BEL 955 or 995? Oh no, not again!!

[LittleOverPSL]

Okay, I'm an old time RD user (bought in '92). I really needed it in South Carolina, they weren't very forgiving there - at least that's my experience. The second line RD (BEL 956W, couldn't afford top of line 966W then) was pretty good but falsed a fair bit on Ka. However, it earned it's keep and has paid for itself in potential ticket fines several times over.

I've not used it much in the last 5 yrs and not at all in the last 3 (can't even find it now). I don't drive much above PSL, 10-15 above if conditions permit. No speeding tickets since the first one; I stay within 10+ w/o the protection.

So why am I considering one? Kinda like the cat and mouse game. Plus I'm a gadget geek :roll: - something a lot of males are addicted to.

And the catch is? The better half, she thinks a) it's a waste of money, b) encourages speeding, c) isn't a speed trap detector, and d) believes that not speeding at all is best way. Can't blame her, I got owned in the first week or so after buying the 956W (instant on K band in a great 'ambush') - bought too much into the ad/review hype I guess. Anyway, subsequently careful driving and rabbits have caused the saves mentioned above. The 956W did false a fair bit (mostly Ka because Ka was sorta new then).

What I can get away with is spending $150, just maybe $200. Even today she doesn't concede that the 956W paid for itself!!

From lurking and reading this forum, I've concluded that one gets good performance from the BEL 895/955 but that it falses more. And that the BEL 995 is even better and falses less. Neither equalling the X50 in range/filtering; Bel QC being suspect so warranty is important.

I've located the 955 for $150 and the 995 for $200 (no links per rules). I'd really like the X50 ($265) but not worth the grief. These from authorized dealer, I've confirmed with Belscort. I'll try and give my biz to radarroy first though.

Given that I just need 3-5 secs to get back to PSL w/o nose dip, the 955/995 should have adequate range. The only question is the filtering. Decent laser sensitivity is fine (from SML2005 tests), I am counting on veil/lasershield to provide the few precious seconds required (assuming a direct hit, not scatter) since a laser jammer is out of the question now. City car is a black VW Golf (ls + veil + slightly downward tilted plate = mitigate laser enough), the long distance SUV is blue 2005 Honda Pilot (doesn't have the chrome grill yet it will be more vulnerable to laser than the Golf).

Driving will mostly be in WA (occassionally OR, ID, CA), WA mostly uses Ka/Laser, some K, little X, also shoot laser from the back - that's what I gathered on this forum.

What I need is some testimonials from those who have used either one of these and the X50/RX65. I'd like to know:
1. Which has the better filtering?
2. How much more does it false?
3. Would you go for the 955 or 995 if you were in my position?

Thanks for reading so far :shock: looking forward to the responses.

[leo68]

Okay, I'm an old time RD user (bought in '92). I really needed it in South Carolina, they weren't very forgiving there - at least that's my experience. The second line RD (BEL 956W, couldn't afford top of line 966W then) was pretty good but falsed a fair bit on Ka. However, it earned it's keep and has paid for itself in potential ticket fines several times over.

I've not used it much in the last 5 yrs and not at all in the last 3 (can't even find it now). I don't drive much above PSL, 10-15 above if conditions permit. No speeding tickets since the first one; I stay within 10+ w/o the protection.

So why am I considering one? Kinda like the cat and mouse game. Plus I'm a gadget geek :roll: - something a lot of males are addicted to.



And the catch is? The better half, she thinks a) it's a waste of money, b) encourages speeding, c) isn't a speed trap detector, and d) believes that not speeding at all is best way. Can't blame her, I got owned in the first week or so after buying the 956W (instant on K band in a great 'ambush') - bought too much into the ad/review hype I guess. Anyway, subsequently careful driving and rabbits have caused the saves mentioned above. The 956W did false a fair bit (mostly Ka because Ka was sorta new then).

What I can get away with is spending $150, just maybe $200. Even today she doesn't concede that the 956W paid for itself!!

From lurking and reading this forum, I've concluded that one gets good performance from the BEL 895/955 but that it falses more. And that the BEL 995 is even better and falses less. Neither equalling the X50 in range/filtering; Bel QC being suspect so warranty is important.

I've located the 955 for $150 and the 995 for $200 (no links per rules). I'd really like the X50 ($265) but not worth the grief. These from authorized dealer, I've confirmed with Belscort. I'll try and give my biz to radarroy first though.

Given that I just need 3-5 secs to get back to PSL w/o nose dip, the 955/995 should have adequate range. The only question is the filtering. Decent laser sensitivity is fine (from SML2005 tests), I am counting on veil/lasershield to provide the few precious seconds required (assuming a direct hit, not scatter) since a laser jammer is out of the question now. City car is a black VW Golf (ls + veil + slightly downward tilted plate = mitigate laser enough), the long distance SUV is blue 2005 Honda Pilot (doesn't have the chrome grill yet it will be more vulnerable to laser than the Golf).

Driving will mostly be in WA (occassionally OR, ID, CA), WA mostly uses Ka/Laser, some K, little X, also shoot laser from the back - that's what I gathered on this forum.

What I need is some testimonials from those who have used either one of these and the X50/RX65. I'd like to know:
1. Which has the better filtering?
2. How much more does it false?
3. Would you go for the 955 or 995 if you were in my position?

Thanks for reading so far :shock: looking forward to the responses.

Bel 995 software can be upgraded for future threats and also can detect Ku radar, Bel 955 can't.

[LittleOverPSL]

Thanks Leo68. Both features I am aware of.

Personally, I don't think Ku will be viable reality with LEOs considering LIDAR being *the* answer. Unless Ku is harder to detect. Upgrade option is a nice-to-have. Not at high on my priority list. Filtering is the key.

In fact, I really like the ear piece option so that the others aren't alarmed/disturbed. Should help reduce the nag factor. It's available on 955 and 995.

[cooljay]

I don't think Ku is used in the US by LEOs. So I don't think you need an RD with Ku. But I'm sure someone else with more info can chime in.

[Veri]

Personally, if my options were limited to just those two and excluded the RX65, x50, and V1, I would go for the 995 for the sole reason that I would kick myself in the ass later for not getting the top-shelf model, so to speak. But that's just me and electronics, I guess.

I don't know the performance difference between the two (and to the best of my knowledge, there are no other lab results other than Bel's old GT tests and what Michael B has done here for us), but I would assume it to be fairly minor if not completely insignificant. And yeah, I don't know of any Ku usage in this country, so that's another negligible feature at this stage of the game.

[xrs9430]

i have a 955 and is a VERY solid unit, the most ka range i got was constant on and was about 1 mile maybe just under and the best k range i've had was about 1.7-1.8mi on constant on k band both where on fairly stright roads. hope this helps :wink:

[leo68]

Thanks Leo68. Both features I am aware of.

Personally, I don't think Ku will be viable reality with LEOs considering LIDAR being *the* answer. Unless Ku is harder to detect. Upgrade option is a nice-to-have. Not at high on my priority list. Filtering is the key.

In fact, I really like the ear piece option so that the others aren't alarmed/disturbed. Should help reduce the nag factor. It's available on 955 and 995.

Right now Ku Radar is not used or widely used by police in the United States but it can be turned off you can always reactivate it when needed. With the Bel 955 you would need to by another radar detector.

[xrs9430]

right now i wouldnt worry about ku to much because even if it came to the u.s it would be a while before most states let alone city departments would have the gun, just my opinion

[LittleOverPSL]

Veri - if it weren't for the better half, I'd be getting an X50 in a heartbeat.

I am quite sure that the sensitivity (range) of both units is very good, with the 995 close to the top 3. Again, it's the selectivity (filtering) that seems to be the key differentiator for me. And most tests/reviews I've seen (except Roy's) don't address the filtering issue. Roy's testing quanitfies the filtering for the 995, but there are no details on testing methodology. This is also probably the hardest to test.

xrs9430 - I'd like to quantify your experience a bit since you've had the 795 and now have the 955. Out of 10 alerts with the 795, how many could you verify? How about the 955 for 10 alerts? Did City mode filtering help with either?

[leo68]

Veri - if it weren't for the better half, I'd be getting an X50 in a heartbeat.

I am quite sure that the sensitivity (range) of both units is very good, with the 995 close to the top 3. Again, it's the selectivity (filtering) that seems to be the key differentiator for me. And most tests/reviews I've seen (except Roy's) don't address the filtering issue. Roy's testing quanitfies the filtering for the 995, but there are no details on testing methodology. This is also probably the hardest to test.

xrs9430 - I'd like to quantify your experience a bit since you've had the 795 and now have the 955. Out of 10 alerts with the 795, how many could you verify? How about the 955 for 10 alerts? Did City mode filtering help with either?

.

I own the Bel 995, Bel RX65 and Escort 8500 x50 and have seen no difference in filtering between the three. I use highway mode on all of them. Have tried autoscan mode and seen no difference, filtering seems to work the same on all three. All three are excellent radar detectors.