RADAR Detector Preference

**Fastlane68** · 11-02-2004, 11:50 PM

I've been missing getting a RADAR ticket by just a second or so. Usually the car in front gets it before me. Its only a matter of time before I get nailed. I'm considering a detector. I know a lot of you are back East where RADAR is used more frequently than here in the West coast. Do any of you have a preference as to a detector? One of my friends recommended the Valentine V1 as the best of the bunch. What do you like? Note that Valentine is not remote mountable, critical in your states where they're illegal. Valentine states it lowers the performance.

**n8thegr8** · 11-02-2004, 11:54 PM

Got a Valentine One and hit has saved my but numerous times. For a year I was commuting up the 5 fwy FROM LA to San Jose each week, used it all the time. No tickets, and I would do 120 at times (made the 340+ trip in 4h30m flat once).

I'm planning to mount my V1 with the remote display down in the ashtray area. The V1 itself will be tucked behind and just to the right of the rear view mirror just enough that the rear sensor can see back, but so it's not visible by me or really noticeable FROM outside. I'm going to run the wire around the headliner and down the A-pillar.

I wish Valentine would come with a remote system. He could do his setup with a remote external brain/sensor that mounted on the roof and looked like a satellite radio antenna. That would be totally stealth, and preserve the sensitive electronics timings that he needs to calculate direction. I guess I should email him the suggestion.

**bri** · 11-03-2004, 01:26 AM

valentine's reasoning is that the magnesium case it comes in (iirc) is pivotal to it's ability to receive the signals properly or something like that.. he's stated he won't do a remote mountable one..

anyhow, also iirc, virginia is the only state where radar detectors are officially illegal.. i have a V1 and a remote display mounted in the ashtray of my s4, it's saved me countless times..,

since moving to virginia i drive blind now, making sure there's at least one idiot on the road driving faster than me..

**MagnumFreak** · 11-03-2004, 09:47 AM

Got the beltronics 975R. The sensor is mounted under the hood near the front grill and the electronics are mounted in the ashtray. If I ever get pulled over, switch it off, close the ashtray and nothing is visible.

Unit works really good also. It naturally detects better in front but I has gone off with cops coming up FROM behind also. Well worth the money.

**chillyone** · 11-03-2004, 11:32 AM

I've done considerable research on the topic and if you look at the following sites (on some you have to carefully navigate to get at all the info) you will learn everything you need to know to make an informed decision (including laser jammers).

www.radarbusters.com (make sure you find the PRODUCT TESTS section)
www.radartest.com
www.speedzones.com
www.rateadetector.com

Consistently, top rated, high-end, windshield-mounts (reasonable prices):

Escort 8500 X50
Bel Pro RX65
Valentine One

Top rated, high-end remotes: (very expensive)

Bel RX75
Escort Sr7

Top rated, [u]reasonably-priced[/u,] remotes: (in my opinion these are good choices)

Bel 975R
Whistler 3450

**snickle** · 11-03-2004, 03:51 PM

I have the Bel 975R. Works great. There is a how-to on the install in the knowledge base.

**saltracer** · 11-03-2004, 08:47 PM

Just a sideline on the legality of Radar Detectors. I drove FROM Arizona back to Ohio this last summer and when I crossed the Mississippi INTO Illinois they had some permanent signs along the highway (44 I believe) that said Radar detectors use was illegal. I had never heard of that in Illinois before so I just put a roadmap over mine to conceal it.
Howard 8)

**duglas** · 11-11-2004, 12:01 AM

I just bought a Bel RX75 PRO...

It was $900 but it has an extra LED that I can mount in the dash, plus a remote mute/volume button and a seperate speaker with it so you can really hide the main unit..

I live in VA where they are ilegal but with my 2nd ticket last week since I got it, I figured it will be worth it in the long run..

**bri** · 11-11-2004, 12:39 AM

wait, you're in VA? whereabouts? and why did i think you lived elsewhere?

edit: went back and read old threads and answered my own question.. chesapeake! it's all coming back to me now..

**zonian** · 11-11-2004, 09:01 AM

Just a sideline on the legality of Radar Detectors. I drove FROM Arizona back to Ohio this last summer and when I crossed the Mississippi INTO Illinois they had some permanent signs along the highway (44 I believe) that said Radar detectors use was illegal. I had never heard of that in Illinois before so I just put a roadmap over mine to conceal it.

I believe that the sign probably specified "commercial vehicles.". They are unregulated in passenger cars.

Paul

**C4me** · 11-11-2004, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by djclause

I just bought a Bel RX75 PRO...

It was $900 but it has an extra LED that I can mount in the dash, plus a remote mute/volume button and a seperate speaker with it so you can really hide the main unit..

I live in VA where they are ilegal but with my 2nd ticket last week since I got it, I figured it will be worth it in the long run..

2nd ticket since you got it? Worth it in the long run? Sorry dj, I MUST be missing something here.

**duglas** · 11-11-2004, 08:10 PM

2nd ticket Since I got the Magnum... Not the radar detector...

**67alecto** · 11-11-2004, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by n8thegr8

Got a Valentine One and hit has saved my but numerous times. For a year I was commuting up the 5 fwy FROM LA to San Jose each week, used it all the time. No tickets, and I would do 120 at times (made the 340+ trip in 4h30m flat once).

No one else find a problem with this?

(Mods, was my previous post deleted or did the board eat it?)