ob1kenobi

Back from my trip up north eh! (Canada)

I can't believe how many speed traps there are within the city as well as the suburbs. All unmarked vans so I can't tell where they are. Most of the time I noticed they are facing the other way.

Calgary has the most speed traps and speed cameras. WTF!
Edmonton has them too but not as much as Calgary.
Saaboteur can probably correct me if I'm wrong.

Good thing my brother lent me his Escort radar detector. I think it saved me at least 3 times. I'm thinking of getting one myself but since I've never owned one, I'd like to ask those who currently own one. Should I invest in Escort or Valentine?

Thanks in advance.

Jasssc

I'm in the same boat as you, choosing a new detector
I have always heard great things about the Valentine 1. My neighbor as well as my mechanic both swear by the Valentine 1. It's just so expensive! But when I get one, that is what I will get.

Jovsky

Are radar detectors legal here in California? I've worked in Parking Garages and I've noticed that almost all high-end cars that I drive have ESCORT radar detectors on their center windshield beside the rear view mirror. I said to myself, this gadget must be good. I am thinking of purchasing one as long as it is legal to use here in California. Any thoughts?

Jasssc

I think it is legal here, but I might be hiding it just to be safe
I will look it up now

I know for a fact, radar jammers are illegal

KJI3jflarryfe93

I bet these gadgets are cool!

Many countries in Europe had these stuff forbidden!
WTF!
I bet it would have been cool having one in the car?

ob1kenobi

It is legal to own & use radar detectors in California. However I do not know the CVC # for it.

Radar & laser jammers are illegal. These products are originally from Canada.

DRBC43AMG

An absolute no-no here and if caught will get you in very serious trouble (confiscation, heavy fine, etc.). Also, they don't seem to work at all around here.

Jovsky

Thanks for the info OB1. Just a follow-up though, since you've mentioned it is legal to own and use it, will the cops (here in California) stop you if they see you with these radar detectors on your windshield? I just don't want to undergo the hassle of cops stopping you and looking for holes to give you a ticket.

OgdenC36

I own a Valentine 1 and it is very good for highway driving as it usually warns you a good 2km in advance and has the directional arrows to tell you where the threat is coming form. In the city, however, it is plagued by false alarms which becomes annoying. For the same money buy the Passport 9500ix which is as good as the V1 on the highway, but has a GPS to record and remember false alarms in the city, so it learns where these are and does not bother you with them.

Saaboteur

My Mom(!) gave me my Valentine 1 years ago as a birthday present. Guess she was sick of me getting speeding tickets.

I concur with OgdenC36's comments - it is great on the highway, especially with the directional arrows. I've had beyond visual range detection quite frequently. But in the city, not as good. You can get used to its limitations though, and how it reacts and whatnot. For example, the typical x-band detection from shopping mall automatic door sensors chirps short and typically fades away quickly. But the other typical bands used by the police for speed enforcement tone differently and much more consistently. I take notice of those.

A GPS based memory feature would be nice, and I think there are some apps that link up your iPhone's GPS to the detector. An x-band ignore feature would be nice too. In my experience, x-band is rarely used by the police.

I have gotten to know the typical speed trap or photo radar locations, so I ease up appropriately. That's probably the best defence. Photo radar trucks or vans are typically pointed in the same direction as traffic, so you don't get much warning unless the beams bounce off traffic. So you have to look for the trucks or vans parked by the side of the road. Easier in winter as you can see the exhaust plumes.

I have heard of photo vans or trucks in Canmore (in the Rockies) parking perpendicular to the road, and the camera shooting out the passenger window instead, to make it less obvious. Tougher one to spot. Sometimes they hide behind shrubs on the side of the road. And now the redlight cameras are permitted to shoot speed tickets too!

The most devious was an RCMP ghost car I saw years ago - 'Budget' rentacar sticker on the bumper, ski rack on the roof, cruising the highways near Banff. Underhanded!

ob1kenobi

Why would California cops stop or pull you over if you have radar detector? However if you're doing other things illegal such as no seatbelt, talking on the phone without "handsfree" device then they have a reason to pull you over.
Nevertheless, you should always be on the look out for cops and be on the speed limit. It's your best defense.

I find that in California, if you act like a moron or a jerk, cops tend to give you more hassle. If you're nice, respectful that helps you wiggle your way out of a ticket. Been living here since 1987 without tickets + it helps that my wife's cousin is a CHP Lt.

ob1kenobi

My brother's is Escort Redline which has GPS based memory and has a learn mode i.e. it stores unrecognized signals.
I wouldn't ignore X-bands because I discovered Calgary cops still use them to communicate with Fire engines. Saw it first hand last Friday.

Now Canmore is a different story. After refuelling, getting back on the freeway I punched the gas pedal and the unmarked cop was right about 200 yards in front of me. This strategy is to prevent those entering the fwy at
a high rate of speed. Almost got me too. They don't do that here in California.

Going across McKnight blvd in Calgary I counted at least 10 speed cameras. WTF !!!

Anthony Henday is also bad because of the construction, cops are everywhere. Gone are the days when I was able to punch pedal to the metal in 1A. Too bad, I had a real nice SRT8 rental too. (yeah it's got a hemi in it)

On my way home to Edmonton, I noticed cars were following me too close so I tend to punch it a bit then slow down. Then my brother said, "They piggyback on you because they noticed your radar detector on the windshield". 110 km/hr is just too slow for a fwy.

Anyway, I ordered the Valentine 1. I should get it by next week.

503C43 ////AMG

Car toys sells a radar/laser jammer that is installed under your body panels (undetectable) and is advertised to prevent you from ever getting another ticket. The company backs their product to the point where they will pay any speeding ticket you get (that was given due to radar or laser, pacing doesn't count) for LIFE.

Downside = it costs like $2000

ob1kenobi

Perhaps when I get a GT3 I'll consider this. For now the V1 is a good option.

hoontastic

I recently got out of a ticket in LA just by being direct, and treating the cop like a person (in control). I told him I had seen him there and I didnt think my left turn was illegal. I appologized and mentioned that I would have been retarded to have made a turn like that knowlingly since he was right next to me. He ran my license and let me go with a warning. I got out of my last problem before that too just by respectfully treating the cop like a person. Its like a delicate balance of respect and casual tones.

2PHAST

I ran a V1 for many years till the Escort 9500ix came out. Although the V1 is a excellent detector, the company has failed to stay current technology wise and the introduction of the 9500ix with intergrated GPS just blows the V1 out of the water.

With the GPS integration and the ability to connect the 9500ix to your computer (to update firmware and location database) makes this the top choice. With the GPS, you have the ability to lock out known false alarm locations and with each database update, speed traps/red light camera locations are updated as well.

503C43 ////AMG

Yeah I was thinking when I pick up a C63 this will be a necessity

ob1kenobi

except GPS the latest Valentine have the rest of the features, otherwise I would have bought the Escort Redline. The other thing that convinced me to go V1 is the option to conceal it, thus preventing other cars from "piggybacking" which is kinda annoying.

tri-star tech

+1 on the 9500

2PHAST

The GPS is the biggest selling point and Valentine dropped the ball on that one. Of course with the 9500ix, you can run it concealed as well and the remote display is actually a bit smaller than the V1's remote display (mainly because it does not have any directional arrows)

The ability to utilize the GPS to lock out false alerts (done manually or automatically) is a huge, huge positive. I would be all over a V1 again if it had this capability

ob1kenobi

oh well, once I receive it I have 30 days to decide if I want to keep it or not.
I will only lose $14 on shipping. Besides I will only use it for fwy driving and not city streets. I run the posted speed limits anyway. (yeah right!)

2PHAST

Another thing thats worth mentioning is the ability of the 9500ix to alert you to red light cameras, school zone cameras and other "speed traps". With city gov's hurting for money, many are resorting to installing cameras everywhere. I have run into many situations where there are speed cameras installed in school zones that work 24/7. The 9500ix has saved my *** many times, expecially when I am driving in unfamiliar areas. Canada is also nasty with red light cameras, they seem to be on most every light.

DuaneC63

It depends on what you're worried about. Red light cameras (not a concern for me cause i'm not taking $50+K cars through red lights to get creamed by some F150 truck and have it be my fault). Speed cameras, I haven't seen or heard of any in Cali (yet). However I know they are a big deal in Europe and in that case the Escort 9500ix is the hands down winner. I have the V-1 cause I like the arrows and the bogey counter There is a speed warning sign near me that always sets the detector off, but one day a cop was hiding near by and I got 2 bogey counts so I spotted him before he got me.. It is the "chicken little" of detectors but once you get used to it your know if you getting hit for real (it goes nuts). Laser detection is useless (unless you just like to know your going to get pulled over) but several of the good stand alone laser jammers plug into the V-1 giving you both warning and protection. Perhaps when the current patents run out, V-1 will upgrade to GPS and since they always use the same case and basic circuitry, you can upgrade your exsisting unit.

ob1kenobi

Thanks for the comment. V1 delivery is next week. I'll post my initial review after using it for couple of weeks or so.

Just an off topic question. Why did you get rid of the 993? I would have kept it to complement the 996TT

503C43 ////AMG

993 RS is just VISCOUS sounding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twu-q...eature=related