Radar detectors
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You just need to contact your local police or state police to find out. As far as which one, it really doesn't matter because the only times it would be of assistance is if there is someone (cop) ahead of you runing radar. If they are moving and you're in front and it goes off it just means you've been hit with the radar becase by the time the thing goes off the signal has goten back to the crusier. As far as laser it's even more so because it isn't a wide band like radar, it's a straight beam to the vehicle being hit by the officer.
Cam
Cam
You also might want to consider a laser jammer. I think I'm going to go that route. It will go off to let you know you've been hit by a laser and before "they" can readjust the radar gun to try to read you again, you can turn the jammer off. Of course, by then, you have miraculously slowed to the speed limit! Check legality in your state or province!
Escort - Passport - 8500
Very nice, one of the best(I believe it is the best). $300 available by mail order
Very good for KA band only negative aspect, it does not have the directional arrows like the Valentine.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: DHG #1302 on 2001-07-19 13:42 ]</font>
Very nice, one of the best(I believe it is the best). $300 available by mail order
Very good for KA band only negative aspect, it does not have the directional arrows like the Valentine.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: DHG #1302 on 2001-07-19 13:42 ]</font>
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959 Posts
My Valentine, here in Houston, has seen K, Ka and laser in various parts of town. Ka is growing rapidly and the hardest to detect early enough.
I still stand by the Valentine being the best. Honestly though, I really don't speed that much but speeds tend to creep at times and I like having the chance to be able to slow down 5 or 10 mph to avoid a problem.
Brian
I still stand by the Valentine being the best. Honestly though, I really don't speed that much but speeds tend to creep at times and I like having the chance to be able to slow down 5 or 10 mph to avoid a problem.
Brian
Illinois is still behind the times a bit. Mostly K band for the State police and the newer units purchased for the more "well to do" areas. Other than that it's X band.
I picked up the Escort/Passport 8500 and love it. Software upgradeable for future threat detection. Mine was $309 out the Door at a sale at Best Buy. Go to www.radartest.com There's a bit of controversey between this site and the Valentine folks. Whether it's true or just "sour grapes" from the Valentine people has not been determined, so take their review of the V1 with a grain of salt. The V1 is still a great detector but it IS getting a bit long in the tooth.
As for the "Jammers".. I'd personally stay away from them. Most Radar Jammers have been proven to INCREASE the range at which your speed can be detected. And the only jammers that actually DO work are ACTIVE jammers, or ones that Transmit a jamming frequency. However the problem with that is that you are now in violation of Federal law for having an unlicensed transmitter and face Federal prosecution. Other than that.. they're a scam. Except for the "laser" jammers.. there are some products that can deflect/diffuse the laser return from your license plate.. but your headlights are still just as good a target.
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Blakwing
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2001 DHG Bullitt #171
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blakwing on 2001-07-19 13:45 ]</font>
I picked up the Escort/Passport 8500 and love it. Software upgradeable for future threat detection. Mine was $309 out the Door at a sale at Best Buy. Go to www.radartest.com There's a bit of controversey between this site and the Valentine folks. Whether it's true or just "sour grapes" from the Valentine people has not been determined, so take their review of the V1 with a grain of salt. The V1 is still a great detector but it IS getting a bit long in the tooth.
As for the "Jammers".. I'd personally stay away from them. Most Radar Jammers have been proven to INCREASE the range at which your speed can be detected. And the only jammers that actually DO work are ACTIVE jammers, or ones that Transmit a jamming frequency. However the problem with that is that you are now in violation of Federal law for having an unlicensed transmitter and face Federal prosecution. Other than that.. they're a scam. Except for the "laser" jammers.. there are some products that can deflect/diffuse the laser return from your license plate.. but your headlights are still just as good a target.
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Blakwing
2001 DHG Bullitt #171
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Blakwing on 2001-07-19 13:45 ]</font>
Valentine for radar.
Forget laser jammers or deflectors. Drive with your high beams on during the day. They're the most effective, confusing the unit to within 50 yds. You won't get away with it at night.
The lasers used for speed detection are not the pinpoints of light that are advertised. The most popular unit has multiple beams which are claimed to cover more of the vehicle. It's use has already been determined to be judicially insupportable in several juridictions. In other words, the courts don't even recognized it as a valid speed detector.
The most telling point is the basic trigonometry involved. Unless the officer is standing dead center in your lane of travel the beam is elongated by the angle from the side of the road. At 500 yards, the laser beam is as long as the proverbial side of a barn. It can't tell whether it's tracking you, the semi behind you, or the traffic in the next lane over.
Forget laser jammers or deflectors. Drive with your high beams on during the day. They're the most effective, confusing the unit to within 50 yds. You won't get away with it at night.
The lasers used for speed detection are not the pinpoints of light that are advertised. The most popular unit has multiple beams which are claimed to cover more of the vehicle. It's use has already been determined to be judicially insupportable in several juridictions. In other words, the courts don't even recognized it as a valid speed detector.
The most telling point is the basic trigonometry involved. Unless the officer is standing dead center in your lane of travel the beam is elongated by the angle from the side of the road. At 500 yards, the laser beam is as long as the proverbial side of a barn. It can't tell whether it's tracking you, the semi behind you, or the traffic in the next lane over.
I have one of the newer Cobra units, its ok, but I got a really good deal on it.
Valentine 1 is by far the best, it is the only one that has arrows that tell you where the radar is coming from, very nice feature, helps to weed out false signals. Also, the case design for the valentine is dated, but the internals are constantly being improved, and you can have an older V1 updated to the latest electronics for pretty cheap (that's why it still uses the same case after many years)
I have several friends that swear by their V1's (only reason I didn't get one yet is I don't have the spare cash) in fact, a buddy of mine had a situation almost exactly like the describe in the ad happen to him (double layered radar trap) he watched like 6 people get nailed all around him.
Valentine 1 is by far the best, it is the only one that has arrows that tell you where the radar is coming from, very nice feature, helps to weed out false signals. Also, the case design for the valentine is dated, but the internals are constantly being improved, and you can have an older V1 updated to the latest electronics for pretty cheap (that's why it still uses the same case after many years)
I have several friends that swear by their V1's (only reason I didn't get one yet is I don't have the spare cash) in fact, a buddy of mine had a situation almost exactly like the describe in the ad happen to him (double layered radar trap) he watched like 6 people get nailed all around him.
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32 Posts
I don't use them. Everytime I get caught its right in front of the COP. I'm either crusing or flying. If I'm flying, its not a matter of IF I was speeding, just how far over! Plus Georgia 400 is an autobaun, there are never any state troopers on it. There are two speeds on 400, Stopped or 85 MPH!.
I have a cheap old Bel that has saved me a few times. I don't speed much in town because it's all 35mph and they patrol like crazy (got a ticket for doing 41 when I was 19). I do drive 80+ on the 65mph highways though...in Illinois you can see 2 miles because it is so flat. I drive 2 hours per day at 80 and haven't had a ticket yet (in over 2 years, 5 days a week).
I almost got a ticket once because I was on the phone (yeah yeah) and not watching for cops. I got pulled over doing 83, but the cop was cool. I helped him with some computer advice and he just gave me a warning =) I gave him a business card (after he didn't ticket me) and told him to call or email if he needed help.
Anyway, my point is that if you are careful even a cheap detector can be a big help. Mine does false alarm a lot, but has slowed me down early a few times.
I almost got a ticket once because I was on the phone (yeah yeah) and not watching for cops. I got pulled over doing 83, but the cop was cool. I helped him with some computer advice and he just gave me a warning =) I gave him a business card (after he didn't ticket me) and told him to call or email if he needed help.
Anyway, my point is that if you are careful even a cheap detector can be a big help. Mine does false alarm a lot, but has slowed me down early a few times.
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151 Posts
I live in PA and detectors are not illegal but then again accoring to the constitution we are allowed to receive any radio signals we want. It is just another case of states taking it upon themselves to revise the constitution!
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