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Hops · 03-04-2008, 08:42 PM

I have a V1 and a Bel RX65. They both work well. The V1 is the best detector you can buy for highway use due to the sensitivity, the arrows, and the bogey counter. Unless you can turn off x band where you live (which is most of the country) and sometimes filter k it can drive you nuts driving in commercial areas of cities. The RX65 and Escort models are much better at filtering off axis signals, which helps make them more city friendly but can compromise always finding the cop.

I have driven a many, many miles with radar detectors since 1989. Just drove 10,625 miles around the US last summer. No tickets since 1992, but let me explain why. You have to view the radar detector as a source of information but you cannot let your guard down at all. Between instant-on, laser, and shooting you blind from behind (like an overpass or entrance ramp), there are still plenty of chances to get caught.

The four keys, IMO, to not getting tickets are 1) watching far ahead and in your mirrors at all times (if you react immediately and slow down when seeing the cop, it almost seems as if you get credit for being attentive), 2) watching for disruptions in traffic that signal clocking activities (brake lights, clustering of cars, people diving out of the fast lane), 3) making it hard for them to single you out (keeping traffic between you and the cop), and being aware of (slowing down a bit for) hiding spots where they can ambush you from front or back.

So, yeah, doing all these things is a lot of work. Sometimes it's better to just go with traffic and stick to 5-7 over the limit. But, on our trip last summer we probably averaged more like 12-15 over, especially in the western states. Our CB alerted us to a few traps, my eyes picked up a few, and the detector picked up a few. Had I relied solely on the detector we may have gotten nabbed a few times. But, the detector probably saved us a few times as well, the cases where it finds the threat before your eyes pick it up. There was a very well hidden local sheriff (SUV) in a little town in Wyoming that would have been awfully tough to pick out. He was on the opposite side of the road parked under a low shade tree, naturally right after the limit dropped from 55 to 25. Even with the detector going bananas it took me some effort to locate him. A pick-up was passing me right at that moment and got nailed.

03-04-2008, 08:42 PM	#6
Hops Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: N. California Posts: 26	I have a V1 and a Bel RX65. They both work well. The V1 is the best detector you can buy for highway use due to the sensitivity, the arrows, and the bogey counter. Unless you can turn off x band where you live (which is most of the country) and sometimes filter k it can drive you nuts driving in commercial areas of cities. The RX65 and Escort models are much better at filtering off axis signals, which helps make them more city friendly but can compromise always finding the cop. I have driven a many, many miles with radar detectors since 1989. Just drove 10,625 miles around the US last summer. No tickets since 1992, but let me explain why. You have to view the radar detector as a source of information but you cannot let your guard down at all. Between instant-on, laser, and shooting you blind from behind (like an overpass or entrance ramp), there are still plenty of chances to get caught. The four keys, IMO, to not getting tickets are 1) watching far ahead and in your mirrors at all times (if you react immediately and slow down when seeing the cop, it almost seems as if you get credit for being attentive), 2) watching for disruptions in traffic that signal clocking activities (brake lights, clustering of cars, people diving out of the fast lane), 3) making it hard for them to single you out (keeping traffic between you and the cop), and being aware of (slowing down a bit for) hiding spots where they can ambush you from front or back. So, yeah, doing all these things is a lot of work. Sometimes it's better to just go with traffic and stick to 5-7 over the limit. But, on our trip last summer we probably averaged more like 12-15 over, especially in the western states. Our CB alerted us to a few traps, my eyes picked up a few, and the detector picked up a few. Had I relied solely on the detector we may have gotten nabbed a few times. But, the detector probably saved us a few times as well, the cases where it finds the threat before your eyes pick it up. There was a very well hidden local sheriff (SUV) in a little town in Wyoming that would have been awfully tough to pick out. He was on the opposite side of the road parked under a low shade tree, naturally right after the limit dropped from 55 to 25. Even with the detector going bananas it took me some effort to locate him. A pick-up was passing me right at that moment and got nailed.