IAA-C63

I've seen references to radar/laser detectors in various messages, and I think I need to get one or both. A few questions:

1. I'm somewhat familiar with radar detectors, but not laser detectors. Could someone please clarify the differences and how each works and is detected? Maybe provide a link to a good website?

2. Can radar and/or laser be detected reliably and early enough to make it worthwhile to get detectors? Don't want to waste time and money getting something that won't work well anyway.

3. Any recommendations on the best radar and laser detectors? I'm willing to spend several hundred dollars on each if they're effective. It would also be nice to get something fairly inconspicuous.

4. Does anyone know if radar and laser detectors are illegal in Maryland and Virginia?

Thanks for any and all help.

rory breaker

I havent done my radar HW in a few years, so I'll give you my perspective and interested to hear from someone who maybe has more recent info to see what's changed...

1) Most towns use radar, not laser. Radar is a wide band that is constantly on, and as each car passes by, it reads the speed of the car. Not as accurate as laser. Laser is a gun that locks on to your car and fires back a quick read of how fast YOU are going. If you get hit with laser, that means the cop has already locked on to you, and is already shooting at you to get a read on your speed, whereas radar can be detected from far away as it's a wide band being shot continuously.

2) ABSOLUTELY radar, for laser, not so much as I understand it due to the above concept explained. My v1 has saved me literally dozens of times where I'm flying, I slow down, and lo and behold over the hill, there is the cop shooting radar who would have nabbed me. In mexico.

3) I love my V1.

4) They are illegal in Virginia and DC, not MD. And in VA (can't speak for DC) they are illegal meaning not just to use, but to have in the car. They can confiscate your detector if they see it, so when driving through VA you should hide it under your seat or not where it can be seen if you get pulled over. Another reason to stay out of that horrible, horrible state

IAA-C63

Thanks for the info. Two follow up questions:

- What's the brand of the V1?
- How high is the false alarm rate?

StapleGun

V1 made by Valentine - best there is!

Lenin

For several hundred dollars on each, the best choice IMO is V1.
For the super stealth install and laser diffuser vs. laser detection go with the new Beltronics STI-R Plus and Laser Interceptor combination. Laser diffuser jams the laser signal while laser detector only detects. If you are lucky, it detected a reflection from the car ahead of you. If not, the reading of your spead has already been obtained by the laser gun. Google Laser Interseptor and Beltronics STI-R Plus and read about it.

ChaseMark

I've heard that V1 is the best there is too...error marginal is supposedly minimal...everyone who has a V1 raves about it...it's not the best looking but apparently its rear detection is amazing....

Valvestud

I have been a loyal multiple V1 user for many years. They are excellent detectors, but they haven't kept up with technology. In Tucson we are seeing numerous installations of speed/red light cameras which don't use radar/laser, but trip sensors in pavement. The V1 is useless against these devices.

I'm also in the market for a new detector and I'm leaning toward the Escort 9500xi because in addition to being a good radar/laser detector, it has a database of thousands of locations of cameras. You can also add your own locations for those spots not in the database.

I can't understand why Valentine has not done anything to address this latest government revenue generator.

Joe

Yuille36

I live in VA, and have been pulled over for having and using a Radar detector, while returning from a trip in NC. The VA State Troopers have radar detection equipment inside the cruisers, and it's at the troopers discretion whether he confiscates it or not. My advise don't use it at all in this state, and obey the speed limit, until your through VA. I have been pulled over more times, than I can count in this state for speeding.

azadian22

+1

jim07

I have the new 9500Xi and love it. The detector memorizes false signal for security systems, traffic counters, etc. . If it did not, I probable would not leave it on all the time. Now that it has memorized and blocks all the false signals on my usual routes, when it goes off I believe it!!

Sincity

I'm using an Escort Redline. Best for the highway from what I read. You'll find people are either in the Escort or Valentine camp. People rave about the V1 arrows and for those of us who do not have a V1, we simply slow down when the detector goes off. After using a non-arrow indicator detector for a while, you learn if the signal is coming from the rear or front.

Hop over to radardector.net and you'll find a lot of info including laser deterction/jamming.

ZephyrAMG

I need to know... Valentine 1 or Escort 9500 ix....someone give me the final answer please...

betrezra

We have both V1 and The Escort 9500.

9500 +'s
* you can set it to see the actual frequency of the bogey... after a while you get to know the actual specific source car (if that makes sense) due to specific frequency. radar det nerds enjoy this.

V1 +'s
* arrows give you an idication of where the threat it..... particularly nice if you're on the high-way and you want to keep an eye out behind, side or in front...... they are those occasions when the bogey is following far behind for a long time..... also fun to search for the bogey coming up then side, then back.....

V1 -'s
The diff band led's are all same color on the unit... so you have to listen for the diff sounds to distignuish between bands..... or you can get a custom remote display with custom colored led's. (9500 spells out the band on the display).

I'm a fan of the V1.

Also remember a few other things:
1. radar can be used in instant on mode, which gives no warning until you get hit. best to follow a rabbit when running on a nearly empty highway.
2. laser has little scatter..... and is used in many cities.... very common here in houston. don't ask how I know

Good luck

ZephyrAMG

Just bought a Escort Passport 9500xi at $500 a pop...I have read that its more upgradeable and less false alarms...

CELLryuu

do you have to have a 15 dollar a month subscription to escort to get the updates? I think i remember reading that somewhere.

Vic55

I have had/have V1's on:

E55
CL65
M6
E63
M3
997TT
996TT

When I speed in Canada (Im tired or everyone speeding in Mexico) I always feel comfortable- great radar pick up with the RMCP.

derspi

Have owned 2 Escorts - first being an 8500 and currently a 9500i. Having never owned a Valentine V1 I can't give a fair comparison but I know many many drivers swear by them and I'm sure with good reason. But I've also read that the V1's hyper sensitivity is also it's biggest drawback in the city - way too many false alerts. I'm sure you can learn to live with them but the single biggest problem I've always had with radar detectors is because I'm in the city the most and I always eventually end up shelving them because they just incessantly go off. So, without a doubt, the 9500i (as well as the 9500ix) has been a godsend for someone like me. I can store known false alerts with the GPS function and not have to constantly worry whether the threat is legit or not. The 9500i is pretty sensitive too as on open stretches of freeway, I've been warned WELL in advance like what all good detectors should do. I've been saved at least 3 times in the year I've had it so it's already paid itself off.

ZephyrAMG

Awesome, I feel better now because I bypassed Amazon and bought one on ebay for a small savings so I think its gonna have to be a keeper.
I was watching on youtube demos of the V1 and it seemed too sensitive with too many false readings. I also don't care too much for the arrows, I mean there is only one direction I will be going, forward, and I am not worried about having a cop come up from behind. It's always the ones lurking in the shadows ahead.

I read up on the Escort 9500xi and its supposed to be VERY exact and user friendly, not to mention pretty small and easily mountable.

I think both are very good but for me the sounds and warning system of the 9500xi stood out and it seems like it connects to GPS with a memory bank which is a plus...when I drive in Mexico.

Vic55

You can program your V1 (there is actually a post on the boards here) to avoid all the BS alerts- mine only picks up the Mexican Highway Patrol and local federale radar guns.

Zero supermarket BS.

And for the rear radar checks; it has saved me several times. Most of our local highway patrol cars leave their radar on even on the freeways and use it in conjuction with their pacing training. My V1 rear detector will pick up the officer before he is close enough to pace me. I have had this happen many times and all I do is reduce speed and sure enough, the officer comes creeping up and passes on by.

I like to speed (in Mexico and Canada).

rory breaker

Agreed 1000%. Im not trying to make you second guess your purchase, but after having the arrows, I would never ever ever buy a radar detector without them.

The cops in my town do the exact same thing, and my V1 tells me at all times where a cop is coming from....cruising up behind me a few blocks back, coming from a cross street, or coming head on.

This also helps you determine whether an alarm is false or not...if a signal is getting stronger dot by dot as you approach it ahead...chances are it's the real deal. If it's going in and out and behind you/next to you, probably a false. I dont find the false alarms to be too annoying, really. Better than most detectors Ive used prior, but sure, when you pull into a mall parking lot it's going to start going off.

qship5

+1 on programming the V1. I turned off X band since the police never use it (maybe they do in little towns in BFE, but not in any areas near me) and my false alarms are history. My V1 (concealed in rear center headrest, with display in rear view mirror and the Laser Interceptor (front & rear) have done a great job in keeping me informed and protected when I'm hauling a$$ in Mexico.

yamahazing

How safe is it to drive an AMG in Mexico?

DuaneC63

The broader question is how safe is to drive at all in Mexico given the current situation.

I just got a V-1 and spent the first day driving around looking for speed traps. I need to turn of the useless bands as they cause the unit to constantly go off. I've set mine on the Logic mode but it still goes nuts in supermarket parking lots. You learn the false bogeys pretty quickly as it just beeps a bit and the signal strength shows low and in X or K band. You'll know when it the real deal, the V1 lights up like a christmas tree and gives you plenty of audio warning. The directional lights are great as is the bogey counter. Time to read the manual on how I just leave the Ka and Laser bands on. I don't think any laser detector can save you. By the time the detector goes off, it's too late. The only solution is a jammer and the discussion on those can go on for pages (besides being illegal in all 50 states). Most of the better ones allow them to integrated into the the more popular radar detectors. While detector are legal in Cali they cannot be mounted to the inside of the windshield. The visor mounting sucks. I looking at a few rear view mirror mounts to see if one will fit.

I've heard in Virginia they just legalized immediate roadside executions for all traffic violations as a visual deterent to other potential offenders.

I was just in BFE and they still use X band.

Lenin

Where do you get your information regarding the bolded statement? It's inaccurate. Read this: http://www.laser-interceptorusa.com/11201.html

AMGFTW

I have had my 2 Escort Passport 8500's for a couple of years now and I love them. I live about 10 minutes from Escort's office here in Cincinnati so I take them in once a year and have them updated with new software if it's available.

I got rid of my V1 due to the fact the damn thing beeped constantly with false radar readings.