Which Detector - K40 Calibre or Escort 9500ci

[milani]

Learn to drive near the speed limit and you won`t need one.

Drive much :nixweiss



Just kidding... Driving the speed limit in the Chicago Area, you`ll probably get run over...

[Visaliaipa]

For the most part radar/laser detectors are a waste of money. The only time a radar dectector can really help you is if your a little distance behind another car when the radar unit gets activated then you`ll pick up the signal although you may not be the vehicle being targeted.



The radar units do have instant on so when your detector is going off then your speed is already displayed. I`ve had people stopped with detectors and they dont go off when the radar is in "standby" mode. The theory that they put out a RF frequency when not being activated I don`t think is true in the new units because I haven`t seen the detectors going off when the radar is in standby mode. I have seen them go off when I`m back at the car and hit the xmit button. Actually kinda funny when they say..."I didn`t have it on" but then you turn the radar unit on and hear the detector up there chirping away....:chuckle:



Now the laser is even better. They are vehcile specific and the ones we use are a shouder mounted type with a red dot that you put on the front of the vehicle. Very accurate and at 2000 feet the beam is about a foot in diameter. They make the various paints, plate covers etc, but IMHO none of them really work and I know the show Mythbusters did a segment on it and they couldn`t defeat the radar or laser for that matter.



In CA radar detectors are not illegal, unless your driving a big-rig. Radar jammers are illegal and both the radar units and the lasers will tell you if your being jammed. A little more difficult with the radar to know which vehicle it is if there are alot of vehicles in the beam but real easy with the laser since you only target one vehicle at a time.



I`d figure I`d offer my opinion since I saw the subject. I`m here cuz I like to detail cars, my own as of now, and its a stress relief for me. If you have any more questions let me know and i`ll do my best to answer them. Nothings personal out there, just making a living like everyone else......:dance

[Accumulator]

For the most part radar/laser detectors are a waste of money. The only time a radar dectector can really help you is if your a little distance behind another car when the radar unit gets activated then you`ll pick up the signal although you may not be the vehicle being targeted. ..



I`d figure I`d offer my opinion since I saw the subject.... Nothings personal out there, just making a living like everyone else......:dance

Welcome to Autopia! I gather you`re LE and I actually *welcome* a LEO perspective on this thread. (Note that I differentiate between speeding and irresponsible driving, though I understand if somebody has a different opinion.)



I will say that, other than cases where I was the only car getting tagged with instant-on, radar detectors have worked out very well for me. I simply don`t get tickets for years on end, and that watchdog on the windshield is what saves me- when it announces the radar clocking somebody else. It`s sure no substitute for situational awareness



In the cases where I do get pulled over after an instant-on the officer often has a friendly quip about my reflexes vs. his/her equipment I always find it interesting that when I`m just over the posted limit, but I react in an obvious "responding to my detector" manner, the officer usually lets me slide; I don`t get the ticket just because I`m using a detector (telling me that unless I`m over the gonna-cite threshold the officer doesn`t care about the detector).



Laser, well...I did decide to simply skip that laser-jammer system I posted the link to. It just seemed, I dunno..not for me. Interesting to hear that you don`t consider the laser defeatible. I wonder if it *would* be a contest: you aim for the plate and get jammed/driver responds to detector; you re-aim for headlights/drive is now slowing; etc. :nixweiss



What would/do you do if you get a signal that your laser is being jammed?



Eh, I just can`t imagine people get away with major infractions just because some electronic gizmo affects the measuring device :think: The ticket might not stand up in court, but at least the stop would happen..the LEOs I know (none of which have actually encountered active electronic countermeasures) all say they`d do the stop anyhow.

[Visaliaipa]

Welcome to Autopia! I gather your LE and I actually *welcome* a LEO perspective on this thread. (Note that I differentiate between speeding and irresponsible driving, though I understand if somebody has a different opinion.)





Laser, well...I did decide to simply skip that laser-jammer system I posted the link to. It just seemed, I dunno..not for me. Interesting to hear that you don`t consider the laser defeatible. I wonder if it *would* be a contest: you aim for the plate and get jammed/driver responds to detector; you re-aim for headlights/drive is now slowing; etc. :nixweiss



What would/do you do if you get a signal that your laser is being jammed?

Thanks for the welcome and yes on the LEO part. Obviously there is a distinct difference between speeding and irresponsible driving. That being said, speed is one of the top PCF (primary collision factors) in the majority of collisions. As far as laser being undefeatable, well anything can be defeated. I just like laser due to it being vehicle specific and I`ve never gotten a jam signal. But, if i did I would make the stop and take the appropriate enforcement action. I`m not qute sure how the jammers work and what their coverage area is but I would find it hard to beleive that someone could react fast enough to slow down enough. Perception and reaction time is basically 1.5 seconds and there is still the age old methond of plain visual estimation



Good topic for debate.....Again thanks and hope to gain some knowledge here on autopia.......

[Accumulator]

.. I`ve never gotten a jam signal. But, if i did I would make the stop and take the appropriate enforcement action..there is still the age old methond of plain visual estimation

Yeah, not surprised. That`s something they don`t mention in the ads

.. I`m not qute sure how the jammers work and what their coverage area is but I would find it hard to beleive that someone could react fast enough to slow down enough.

The jammers use tiny, high-intensity LEDs to keep the laser from "bouncing back cleanly". There are usually two sets of LEDs which supposedly provide a lot of coverage. The jamming happens automatically/electronically (so the jamming happens independent of driver reaction) while an detector/alert sounds (so the driver *can* react, getting the speed down before another reading is taken, on a different part of the car). Sounds mighty iffy to me...



Now if people would just put as much effort (and money) into improving their reaction times (and other driving skills) as they do into beating speeding tickets we`d all be a lot safer on the road

[Deanski]

I have the full K40 system in the Porsche. It`s a toss-up between Porsche owners between K40 and V1.



I like my K40 since it`s all bluetooth, remote and hidden. All I have is two LEDS up on the insterment binnicle, and a small remote. I get alarms by geiger count and by voice as to which band of radar.



Most police laser guns will shoot for something very shinny, mostly a heatlight since it`s highly reflective as opposed to a license plate. Some however, still aim at the plate, which is where I have all detectors/jammers (laser only as radar RF transmission is illegal) by the front bumper area. Same for the rear.



So far, It`s saved me. However, as most will tell you, if you`re first inline for instant on laser, you`re toast! But, most detectors will get enough reflective laser bounce-off if you`re behind the first, which you will get the alarm, but must act fast.



I do not like detectors out in the open. There are too many issues with them up out in the open.



My advise is to keep looking at what your requirements are, talk to your regional car club as well.



Regards,



Deanski

[DaGonz]

Thanks for the welcome and yes on the LEO part. Obviously there is a distinct difference between speeding and irresponsible driving. That being said, speed is one of the top PCF (primary collision factors) in the majority of collisions. As far as laser being undefeatable, well anything can be defeated. I just like laser due to it being vehicle specific and I`ve never gotten a jam signal. But, if i did I would make the stop and take the appropriate enforcement action. I`m not qute sure how the jammers work and what their coverage area is but I would find it hard to beleive that someone could react fast enough to slow down enough. Perception and reaction time is basically 1.5 seconds and there is still the age old methond of plain visual estimation



Good topic for debate.....Again thanks and hope to gain some knowledge here on autopia.......

Thanks to our brother on the thin blue line for adding his perspective.



I have a Escort Solo 2 in my Mustang. I do drive responsibly, sometimes I do get a little leadfooted in the car, but the main reason I have it is a couple of the small towns I drive through use radar not for traffic safety but for "revenue enhancement".

[mrc1utch]

The Valentine 1 is probably one of the better radars out there on the market. It has had great rating for the past few years now. So i highly recommend not dishing out 2000 on the K40 and spend it on the valentine 1 instead.

[soccerjunky]

9500 here, mirror mount ,hardwired to mirror , transfers to my other cars, has gps locator to aleviate false alarms and speed trap notification..highly recommend



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[thump_rrr]

I`m running a concealed BEL STI Driver since detectors are not legal where I live.

If I were living in an area where undetectability was not an issue I would choose the Valentine 1 for the indicator arrows.



I frequently drive the I-87 corridor late at night with nearly nobody on the road and there are at least 5-6 speed enforcement units operating between the Canadian border and Albany nearly every time.



Here are a few pics of my setup.













As far as laser jammers go check out the guys of lidar website and decide for yourself.

Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR

[soccerjunky]

that setup is thumping...nice

[sus195]

that STI is very nicely placed indeed!

[Deanski]

I`ll still take my K40 install anyday over windshield mount detectors.



The K40 is fully Bluetooth, no hard wiring on some parts.



Only thing inside the cockpit are two blue LED`s placed below the tach and speedo.



To control it, a small wireless remote is used to run the system.



Both front and rear protection.



As for laser jammers, there are a few good ones, but you want those that will jam to gun for the best effect. Problem is, finding which laser guns are used in your area.



So far, no tickets and can drive the way Porsche wants you to drive the car... hard.



Deanski

[tquill]

I would definitely go with the 9500ci over the K40. I will say the laser jamming capabilities are greatly lacking with both systems. If the 9500ci is ever offered with just the radar detector and without the laser jammer (it comes with the Escort Shifter ZR4)... I will be buying it.



There are a few effective laser jammers out there but the best the laser interceptor. It runs about 700 dollars for a two head unit. If you want protection in the back, you`ll need an additional two heads which almost doubles the cost.



Here is a video on the K40 failing miserably to jam laser:



YouTube - K40 Laser Defuser doesn`t work!



Here is some some more information on other laser jamming systems:



Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR

[Kaze_RSX]

K40, big time. There is a local distributor where I live and seeing these things is quite interesting. Very unobtrusive, and highly effective.