Just curious, who has what, and what do you think?
I've had my radar detector for the longest time now, and I'm thinking it may be time to upgrade.
I've contemplated Laser Jammers such as the Blinder, but they are very expensive, and I just don't think they are worth it just for laser. I don't even know if they use laser in my area.
I've been considering:
-Escort Passport 9500i - a bit expensive
-Beltronics BEL RX65

...Not exactly sure what direction I'm leaning towards yet...

 

Zillions of threads on this on NAM - happy to answer your question, but there's tons of info on this topic available if you search.

My short version:
The models that you list are very good if you live in a urban area and pretty much just want something to tell you to slow down if there's radar nearby...
The 9500 has some really cool features that someday will be standard in all detectors, I hope.

That said, if you do a lot of open-road highway driving, there's really nothing like the Valentine One. It gives you a whole different level of situational awareness regarding the type, number, and location of radar signals you encounter, allowing you to make the best decisions on when to ignore it, when to slow down, and when to SPEED UP...

I've used a number of detectors of various brands over the past 20 years. I've had my V1 for about a year, and doubt I'll ever switch to another brand as long as Valentines are available. It's changed my expectations for how a detector should work.

For jammers - I don't have any personal experience, though I'm considering a laser jammer. Laser is pretty quickly making its way just about everywhere.... it will be everywhere within a few more years. And detectors (including even my beloved V1) are pretty worthless for laser. Yes, they detect it. But usually too late to save you.

 

I am running the Blinder laser jammer and it the best money I have ever spent! I use a V-1 as my radar detector. -- LOVE IT-- how much are you seeing the blinder for? I am a dealer for them. If you want one let me know.

 

I'd echo what BlimeyCabrio says about the V1. "It's changed my expectations for how a detector should work." My ten plus year old V1 has paid for itself over and over and over again since purchase 10+ years ago. I've used it on all my bikes and cars and "don't leave home without it". YMMV

 

As for radar detectors - I'm using a V-1 for the last 6 years and I highly recommend. Sucker has never let me down and I can't live without the arrows. WORTH EVERY PENNY.

As for jammers - I'm running Blinder. Unfortunately, I have yet to have an encounter so I can't give feedback.

I did a post in the interior/exterior section a couple of months back covering install.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...hlight=blinder

Hope this helps

 

Here in California, Radar jammers have been proven over and over to not do anything other than waste your money. I know so cause we've tried them out against our radar guns here at Santa Maria Police Department - they don't do anything except waste your money.

Save your money for a driving school - much better use of funds than a radar detector.

I use a Valentine when out of the state. It works great.

 

+1 for V1

 

Thanks for all the feedback!
I'm definitely going to be purchasing a V1 sometime soon due to the hardcore testimonials I'm getting from absolutely everyone i talk to.

pberry51mini, I was referring to active laser jammers, as I've read that no radar jammers exist for sale other than one that barely works past 200 ft. Also that they are super illegal, where as laser jammers are legal in most states. Definitely agree about the driving school though! I've taken one course at LRP and plan on taking many more.

 

I love my Belltronics RX65. Saves me daily. Was a toss up with the V1 when I bought it. Very happy with my choice. Mine does X,K, Ka, and laser. All of which are still in use here in the SE.

Laser indicators on any dectector just mean you are caught. Occasionally you will get a reflection off a big rig or suv, but dont count on it. Several LEO friends love the brake slamming response they get from those with detectors when using lasers.

I average 3- 3500mi a month so I have learned alot of the nuances of their hidy holes and habits. That would be another thread.....

 

Go start it (I already know too much for my own good)

V1 for over 6 months which equates to roughly 30k, I've watched it out do other detectors on the road.

I recently finished up a road trip through IL IN OH PA NY VT NH ME MA RI CT NJ PA WV KY TN NC AK MO. To give you an idea of the kind of driving I was doing only one car passed me the entire state of WV and I passed him shortly into KY. On that trip alone I made full use of the bogie counter, arrows and detection range. Short and sweet of it was I knew where every radar source was. It also proved it self in four months of 100+ mile per day commutes to give me suffiecent knowledge of all thelocal radar sources including a few instant on and laser scatter off of cars ahead situations.

Needless to say I am pleased to the point that the remote has a permanant in dash home, and I have the V1 mounted in such a way that unless you are within 10ft of the car and really looking for it, you cannot see it externally.

In most situations it stays in L mode I usually switch to A when in the open country, and locally I know when to mute the falses and when there is one to many, or it's from the wrong direction, which present warnings that until recently no other detector offered.

As for active Laser protection it's illegal int he state I'm in.

And yes when I arrived at work I could see who left their's running by watching the arrows and driving down the row. lol

 

For anyone in the NYC/West Palm Beach area.

This is the best custom integration of a valentine one radar out there.
Switch mounted on dask/indicators laser cut into the rear view.

Teknicar.com installs out of NYC
550 WEST 48th Street,
NEW YORK. N.Y, 10036
Phone: (212)-765-4777 / 1166

Technicar.com installs out of West Palm Beach
4421 Annette st, Unit 11.
West Palm Beach, Fl 33409
Phone: (561)-615-4002

Now cost and labor I'm not sure off hand.
This picture is displayed in a Ferrari but they install in any type of vehicle.

 

Now that is sweet!!!!! Might have to move the rx65 over to the wife's MINI, LOL


I think you cannot go wrong with either the V1 or the rx65. 85k on the rx65 and only ticket was a laser from under a bridge in the shade, 11mph over! (Lawrenceville, GA) they stink.

 

Nice to see a mini owner on the " other side " . In your testing did you try the Blinder ? I saw a very impressive demonstration recently and it looked promising. It is laser specific nothing to do with radar. Thanks for the info.

 

I think a laser detector is worthless by the time it goes off your vehicle speed is already on the laser unit! Now laser scatter may be detectable but to get hit with laser here is common and the officers only get one at a time and the laser only emits for that second its on your vehicle. What is a blinder anyway? Just my .02 from experience! Hey bahamabart do you go to the M.O.M. meet ups at HOOTERS?

 

I recently ran upon these guys after getting involved with Gumball 3000. Their BMW M5 E39 has accessories such as the Blinder Jammers, Valentine One, and multiple GPS units. These guys have had 2 tickets on 100,000+ miles driving over 100mph+ http://www.gumball144.com/tech/ - There is their website. This stuff is guaranteed to keep you out of the trouble with the law. I recommend plate blockers and a Valentine One personally.

 

I have the Escort Passport 8500 with the blue display and since I got it I haven't even gotten pulled over and I used to drive quite fast. I love it and I'm considering upgrading to the 9500 or possibly the Beltronics one you mentioned. I never really cared for the V1 because I never saw a point for the arrows. I typically know where cops hide around my area, I just like to know whether or not they are there.

 

For local driving, that's a fair point - though the Bogey counter can still come into play.

I drive many thousands of miles on the highway across several states. The arrows really shine on the interstate...

 

If you didn't "typically know where cops hide around my area" the arrows would be more meaningful. I find them very useful - its additional information. I've used passports and they are excellent as well.

 

I never found arrows to be useful, especially for the additional cost of the V1 (it was more expensive when I bought mine).

 

I use a Valentine One and love it. Honestly, you're going to get tickets no matter what if you're not paying attention.

I had a chance to meet with Alex Roy last night (Yes, Gumball 3000 fame, from Team Polizei). We organized a get together with some guys from a local Audi/VW Club. When asked how he avoided police during his 31 hour (Averaging, yes AVERAGING 100+ MPH) the entire trip, and what radar detectors, etc he used, he said he didn't use any, he has a CB radio and talks to truckers ahead to find out where the police are.

It's all about awareness. I like the V1 because it tells me where to look for police if they have their radar on. That doesn't mean I'm still not paying attention to whether or not there are police on the road. Remember they don't need to actually clock you with radar to write you a ticket. I've NEVER gotten a ticket with radar. Both speeding tickets i've gotten since I started driving were the result of pacing (Following me and matching my speed).

As for everyone knocking the arrows, i've avoided probably 6-7 tickets with the arrows, they give information that no other radar detector can give, they also help you determine whether or not it's even a cop that's triggering the alert.

The biggest problem I have with other radar detectors is that they go off EVERYWHERE. After a while you just stop paying attention. Not to mention it's nice to know before you slam on your brakes that the cop is on the OTHER side of the freeway.

It's great that you know where the 2-3 cops hide in your small town, but that doesn't help most people. I cover 70 miles a day just driving to and from work. It's pretty hard to speed in LA during rush hour (I average about 15 MPH my whole drive to work), but still useful to know where police are.

Cops out here don't really "Hide. In a city with 14 million people in it and 2500 cops, when you do see a cop that's set up a "Speed Trap" (Technically illegal in CA), they almost NEVER show up there again. They mostly drive around with radar on in their cars, it's rare to spot someone behind a bush trying to nab people (they'd be pulling everyone over, he'd have to stop 30 cars at a time).

The V1 doesn't cost that much more than other high end radar detectors, I've more than paid for mine. They don't have $61 speeding tickets in California. First time it's 150-200+, second time it's 300-400, after that it can be 400-500 just for a simple 15-20 over speeding ticket.

 

Are you talking strickly about radar "jammers" or "detectors" or both?

 

So called "Radar Jammers" - a waste of time and effort. And no, we didn't test every possible model out there, no need to, it can't be done by the average car or jammer for a car. Paul

 

Well I used a V1 in an M3 for several years ( Wife came and car went) and bought a Escort 8500 for the sedan. The Escort has proved just as reliable and I like the ability to cut down on city x band. The new 9500 should be even more remarkable and useful if you travel the same routes daily. If you can afford it, go for the blinder in addition.
I know that pberry51mini indicates jammers don't work. The blinder is a laser only blocking system and works up to a couple hundred feet. It won't help you, if the person standing at the bus stop suddenly turns out to be a L.E.O. holding a laser unit and your right there. The unit can only overpower the laser gun at a distance. Most officers though work higher traffic areas where you are likely to get radar and laser deflection and thus notification before you are targeted. I have had atleast 12 confirmed lidar hits and most of them I received a warning scatter alert on before I saw the unit point at my MINI.
Radar Jammers are illegal in all states and it is not worth the federal offense to use one. A radar detector will see even weak signals and usually give you enough time to check and adjust; so that you know what speed you are traveling at when a bored L.E.O. decides it's time to make quota and asks "Do you know how fast you were going?"

I am sure you will enjoy the assurance a radar detector provides.
See the testing http://www.speedzones.com/

Madison Kobalt

 

my experience with the "instant on" Lydar guns currently in use here in
Taxachusetts, is that with a beam, from 1000 yards, that is the size of a quarter, your detectors won't do a thing unless the beam happens to fall into the "eye" . I have a $305 ticket to testify that my detector, which didn't even go off (passport 8500), is useless. The man had my speed cold.

 

I have a passport 8500 x50 in red and escort ZR3 laser jammers. We just did a thorough test on them on tuesday and the jammers do work against the three most commons laser gun used by police depts. today. All three guns were jammed at 800 feet or more giving you plent of time to correct speed. The guy that had the three guns has a 1600 dollar laser jamming system and he was even astonished at how my jammers worked. If you had to get a system get the ZR3's or the blinders best money can buy and it gives you a 1 up on the police laser is an unfair advantage for the average driver.