Radar Detector

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So I have decided to go ahead and shell out a decent amount of money on a radar detector.

After numerous tickets (yes I know a radar detector doesn't mean I won't/can't get tickets but it will be, at the very least, a heads up/warning that I have never had) I figured each ticket cost me pretty much what a good detector is going to run me. If I could avoid one ticket (other than by driving slower :p) the detector would have paid for itself...

So i've been searching and trying to find the one that would fit my needs. I don't drive like a maniac all the time so I figured the best and most expensive detectors would just be over kill and a waste of money. I also didn't want a cheap detector with a shit load of false alarms and/or that claim to detect 34987562345709152 radars/lasers when most are now obsolete. I wanted one that focused more on the real world stuff currently being used.

I have decided on the Beltronics RX65 https://www.beltronics.com/store/rx-65-red.html I may spring some extra dough for the blue display version because red, at night, starts to bug me. Which is why I can't stand the RSX gauge cluster, but that's another topic in itself lol...

Anyway, what do you guys think of my choice? Any other suggestions for a detector around this price range?

Also, what happened to the Valentine 1? A couple years ago, they were the top dog. After doing some research, it seems they are becoming out dated and not doing anything to keep up with the technology. Although still a great detector, it's being surpassed slowly but surely.
 
i don't think there is much technology difference between them once you get over ~$150.

if you are going to set up your car to not get tickets, might as well get lidatek too. (i assume people still use them lol)
 
IDK, from what i've read, unless you spend $400+ on a jammer, there's really nothing that works on laser lol. I'm not spending $700 + for both a jammer and detector...

And i'm not really setting up to "not get tickets" I just feel like a heads up could help me avoid a couple... lol. Not getting tickets is pretty much inevitable unless I completely change the way I drive. That's not gonna happen lol.
 
So I have decided to go ahead and shell out a decent amount of money on a radar detector.

After numerous tickets (yes I know a radar detector doesn't mean I won't/can't get tickets but it will be, at the very least, a heads up/warning that I have never had) I figured each ticket cost me pretty much what a good detector is going to run me. If I could avoid one ticket (other than by driving slower :p) the detector would have paid for itself...

So i've been searching and trying to find the one that would fit my needs. I don't drive like a maniac all the time so I figured the best and most expensive detectors would just be over kill and a waste of money. I also didn't want a cheap detector with a shit load of false alarms and/or that claim to detect 34987562345709152 radars/lasers when most are now obsolete. I wanted one that focused more on the real world stuff currently being used.

I have decided on the Beltronics RX65 https://www.beltronics.com/store/rx-65-red.html I may spring some extra dough for the blue display version because red, at night, starts to bug me. Which is why I can't stand the RSX gauge cluster, but that's another topic in itself lol...

Anyway, what do you guys think of my choice? Any other suggestions for a detector around this price range?

Also, what happened to the Valentine 1? A couple years ago, they were the top dog. After doing some research, it seems they are becoming out dated and not doing anything to keep up with the technology. Although still a great detector, it's being surpassed slowly but surely.

Hmm, bogey counter may be more useful than some think... I'll research a bit more... :)

Ok... info time. True impartial radar detector tests: Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR

Beware most of the radar detector "review" sites online. Most have some uh... corporate backing by one or another radar detector company, or are written by authors who have previous bias (used to design a specific company's detectors, still on that company's payroll).

Bel got bought up by Escort back in 2008/2009. The RX65 has the exactly same guts in it as the Passport 8500 x50, it just has a slightly different case and button layout. The performance is identical. They're both good detectors, and the RX65 is sometimes available as low as $150.

Valentine HAS been updating their detectors- they just LOOK the same year after year. I've sent mine in for firmware/hardware upgrades every now and then over the years to keep it up to date. That said, I feel it outperforms the 8500 x50.

I bought the RX65 at that $150 price a few months ago and had it on the dash at the same time as my V1, and while it did pick up K band just as quickly as the V1, it was about a second slower on pretty much every Ka band alert, and ignored pretty much every X band alert. Believe it or not, some cities in Texas still do use X band... it's rare, but it's out there.

The V1 DOES false a good bit more on X and K since its main purpose is to tell you where everything is and then let you decide (the arrows are really helpful), but you learn to filter those reports out on your own after driving around with it for a few weeks. The Escort lines are a bit "smarter," but I prefer to decide on my own whether or not an alert is worth ignoring or not instead of possibly missing out on something that's a real alert. I have had a few instances where the Escort ignored a real alert because it thought it was a false, and the V1 picked it up.

As far as the bogey counter, it comes in quite handy- with my latest firmware update (a year ago), it responds pretty damn fast. If a cop drives by, the arrows whip around to follow the signal. If there are multiple cops, knowing that the two I passed are behind me and that there's one more in front is a HUGE help. With the Escort only, I would start speeding up after passing two with it still beeping- then probably get caught by the third.

Anyway, take my input however you want- I've been running V1s for over 10 years now and still won't buy anything else even after trying the latest "best" detectors from other companies. I wanted to get the RX65 to permanently mount a detector in every car because they were cheaper and were supposed be just as good (and for most people they're great), but in the end I decided that I would rather have a V1 permanently mounted in every single car... It's going to be quite a bit more expensive, but for the way we drive in Texas, it'll be worth it.
 
Thanks Cal...

Yeah I saw the RX65 for $153 on Amazon. I'm glad you could give me some "real life use" review.

How much is it to send in the V1 for updates and how often do you or should you update?
 
V1. Don't bother with any other detector. Knowing where (front, back, side) the bogey is can be the difference between a ticket and no ticket. TRUST ME. Driving a 'ticket trap' car, I use it all the time.

If you'd like I can upload photos of the mount I made for mine. Most people can't even tell it's there in the car until they get in and look at it. From the outside of the car it looks just like a normal E-Zpass holder hanging from my mirror.
 
Thanks Cal...

Yeah I saw the RX65 for $153 on Amazon. I'm glad you could give me some "real life use" review.

How much is it to send in the V1 for updates and how often do you or should you update?

Welcome.

Depends on the length of time from your last update- but they're not that expensive, considering what you get. Sometimes the updates can be free if all you need is a basic flash- one time it cost me $85 including return shipping. I had the laser modules replaced (broken from drop), internal hardware upgrade, and a software update. That brought it up to date after 7 years and included a repair.

V1. Don't bother with any other detector. Knowing where (front, back, side) the bogey is can be the difference between a ticket and no ticket. TRUST ME. Driving a 'ticket trap' car, I use it all the time.

If you'd like I can upload photos of the mount I made for mine. Most people can't even tell it's there in the car until they get in and look at it. From the outside of the car it looks just like a normal E-Zpass holder hanging from my mirror.

I'd love to see this mount!
 
I'd love to see this mount!

Let me see if I can find the pictures online. If not, I'll go out to the parking lot at lunch and snap a few. I happen to have taken the car today.
 
V1. Don't bother with any other detector. Knowing where (front, back, side) the bogey is can be the difference between a ticket and no ticket. TRUST ME. Driving a 'ticket trap' car, I use it all the time.

If you'd like I can upload photos of the mount I made for mine. Most people can't even tell it's there in the car until they get in and look at it. From the outside of the car it looks just like a normal E-Zpass holder hanging from my mirror.

I wanna see it too :)

Welcome.

Depends on the length of time from your last update- but they're not that expensive, considering what you get. Sometimes the updates can be free if all you need is a basic flash- one time it cost me $85 including return shipping. I had the laser modules replaced (broken from drop), internal hardware upgrade, and a software update. That brought it up to date after 7 years and included a repair.



I'd love to see this mount!
Not bad, not bad at all... Seems my Radar has been chosen for me :D
 
I'll take some pics tomorrow morning before I leave the house for work. I didn't even get to eat lunch today. :/
 
I agree with the V1, I've had mine for about a year and oh my god is it amazing. Never will I go with another detector. It has saved my ass numerous times. I love having the arrows and knowing if the signal is coming from in front or behind. The counter is great too because it's nice knowing if there's an extra signal in an area you usually only get say 3. It may false alot around anything with automatic doors but it's really not that hard to push the mute button.

It does a pretty good job of picking up laser too, but that's nothing more than letting you know whether or not your getting a ticket after glancing at the speedo. It seems like more cars are getting lasers of some sort built into them, occasionally I'll pick up a laser signal even with no cops around. Most infinitis seem to have this.
 
when i go on long trips i snag my buddies V1. its great.

however, the cheapest thing to do overall is to not drive like assholes, assholes. :ph34r:
 
It does a pretty good job of picking up laser too, but that's nothing more than letting you know whether or not your getting a ticket after glancing at the speedo. It seems like more cars are getting lasers of some sort built into them, occasionally I'll pick up a laser signal even with no cops around. Most infinitis seem to have this.

I've never picked up laser scatter off an Infiniti. K band radar from a Benz's cruise control system yes, but not laser from a wannabe luxo Nissan. I do get laser scatter off of other cars when cops are shooting a laser gun into traffic though- that's VERY helpful.

when i go on long trips i snag my buddies V1. its great.

however, the cheapest thing to do overall is to not drive like assholes, assholes. :ph34r:

Driving fast and driving like an asshole are two completely differnt things. :D Smoothly navigating through traffic at speed while giving plenty of room for people to not be freaked out = fast. Pushing people out of their lanes so you can get to work faster = asshole (guy in a white Firebird last Thursday morning grrrrr).
 
Photos attached.

It's made out of 2 inch aluminum bar stock, two 7/16 holes, some jb-weld, and BBQ Grill paint. I used a 3/8 inch U-Bolt to fasten to the rearview, and found some small machine screws and nuts to fit into the stock V1 suction cup mount holes. I mocked it up using cardboard, then cut using a dremel.

I included the exterior shot (heavily sanitized) to show how it looks outside the car.
 

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That's nice! I can mount mine in my Civic just above and to the right of the rear view mirror. You can't even see it from the front, back or sides of the car.

V1 or go home! I never leave mine at home on long drives.
 
You can't even see it from the front, back or sides of the car.
LOL! Seriously, I just laughed out loud in real life.

That means that you aren't getting enough coverage. The idea is to obscure, not hide it -- in order for a radar detector to detect, it has to be able to receive the signals. If you've made it impossible for anyone to see, I'll bet it can't see either.

The best location for signal detection is right in the middle of the windshield, unfortunately everyone else also sees this so we compromise. Put it in the ideal location or build yourself a mount like mine and I'll bet suddenly you'll see a lot more signals.



My mount is ugly, probably fragile, and probably doesn't work in many cars other than mine because it's a one-off design using Home Depot materials. Many other vendors make a similar mount, but charge upwards of $50 for what I paid a little over $7 to build, and most car guys could build for about the same.

Everyone who sees it from outside the car doesn't realize it's a radar detector, they assume it's an E-ZPass mount, because I took a common toll-tag and used it as a distraction, in a semi-common location. If someone looks more closely, they'll notice that there's a big black thing hanging down around the rearview mirror, again, most assume that's some permanent part of the car. No cords hanging down, no dumb blue LEDs, everyone thinks it's part of the car.

I got pulled over yesterday on base (just a warning) for going a little too fast because a guy kept tailgating me. The federal police officer stuck his head into the passenger side window of my car and looked around and asked me a few questions, showed me the laser gun, etc. After he walked away, I realized that the V1 was still on, just volume was turned down. He didn't say a word, which is strange because I've been hassled at the gate before in regards to it (really bored guard, strange time of day, etc.)

The next thing I'll do is install a remote control unit for it, as soon as I figure out where I could put it.
 
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