Looking for radar detector, lidar/laser detector
- Thread starter mikeyg03ls
- Start date
mikeyg03ls
Active LVC Member
Just pony-up the $399 for the Valentine V1. The counter and arrows are indispensable! They have saved me from multiple threats where my my old Bel STi Driver would have let me down. I would have never known about the SECOND cop without the counter and arrow!
mikeyg03ls
Active LVC Member
The $100 will be saved in the first couple of tickets you get not being totally warned. My V1 has paid for itself a couple of times in tickets I would have received without the arrows and counter.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
I love my Escort 8500 X50, doesn't have the arrows to show directionality like the V1 but it will track and show up to 8 different radar signatures. plus you can always upgrade it later and add the shifter kit to block out laser.
they can usually be had for a little over $300
they can usually be had for a little over $300
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
I have two of those. So far, so good.
But you still don't know exactly how many or where. I would have been nabbed twice a few years ago when I got a "2" warning and a front arrow. Once I saw the CHP go past in the opposite direction I would have sped back up with my old STi Driver as I would have assumed the continued alert was the LEO I just passed. The counter still showed "2", but with a solid rear arrow and a flashing front arrow. Sure enough, about a mile or so in trail of CHP #1 was CHP #2. The Chrysler 300 and BMW that had slowed for the first LEO (apparently they also had detectors) saw him pass and sped back up, leaving me behind. A couple of miles down the road both cars were contributing to the People's Republik's coffers. The CHP loves to fun these traps on the 5 through the Valley and north of Sacrademento.
That's just once where the counter and arrows saved my bacon!
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
Not true. Put it in expert mode (why wouldn't you), and you do know exactly how many.
It is true that you don't know where, but you do know how many.
mikeyg03ls
Active LVC Member
I know it will save money, got a ticket for 92 and 88 in the last 6 months. Never got a ticket before I got the damn ls hahaha. I do like the ideas of the arrows a lot. I guess that combined with the jammer its worth the extra 100. I do somewhat question the quality of a built in jammer vs separate tho (never had experience with jammers). Not that I'm set on it or anything but does anyone have any thoughts on the bell pro 300? On crutchfield its the same price as the escort and seems to have pretty much the exact same features. Just thought it was interesting
Posted via Topify using iPhone/iPad
Posted via Topify using iPhone/iPad
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
^ exactly, it doesn't matter which way the cop is, it can fully track up to EIGHT different radars, each with their own strength meter, so as soon as the first cop passes and his signal goes from dead on to fading, you can still see the other cops signal and how strong it is and if its getting closer... it doesn't matter if its in front or behind you, if there is a strong radar signal pointed in your direction, you slow the F down...
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
the bell Pro 300 is a rebranded Escort 8500 X50, it is the same radar detector on the inside.
Radar jammers are HIGHLY illegal. As well as dangerous to other, less innocuous radar emitters.
I'm not questioning the quality or ability of that detector. Obviously the V1 can also track multiple threats, I was just showing the value of knowing exactly where the threat emanates. How can one line of display show all threats? Do they alternate? I really don't know and am not trying to start an argument, just asking.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
with expert mode, it shows all the radar in vertical bars instead of one big horizontal bar like the simple mode
simple mode on top(one band full strength), expert mode in the center (8 different full meters) and the specific frequency in the bottom image
mikeyg03ls
Active LVC Member
That's pretty cool, will it detect two of the same kinds of radar at once in that middle line though?
Upstairs Chris
Dedicated LVC Member
Can't tell you how many tickets I've written to people with radar detectors sitting on the dash.
mikeyg03ls
Active LVC Member
What are the radar detectors that you least see lol
mikeyg03ls
Active LVC Member
How would he know that
Just joking around. I think I will go with the valentine on eBay. Realistically I can't even afford the extra 100 for a new one
Just be careful.... There may be warranty issues with 3rd party sellers....
chris2523
93 Mark VIII
the V1 is very capable. gets my vote.
Upstairs Chris
Dedicated LVC Member
I am somewhat familiar with them, mostly from ads in Motor Trend and such. Honestly, only a few times have I seen the V1, that's the one with the arrows right?.
Also you are really only going to get a warning that an officer is up ahead running radar if he is leaving his radar on and letting the cars come by. When the traffic is low and I have a good, somewhat hidden spot I only turn on the radar when the car I want to read is well within the radar area, and it takes literally less than one second to get a speed. So sure, if an officer is leaving his on, you'll get the warning well before, but if he's turning it on and off for each car, you basically just got a warning that you're getting pulled over.
Don't get me started on Lidar (laser). It's a laser, like a big laser pointer. At its max usable distance the laser beam is about the size of a basketball. Unlike the radar, it does not send out large waves that saturate the entire area that your radar detector can pick up while the officer is busy targeting someone else. The only time a Lidar detector is going to go off is when the officer is literally shooting you with the laser, and at that point, it's already over. The lidar is even more effective than the radar but they are expensive and not used nearly as often as the radar. However, in very congested cities where traffic is very thick, the most effective way to conduct a speed patrol is with an officer in a stationary position using a lidar gun who then radios ahead to other officers. Those types of setup, no device is going to save you from.
Also you are really only going to get a warning that an officer is up ahead running radar if he is leaving his radar on and letting the cars come by. When the traffic is low and I have a good, somewhat hidden spot I only turn on the radar when the car I want to read is well within the radar area, and it takes literally less than one second to get a speed. So sure, if an officer is leaving his on, you'll get the warning well before, but if he's turning it on and off for each car, you basically just got a warning that you're getting pulled over.
Don't get me started on Lidar (laser). It's a laser, like a big laser pointer. At its max usable distance the laser beam is about the size of a basketball. Unlike the radar, it does not send out large waves that saturate the entire area that your radar detector can pick up while the officer is busy targeting someone else. The only time a Lidar detector is going to go off is when the officer is literally shooting you with the laser, and at that point, it's already over. The lidar is even more effective than the radar but they are expensive and not used nearly as often as the radar. However, in very congested cities where traffic is very thick, the most effective way to conduct a speed patrol is with an officer in a stationary position using a lidar gun who then radios ahead to other officers. Those types of setup, no device is going to save you from.
joegr
Dedicated LVC Member
It is saying that there are 2 KA band radars, 2 K band radars, and 4 X band radars, all at once. The height of each vertical line shows how strong each source is. In this case, they are all very strong.