 builds from the max2 and gives a few more features


I totally cant stand false alerts.
the good thing about the escorts, is that they use GPS signals to mute false alerts. (excluding the redline)

so, if you care about your sanity, you would pick one with GPS lock out features.
and the Max360 has 2 DSP processors to help filter out stuff.
the max360 still alerts in a mile in advance for bogeys

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

I'm a V1 guy myself but there are a lot of Escort fans. Cool think about the V1 is if they release a new feature or update, you just send back your detector and they update it. I never had an issue with mine and loved it every day until I sold it...

YeuEmMaiMai

you are screwed if the police are using instant on... by the time your radar detector goes off, they have tagged you... your only real chance is you get notified when they tag someone else first...

thoiboi

^


Got tagged a few years back even using my V1 when WA state patrol used instant-on. It was a blast of FULL POWER KA, then nothing... then lights behind me


He was perched on an overpass over the freeway..

fsttyms1

Escort offers software/firmware updates that you can do yourself, along with updateable camera databases

fsttyms1

Falses are one of the things i cant stand about my V1 and why it rarely ever gets used and why i love my Escort. The GPS lockout is SOOOO nice, along with the ability to lock out specific frequencies (like the ones most Audis/Bmws/caddy/gm trucks have for radar based driving aids that set the V1 off often as falses. In the Max i have gone in and set specific band frequencies to be blocked. I almost never get falses with it. Plus with the Live app for the phone its similar to Waze and alerts you when others have pointed out stuff which has come in handy on countless occasions.

fsttyms1

Hence the part where you still need to be paying attention and use your head when speeding.

thoiboi

FWIW, the V1 can get fine-tuned using the V1Connection bluetooth app in parallel with your phone as well! ANDROID-V1connection

YeuEmMaiMai

the use your head part would be not to speed?

NBP04TL4ME

Isn't the Redline the most sensitive or longest range detector in the lineup??

fsttyms1

define speed. One example of the Use your head part would be to not travel at 20+ over the limit when you are the only car on the road and you will be easy to pick off with no warning.

fsttyms1

top Range means very little now days. These top detectors will all pick up over a mile a way, but radar wont get you that far away.

fsttyms1

not having to use the phone bluetooth app for much of it is a +1 for the Escort. On expert you can do most of it on the unit with a simple press of a button on the detector.
Regardless, I still stand with me liking my Escort max over my V1 hands down, especially with falses and range. Now that the 360 has the arrows there is nothing the V1 has thats better

Then there is aesthetics, the V1 is and has been always the ugliest looking detector on the market. Especially when sitting low on your dash. (where it should be for optimal laser detection)

YeuEmMaiMai

technically it is anything over the limit but in reality it is most likely more than 10 over (there are one places that will be more strict, some less). I do a fair amount of long distance driving and one thing I have found is that you do not want to be the guy standing out blowing past other cars... On a lesser note, you want to be in the front or back of a pack... Also detectors are useless against the guys in the sky tagging you.

thoiboi

No argument there, To each their own! It is butt fugly though that's for sure...