covance

I have read quite a few threads about this topic on the forum and have gathered the following so far:

1) Looks like almost everyone says the decision should come down to a Valentine V1 or a Escort Passport. Are there other options that are worth looking at besides this?

2) Apparently 2/3 states I drive through almost daily are also the ONLY two in the U.S. that ban radar detectors (Virginia and DC ban, Maryland is ok)? Also, radar jammers are illegal in all 50 states.

3) My main problem is stationary speeding and red light cameras that are all over Montgomery County. Which detector would help me best in avoiding these?

Thanks so much for any insight!

Mixedfruits

for speed traps and camera passport due to its already marked locations

absolutleo

you may already know this.. but many speed cameras are mobile in the DC/MD/VA area now. the location changes quite frequently. you will notice SUV's with lights installed on the roof rack.
the myfoxdc website has a page somewhere with currently known working fixed location cameras.
most people i know living in VA choose the beltronics sti or escort redline just because they are true stealth units. i don't currently know anyone in DC who has bothered with a radar detector because you will be caught... traffic moves too slow and cops can easily see inside your car at low speeds. those in MD have chosen the v1.

ginkgo

for v1, there is no function where it stores the info of false alarms. So it might get noisy a bit and go off frequently depending on your area. Thats the only good thing about passport. it stores false alarms once you have passed it 2-3 times. Also the passport has cameras and speedtraps loaded however there are programs on your phone such as trapster that would provide the same information.. If you are going to new places and don't have a smartphone with trapster I recommend the passport. however, if you are usually going same places and already know where the red light camera and speed traps are its not that useful. If it was me, even tho its alittle noisy i would get the V1 and use trapster for traps. Every second matters if you are using a radar detector so more sensitive the better. False alarms also puts me in place where i slow down a bit more, even tho its real or not. My rule would be never ignore a false alarm even tho you know its false, always slow down a bit just incase. Better safe then sorry.

ginkgo

+1 also if its illegal in the location you want to use there are parts where you can buy for the v1 and let it come out thru your dash or your rear view mirror. and the v1 itself will be dark meaning it will look like its off. so you would have to put it maybe on your visor and cover it up with something.

Cartronics

The 9500ci is not detectable by detetctor detectors - and we do a stealth mirror install all the time for clients in the DC area. Therefore, it simply can not be seen at all. You can see pictures on our site - nothing to see at all, unless you want to.

myinternetsucks

In my setup I have the V1 connected to my iPhone 4 running Radar Active plugged into a TomTom GPS cradle. Works amazing and logs every time it reads a K/KA and laser from the V1 and stores them in the systems on-line database.
demo of it here:http://youtu.be/X4I0CkSnHIU

Also I run an old school analog police scanner Uniden BCT-12 the same one from gumball 3000 which has the HWY Patrol feature alerts, and a digital scanner Uniden BCD396xt. It's like I'm "Watching the watchers, Jerry!"
Both scanners are an idea I stole from Alex Roy, No tickets so far! (Knocks on wood)

covance

So is there no technology that can detect fixed red light and speeding cameras (or the mobile units that are used in DC and MD - in DC i see these little boxes a bit smaller than a convenience store ATM that they leave on sidewalks; in Maryland they have blacked out unmarked American made minivans that just leave on the side of the road with 360 cameras in them).

Also, for those who try getting by with hidden radar detectors in VA - what are the ramifications if you get caught?

Cartronics

We have a device that makes it impossible for the cameras to get a picture of your plate. It is not a cover for the plate, but a device that goes above the plate.

c3nthusiast

Here is my favorite Maryland speed camera shot.

IGB

Maybe I am missing something here but I'm not seeing how practical this is or how realistic a claim of it being "impossible" for the camera to get a picture... Fact of the matter is, a red light camera violation happens unexpectedly and due to a momentary decision to step on it and try and get through, one where you don't have the necessary time to activate the device... So unless you decide to activate it upon approach of every traffic control signal, or drive around with it activated (which could get you in a heap of trouble), I don't see how one could benefit from it... The price ain't nothing to sneeze at either

Covance, I recently purchased an Escort Passport 9500ix (actually purchased two; first one was stolen out of my car less than a week after I received it, so a week later, I ordered a second one). In all honesty, I don't know how I was driving with out one. Unlike most other detectors out there, the "marked locations" feature (for red light camera's/known speed traps/...etc) and the ability to eliminate false alerts thereby decreasing the possibility for those irritating loud chirps (just because there's a home depot up ahead), which also means that you'll tend to take real alerts more seriously, makes this, IMHO, the BEST detector out there today.

As for the V1, some may claim that it is more sensitive, but I honestly have not had any issues with lack of sensitivity with my 9500ix (or with my previous Escort 8500 which I had used for 2 years prior). Others will always brag about its directional arrows, but in reality why does anyone care if the officer is behind you or in front of you? And are you going to react any differently based on where he is or are you simply going to slow down? Although it can be installed as a hidden unit, I still think you're losing out on plenty in compared to the Escort 9500ix by giving up on the 2 afore mentioned features.

That leaves the issue of legality of using it, and though that is not an issue for me in California, I can think of a way to have it installed where it would be difficult to detect from the outside. then again, you can opt for a stealth unit that is designed and installed in a way where it would be near impossible to detect!

One bad thing about all of this, is that it is clear that I do speed more and drive more aggressively nowadays as compared to the period where I did not have a detector. So even though I think it is a great device added to the fact that I am always (visually) searching for a cop, I know that some day I will still get popped for a speeding citation either by pace or by a visual estimate. Even then, I still can say that getting caught once with one, isn't like the 3 or 4 times I would have been caught without one!

By the way, you should sign up and browse this forum: http://www.radardetector.net/forums/ where you will find quite a few knowledgeable members with very informative and educational answers to pretty much any question you might have. Good luck, and let us know which one you decide to get.

Cartronics

The device is not yet on our site. It takes no intervention from the driver. It basically overloads the camera with light and overexposes every shot. Even inversion of the picture yields the same result. - we have been testing it a ton, and it works every time.

IGB

My bad... Based on how you described it *[We have a device that makes it impossible for the cameras to get a picture of your plate. It is not a cover for the plate, but a device that goes above the plate]* it sounded like you may have been referring to "TRICPLATE STEALTH LICENSE PLATE (007)".

I'll look forward to seeing how this new device will work in action, especially considering the amount of light it puts out

Cartronics

Essentially it is a specially designed high power strobe, that reacts to the IR light the speed and red light cameras put out. If they don't flash, then the unit stays inert. But if they do, then it reacts (at the speed of light), just like a remote strobe for a photographer. We are finalizing the mounting for it now.

grane

Will this device work with the toll video cameras? Even though I pay cash they still take a picture of my plate so they can sell it to the insurance rating agencies and who knows who else.

I believe these devices are laser triggered as evinced by Escort and V1 screams.

I've never seen a speed camera in the USA so I take it from Cartronics that these are IR or Ir laser triggered. How about the toll and sleazy pass video?

Cartronics

It will work anywhere they use a strobe to take a picture. Strobes put out a certain wavelength of IR light when they flash. All traffic cams (toll cams) that we have ever seen use a strobe for both day and night (to freeze quick moving cars).

grane

Thank you.

covance

When will that new product be up? Are you developing it yourself?

And as for stationary red light/speeding cameras - no technology that detects it? Only way to keep it safe is to have a database of all of them?

Cartronics

I am actually the tech developing it. I am waiting on a board to come in to complete the final beta unit. It will be about a month to have full production units (end of October'ish) -
All of the Escort products have a database in them for the stationary cameras that is constantly updated (and uploaded to the units). Some other brands have similar.
There is no way to detect a camera itself, but every time the flash goes off, it is pretty straightforward to defeat it. We are just tweaking the power, to get maximum power in a small unobtrusive package.

covance

That sounds very interesting - definitely keep us up to date.

Are the updates on the Escort free for life? Or is there a certain dealer one can buy it from that bundles free lifetime updates (like buying a Garmin at Costco)?

Newzchspy

This is true, the Ci is NOT seen by the Spectre (any of them so far) BUT its a remote install and you can NOT transfer it from windshield to windshield. Its based on the M3 platform and is a great unit. The Beltronics Stir+ remote is even better and is two years newer technology. Its probably the best remote unit on the market currently.

If you're looking for a good windshield mount (you didnt specify), I'd get the Redline based on the M3 platform and if you're worried about where the redlight cameras are, get yourself an SC55 mounted on top if it and you have basically a super 9500IX that will tell you where the "marked" traps are. A V-1 will NOT work for you because the Spectre WILL in fact pick it up!! Its a shame because the V-1 is a very good unit.

Newzchspy

I respectfully disagree. For HIS purposes (look where he lives and drives) the 9500Ix is the wrong unit to get. If he's looking for the shizzle of the 9500 ci or the Stir+ with redlight/marked location camera ability, the ONLY way to go is with the Redline and the SC55 mounted on top (windshield mount) or a remote unit like the Ci or the Stir+. Again, look where he lives, A V1 or 9500iX will be shouting I am HERE from miles away!!

If you're looking for a remote mount, I'd do either the Ci or even better, the newer STIR + from Beltronics. One can be had new for about $900 bucks on Amazon right now. The Stir+ is IMHO, the best remote currently out there.

Newzchspy

Can't wait to see this in action, KUDOS on this!!

covance

This is all excellent information. My primary concern is Red Light and Stationary Speeding Cameras because I am not in VA that often and in DC my commute is so slow that it is almost physically impossible to be ticketed for speeding. However, the option of having a non remote radar controller (poking around online seems like the remote mount type is too expensive and complicated to install for my taste) that would work in all 3 states is appealing.

Newzchspy

I like your set-up BUT it won't work for him where he lives and drives. Radaractive is like a Trapster for the V-1. Does it work, sure BUT the V-1 is NOT stealthy (which is what he needs) to Spectre, which they USE. The 9500Ci , Stir+ and the Redline all are!! Add an SC55 to the Redline and you're good to go.