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Radar Detectors
Buyer's Guide
2007-2008
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VEIL maximizes the performance of all radar detectors! |
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For your convenience this quick guide to radar detectors is grouped into two parts. The first -
the top radar detector performance/price tier comprised of radar detectors of Beltronics, Escort, and Valentine Research and the
second—radar detector units from Beltronic/Radioshack, Cobra, PNI, and Whistler.
Currently, the best overal performing* radar detectors (top price category) are:
$300+ Radar Detectors:
- BELtronics STi Driver ($449), RX-65 Pro ($329) & Vector 995 ($299)
- Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($299/$339), Escort Passport 9500i ($449)
- Valentine 1 ($399)
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These radar detectors performed the
best at detecting all forms of police radar and police laser—the Valentine V1 radar detector being the most adept at detecting police laser by a wide margin.
The other radar detectors have laser detecting capability as
well, can detect POP (67ms variety)—a lethal form of radar that occurs in bursts
of 16-67ms, too short a duration for those models that are not
specifically built to detect it.
The latest Valentine 1 radar detectors offer superior POP RADAR detection capability and are
are unique in being able to occasionally (~10%) sniff out the MPH K-35 hand-held K gun when its POP mode
operated at a blistering 16ms!
VR's newest revision of their radar detector includes "Euro" mode that can be enabled to perform especially well with Gatso/Multanova police RADAR—popular throughout
europe, this low-powered RADAR waveform is most difficult for conventional radar detector `
to pick-up.
Valentine 1 radar detectors also distinguish themselves as the only ones in this group to be able to spot
Laser Atlanta's stealth mode police laser.
Where you travel primarily and what forms of speed enforcement are
being used should be the determining factors in ultimately deciding which is best overall radar
detector for your needs.
In our opinion, if laser is used heavily in your areas of travel, you seek the very best in laser detectors (in a
windshield mounted unit), desire to have the greatest rear radar sensitivity, and the ability to identify the source of the radar or laser threat, the Valentine 1 would be your natural choice.
If, on the other hand, you wish for the most recent advancements**
in radar detection filtering, all-around top performance, and steller Ka performance, either the Beltronics Vector 995, Beltronics RX-65 Pro, Beltronics STi Driver, Escort Passport 8500 X50, or Escort Passport 9500i
would make a terrific addition to your windshield.
Our own experiences suggests that the Escort X50 has an edge in laser detecting sensitivity when compared to the BEL RX-65 Pro & STi Driver.
The Bel RX-65 has the distinction of being the ergonomic champ and has the
added ability to operate on Ku
(as can the V1 & 995)—an older European radar band.
The RX-65 Pro provides the additional ability to have its Ka performance tailored for either European or US Ka usage.
The BEL STi Driver is the only radar detector which provides the convenience of stealth driving (being undetectable by radar detector detectors, like Stalker III) while providing radar detection performance exceeding the RX-65 Pro and the V1. (That's a big 10-4).
Bottom Line: You really can't go wrong with any of these top tier radar detectors.
Want even more extensive radar detector comparisons? Read our exclusive radar detector review
in which we drove with the top three for several thousands miles to see if we could determine
the overall best radar detector.
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$200 Radar Detector Group
- Beltronics Vector 955 ($199)
- Cobra 9930 ($229)
- Whistler Pro 78/Whistler XTR-690 ($229)
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In the $200.00 detector category, the
Beltronics Vector 955 performs as well as its more expensive and feature-rich cousin, the RX-65 Pro. If you are willing to give up some of the features
of the more expensive Bel detector, the V955 is a great detector.
The Whistler Pro 78 and Whistler XTR 690 (with compass)
models represent a tremendous value (with street prices around $170) for the money and provide performance that rivals the top tier detectors, especially on Ka-band and laser.
On the POP RADAR detection front, the Whistler Pro-78/XTR-690 detected both K and KA POP RADAR consistently while the
Cobra 9930 had a tougher time with both forms of POP RADAR. Its important to keep POP RADAR detection
abilities in perspective. Currently, we do not believe POP RADAR is being used to actually
issue tickets and the number of such police radar guns in operation is still quite small (relative to all
other RADAR forms. You should be more concerned about laser detection capability than POP RADAR.
With respect laser detection ability to police laser, both the latest top Whistler radar detectors perform very well
and have demonstrated great sensitivity to two very popular police laser gun—the Kustom Signals Pro III and the Stalker LZ-1.
Concerning Radar Detector Detector (RDD) immunity, the Whistler Pro 78/XTR-690 are most impressive—against
the SPECTRE III—relative to the top radar detector tier.
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As good as the Valentine 1 radar detectors are at spotting
laser, the great likelihood is that by the time your detector
sounds its alarm, you have already been clocked with laser—even on a motorcycle—unless
you have protected yourself with
VEIL,
an active laser jammer, or both.
That's why several detector manufacturers also build
active laser
jammers—otherwise known as ECMs or electronic counter
measures.
Would you like even more detailed comparisons? Read this informative radar detector test;
driving along with the top models for many miles to find out which one was
the best overall detector.
Since you are considering arming yourself with a radar/laser detector,
learn how to successfully avoid speeding tickets with them!
Purchase These and Other Radar Detectors with Confidence at these Trustworthy Purchasing Sources:
See VEIL provide stealth protection! Watch these performance videos!
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The Premier Online Resources for Drivers
To learn even more. please join the premier global online community SpeedTrapHunter.Net.
A friendly and mature group dedicated to the informed discussion of all forms of speed trap and traffic enforcement technology and their tactics throughout
the world and how to mitigate through education and driving tools including radar/laser detectors. GPS detectors, Veil, laser jammers, as well as to how you can
properly respond to traffic citations and speeding tickets.
Beyond this new radar detector discussion forum, there are two other online resources worth visiting:
- Speed Trap Hunter Blog
Learn about the Top-rated Driving Tools when Pitted Against Real Speed Traps!
- Veil Guy Blog
Stay up to Date with the Radar Detector and Speedtrap Countermeasure Industry
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Related Reading:
Beltronics STi Driver
Escort Passport 9500i
Valentine One
How to Avoid Speeding Tickets
The Ultimate Radar Detector Review
The Ultimate Laser Detector Review
Latest News:
Beyond viewing this site, you can continue keep-up with the latest info about our continuing long-term comparisons of the top performing models and our real-world driving experiences (frequently updated) by visiting the VeilGuy blog.
Be sure to opt-into our mailing list, so you don't miss any of the action!
*According to
field testing of SpeedZones.
**Another distinction (especially) for the V1 and both BELs worth noting are their abilities to hide from RDDs—such as
VG2 and SPECTRE/STALCAR II/III created in the land of OZ.
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