Radar detectors - who has them, what do you have, why do you have it?

[Darrell KSR]

I've had radar detectors in the past; have not owned one for many years. Saw a Black Friday special on a highly rated Escort that I almost pulled the trigger on, but didn't (reg. price $339; Black Friday $199).

I don't "speed" like some do. But especially in some areas, I'm worse than others. Probably worse in city driving than highway.

On the highway, I'm generally a +7 guy, sometimes +5. Usually 75-77 mph in a 70 zone. Usually cruise control so I don't exceed that. Have passed many police enforcing speed limits at that speed who haven't blinked, although I will tap the brake if I can if I see them.

In the city, sometimes that 35mph zone just "seems" more like a 45 or 50 mph zone. I don't pay enough attention to the speed limit, I guess. I have been pulled over several times for violating the posted speed limit, and usually it is on a road where the speed limit changes. I was on one Murfreesboro where I was doing 51 mph. Speed limit was 45 mph two blocks away, but 35 mph there. Same thing here in Birmingham.

So I may pick one up just to keep me aware, although I know there are a lot of false alarms in the city (or used to be) with things like garage door openers, etc.

Right now, I use WAZE, a pretty cool phone app that is user-contributed, and warns me of police at different spots. Was headed downtown to pick up my daughter last night from rehearsal, and on a road where many people exceed the limit because it's like an interstate almost, and sure enough, I got a warning on WAZE. I wasn't exceeding the limit, but it was still nice to have.

How about you? Do you use a radar detector? Why? Which one?

[dan_bgblue]

I have never invested in one

[Darrell KSR]

Dan, you travel frequently. Are you pretty good about abiding by posted speed limits? Do you get occasional tickets, or would a radar detector, in your view, be totally unnecessary for you?

I should add that in my area from Birmingham to Montgomery, and also from Birmingham north to Huntsville, on I-65, there are numerous speed limit changes. I do not always notice them when they occur. So I might be at 75mph, but the speed limit has dropped to 60mph, and think I'm ok, when I'm not.

[dan_bgblue]

My last ticket was about 12 years ago 72 in a 55. I was talking on the phone on the interstate and went into a 55 mph zone that happens in large cities. Truly, I am a very aware driver 99% of the time and that helps me avoid the occasional citation. I never play the radio or CD player when I am driving, as I do try and concentrate on the task at hand. If the posted limit is 70, I generally run about 77. That helps as most officers are looking for the money shot that starts at 10 mph over or more. I do drive the exact speed limit in Troy, Union City, and Dover TN. Notorious speed traps.

[blueboss]

I've got a Cobra, not sure of the model number but it is very adequate and has saved my butt several times. I only put it in the car when driving out of town, and longer trips. I've found my comfort cruising speed is around 80 MPH on the inter-states. With most inter-state speed limits being 70, 80 is not that much of stretch from the perceived/allowed overage. I usually try to abide by the work zone limits because of the workers, I will say there are work zone areas that I am very familiar with (I 64 between Louisville and Shelbyville) where the traffic flow is generally 10-15 mph over the posted work zone limit due to the isolation/protection of where the actual workers are. In fact on I-64 between Louisville and Lexington it is not uncommon for the traffic flow to be running into the 80's

Anyway, on long trips like driving to FL and not being familiar with the radar hot spots along the way I know it's not a fail safe but it does offer a little piece of mind. I really don't need a speedometer when Mrs. boss is with me, she is a very good excessive speed alarm system.

Hint: I have never driven on I-75 in Madison Co Ky (between Richmond and Berea) either side north or south that I have not seen some sort of law enforcement shooting some type of speed monitoring, and they are smitten with their own penmanship.

[Doc]

As a rule of thumb, I avoid any radar detector endorsed by PJ Hairston or Kevin Ware

[Darrell KSR]

As a rule of thumb, I avoid any radar detector endorsed by PJ Hairston or Kevin Ware

Lol. Good advice.

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[jazyd]

As many miles as I have driven over the years, never owned one. Had 1 ticket in Texas, 2 in La, 1 in Miss so after 34 years I have done pretty good. Forgot the one in Ark. Have slowed last few years, especially with gas prices what they are. Going to a client might get a little fast but coming home slow down and save on gas.

[Darrell KSR]

I've got a Cobra, not sure of the model number but it is very adequate and has saved my butt several times. I only put it in the car when driving out of town, and longer trips. I've found my comfort cruising speed is around 80 MPH on the inter-states. With most inter-state speed limits being 70, 80 is not that much of stretch from the perceived/allowed overage. I usually try to abide by the work zone limits because of the workers, I will say there are work zone areas that I am very familiar with (I 64 between Louisville and Shelbyville) where the traffic flow is generally 10-15 mph over the posted work zone limit due to the isolation/protection of where the actual workers are. In fact on I-64 between Louisville and Lexington it is not uncommon for the traffic flow to be running into the 80's

Anyway, on long trips like driving to FL and not being familiar with the radar hot spots along the way I know it's not a fail safe but it does offer a little piece of mind. I really don't need a speedometer when Mrs. boss is with me, she is a very good excessive speed alarm system.

Hint: I have never driven on I-75 in Madison Co Ky (between Richmond and Berea) either side north or south that I have not seen some sort of law enforcement shooting some type of speed monitoring, and they are smitten with their own penmanship.

I don't want to be a speed demon, but your comment about the traffic going 10 to 15 miles per hour over the speed limit resonates with me. There are many places within a 50 mile radius of me where that occurs regularly. You do not want to drive the speed limit in those locations if you can help it. I also do not want to receive a speeding ticket if I can help it.

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[Darrell KSR]

As many miles as I have driven over the years, never owned one. Had 1 ticket in Texas, 2 in La, 1 in Miss so after 34 years I have done pretty good. Forgot the one in Ark. Have slowed last few years, especially with gas prices what they are. Going to a client might get a little fast but coming home slow down and save on gas.

Your practice sounds a lot like mine. I may drive a little faster heading to a ball game or to a client, but when I am returning home, I generally drop my speed closer to the speed limit, knowing that it is a safer speed from tickets, as well as saving gas money.

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[blueboss]

I also find it hard to stay focused when using cruise contol, so I don't use it much at all. I tend to mentally wander off if I'm not involved in the whole driving process. The detector has saved me when there is light traffic out on the open inter-states, I tend to get a little heavy footed. Obviously in heavy traffic there isn't much opportunity to do anything other than what ever speed is dictated by of the guy driving 12 mph in the left lane (generaly N. Carolina tags), and once I clear the clog I tend to race away just to get the hell away from them.

[TRUCKERCATFAN]

In my line of work, I could really use one. However, they are actually illegal to use in a commercial vehicle so I refrain from buying one.

[MickintheHam]

My last ticket was about 12 years ago 72 in a 55. I was talking on the phone on the interstate and went into a 55 mph zone that happens in large cities. Truly, I am a very aware driver 99% of the time and that helps me avoid the occasional citation. I never play the radio or CD player when I am driving, as I do try and concentrate on the task at hand. If the posted limit is 70, I generally run about 77. That helps as most officers are looking for the money shot that starts at 10 mph over or more. I do drive the exact speed limit in Troy, Union City, and Dover TN. Notorious speed traps.

Add Cornersville, to your list of TN speed traps. The local police are all over Southbound I-65 between the 27 and 22 mile markers. They sit at the bottom of the mountain and pick off speeders on the downhill side all the time. Nabbed me 5 years ago for doing 78 in the 70 mile zone. I go by there about 25-30 times a year. The guy in the unmarked black Camaro is there 75% of the time. Cornersville officials can live in style with the money they take. And if you survive that trap there is frequently a trooper between the 4 mile marker and the Alabama state line. He's just far enough north that he can hunt you down before you get out of the state. These two traps have been going on for at least 30 years.

[Darrell KSR]

Hey Dan...you don't listen to ballgames while driving? Kentucky basketball (to a lesser degree, Kentucky football), and St. Louis Cardinals baseball have gone many a mile with me on the road.

[KSRdallen]

Bringing this post back to the top. Any updated opinions on newer radar detectors? One friend of mine recommends Valentine1. Another recommends Escort. Blueboss mentioned Cobra above, but that was four years ago.

Thoughts?

[Darrell KSR]

Bringing this post back to the top. Any updated opinions on newer radar detectors? One friend of mine recommends Valentine1. Another recommends Escort. Blueboss mentioned Cobra above, but that was four years ago.

Thoughts?

I spend a lot of time on a Radar Detectors Forum now in my spare non-KSR time. I enjoy reading those guys and what they have to say. There are some radar detector testers, vendors, etc. in the group, and I feel like I have a great handle on it.

But if you ask them, they have a set routine. They will first ask a set of questions to you related to where you drive, how you drive, etc. Geography matters, not only topographically, but what particular speed enforcement they use (K band, Ka band, LIDAR (laser), photo, etc.)

If you want a shortcut answer, though, I'll give it to you. It's a shortcut answer, but it will be long. Hang on.

I believe the best radar detector on the market today is the Uniden R3 because it has the absolute best range of any detector made, and good, although not spectacular, false alert filtering. It includes GPS, which is very handy for several reasons. It has extreme range--now, while it may not be "beneficial" to have a 4 mile alert on a flat, straight stretch of interstate, the fact that it does that means that the "tough" alerts--such as ones "off-axis," or with tough geography, trees, curves, hills, etc.--will be more likely to be picked up by it than others before you get into the kill zone.

What does GPS do?

a) Allows you to set a "quiet ride" feature. You can set it to not beep/buzz below a certain speeed. Handy if you'drive through parking lots, grocery stores, automatic door openers, etc. Those are K-band, and will set off radar detectors.

b) Allows you to "lock out" a false signal area. For example, if I pass by a hospital with automatic door opener on a highway each day that sets it off (I do), I can "lock out" that area, so it will mute that alert each time.

c) Red light camera alerts. Speed camera alerts. All geography based.

d) "Mark" feature. You can "mark" certain things. For example, if your son's tutor lives on a dimly lit road, where the houses, driveways, etc. look similar, you can "mark" it so you can find it again next time automatically. Or if there's a hidden turn off a road you sometimes use. Or a "U-turn" location on a busy highway, like Hwy 280 in Birmingham. Or a dangerous pothole. Or any number of things.

It adds about $100 to the price, but the Uniden R3--if you can find it--is about $399. The R1 has all the great performance of the R3, but without the GPS, and it's $100 cheaper.

Valentine one is still a good detector, but it is long in the tooth. Has not had any major upgrade in a long time, and to use it right, you need to do bluetooth with your phone, have an app, etc. To some that's a turnoff, but it does have some very nice benefits, too, and it's been around a long time. It's about $450.

Escort isn't a detector, but a company. They have been bought by Cobra (which, unfortunately, has a very bad reputation in the radar detector enthusiasts world). Escort still has quality products, though.

The two that you'd want to consider in the Escort line are the Redline EX ($599) and the Max360 ($649).

Redline EX is the brand new, updated version of the "Redline," which was the king of range until earlier this year when the Uniden R3 took the throne. The Redline suffered from horrible filtering, though, and beeped constantly from blind spot monitors from cars, leaky Cobra radar detectors, and of course, automatic door openers and such. Some people, such as ones who lived in California, turned off K-band (all of those false alerts are K-band alerts), since California state troopers and such only use Ka-band. There are very few false Ka-band alerts.

I saw enough from early testing not to like the Redline EX--it crippled the Redline's range, while making the filtering better. Took away its strength to try to do better, but apparently just adjusted its sensitivity, rather than fixed the filtering.

The Max 360 has "arrows," which a lot of people like. When the alert comes, it's handy to know--is it in front of you? Behind you? To the left or the right? Some people don't care. It's huge on your windshield, and the range isn't very good compared to the others, but some like it. Display looks good, which is important to some.

Uniden has been updated their firmware regularly, which is a huge plus in the enthusiasts world. You can plug up your detector to your computer, and get improved range, improved filtering, more features, etc.

Escort's databases are well known as being better updated than Uniden's.

Uniden is the new Johnny-come-lately. But they have kicked ass since they arrived.

They produced the best mid-price detector with very good range--the Uniden 850 and the 950--a couple of years ago.

The 950 had GPS, the 850 without. Otherwise the same. The 950 was originally priced at $299, but they were discontinuing it, and started marking it down. I bought one at $150.

The 950/850 were replaced by the DFR7 AND DFR 6. Same exact detector*, just in a different shell. Pricing went back up to $299 and $199, respectively. There's a vendor on the radar detectors forum that sells them for $269, and I heard Costco had a deal even cheaper.

* In fact, you can update your firmware to the DFR7 firmware if you had an old 950. That's what I did. It allowed turning off the voice in certain areas, improved filtering, allows you to change your settings to Ka-band wide or narrow and the same for K-band, etc.

Downside on ALL of these--none of them will protect you against Laser. They all claim to have Laser bands. Laser is so narrow that when your detector detects it, it's a ticket notifier, as you have been hit. Radar spreads out and can be picked up long distances under ideal situations.

Having said that--there's a guy in Maryland who was frustrated with the R3 he purchased. It's a hot commodity, and often not in stock right now, so a lot of the forum guys were irritated at him--but he didn't care much about range, he wanted Laser detection. He had a good reason--where he lived, they had portable laser things that sat on the side of the road, and CAN be picked up by a decent laser detector before you hit it, because it's a different type than a law enforcement officer would use. He had a good reason, and apparently the R3 isn't a good laser detector.

Here's a video from a guy that is a radar detector guru, "Vortex." He has many videos on Youtube. I don't necessarily agree with everything he says--he's higher on the Max360 than I would be, based on what I believe to be many, many reliable reports of how deficient it is in certain areas, although he thinks it has improved, for example. But he's the guy.

[Darrell KSR]

By the way, you won't get the "Uniden R3" as the answer from many guys you talk to on the street. Most won't even know it exists.

By the way, I owned a Whistler CR90 before I found the Uniden 950. I've always had the GPS feature, and love it. The Whistler was ok, but I sold it on eBay, and bought the 950 and broke even, while getting a significant upgrade in range detection.

And Cobra--I "dissed" it earlier. My daughter's fiance has a Cobra, and he swears by it. There is one Cobra that tested out well, and it was sub-$100, although the MSRP was something like $300. I think it was called the BT9200 or something like that. But no, after reading during my insomnia hours for many months, I couldn't recommend one of those.

Oh--one other thing the GPS thing can do, which my wife either loves, or hates. It has an "over speed" alert that you can set for a certain speed, and if you inadvertently hit that speed, it warns you. My wife glares at me when it goes off in my car.

[Darrell KSR]

Here is their standard introduction:

There is no "best" DETECTOR!! ( although some are indeed better than others and we will tell you so ) ......


This question comes up frequently, " what's the best detector? " Everyone has their own personal favorites, but there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all detector or a best detector overall. Every situation is different. Every detector has its place ( well, almost as some are more suitable as anchors for small boats or paperweights ) . What works for one person or vehicle or state might not work for another.


Second, when you ask for advice, tell us about your vehicle, where you drive and what your budget is! The more details, the better. Here is the essential information we need:


1. What kind of vehicle you have and do you want a remote or a windshield mount?
2. What's your budget?
3. Where you live ( address not needed of course) and what states , country or areas you primarily drive? ( this is essential)
4. How you drive?
5. What your daily drive is like (short trips? long trips? city? highway?) we ask this because of falsing issues that exist in many areas or cities.
6. How long you have been using countermeasures, if at all?
7. Are there curves, hills, obstructions or is the area flat as a pancake.
8. Are there Redlight cams/speed cams in your area and do you need / prefer a GPS enabled unit?
9. Thanks to ahl: "Are you willing/do you want to use your phone to pair with the RD?" and "What kind of device do you own (iOS/Android)". There is Escort LIVE and droid only YaV1 for the V1 apps one can use to adjust their RD. There is also V1 Driver in the ios APP Store for V1 users who wish to use an Apple device. ** Note that many of these apps allow you to use the APP (either droid or Apple) to readjust your settings for the V1. Escort Live allows you to do this as well on Escort products that are LIVE compatible.


If you have any preconceived notions or thoughts about RDs, please tell us how long you've been using RDs or other units? etc. -- or any other relevant info you think might be important, let us know that as well.

[Darrell KSR]

One other thing. I have never had a LIDAR alert. As you know, I travel up and down Alabama, and regularly visit Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle area. I also occasionally travel to Georgia, which has become more common now with my daughter in school there. Other than some parts of Georgia, laser use is very rare to nonexistent in those areas.

If you do happen to travel in areas where laser is common, the only real countermeasure that is effective is parking sensors, aka, laser jammers. Now you are in an entirely different price range, unfortunately. Plus you have to have professional installation, etc.

[MickintheHam]

I have never invested in one

Same here!

[badrose]

I had 2 or 3 back in the day. I stopped using them because if you're in the grey area of getting a ticket, a detector is a deal-breaker.

[CitizenBBN]

Darrell sure knows a lot about these things for a guy who hasn't broken the speed limit since his brakes went out on a hill when he was 18.

[KSRdallen]

Thanks, Darrell. That's quite a response!

[Darrell KSR]

Dallen, it's tip of the iceberg, but I feel reasonably comfortable that those are informed comments that would make a person happy with the choice.

Vortex is terrific--unassuming guy, quiet, doesn't make waves. For some reason, the enthusiasts are very passionate about "their" detector. Well, he owns them all, so he doesn't have to worry about brand allegiance or loyalty or whatever.

If somebody is giving me money to spend on a new one, I'll run to the R3, and my second choice would probably be the DFR7 (same as the 950, which I have now). Both are great filtering products, although the DFR7 doesn't have the range the R3 does.

My 3rd choice--and if I had more ability to play with the apps, etc., it might move up to 2nd choice--would be the Valentine. It IS still a good choice. Does a lot of things well.

I would consider the Redline EX, but not the Redline. Unless you can turn off K-band, the Redline will drive you crazy. The Redline EX doesn't have the range of the Redline (second only to the R3), but it is, according to Vortex, getting better, although I've heard mixed on that.

Just me, but I couldn't spend money on the Max 360. Supposed to be all-world, it's all-dud.

I jumped on the site and found the Cobra model that seems to be recommended by many, and it's the Cobra DSP 9200 BT. It had a MSRP of $400, very high for a Cobra, but you could buy it new for $89. It seems to be hard to find now, though. I wouldn't get it, because the filtering isn't as great, and it is "leaky," which seems to offend "real" RD enthusiasts. I just checked on eBay, and I see it new for $299, so YMMV, but I wouldn't get it unless I could find it sub-$100.

(Radar detectors are funny--I bought my Uniden 950 for $150 new, no tax. I just looked, and see there's one for sale, pre-owned/used and the bidding is at $230.00 plus $15.00 shipping, with 2 days remaining. They hold their value well.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Uniden-LRD95...wAAOSwI4BZtbN2

CBBN, I probably go slower than 50% of the people on this board. But even those of us who generally coast along at PSL +10 occasionally "slip up." Give you an example. I was driving along the interstate the other day returning from out of town. PSL was 70, and I was doing, I guess 80 or 81. I try to stay around 79, but usually creeps over. All of a sudden, I receive a Ka-band alert--and ease off the pedal. As I'm easing off the pedal, I see a speed limit sign--it has dropped to 55.

So instead of me coasting at +10, I was actually at +26 for that short period of time.

And that's why I have one.

(To finish the story; I hit the brake, and about 3/4 of a mile down the road was a state trooper actually on the side of the interstate near a median wall, very dangerous, parked with no lights on at night. The folks that inhabit the radar detector forums go nuts over things like this, since they are adamant that speeding is safe and that all the nonsense about ticket enforcement is solely about revenue generation, and not about safety. That's another exhibit for their side, and yes, they've persuaded me a good bit.)

[CitizenBBN]

Oh, I'm with those guys on the speeding laws.

Speeding isn't the main source of danger, dangerous driving and people driving at wildly different speeds is dangerous. Obviously hitting a tree or curb at 100 is worse than at 20, but the difference between 70 and 90 isn't as wide. Like the guys on motorcycles I saw last week splitting two cars on a 2 lane road, now THAT is dangerous.

National speed limits had as much to do with the nanny state and at the time saving fuel as anything else. There's a reason we got one in 1973. Throw in the safety appeal of the nanny state and the ability to raise revenue and it was a shoe-in.

I had one a thousand years ago in college age range, guess I should look into it again.

[badrose]

Oh, I'm with those guys on the speeding laws.

Speeding isn't the main source of danger, dangerous driving and people driving at wildly different speeds is dangerous. Obviously hitting a tree or curb at 100 is worse than at 20, but the difference between 70 and 90 isn't as wide. Like the guys on motorcycles I saw last week splitting two cars on a 2 lane road, now THAT is dangerous.

National speed limits had as much to do with the nanny state and at the time saving fuel as anything else. There's a reason we got one in 1973. Throw in the safety appeal of the nanny state and the ability to raise revenue and it was a shoe-in.

I had one a thousand years ago in college age range, guess I should look into it again.

Oh yeah. And don't forget the cb radios.

[Darrell KSR]

FWIW, a terrific detector - not the best, but a very solid performer - is on sale at Costco if you are a member. Price is $219 for the Uniden DFR7.

I would take that over most detectors, and definitely a "best buy" at that price.

[blueboss]

Recently acquired a Rocky Mountain detector/scrambler.




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