Radar Detectors

[brew703]

In the market for a radar detector. Have owned several over the years, mainly Escorts.
Read some reviews recently and seems like Escort, Valentine 1, Uniden, and Radenso are the front runners.

I mainly do highway driving, 1.5 hr commute for work each day with some Interstate driving on the weekends. We have no hills in Louisiana, mostly straight roads. Been out of the loop for the last 5 years so not really sure which features I should look for.

If anyone has first hand experience with any of these, please post your thoughts, both positive and negative. For those with GPS units, is this feature worth the extra cost?

These are the models I am looking at.
Radenso XP w/GPS
Radenso XP no GPS
Uniden R3 w/GPS
Uniden R1
Valentine 1
Escort 9500IX
-$400 budget

Thanks
Eddie

 

[passedpawn]

Sorry, I know this doesn't answer your question, but consider augmenting your effort with the Waze app. Not only will it help you avoid the popo, but also get notifications of accidents, wayward sheep herds, and other impediments to your commute.

 

[brew703]

I have Waze and use it sometimes. Just don't find it that accurate for me. Sometimes there is a popo alert and upon arrival not there. It is pretty good for traffic updates though.

 

[passedpawn]

I have Waze and use it sometimes. Just don't find it that accurate for me. Sometimes there is a popo alert and upon arrival not there. It is pretty good for traffic updates though.

Yea, it's only good if there's a lot of people using/contributing to it.

 

[day_trippr]

All my cars have had V1's for decades...

Cheers!

 

[Zuljin]

Waze is good.

 

[GoeHaarden]

My vote is the escort or valentine1. GPS is really only good if there are speed/stop light camera.

And since you're in LA, I'd look into a laser jammer since they are legal in your state currently. More and more LEO are using lasers and a radar detector will only let you know you're getting a ticket cuz it's too late with laser. I used to have one on my car until they became illegal in my state, saved me many times as my local LE run laser.

The cheapest and probably the best alternative is avoid speeding. Not lecturing, it's just the driving attitude I've taken and I havent receieved a single ticket since. Unlike when I had both a radar detector and laser jammer...

 

[jcav]

Most agencies use laser speed detection guns which is a small dot that lands on your vehicle and not a wide band radar. So if radar is not being used it is hard to beat a laser unless you jam it, which is illegal in many states. It's also hard to beat a laser ticket in court verses radar as well. Good luck. I like Waze as it warns you of police ahead of you most times. Even it they are gone it's better to know they were there anyway so if you are speeding you can slow down.

 

[Diver_Alan]

I have been using escort radar detectors since I bought the original Passport in 1980. I currently have a 9500iX That I have been using for several years. I recently bought a Escort IV for my wife and have been impressed with it so far. It was on sale for $399 when I bought it for her and I think it still is.
One of the advantages of Escort radar detectors is the live app. If you are not familiar with Live think social networking for radar detectors. When a radar is detected it passes the alert through the live app to all other users in the area. This allows you to know that a radar is in operation well before you get into detection range.
The 9500iX will work with the live app but requires optional bluetooth power cord. The Escort IX has built in Bluetooth and also includes the better windshield mount that actually works. I think all of their current detectors come with a ticket reimbursement guarantee.
I can't speak of the other radar detectors on the market but have been quite happy with mine from Escort.

 

[schematix]

I finally put my escort 9500i away about 2 months ago. It just became burdensome with endless beeping at non-threats. At least a. 500:1 false alarm rate. I don’t speed enough to make myself a target either.

 

[brew703]

I've had Escorts in the past but it's probably been 20 years since I've owned one.
Back in April I got popped. It was my fault as I wasn't paying attention. I just exited the interstate and my wife and I were having a convo. I don't normally speed but I do push it a little depending on the flow of traffic.
I was thinking of getting one just as a precaution but for now I'll just have to be cautious of my speed. Maybe if the Uniden R3 comes down in price I may jump on it.

 

[kristiismean]

Valentine 1 user here. Make sure it has the latest update or it will be useless. (Every car and truck with blindspot monitoring will set it off.)

 

[brew703]

Valentine 1 user here. Make sure it has the latest update or it will be useless. (Every car and truck with blindspot monitoring will set it off.)

Good info about the sensors. My wife's car has all the monitorings so prob would not be the best car for the detector.
I did check out the V1. I like it. Just wish they would re-design the unit. Looks the same as it did when it first came out.
Looks isn't everything but it could use a facelift.

 

[Ki-ri-n]

Part of the V1 is that is update able. Redesigning the out side might force you to no longer update the internals. On appearances, it does look dated. But it works. I need to update mine, but it's now cheaper to by a new one rather than upgrade. But it has been 15 years.....

 

[schematix]

Valentine 1 user here. Make sure it has the latest update or it will be useless. (Every car and truck with blindspot monitoring will set it off.)

I suspect this is why my 9500i is useless now. Between traffic monitoring systems, adaptive cruise control and BSM there's a lot of noise out there.

 

[Jayjay1976]

+1 for waze. Been using it for years, even false reports of a moving cop are useful just knowing the popo are afoot. I commute 45 minutes each way every day, and generally fall in with a pack of cars rolling 85-90 and in 4 years not one close call. I have the crown because I drive lots of miles and both enter and confirm alerts. Waze costs nothing. Radar detectors are so outdated as to be totally useless. I've only had two tickets in my life, and both while using FL/RL laser and radar detectors. According to my neighbor who is a Chicago cop they are completely worthless 1990's relics.