Which Radar Detector?

[velobard]

Lidatek, Blinder, and the others have pretty well been left in the dust by the new Laser Interceptor, but it`s not exactly easy to get in the U.S. right now from what I`ve heard.

[RitcheyRch]

Valentine 1 gets my vote.

[Saintlysins]

Valentine One for radar is truly the way to go. Had almost all of them, and truly this is the one that will give you the most response in a clear and easy to comprehend manner. Spend some time reading their site and the endorsements from users and you’ll get a good idea how to maximize their system. Double your budget, but worth it.



Most people seem to get these things after a ticket. So ... in addition to all the advice in the posts before mine, here’s a few more to develop and master while you save for the V1:

The radar detector is only a tool to assist you in ticket prevention, if you rely on it for more than your own better judgment you’re certain to get more tickets.

“Read The Road� --- Depending on your frequency to violate speed restrictions, you should be able to develop a sense of where a check point is likely to be. On Ramps – Crests of inclines – The ‘inside edge’ of a curve in the road ... especially where there’s visual impairment (trees, buildings, overpass structures, etc.) to see ‘around the corner’ – and if you’re really good, you’ll study the mile markers, noticing little variables on some posts that mark upcoming ‘Authorized Vehicles Only� U-Turns and exits, where the likely hood of an ambush awaits. As you commute, observe the sides of the highways where the grass has tire tracks down to the dirt, or where the grass has been ‘burnt’ away (usually found within several feet after guard-rails end, or on the “other-side� of overpass structures), this is where they’ve been sitting in ambush before (and will again), and the grass has burnt away from the exhaust system. Mental note these locations.

“Read The Traffic� --- don’t look at the car in front of you, but further down the road, several cars, in time you should be looking as far down the road as you possibly can as you drive. Pay attention to where brake-lights flicker, note those spot with reference to the place on the road. If it happens on more than one car, certainly there’s something to be alert for. Maybe a cop, pothole, or just litter blowing about ... doesn’t matter, you’ve seen it before everyone else in front of and next to you ... and you’re prepared. Notice the Big Rig Truckers, they’re more in tune to what the road has ahead than anyone. If they’re doing EXACTLY the limit ... this isn’t a time to test your luck with speeding. If they’re pushing 10 over the limit, chances are you’ve got room to play with the gas peddle.

These are only basics of avoiding tickets (and better driving), there isn’t one answer, but little 5% and 10% advantages all adding up to stacking the odds in your favor, in attempts at preventing yourself from acquiring an officers signature.

Laser is one of the new weapons in speed control. Regardless of what most will tell you, this is becoming a big headache. Some of the higher end cars now have “Accident Avoidance Systems� which are laser based (essentially sending out light impulses reading distance changes from objects in front or behind the vehicle and pre-loading the braking system and/or warning the driver of impending impact) and they set off laser detectors and screw with laser gun readings. (The laser warnings go off whenever there’s a newer Infinity FX coming my way, damn it) Another is the newer brake-lights which are light emitting diodes and will set off the detector in close range (damn it).

But these are part of the game of not being caught doing the wrong thing. If you’re speeding and the laser warning comes on, chances are ... you’re busted. Few Laser Jamming Devices really work well (I know I’ll get crap for that line), but I assure you if you’re using one, seasoned speeders with laser detectors will figure out what car you’re in (as you’re setting our detectors off) and we’ll “expect� you to take the lead and push the peddle. We also HATE it when the jamming units are left on in traffic or the rush hour crawl while we all go along at the same speed (damn it).

(Please accept my little Editorial on Jamming Unit etiquette, it’s seriously abused).

There are some short books/tapes/internet sites that have some really advanced techniques on ticket avoidance ... I’d get into driving skills being just as important, but I know everyone thinks they’re better drivers than they are and those words of advice can never be heard.

Safe, Ticket-less Journeys!

[velobard]

Few Laser Jamming Devices really work well (I know I’ll get crap for that line), but I assure you if you’re using one, seasoned speeders with laser detectors will figure out what car you’re in (as you’re setting our detectors off) and we’ll “expect� you to take the lead and push the peddle. We also HATE it when the jamming units are left on in traffic or the rush hour crawl while we all go along at the same speed (damn it).

(Please accept my little Editorial on Jamming Unit etiquette, it’s seriously abused).

The current generation of laser jammers I`ve looked at, such as Blinder and Laser Interceptor, are not on full-time. They activate as needed and give the driver an alert. Proper use is to only leave it on long enough to slow down, then flip it off. The good units on the market today can jam all the way to the gun and police tend to get a little irritatible if they know you`re jamming. You run the risk of them ticketing you on a visual estimate of your speed or finding some other reason to try to ticket you.

[Saintlysins]

Velobard is certainly one of the good guys who do turn off the system – although we’re many states apart, I thank you. I looked into the Laser Interceptor, and think that’s one of the best ones out there. However, the N.J. State Police are just starting to beat the ‘reaction based’ systems with single trigger hits in close proximity ambush situations, to which don’t seem to be corrupted by the return of the jamming units. In these “ambush� situations, you’re already at speed so the ‘reaction based’ systems are sometimes to late to respond (I don’t have fail/safe percentage yet), but if they’re beating some of them, that’s enough for me to recognize the system has to be on all the time you’re in violation of the speed limit to be effective.

You’re soooo right about what else they’ll do if they suspect you beat them. To take this to a State by State thing, I KNOW Connecticut will ticket for ‘obstruction of vision’ if they suspect you of beating their speed traps, and those are set at RIDICULOUS fine amounts. Virginia has some pretty stiff laws about using radar detectors of any kind and has searched my car and confiscated my V1 when they spotted me via aircraft (air-crafty if you ask me) but couldn’t get me with radar. Figured loosing the V1 was cheaper than the points, fines and insurance hike, so I didn’t fight that one.

A little more info farming and I’ll decide on a jamming unit soon.

[velobard]

If you`re in VA, the RD to use is the Bel STI. It`s undetectable by the RD detectors. For most any RD on the market if you want a quick and easy semi-stealth install, check out this: Undercover Sun Visor Holder - Radar Detector Accessories at Radar Busters







I have my X50 hardwired with the power wire coming out above the visor. Cops do tend to get a little pissy anywhere if you`re using a RD.



As for the laser jammers, they`ll turn off by themselves as soon as the signal from the laser gun stops. The only person you`ll hurt if you don`t turn it off sooner is yourself, since you`ll draw the cop`s attention. I wish i could find one video I saw of the test with the Laser Interceptor a couple of weeks ago. They installed 4 laser heads on the front of a full-size RV, white with lots of chrome. They tried getting a reading anywhere they could on the RV, but the Laser Interceptor jammed all the way to the gun. Friggin` amazing.

[LanceM]

ive had the passport x50 and drive all over. never got a ticket since Ive had it.

[Saintlysins]

Thank you for the link to the visor mounts company `velobard`. But that won`t fly with the Connecticut S.P. They look all over the car for signs of detectors if they pull you over. I`m up there often enough I’ll just leave it on the seat unplugged, but ‘loaded’ to toss up on a sticky-pad when needed. I’ll even pull the cigarette lighter plug out of the glove box in advance for quick install and visual effect, after tossing the detector under the seat if they even look in my direction. Don’t want to give them a reason to write extra tickets.

Safe Driving.

[velobard]

The visor mount has an advantage other than helping hide it a bit. In some places there are laws against having items stuck to the windshield, so this provides a mount that avoids that.

[Accumulator]

... I wish i could find one video I saw of the test with the Laser Interceptor a couple of weeks ago. They installed 4 laser heads on the front of a full-size RV, white with lots of chrome. They tried getting a reading anywhere they could on the RV, but the Laser Interceptor jammed all the way to the gun. Friggin` amazing.

Hmm...I might rethink my position on active countermeasures some day :think:



But I *still* think about what some of my LEO acquaintances say about "if I can`t get a reading on a guy who`s clearly over, I`m gonna...". Antagonizing LE has never worked out well for me, whereas playing the game by the rules and taking my lumps now and then has always gone smoothly. Can`t quite bring myself to jeopardize my LEO-friendly status.



Heh heh, when I just *had* to drive through VA this summer, I pulled the V1 down and stuck it in the console..sorta like revisiting the days before I got my v1.0 FuzzBuster in the mid-`70s But it`d drive me nuts if I had to drive there all the time.

[Imatk]

Well yeah I would think antagonizing them would be bad.



I mean if you`re buying one of these things so you can drive like a mad man and not get caught I sincerely hope you get caught because it`s just plain dangerous to drive crazy.



BUT for the majority of people they get tickets that are nothing more than a city or state tax that lines the pockets of that city/state. When you get a ticket for ten miles over on an interstate when everyone else is driving the same or faster it`s simply BS.



Or say you`re driving 40 in a 35... I mean unless there are children around or some kind of REAL reason to pull someone over that`s just nonsense.



And I would suspect anyone driving in excess of 10 miles and using a detector or laser jammer would likely be caught at some point anyway because like you said if it`s obvious the person is speeding they`ll still nail them.



But for most of us it`s a nice way of keeping Johhny Law and the state`s hands out of our pocket for tickets that are nothing more than an alternate source of revenue for them, and a drain on our bank accounts for us.

[imported_NYV6Coupe]

Does it bug anyone that some states, counties, or local municipalities have laws against windshield mouted devices but they seem to be selectively applied exclusively against radar detectors?

Considering the small footprint & minimal obstruction that they present, I\`ve seen some windshield-mounted aftermarket GPS systems that could conceal a school bus in traffic.



I\`ve used a Beltronics RX-65 for the last 3 years (Escort\`s for over 15 yrs prior to that) and it\`s performed great. You still have to keep your eyes open especially when you\`re the rabbit at the front of the pack or riding alone.



Lots of range, many user-selectable features, the only item on my wishlist for the RX-65 is that City mode should diminish K-band sensitivity like it diminishes X-band. There are areas in my town where the number of K-band microwave door openers (almost all operating at slightly different freq) will have me hitting the \"mute\" button every 5 seconds.

[lusid]

MN has the windshield law. Cops can use that for anything.

[velobard]

OK, I found the video I was looking for. This page has an extensive test of various laser jammers against different guns. The part about the RV is at the very bottom.



Guys of LIDAR - Laser Jammer Test - March 2007

[salty]

A buddy lives in Calgary and he ended up also buying a Blinder after his Bel wasn`t enough. Basically he said if the cops are stationary they are using laser and the Bel would warn him too late. As he was almost out of points he bought the Blinder and now swears by it.