What radar detector to buy?

[MTL300C]

I'm FROM Montreal, Canada and radar detectors are illegal. I was wondering if there is a radar/laser detector that the police can't detect or hard for them to detect. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[MagnumFreak]

I am planning on installing a Beltronics 975. All of the compenents are hidden. The front Radar/Laser detector is mounted in the grill and the electronics are mounted wherever you want. I plan on hiding mine where the ashtray would have been (don't smoke so I don't need it). You can see their stuff at : http://www.beltronics.com

It is a bit pricey, but I am a gadget freak so this stuff is cool to me.

[TIMW]

The passport does real well SR7
http://www.passportsr1.com/sr7.htm

[MTL300C]

yes, but can the police detect it. I have heard horror stories of cops dismantling your dash to find it...

[MagnumFreak]

Nah. The system has a sensor that shuts it down if it detects the radar detector detector. There was a link here somewhere to a test that was run on different radar detectors, don't remember where, but most of them were very effective against radar detector detectors.

[davidl13]

let me know when you complete your installation, i am interested in HAVING it done and i love the ashtray idea, i love to see pix...

-David

[MagnumFreak]

Will do. It will be one of the first mods done when the car arrives. D status now hopefully getting it by the end of the month or first week of next month.

[MTL300C]

SO it shuts off automatically when there is a laser in front or behindÉ How does it go back on? After a certain delay or you manually turn it back on? I want to make sure because its a hefty fine up here if you get caught with one...

[DjPiLL]

yes, but can the police detect it. I have heard horror stories of cops dismantling your dash to find it...


I would sue the crap out of the cop if he attempted to do this on my car.... regardless if I had a radar detector hidden or not.

IMO doing this would require a search warrant.

[snickle]

Ordered a Bel 975R today. I will put together a How-To on the install.

[Jim]

SWEET!

[BrilliantBlackHemi]

I don't have one (I live in VA one of the first states to ban detectors), but everyone I know outside the state seems to have the Valentine One. Never heard a bad thing about it.

[7thS0N]

Damn, I didn't realize that many people still used them... :shock:

[Earcandy]

I'm FROM Montreal, Canada and radar detectors are illegal. I was wondering if there is a radar/laser detector that the police can't detect or hard for them to detect. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

We offer the K40 stealth systems for our customers, very nice system and does not emit the freq. that radar detector detectors are looking for have installed many over the years never had any complaints on performance just price(around $1900.00 installed) have some customers with multiple systems for each car.

[stitchmonkey]

I would sue the crap out of the cop if he attempted to do this on my car.... regardless if I had a radar detector hidden or not.

IMO doing this would require a search warrant.

I think they have to ask if they can look in your car that means everywhere in LEO language? either that or probable cause, and if using one in a state where their banned well guess what?

[Higshemi]

Talk about reviving an old thread Stitch... LOL! I just Pm'd the guy with some info and when I came back to check the thread again, I realized it was from 04!!!!!

[mr.niftie]

Old threads rock!
:bahdumcha:
The answer was and still is:
Beltronics STI

[Z1NONLY]

I know this thread is old but here are three detectors that the police can't detect.

http://www.beltronics.com/sti.html

http://www.beltronics.com/sti-r.html

http://www.escortradar.com/9500ci.htm (this one also jams laser)

They have almost no RF leakage, so i doubt police will ever be able to detect them. Most of the "hide- and-seek" game has involved using new and different LO FQ's so that a given radar detector would leak at FQ that the police equipment wasn't looking for. This always amounted to temporary stealth of a year or two, before the software updates for police equipment caught up. And then it was time for another detector.


The latest method reduces all leakage below the "noise floor" so that if police had equipment that could detect it, that equipment would be useless because it would pick up "noise" 24/7.

[mr.niftie]

Next time I hit an event, probably Mapleview, I'll bring my STI.

[aliveguy5]

I don't have one (I live in VA one of the first states to ban detectors), but everyone I know outside the state seems to have the Valentine One. Never heard a bad thing about it.
In the U.S. States can't ban radar detectors. I mean they can but it won't hold in court though because federal law allows them and federal law supercedes state law. So really if you want a radar detector go buy one and get in touch with a lawyer, they can't do anything about it. It is only illegal to jam frequencies however it is not illegal to detect them.

[MikeEast]

In the U.S. States can't ban radar detectors. I mean they can but it won't hold in court though because federal law allows them and federal law supercedes state law. So really if you want a radar detector go buy one and get in touch with a lawyer, they can't do anything about it. It is only illegal to jam frequencies however it is not illegal to detect them.Tell that to CT and VA - I for one don't have deep enough pockets to test your theory...

But I DID drive around in VA for almost a week with my valantine-1 on and stuck to the windshield and no one said a thing...

Mike

[bigbore]

I've been a loyal Valentine user for many years and had it "upgraded" several times. I've had numerous different (installed and portable- BEL, K40,Escort, etc) brands and find it the most reliable and informative device around. Before traveling through Canada last year I called them to get their opinion on detectability by the police. They mentioned that Ontario had the latest RDD devices and didn't encourage me using it there. They said Quebec wasn't a problem. I have heard that BEL's unit is hardest for the RDD's to detect but my own personal opinion is that Valentine is a better unit, except of course in this aspect. All that said, in 10 days of traveling through Ontario and Quebec last summer I only encountered two coppers actively trying to catch someone. One had Radar and the other was laser. What a contrast to the States...

[Z1NONLY]

I've been a loyal Valentine user for many years and had it "upgraded" several times. I've had numerous different (installed and portable- BEL, K40,Escort, etc) brands and find it the most reliable and informative device around. Before traveling through Canada last year I called them to get their opinion on detectability by the police. They mentioned that Ontario had the latest RDD devices and didn't encourage me using it there. They said Quebec wasn't a problem. I have heard that BEL's unit is hardest for the RDD's to detect but my own personal opinion is that Valentine is a better unit, except of course in this aspect. All that said, in 10 days of traveling through Ontario and Quebec last summer I only encountered two coppers actively trying to catch someone. One had Radar and the other was laser. What a contrast to the States...

The STI can't be detected by any RDD's at this time, and I doubt it ever will be.

That being said, I use a V1.

[RaDaRkInG]

Tell that to CT and VA - I for one don't have deep enough pockets to test your theory...

But I DID drive around in VA for almost a week with my valantine-1 on and stuck to the windshield and no one said a thing...

Mike

Radar detectors are legal in CT just not Virginia or Washington D.C.

http://guysoflidar.com/faq.html#1

Are Radar Detectors Legal?

In the US, Radar detectors are legal for passenger vehicles in 49 states. Radar detectors are illegal in Virginia and Washington DC. Federal Law prohibits the use of radar detectors in all commercial vehicles over 10000 pounds. Radar detector use is also illegal on military bases.

In Canada, only Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan allow the use of radar detectors.

[stevesrt8]

if you want to know what it is, where it is, and exactly how many, there's only one kind... V1.

Far and away the most useful and informative. Damn sensitive, too.

[Most Wanted]

escort 9500ci.

i just got back from a trip to northern wisconsin, where rush hour is about 5 cars on the road. I can honestly say the 9500 Did its job quite a few times. i have had bel, valentine, k40 and they only 1 i feel 100% secure with is the escort.

[MagNeto]

There are a lot of good radar detectors out there and most of them have been mentioned. The Valentine, Beltronics and Escort are probably the top three.

The issue has come down to where you live and whether you allowed to use a radar detector. Here in VA they use the newest Spectre IV RDDS to detect the uses or radar detectors.

All of the brands listed above are protected against VG-2 detection.
http://www.radarbusters.com/2003vg2testingarticle.cfm

The problem is Spectre has released version IV which can detect all of these except the Beltronics STI Driver.

[TxSwimDad]

It is not an issue for me, but maybe you should ask this guy!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r85/txswimdad/Misc%20pics%20for%20reference%20links/radar_warscanada.jpg

What a smug grin he has...no?

[johanness]

I live in BC where radar detectors are allowed. I thought with all the false readings and heavy 'air' traffic that these were long obsolete. (i.e. beeping all the time making nervous-nelly drivers out of the user. That's the way it was back in 87 when I had my first)
That said, I think I'd like to get a new one after reading all this. Proud to have it on my dash... I'm hearing the best ones out there are the Valentine One and Escort 9500? Yes? Please lemme know any preferred places to buy. Cheers

[Lil Hemi]

I have the Escort 9500I with the remote hardwired into the dash. Works great. The built in GPS is great at blocking false signals even displays your speed when radar is detected. Lots more features, check it out.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm177/Lilhemi_1/DSCF0071.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm177/Lilhemi_1/DSCF0068.jpg

[johanness]

Great setup LH! I just saw the $1599.00 price of the 9500ci... so I won't be going that route. Looks like the V1 for hwy and/or the 9500ix or Bel STI Driver for around town.

[Lil Hemi]

Great setup LH! I just saw the $1599.00 price of the 9500ci... so I won't be going that route. Looks like the V1 for hwy and/or the 9500ix or Bel STI Driver for around town.

The 9500ix is new and has the same features as mine with the addition of the camara detector,looks like a nice add on. I bought my 9500i in March for about 450.00 the 'ci at 1500.00 was way out of my price range as well.

[TxSwimDad]

I live in BC where radar detectors are allowed. I thought with all the false readings and heavy 'air' traffic that these were long obsolete. (i.e. beeping all the time making nervous-nelly drivers out of the user. That's the way it was back in 87 when I had my first)
That said, I think I'd like to get a new one after reading all this. Proud to have it on my dash... I'm hearing the best ones out there are the Valentine One and Escort 9500? Yes? Please lemme know any preferred places to buy. Cheers

I love my 9500i. Very quiet except when it needs to be noisey. Storing the few false signals that do trip it is really nice.

BTW, it was a display model at Best Buy that they sold for $400. I sent in to have it serviced for a gps issue and now it has been updated to the latest software no charge.


I have the Escort 9500I with the remote hardwired into the dash. Works great. The built in GPS is great at blocking false signals even displays your speed when radar is detected. Lots more features, check it out.


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm177/Lilhemi_1/DSCF0071.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm177/Lilhemi_1/DSCF0068.jpg
Very nice setup on the smart cord button. You are making me rethink my location.

[Lil Hemi]

Very nice setup on the smart cord button. You are making me rethink my location.

Thanks Tx, took a bit of working with but I am glad I was able to make it fit. I like having the controls in the dash instead of bouncing around on a cord. I may be doing another one soon for a buddy of mine, if so I will take some pics and do a write up on the install.

[Most Wanted]

i have a 9500Ci going in my mag. i will most likely do a writeup on it and pics.

i like what you did with your smartcord there. Looks good.

just a FYI my buddy is a escort dealer and they just did have a little price increase on them. Im going to see what he will do them for on a few 9500ci and 9500i's and x's with smart cords.

[RaDaRkInG]

The Valentine One is the best at detecting radar and lidar. If you live in an area where radar detectors are illegal then you need the Bel STi Driver, Bel STi-R, or Passport 9500ci.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/radar-detector-test.html

[shaft9ii]

I would sue the crap out of the cop if he attempted to do this on my car.... regardless if I had a radar detector hidden or not.

IMO doing this would require a search warrant.



I dunno about Canada, but there are things called warrant exceptions, especially pertaining to mobile conveyances in the US. Look up the Carroll Doctrine.



yes, your car can be searched without a warrant, do illegal things at your own peril :wink:

[BlueBee 6.1]

Have to tell everyone, purchased a Cobra 9430 model fro my wife (she got a ticket this month).
It cost $80 and I have to say that it really works well, has long range detection, picked up cruisers before we could see them, has a city / highway settings to eliminate false alarms, picks up VG2 and Spectre 1 radar detector detectors and is not detectable. Has 360 degree laser (although typically when you get an alert you are busted anyway with laser) and provides the best possible early detection of instant on radar (POP)
It is for sure not as sophisticated as the Passport and valentines, which are the best, but is does its job and only cost $80, so as a starter model ( this is my first one) it represents good value for money.
So when this one gets a little older, I will consider the big expense of a passport 9500xi, but for now the $500 I would rather spend on mods for my car as I have quite a good level of detection with the Cobra. It is so effective I purchased an upgraded model XRS9730 with some additional functions for my Bee.
Purchased the wiring kit and will hardwire them in in the next couple of weeks.

So until yo can afford the better Pasport 9500xi or valentine 1, the better Cobra models represent a good value for money alternative

[BlueBee 6.1]

Lil Hemi

That is the best install I have seen, really good!


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm177/Lilhemi_1/DSCF0071.jpg

[BlackHemi2005]

I have a Valentine 1, been using it for the last 2-3 years. My last speeding ticket, I was driving along I-90 coming home from Wisconsin. I was talking to my wife on the phone while driving my '94 Taurus SHO. As I was coming into the toll both area, I hit the speed control cancel switch, or so I thought. Our Town and Country has a cancel switch in the middle of the RH steering sheel switches, in the Taurus, it is the "Accel" switch. Long story short, I was nabbed doing 76 in a 65 by an Illinois State Trooper with Lidar. The V1 made me fully aware of the situation, only too late. He pulled out behind me, and activated the "X" band radar. My V1 is at the top of the windshield, hard wired. I do not have auto mute enabled, and I could no longer take the beeping of the V1, and I reached up to mute - that's when the red and blues came on.

I told you that story to tell you this one:

After buying my Magnum, I vowed not to have that happen again, so I bought a hidden display for the V1, and it is mounted in the ash tray. It fits perfectly, except the wiring plugs into the end of the unit, so I had to cut a notch in the tray, and a hole in the back of the tray to feed the wire through. Works perfectly. Totally hidden when ash tray is closed, and no display at all visible from behind.