radar detectors

[jci-joe]

I see there are a number of radar detectors with remote mounted sensors including the Passport SR7+ and the Calibre K40. Has anyone installed one of these in a Boxster and what is your opinion. Also, if you installed the SR7+, do you know if the laser shifting has worked? At $1,599, it seems pricey unless it truely works.

Since I have not seen too many comments on these, my assumption is that they are not widely used.

[ukchris]

Love my V1!!! And the arrows did actually save me!

[bagwell]

only thing I don't like about the V1 is the little dots that lite up indicating what type of radar you are detecting......next to Laser / X / K / Ka....why not just make the L / X / K / Ka light up????

maybe I'll send this in to Valentine for consideration.

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by bagwell

....why not just make the L / X / K / Ka light up????

maybe I'll send this in to Valentine for consideration.

Include with your sentiments that the volume knob/dial on the left is roughly 10 years outdated. Not even stoves and washing machines use DIALS these days. So class that up with something a bit more elegant Mikey Valentine.

[ukchris]

I just did this as a mock-up for a remote display mirror for someone to make it more stealth... I suppose I might call it "the Virginian". The idea is to make it look like a compass rather than a radar detector display.

[Wonko The Sane]

I've been using the Beltronics 915r for about 6 years now. The current gen model # is 975r I believe. I chose this one over the V1 because I could not figure out any way to make the V1 installed stealth, and all of the detection/falsing/etc were pretty much the same between the two units. Honestly, I can't see how the arrows would be that beneficial to the way I drive, since when my detector says "Cops!", I slow my ass down I have upgraded my receiver 1 time, just like you can do with the V1

I just got done installing this detector in my (new to me) 97 Box. I think this install is rather sweet, and definitely stealth as far as detectors go. Enough with the yappin', more pictures

[ukchris]

Personally I really liek the arrows, I like knowing if I'm heading towards the threat or away from it. I even had them save me once, I was driving in traffic towards the end of rush hour maybe a little over the limit when I got a blip from behind. I eased over to the middle lane and a couple of minutes later a trooper came by then cut across two lanes to exit the highway. The curious thing was the V1 still showed the threat as being behind then low and behold a black Crown Vic appears that had been trailing him.

I assume it's some sort of decoy trick where people are supposed to feel reassured after they see the trooper exit and pick up speed again, really made me smile at the time.

Each to their own.

Chris.

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by jci-joe

I see there are a number of radar detectors with remote mounted sensors including the Passport SR7+ and the Calibre K40. Has anyone installed one of these in a Boxster and what is your opinion. Also, if you installed the SR7+, do you know if the laser shifting has worked? At $1,599, it seems pricey unless it truely works.

Since I have not seen too many comments on these, my assumption is that they are not widely used.

I have no experience with this product, but if I remember right, Radartest.com (in the report version you pay for) did test the shifter and found it to be effective.

[1JB]

Originally Posted by jci-joe

I see there are a number of radar detectors with remote mounted sensors including the Passport SR7+ and the Calibre K40. Has anyone installed one of these in a Boxster and what is your opinion. Also, if you installed the SR7+, do you know if the laser shifting has worked? At $1,599, it seems pricey unless it truely works.

Since I have not seen too many comments on these, my assumption is that they are not widely used.

There are a number of threads on this including one with a photo of my SRX install by the dealer. Front and rear laser detection and shifting. It detects slightly sooner than my X50 audibly and visually even a bit more so. I say that because the remote bi-color led actually signals before the audible signal. Yes the shifter works, from my personal experience but you can't be stupid, you do need to slow down so the cop doesn't put two and two together and get really ticked at you. I went through 2 laser traps in Connecticut both times in front, hit by laser, slowed and the cars in the right lane caught up. I am glad I do not drive in Connecticut often. Total installation was $2,300 and if I only had one accessory to add it would be this one. From the research I did the SRX sensitivity was better because of the increased size of the sensor due to the exterior, low installation - the low installation is not a positive but overcome by the larger sesor. I also concluded that the V1 was outdated and "resting on its lurels" but that's my personal conclusion, opinions are all over the map but some say their patents are quite a bit older than Escort's. I have no idea if that is true. I struggled with the cost of the SRX but would do it again in a heart beat. You also cannot see it from outside the car.

[edevlin]

Back in my younger days I did a pretty job of accumulating speeding tickets, but have not gotten one for 20 years not. Since I got the Boxster last year, I can smell a change in the wind. I dont speed that much with the car, but enough that I certainally could have gotten nabbed in the last six months.

So I have been researching radar detectors. It looks like the Belltronics STI Driver is the detector for me because it cannot be detected by police radar and detectors are illegal in Virginia where I live. I checked with the state police and if caught with one, there are no points, and there is a 96.00 fine.

Many folks also recommend a stealth paint that is put on a license plate cover and, gasp, the headlights. It is a product called VEIL that functions to scatter laser light and make the car harder to target. That way you have a few more seconds to respond to the radar detector warning.

VEIL is painted onto the headlights and dries to a clear, somewhat darkened finish, so I am told. Has anyone done this, or do they have any experience with it? I just know what I have been reading on the web about it http://www.radarbusters.com/products/coatings/veil.asp, thanks,

Ed

[chgolatin2]

Well, since I am a State Police officer in Illinois and I know a thing or two about radar detectors I would like to add my 2cts. Whenever an officer runs radar, they maintain their radars off in order to avoid radar or laser counter measures such as radar detectors. So when the officer spot a speeding vehicle he point his radar and does not activate it until the speeding car is up close and personal therefor catching you speeding, also, detectors cant detect a speeding detail for those of you that dont know what I am talking about let me explain.

A speeding detail involves a State Police helicopter or a Propeller aircraft circulating in the air in the vecinity of highway markers, when an approaching speeder arrives at the marker a counter starts and ends at the end of the road marker, usually mark by white lines on the roadways (some of you have seen those markers) then a Police squad unit is stationed about a mile and half or so from the ending marker, the aircraft radios the unit down below with the color of the vehicle and speed and in which lane the car is travelling GOTCHA SUCKER! lol

So to be honest, I see radar detectors as a waste of money and if the Police knows how to work his radar which some dont such as some suburban dept and big City depts then you'll be in for a BIG surprise! Some of you have experience your radar detectors activated from a Police squad unit the reason that happens is because the Officer has his Laser/Radar or Lidar speed detector activated instead of deactivated lucky for some of you for the lazyness of the officer

Ah the beauty of being able to speed and get away with it, lol! Sucks for you speeders. Nah just messing with you guys. I dont speed I promise! I no longer work the road so I am not involved in Traffic regulations but when I was I was usually a nice guy now I am involved in narcotics investigations...

A few years ago I caught a guy with a Red Porsche Turbo Carrera speeding at 182 per hour he had a radar detector, guess what happen to him, went to jail, got his car impounded and lost his license forgot to mention all the money that was spent on legal fees...

So a word of advise be careful and please know what your doing before you proceed being the speed demons that we really are... Good luck guys!

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by chgolatin2

A few years ago I caught a guy with a Red Porsche Turbo Carrera speeding at 182 per hour...

How did you catch him?

[edevlin]

Wow chgolatin2, that was quite an informative post, now I am rethinking the whole radar detector thing. How common are the speeding details, I have often seen signs that speed it detected by aircraft. I have looked, but have rarely seen any. Also, if an officer sees you going fast, but does not match pace with you or have radar on you, can you still be cited?

Do you have any sense of how often the speeding details are along interstate 95 from Virginia to Florida. I make that trip often to visit my mother who is not doing well. I have always stayed within 10 mph of the posted speed. But I often feel like a dope because of the groups of cars blasting past, must be going at least 20-30 mph above the limit. The I was hoping to shave some time off of the 12 hour drive with a radar detector.

Ed

[Wonko The Sane]

Originally Posted by chgolatin2

A few years ago I caught a guy with a Red Porsche Turbo Carrera speeding at 182 per hour he had a radar detector, guess what happen to him, went to jail, got his car impounded and lost his license forgot to mention all the money that was spent on legal fees...

Ummm... It doesn't matter WHAT kind of electronic countermeasure the person has who is stupid enough to do 182 per hour.. Remember that even without a positive radar image, you guys can still site him for reckless endangerment and a host of others (Hopefully including "being a dumbass and putting every single other person on the road at risk!"), as well as the fact that there is no way to slow down from 182MPH down to 80 (or whatever is the "safe" speed) without you guys noticing... The only way you would be able to drive 180 MPH, is to honestly believe that you're not going to get caught. There's nothing else that would protect you from that amount of stupidity.

The thing that you don't mention with radar is that it bounces, which is how the detectors work... Sure the cop is using instant-on, but the only time you really won't know ahead of time is if there's no one else on the road. Any other time, the guy hits a car ahead of you, the radar bounces and you get notified (briefly). This is what makes radar detectors worth it to me and others to have in their cars.

Of course, that's what makes Laser oh-so-dangerous to us

Either way, cheers to an informative post

[RandallNeighbour]

Thank God laser units are so expensive and police departments put most of their cash into salaries and benefits, leaving very little cash leftover for new radar/laser guns!

Most departments only have a X number of laser guns that are shared between officers from what I have been told. True or not?

[dash22]

Wow... aircraft to catch speeders? I guess speeding is potentially quite dangerous.. and does cost some lives.. (although I personally think that it is mostly down to unskilled driving rather than speed per se) but isn't that kind of a lot of effort and money to expend?

It's pretty expensive to run planes and helicopters right? Surely there could be a better use for the money.. (at least the cops can claim that speeding tickets aren't revenue raising though i guess.. it would cost much more than they'd make)

[mwh98]

Originally Posted by jci-joe

I see there are a number of radar detectors with remote mounted sensors including the Passport SR7+ and the Calibre K40. Has anyone installed one of these in a Boxster and what is your opinion. Also, if you installed the SR7+, do you know if the laser shifting has worked? At $1,599, it seems pricey unless it truely works.

Since I have not seen too many comments on these, my assumption is that they are not widely used.

I think they are so few and far between is the price, there is a lot more you can do for $1,600.00+. I found a new SR7 +shifters on fleabay ($650.00) and did the install myself. It was probabley the toughest install I have ever done., considering you are running wires from bumber to bumber.

I have had no experience with V1's but have an 8500 and an 8500 X50. The X50 was a noticible improvement from the regular 8500, while the SR7 is and the X50 are very close.

I have a picture of the install, but the server is limiting the file size, so I can't upload it. I cut out the bezel rectangle in the bow tie under the HVAC in the center console. For a while the Escort site has a custom instal in a Boxster.

After it was all done, I'm extreemly happy with the look and performance of the SR7. The only change is to add the optional external speaker for when the top is down, so you can hear it, since it is a little out of your line of sight.

Mark
2001 Seal Grey 986
San Antonio, Texas

[bartman]

HI
VEIL : anyone tried it? does it work ?

Bart