I'm looking to buy a radar detector soon in the price range of $100.Does anyone have any recommendations or any websites where I can do a bit ofresearch? I've been looking around, there are so many of them, I dont knowwhat to buy. Thought I'd ask here firstthanks-Sohel

Under $300, they're all pretty much the same: they go off frequently, and it's up to you to guess whether it's police radar, supermarket door openers, or space aliens. They're OK if you never drive more than 10-15 mph over the limit anyway and don't mind slowing down for incessant false alarms.I like my cheap Uniden because it helps me stay awake on long trips. The only thing ever to set off the laser alert is my power antenna. OTOH, the X-band buzzer has an affinity for Ford and Chrysler pickup trucks (that's certainly handy, isn't it?). Here's a clue to its real value: it's never been stolen while parking with the top down.If I felt a serious need for radar protection, I'd buy an Escort 8500 or a Valentine One.

I'm a big fan of radar detectors, have a very nice Escort. But the most effective method of preventing a speeding ticket is to simply scan down the road for cars which are hitting their brake lights.

The short alert is almost the same as one caused by oncoming traffic with anolder radar detector that radiates. In addition, they are adding fixedtraffic survey radars and tv cameras along urban bipasses in my area.

The "about the same" is just not true. I've taken a carton full of brand newunits and tested them with extreme differences between the best and theworst. The least expensive units seem to have the most variation. Evidentlythe mfrs use "a must be better than" sensitivity test.

radar detectors?

Dec 28, 2003 27 Replies

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DJH 22 years ago

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Leon van Dommelen 22 years ago

So does unmarked patrol cars. Or marked ones, for that matter.

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tooloud 22 years ago

I'll second that, Alex. Way too many detector owners don't know what to do with the information the detector provides.

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tooloud 22 years ago

Very true. Also, I make it a habit to ensure that I don't stick out from the other traffic, i.e. drop your speed a little when ahead of all the other traffic, speed up a little when there's traffic ahead of you, stay in the right lane as much as possible, etc.

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chuckk 22 years ago

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yooser 22 years ago

Sensitivity doesn't matter as all available units are about the same. Relitive immunity to false alarms matters a lot because if the unit beeps all the time, for no good reason, you will ignore it including the one time that you shouldn't.

The Valentine is the best unit for not giving false alarms. No contest.

Still nothing beats a good set of eyeballs.

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DJH 22 years ago

yes, the valentine is probably number one, but the new Escort are very close for significantly less money - nicer size too.

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chuckk 22 years ago

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