Radar Detectors All thoughts welcome
 

Unfortunately the police are starting with motorcycle cops for the first time around here. Only purpose is to generate easy revenue, in the newspaper they openly admit it. With endless miles of twistys, I constantly find my car begging for more. What's a guy too do? Radar or laser detector seems the answer. Which brands and installation solutions do you like? All thoughts are very appreciated,

Happy motoring to all

My thoughts? Don't speed. You are not above the law. You are not special. ;)

Take it to the track. :p
Seriously, though...I only use Waze.

I understand your sentiment, but there is NO track here whatsoever. I can't imagine even one owner who doesn't pull their car hard through the corners.

If your area has the critical mass of users to make it effective, the Waze app is really good.

Bought an Escort 8500 and I'm not pleased. Way to many false alarms from vehicles with anti-collisions devices. I was being cheap. Go with the 9500 (or whatever the next model up is) to filter these alarms. The unit (8500) works well in the country but when faced with heavy traffic not so much.

And, I didn't buy it to speed. I prefer to know when I'm being watched.

I agree with the 2 statements above. I run a 9500ix along with the Waze App. I got the 9500ix and ran direct connect line under the trim popping out near the rear view mirror, down the A-piller to the center dash. I took a dremel to the batwing and cut out a hole and slide the mute button/display through it. For the finish touch, I just stuck a black rubber band hair thingy that holds pony tales, turned out surprising nice.

Wow, they do??
That's a refreshing change...a tip of my hat to them for their honesty.

Regarding pros and cons on detectors available...I hate to sound like a broken record, but this really is a good area to utilize the Search feature---LOTS of discussions on what's available out there.

I don't use a radar detector in the Boxster. However, we do take long trips in the BMW. On long highways with little or no traffic I'll cruise at 85 MPH. I have a Valentine One mounted on a Blendmount and hardwired. It is out of the way, no wires and very accurate. It will tell you if the threat is in front of you or behind you.

In Los Angeles many departments are switching over to Laser. You can tell when they are using Laser because they hold it up to their eye for sighting purposes. Radar detectors are not effective when Laser is deployed.

Don't they have a PCA of BMW Club in your area. They both sponsor auto crosses. I find this a great way to explore your cars limits in a safe environment. And, you meet some great car enthusiast.

I use escort 9500 and it is amazing. I bought it used off eBay. I have not received a ticket since buying it a few years ago. I usually drive 20 - 30 over the limit on the highway depending on traffic, and it has never let me down even if there are corners :)

Escort also frequently releases firmware updates that are very easy to install.

I use a Valentine One. If you buy a new one they have updated to work around false alarms from the lane change signals. I like the arrows, it has saved me many times. Living in Cincinnati I have had both companies detectors.

I've found radar detectors used independently are not effective against lasers. I brought my detector to use when I'm in Hawaii and realized they use lasers (Honolulu). As others mentioned use a combination of detector/Waze. Just be sure data from Waze are current before you start to drive over the limits.

I think waze / detector works the best, talking to my friend who is a cop told me he can not use laser unless he is stationary ( waze ) and i find most times i will get a laser warning from them targeting cars up ahead. Also drive a silver car you blend in :)

I have a 'Whistler Cr90 Laser Radar Detector'. Got on Amazon for around $160. I only use it longer trips but it has saved me from a few tickets. It is the times when I thought it was false alarms and then turned out to be cops. It does pick up peoples cruise control signals which can be annoying.

My Valentine One caught the NJ State police lazer that was a few cars behind me going about 60. That distinctive lazer alarm almost never went off but sure enough it did this time and the BMW doing 90-100 mph in the passing lane next to me was clueless. Half mile up the road the trooper turns on his lights in hot pursuit of the Bimmer. V1 paid for itself right there.

To the OP, the V1 arrow system is best for precisely those ticket generating situations. If the motorcycle cop is behind you it will let you know that location the whole time. Waze is nifty I started trying it but relying on incomplete data as if the coast is clear when it isn't can easily become a habit.

I stick to the speed limit on the highway but on those small town roads the cops love following Porsches.

I have mixed emotions on the Waze feature of identifying where law enforcement is. For most drivers, it is a warning to slow down. Not bad. For the wanted criminal, it is an ability to avoid arrest. The ability to avoid arrest allows him/her to stay free and commit more crimes. I am betting it is being used for this purpose too. Oh well. I rarely stray from the issue of cars. Sorry about that.

A marked vehicle is public info. They're making their presence known with all those big letters and lights. Here there's almost as many unmarked vehicles of all types (saw a 97 or so Jeep Cherokee the other day) as marked.

This app likely only represents 2% of the LE on the road, and most users likely break the law and use their devise while driving to report a LE location.

Most mark the cops that are doing radar / laser. It is pretty hard to mark a moving cop car

To be fair, any technology can be used for good or bad. Even those who speed with radar detectors are criminals breaking the law.

Yeah.... I may be overthinking this. Back to cars.

You have any pics? I want to do this.

Thanks.

Don't speed!! It's against the law!! With that being said I run a Passport 9500ix. It has saved me many times :)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1442278256.jpg

I have an 8500 which I had in my commuter car when I drove 90 miles a day. It works relatively well. I used to use Waze but have a head unit with Apple CarPlay which does not run Waze. That is a big drawback.

On Laser, I have been notified that I was hit with Laser but at that point it is too late. If you are fortunate enough to have someone else speeding near you, the Laser alarm is just a notification that they are using it. Once your alarm goes off, most likely you are already getting a ticket.

John

That looks great. Where is the hair band? I am thinking of doing this but have no clue how. I am not good with cutting things. I think i would butcher it up!.

The other issue I'm finding is that the most expensive sedans and SUV's on the road have laser controlled cruise control. It's constantly sending out a radar or laser beam ahead and makes my Valentine One go off and it doesn't turn off until I get far away from them by slowing down or driving 100 MPH for quite a while... the first is no good for me and the latter is no good for my wife.

However, I must say that the arrows on the V1 sure do make finding the threat nice instead of a generic "beep" and you wonder if they're behind you or passing you or stationary.

If anyone is using the V1 app, I'd love to know exactly how you're using it and why it's such a great tool considering I typically can't stay in my lane staring at my smartphone.

I did the same mount except I actually ran the wire between the head unit and the cubby. I can secure it with double stick tape but haven't done it yet.

I think V1 has a firmware update that will get rid of the false alerts from that. I'm not sure if you have to send it in or you can do it from home though.

My V1 is over ten years old and I have never had it update. It still works well and I have no complaints regarding false alarms or issues with the newer cars options setting it off. This may change as more cars hit the road with radar/laser cruise control and lane changing warnings.

I went to the V1 web site, entered my units serial number and got the following information...

UPGRADE PROPOSAL FOR YOUR
Serial Number 3817580621

Our upgrade to V1.85 w/ESP, Improved Euro Mode plus Traffic Monitor Filter and Junk-K Fighter will produce the following benefits:

Traffic Monitor Filter was created to eliminate false alarms caused by SpeedInfo, a traffic-flow monitoring system that sends frequent K-band radar bursts into the traffic stream

Junk-K Fighter blocks false alarms caused by K-band lane-change warning systems in some newer cars.

Improved Euro Mode, now with K-band coverage expanded to include the lower frequency photo radar devices in use in some European countries (V1 is already optimized for North American radar as it comes from the factory; Euro Mode is not for driving here). For specific frequency details, click here. This upgrade will install the Euro Mode but you must activate it. To activate, see How to Reprogram V1 Radar Detector | Valentine Tech Reports | Radar Detectors

Crystal-controlled Frequency Tuning to permanently safeguard coverage at radar-band edges.

Extended Serial Protocol (ESP) enables two-way communication with SAVVY and V1connection.

POP Coverage on Ka band: Note: POP Protection on K band is incompatible with Traffic Monitor Filter. K-band POP radar is rarely used but if you are concerned about it, you may choose to deactivate TMF which will restore Full Coverage on K-band POP. For deactivation instructions, click here.

How to identify V1s upgraded to POP: V1 powers up with test sequence of warning lights and sounds. At the conclusion of the test, just before the mode indicator appears in the Bogey Counter, you will see a sequence of "P…o…P" on V1s with POP coverage.

* A new warning: When the signal-identification system determines that a current warning is, in fact, a spurious signal transmitted by another detector, it notifies you with a "dee-dah-doo" sound and terminates the warning. At the same time, the letter "J" will flash briefly in the Bogey Counter.

*One-year limited warranty, same as new units, starting at upgrade date.

*--Instant Upgrade to V1.85 w/ESP, Improved Euro Mode, Traffic Monitor Filter activated and Junk-K Fighter activated: As soon as we receive your old unit (in operable condition with no tampering of the serial number) we'll exchange it for a brand-new, current-production V1. This is our way of assuring you'll be without V1 protection for the shortest time.

PRICE: $289 plus shipping

Ouch isn't a whole new V1 $399? That seems like a lot for an upgrade. For that price I would keep the old one :)

^wait...the cost of sending in the unit for upgrade is $289?? I think I finally blew a fuse or something in mine.

I just checked on the V1 and the price for a new one is $440 :(

They were $400 when I picked one up 11 years ago and gas was $2 per gallon like it is now. :D

I got a black rubber hair band on the inside and outside of the batwing plate. you have to look super close but it is to cover up the the line of the cut on the batwing itself.

Here is a close up straight down on from above, nevermind the dust, daily driver with top down most of the time:


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1442354995.jpg

I have three: Escort 9500ix, Beltronics Pro GX65 and Beltronics 995

The 9500ix wasn't loud enough in a convertible so I put the Bel in the 987 and moved the escort to the hybrid. The 995 is old and is in the lexus.

The GX65 and 9500ix are exactly the same internally, only difference is the GX65 is much louder.

The GPS feature is amazing, it's the reason I bought the GX65 and 9500ix. The 995 doesn't have GPS so it's always going off but works well.

I would never get a radar detector that didn't have GPS to mark locations of false radar signatures

I have a Beltronics 995 in my DD Mustang and I am pretty happy with it.
Got busted only once @ 83 for 70...even though I got the Laser warning twice :D

I would never get a radar detector which didn't have arrows indicating direction of a threat ;)