[jpa74]

Once my F30 is delivered, I might exceed the posted speed limits once in a while...

Questions:

1. Do you find radar detectors to be effective? I remember having one in college, and I got more speeding tickets with it than without.

2. If you swear by its effectiveness, what model do you use?

3. How fast were you going when the radar detector actually warned you about the cop ahead?

Thanks!

[Lucky13]

Passport 8500 and probably saved me 50 tickets.

[Goody4]

I'll be first to tell you this topic has been discussed ad naseum on this website. But, here are the basics:

No radar detector is an end-all to your speeding tickets. The terrain and the type of lidar used both have an impact--sometimes negatively--on a detector's performance.

Hills and curves shorten the effectiveness of your detector since your detector can't "see" as far. Automatic doors, those portable electronic billboards on the side of road telling you that EXIT RAMP 45 WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 4 P.M. TUES. NOV.11, and other drivers' inferior radar detectors can all give false alarms.

If you're tracked by radar that uses a traditional frequency such as X-band, K-band, or Ka-band, you have a fighting chance to slow down in time to avoid being caught.

Along with the variables pointed out above, your speed also plays a prominent part. From my experience only, 20 mph over the limit is about the cutoff point that will allow you brake back into the speed limit before being detected with traditional radar. (This assumes a gradual increase in the warning signal.)

If you get "hit" by laser, this is simply a kind reminder that you'll be pulled over very shortly and issued a ticket. (There are no two ways about it with laser detection, sorry.) Laser JAMMING is another topic and deserves its own thread.

Another way to get caught is if law enforcement uses instant-on radar. With this, the officer will not turn on his radar until you are sight. This also is almost a guaranteed ticket.

I've used ValentineOne for over a decade. I got one ticket in Canada. It was not for speeding, but for having the V1 on. (Where I was in Ottawa, they were using radar detector detectors.)

There are a few excellent radar detectors, all with their own fan base. The Bel Sti, the Passport 9500i, and the ValentineOne. None is cheap. But, when it comes to radar detection, you get what you pay for.

[robbieracer]

I have the Passport 9500ix. It works great and has saved me many times. I bought it after I got a speeding ticket two years ago. It works great for KA band and it picks up the signal way before I'd ever imagine it could. As far as the laser goes, I've heard once it picks it up it's already too late.

[smohr33]

Had a passport 8500, now a 9500. They both work equally well I'd say. The 9500 is much nicer though since it learns all the false alarms, and has warnings for traffic light cameras.

I haven't been using it in my F30 since I haven't harwired it yet, and I definitly feel less comfortable on the highway without it.

[Fraggy]

Yes, it works wonders. But you still have to use your eyes and common sense. You can't just plug it in and drive with impunity figuring no cop is going to see you.

[KneeDragr]

As far as detection goes, if you want to give your detector a better chance, take your front plate off. You may get an occasional ticket for it, but police are trained to aim right for the front plate because its a perpendicular surface and gets very good returns. Detection range gets cut almost in half for a lot of cars if you remove the front plate.

[sali]

I heard Laser jammers work well and most LE's are moving towards Lasers.

Another option is to ask your buddies to scout the road (15-20 miles ahead) before hitting 120 on your car.

[KneeDragr]

Originally Posted by sali

I heard Laser jammers work well and most LE's are moving towards Lasers.

Another option is to ask your buddies to scout the road (15-20 miles ahead) before hitting 120 on your car.

I dont go that far, but when I hit the mountains in my Vette I always start my fun with a 'tire warm up' where I drive < 10 over the limit for the length of the mountain pass. If the temps are less than 70 its necessary anyhow in order to get some heat in the tires. Occasionally they setup a trap in a couple areas I drive, mostly for sport bikes. Once you eliminate those, your only chance is someone driving the other way with their radar on. A detector should give you a good chance at beating that situation.

[CE750Jockey]

In conjunction with good radar detector, use Waze on your phone to see if anyone else has reported police along your route. It's free, and works really well.

[Bob Shiftright]

Originally Posted by jpa74

1. Do you find radar detectors to be effective? I remember having one in college, and I got more speeding tickets with it than without.

I've been using radar detectors since Mike Valentine designed the original Escort for Cincinnati Microwave. I've gotten a couple of tickets over the years -- by doing something stupid, ignoring one or another of the "rules" -- but the technology has probably saved me many, many more.

Originally Posted by jpa74

2. If you swear by its effectiveness, what model do you use?

I don't swear by its effectiveness -- but I have a couple of V-1s

Originally Posted by jpa74

3. How fast were you going when the radar detector actually warned you about the cop ahead?

I have watched two different cars that I had passed shortly before get pulled over after I slowed for the speed trap. So fast enough to get pulled over.

New Jersey State Police still uses a lot of X-band. The units are stone-age technology but the state doesn't have any money left and the old units don't break.