I chose the Escort Redline for it's performance and the fact that it is invisible the radar detector detectors that the police have in their cars.

 

Do the Escort 8500s have a signal counter? I can easily see a scenario where you have false Ka hits from door openers off to the side simultaneous with an actual Ka bogey down the road ahead of you. In this case, just looking at the change in signal strength would fool you since the real bogey would be masked by the false Ka hits until it was too late. The V1 display would show you that the false Ka signals dominating the signal strength and then tapering off were to the side and that there was still one weaker, unaccounted Ka bogey ahead of you to look out for. In this case, the V1 directional indicators in conjunction with the counter provides an advantage.

BTW, does anyone have any experience with your late model V1 picking up lidar? I know it has the capability but I have yet to encounter a LEO employing this technology. Just wondering how well it works.

 

I'm happy just to get reports from other motorists that see speed traps set up.

There is an app that does just this and alerts you when your GPS indicates you are nearby, and a big advantage is that it's free.

 

deleted - wrong thread

 

Yes, they do. But you have to set the display mode to the correct setting for it to tell you how many signals it's receiving. I've never received more than two when the CHP was zooming up and down a certain stretch of freeway. The mode will simply display the letters "Ka" and then a short vertical bar will appear to indicate the strength. Taller and it's strong and near, shorter and it's weaker and fading away. If there's more than one signal, it'll show two bars. Three sources and it shows three bars.

Also, I don't believe there's a door opener or any other civilian use of the Ka band in the entire USA. All door openers are a K band only. Some people simply turn K band detection off, but i like to keep it there because those signs that tell you how fast you're going use K band and sometimes there's a cop sitting nearby to snag you. X band really isn't used anymore anywhere and I'm surprised that anyone still puts that capability in detectors.

And if a detector shows a Ka hit, regardless of the direction it's coming from, it needs to be heeded as the only people using Ka are cops. And they could just as easily be off to the side a bit. Or one off to the side scanning and another with their radar or LIDAR off down the road. You do NOT want to ignore any Ka hits.

Finally, the 9500 is a top notch detector. Some would argue the very best, even better than Valentine. And in some categories of performance, the Escort detectors are indeed, superior to the Valentine. And Valentine is excellent as well. I think I mentioned before that the directional aspect of the Valentine isn't really as great a feature as many believe. And the same can be said for the extra features of the 9500. If you don't need the extra bells and whistles of the 9500, the 8500 gives you the same detector performance. Ya makes you're decision and pays yer money.

 

You can go cheap on a dectector and you'll know when your getting clocked but will get caught with POP radar & Photo radar more often. @ tickets are mor than $400 in some states. Also you'll know where every automatic door orpener is and you'll be reminded everyday you drive by it.
Bite the bullet and get the Escort 9500 with GPS and you'll get only 2 false alarms a month instead of 30 a day-very annoying. You'll know when he's using POP instant on radar and where the speed traps and red light cameras are...IF you drive hard like I do, always going >80 when no one is around then make your fun worry free.
Here's an email to Escort and thery're running a mount special in it.
Rule the road, MINI & Escort belong together !!!!

http://us.mc1810.mail.yahoo.com/mc/w...jsrand=5503529

 

I looked at the 9500ix but bought the Redline. The 9500ix has a subscription to get updates, etc as it is GPS based. I've had the Redline for about a month and it truely is fantastic. I had a Bel V8 that I gave to my son (after a speeding ticket!), so I took the opportunity to upgrade.

 

I've been reading up on both, but kind of like the GPS feature that will get to know the false alarms in my area and be less annoying. I'm still making up my mind - I have until Monday to decide.

 

Seriously, if you are the only one on the road, you will get caught. No detector will protect you from instant on, if you are the first car he lights up. You have to be smart. If you are alone and can't see a long way off, you are better off slowing down. Especially at night or an unfamiliar road.

 

There is also a safety factor of owning one. Years ago I was traveling along a very lightly used back road and out of nowhere my radar detector went off. I hit the brakes and slowed for the upcoming corner and as I came around the corner there was a CHP cruiser blocking the road for a car commercial. I was going the speed limit of 55 mph right up to that corner and if I didn't have the warning to slow down I might have had a very close call.

 

That's it. We have them because of the safety factor.

Other important safety tools are red light cameras, instant on radar, etc.

The only thing that I do believe effect safety is to get people off of hand-held phones in cars and to get them to wear seat belts. Personally I would legislate bike helmets in every state as well. But that is only my opinion.

///Me

 

I have a Bel 955 and am pretty happy with it. It was cheap ($145 on Amazon) and works well, without many false alarms at all. All my friends have V1 and the constant false alarms drive me crazy, plus the band indicator is small and hard to see. Not only does mine display it clearly, but each band is a different sound, and when I get POPed the thing goes crazy :D.

I have it sitting on the corner of my dash and it's hardwired into my fuse box. Very easy to hit the mute button. Next detector will be the 9500ix.

 

Beyond radar/laser detectors are social media apps that use a GPS smart phone. Where they point out cops, photo cameras, red light cameras, and also traffic jams/accidents.

Waze, Trapster and some others if you look around.

 

I have not driven with out a radar detector for over 30 years, they are all improved over those old units of the past. You still need some common sense when using them. As for the laser jammers, I am not convinced of them, I need to do more reasearch on that subject to get understanding on how and if they really work

 

CA94960,

what is your price range?

 

My rule of thumb:
If your gonna drive for fun and you push it over 90mph more than once a day then buy the best brake shoes, best tires, best stereo, and finally the best Radar Detector. You've already got the best car for fun cause ur in a MINI...

I have driven with an Escort radar detector for over 30 years. They have improved over those old units of the past and now with units like the 9500i & REDLINE, they sit quietly waiting to warn you... You still need some common sense when using them as the curves, overpasses, ramps over your shoulders, and blind spots still are prime clocking traps..
OH, Laser only works by line of sight and so the officer will be parked sideways with his window open, standing next to his car, can clock only 300-400ft, cannot clock in rain/snow/fog, and when your Laser sound goes off IT'S TOOOO LATE.. WATCH FOR THESE OBVIOUS LASER SCENARIOS. OH, THEY'RE BRINGING BACK LIDAR WHERE THEY CLOCK YOU FROM A SMALL PLANE. INIANA HAS ADDED THE SMALL WHITE CROSS LINES ON RT-41 ON THE CENTER LINE AND ARE ADDING MORE, SO BE AWARE OF HELIS 7 PLANES FOLLWING THE ROADS !!! ENJOY YOUR DRIVE TODAY...

 

The Escort is a decent radar a bit to sensitive for my liking which ultimately would result in more falsing especially the Redline i mean who needs to be alerted 4 miles out and have the radar going off that whole time.

It's go big or go home for me, so if you want the best I would fork the money up and get something built in. The K40 makes the best built in radar in my opinion there s has 2 radar receivers as opposed to one and will tell you if the cop is in front or behind you. I personally drive with the K40 RL360 and I included a picture of my dash thats all you see, the system will verbally tell you everything else.

 

After a lot of reading, I think I've decided on the Escort Passport 9500ix. It seems to strike a good balance between sensitivity and technology, especially when it comes to filtering out false alerts. In addition, their Escort Live service looks pretty cool, although it will be interesting to see how it works in real life. The fact that they allow you to pay for the device over 12 months doesn't hurt, either.

I know a few of you have installs that seem to tap off of some power source near the rear view mirror. How did you do that? Is it DIY-able??

Otherwise, can anyone recommend the best way to mount one of these in the MINI?

Cheers.

 

what's your price range?

 

V1 all the way. Saved me countless times. You really have to know how radar and lidar work, and how the police use them to really benefit from it. Radar is NOT instant on...there is a delay from when they hit the button to when they are able to get an accurate speed reading. Even if the Ka bar pings all the way on if you slow down quick enough you will be safe. I've done it numerous times, and even had the cop put down the gun and watch me go by, so I know that he knew I was over, but his radar gun couldn't prove it.

The only ticket I've gotten was in my old truck...I was going with the flow of traffic and the cop was pacing me. He said he was watching me for over 2 miles, no radar, just pacing me. I was going close to 80 for most of it and was in a 55 construction zone (didn't know it, they'd finished construction but hadn't taken down the signs yet!). CHP wrote me up for 70 in a 65 so I didn't fight it lol.

 

See my post #6

 

Price is not really a problem for me - I want something worth buying.

 

If you want a quiet detector which falses very little go with the Escort 9500i.
If you want awesome range and some false alarms go for the Escort Redline or Valetine One...
You should borrow a friends to make sure your happy with your detetctor..
PM me and I'll give you my cell number so I can give you some operating hints..
Lee

 

I just bought one. It looks great so far, virtually no false alarms.


Yes... Just enable the advanced view.

 

Escort makes a top notch detector. I have two 8500's and next time I buy one, it'll be the 9500.