[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Radar Detectors (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 4/7/2007 6:02:31 AM EDT
| After doing some research I've decided to replace my Escort 8500 with a Beltronics RX65 Pro. I've used Cincinnati Microwave products for years and understand they now own Beltronics. Anyone out there use the RX 65? |
|
I've got V1's in each of my cars. We look at the spped limit as only a suggestion. Around town I'll never be intentionally speeding but occassionaly I might just be sticking with traffic which is a bad thing - in a 40 they'll do 55 sometimes. These guys driving to and from Los Angeles are doing everything to cut three mintues off their +hour long commute. On the highways it's +15 to +20 mph over the limit and the police hardly care --- hardly. Occassionally you'll get someone with a hardon and they'll pull someone over. Most of the highways west of the Mississippi were designed for 75 mph or better. When the speed limits were returned to their designed limits things got a whole lot better and the people actually hit the limit and then +5 mph and you'l see the traffic doing 80 mph. In places where they've kept the limit at 55 mph the people still do 75 mph. The directional arrows are nice on the V1. The CHiP likes to play in traffic where they'll creep up from behind bursting their radar occassionally checking someone out in front of them. They'll also pace people in their blind spots so when I find someone playing in traffic I have to slow down to within 5 mph and let the traffic flow around me while I sit in the slow lane. If I get warnings from the front I know I have a stationary trap which I will quickly pass. Sideways indicators tend to be false alarms from automatic door openers. |
|
We also look at speed limits as a suggestion. I've got the Escort X50 in my car, and will soon add one to Mrs. JackTs car. It really, for me, came down to price. Everything I read put the V1 and the X50 at the top of the list. . .some lists had the V1 first, some had the X50 first. I decided to keep my $100 and forgo the arrows. Watching truckers is great. . .except that I drive 30+ miles to work every day and can't remember the last time I saw a truck on the road. |
| Always have a few cars in front of you, dont be "leader of the pack". Look for when they "break" real quick, if they do its a warning sign to slow down. Also look at the behaviors of truckers. Also, try in gerneal to know which places are "safer" than others. For example dont EVER Speed on the NJ TPKE, they have speed traps down to a science, even your radar detector wont do a damn bit o' good there. And lastly, have fun getting raped up the ass by the state. |
|
I just watch as far ahead as possible, at every bend and curve. It's easy to spot them before they get you (for the most part). I also watch overpasses because I've seen a cops on an overpass doing the shooting and another cop up ahead ready to get you. Always watch up ahead for people hitting their brakes, especially tapping them a few times as a warning. Watch oncoming traffic too for people flashing lights as a warning. We'd all be able to exercise our right to break the law and speed if everybody would just give these types of warnings to our fellow drivers. 
|
| Lets see. Like i said I've been driving for over 30 years, 50 mile highway commute back and forth to work for 24 of those years and have been using a detector since the Fuzzbuster, so I'm no novice when it comes to radar detectors or how Police use their radar units. I enjoy everyone's input but does anyone out there have experiance with the Bel RX65 pro? |
With good reason! If you want to avoid "auxiliary speed enforcement revenue" get a V1 and be reasonable about going "slightly" over the limit. No radar detector in the world is going to hide you if you are doing 120MPH through Mayberry. On the other hand, it will alert you to source & direction of potential threats. Not only is it extremely over-engineered (as opposed to the Chicom crap at Worst Buy) it is upgradeable. I have never received a ticket while using my V1 (for over 10 years) As a sidenote, there is a site called "radartests.com" which is run by a self-proclaimed "industry consultant" (Craig Peterson) who regularly trashes the V1. Seems this all started after Mike Valentine declined his "services". Other companies which have hired this yoyo (Bel, etc) regularly receive rave reviews. Beware of such charlatans. Read what others say: http://www.boostaholic.com/maxima/maxfaqs/misc.html Every other enthusiast group (vette, BMW, Audi, NSX etc.) opts for the Valentine 1. Not cheap, but quality rarely is. Get the V1 and don't look back. Mike is also a member of the Association of Old Crows - that should give a little insight into the man behind the machine.  |
|
V1 I commuted about 100 miles a day from 1981 until Hurricane Katrina, I never had a radar detector and never got a ticket. My wife convinced me to get the V1 and WOW! I never leave home without it. What a difference, no more straining into the rear view mirrors, no more guessing. Now I KNOW what's up ahead....and what's behind. This thing will pick up radar from over 4 miles away on straightish hilly roads, way, way before I can see it. YMMV, mine didn't, Bill |
With Laser or instant on maybe. On a straight road my Valentine 1 will pick up a radar signal from over 2 miles away. That's about the longest straight stretch we have around here so it may perform even better than that. The arrows and counter on the Valentine 1 are what give it the edge over the competition. I can be driving and hear "beep" and instantly know if the cop is in front of me or behind me. If he's behind me I know I either have to keep my speed up to increase my distance from him or slow down and get in the right lane and act like a good little driver.
|
NJ Tpke doesn't scare me too much. I am more afraid of the parkway. |
|
Question: The VA State Police use instant on radar guns. I was just on a jury trial that involved a drunk who had been busted by the trooper using one of those. It got a lot worse and he went to jail for a long time for other charges too...but what about the gun? Can detectors detect it? 
|
Sure. Instant on is like constant on (leaving it running). But the police just target individual specifically. If you're the leader of the pack and the officer is using IO, then you're fucked. Bottom line: Get yourself a rabbit. ETA: Page 2 belong to moi! And VA sucks with banning of RDs.. |
whats a rabbit? |
Well, yeah.. its dependent on the usage of the radar gun. If its not being used, it won't detect. 
|
quote of the freakin century!!   i don't mind radar detectors, but if i ever stop someone for speeding with one, automatic ticket, i've said it time and again, but that's my viewpoint on it. if you want one, wear it out, just don't get caught.. |
+1 So true! My radar return is almost instantaneous! I can't count how many people I've stroked that have radar detectors. (So they slowed down fast, big deal- I still got their original speed). |
Same here. 8 out of 10 times you might beat me. But the one time I get you you get no breaks. Sometimes your the windshield, sometimes your the bug. 
|
In NJ.. trucks are disallowed from traveling in the 'fast lane' (lane 3). So, its kind of hard to judge. |
I call them "pointman" I usually get into a little cat and mouse driving on the highway in my little compact just to get their ego bruised - "how did that little Honda pass me like that?" and then I let them pass me when the road opens up from other motorists... SUCKER!!!  Works every time. Most men, the younger the better, and almost all women drivers fall for this. Works especially well late at night/early morning right after the bars close and the drivers "have a couple" in the bloodstream - added bonus when the get pulled for DUI/DWI  |
But... you're a po, no? 
|
I'm willing to accept the penalty if I do get pulled over for driving fast. |
| I'm surprised no one mentioned a C.B. radio. Several years ago I had one in my truck. Whenever I took a long trip on the interstate I would turn it on to channel 19 and listen for truckers to give reports on where the highway patrol was. I would have 20 or 30 miles of advance warning to slow down. WAY more than any radar dector. Not to mention road conditions, accidents and the occasional humorous rants. Plus they are legal in all 50 states. |
You made my brain hurt. |