Beltronics STI Driver or Escort Redline?

[LexusAussie]

All,

I live in a Draconian State on the Eastern Seaboard of Australia. RD's are illegal however the LEO's get to use the Spectre IV at will. I have previously had a Valentine 1 but retired it a few years back when the Spectre came out.

I've been reading up on forums and reading on comparisons between the Beltronic STI Driver (sold as the STI XR here) and the Escort Redline. I've also watched videos comparing the two and I don't see much of a difference other than the Redline has slightly better sensitivity in some areas.

I am ready the pull the trigger on a radar detector in the next 24 hours and I'm interested in the general views on which is the better RD. My primary requirements is first and foremost, complete Undetectability. While both of these units claim to be "undetectable" by Spectre, there are sunvisor holders for the STI that conceal the STI from view and these simply aren't available for the Redline.

Thoughts?

All help greatly appreciated.

I have also posted this in the Escort section of the Forum

[Chuckee]

All,

I live in a Draconian State on the Eastern Seaboard of Australia. RD's are illegal however the LEO's get to use the Spectre IV at will. I have previously had a Valentine 1 but retired it a few years back when the Spectre came out.

I've been reading up on forums and reading on comparisons between the Beltronic STI Driver (sold as the STI XR here) and the Escort Redline. I've also watched videos comparing the two and I don't see much of a difference other than the Redline has slightly better sensitivity in some areas.

I am ready the pull the trigger on a radar detector in the next 24 hours and I'm interested in the general views on which is the better RD. My primary requirements is first and foremost, complete Undetectability. While both of these units claim to be "undetectable" by Spectre, there are sunvisor holders for the STI that conceal the STI from view and these simply aren't available for the Redline.

Thoughts?

All help greatly appreciated.

I have also posted this in the Escort section of the Forum

Did you get a reply in the Escort forum? I would think that any holder for the sti would work for the redline since the two are made by the same company BELscort and use the same windshield mount. Not sure about the physical dimensions, however, if you are considering encasing either of the detectors inside of a holder. The redline from what I have read, is a newer product and is tuned to provide the greatest range of the two. If you need ultimate range, of the two, I would get the redline.

[redline3636]

x2

[spartcus]

x3

[Ronin]

hey all,

I have an Sti and so far have been happy with it. I saw that the Redline is available and that it has two antenna, is more sensitive and immune to RDD. On the surface it looks like the Redline might be a better bet. Has anyone tested the two, seems the comments are based on the printed word then actual tests. Also, does anyone know if there will ever be any capability for red light info, etc or would implementing that functionally make the RD visible to RDD. Wondering if I should upgrade and at the same time trying to limit the hardware while saving for Laser.

Thanks,

[nickstath]

Both STi and Redline use the same dual M3 antenna.Both are invisible to RDD.

[Chuckee]

hey all,

I have an Sti and so far have been happy with it. I saw that the Redline is available and that it has two antenna, is more sensitive and immune to RDD. On the surface it looks like the Redline might be a better bet. Has anyone tested the two, seems the comments are based on the printed word then actual tests. Also, does anyone know if there will ever be any capability for red light info, etc or would implementing that functionally make the RD visible to RDD. Wondering if I should upgrade and at the same time trying to limit the hardware while saving for Laser.

Thanks,

Several actual tests have been conducted and there are videos on youtube that show that the redline does in fact outperform the STI. Just do a search. Anyway, can you post this as a new thread in the general radar or STI section and it it is likely that you will get more responses to your question.

[johno_57]

I own one of each. My experience is that the Sti is quieter on K band, which I understand from participating in this forum, is due to "smarts" in the RDs firmware.The Redline has better repeatability with range when detecting Multanova speed cameras (Ka band) and "appears" to have slightly better range on both K and Ka. I feel comfortable with either detector but the Redline would be my preference.

[Ronin]

Thanks all.
Based on the feedback it seems that the Redline is just toping the Sti but not by much. I'm considering the Redline as driving in northern NJ I'm getting banged by Ka and it seems the local enforcement are using low power Ka, I'm not sure if that's right or such thing as low power Ka, that's what I've been told. Seems my Sti has good range, proves it every time on highways, but when it comes to local Ka, my RD does not go off until I'm almost on top of them. I've had the Sti serviced as my warranty was up and in every case, before/after service, it reacted the same when it came to local Ka. Based on that sensitivity to Ka alone I'd consider the Redline to help with the local low Ka attack.
Any word if Bel will be coming out with a next generation Sti, I tend to be stick to one brand, or will they play the tag game, Bel, Escort, Bel Escort, etc.

Thanks

[bigalinwv]

Thanks all.
Based on the feedback it seems that the Redline is just toping the Sti but not by much. I'm considering the Redline as driving in northern NJ I'm getting banged by Ka and it seems the local enforcement are using low power Ka, I'm not sure if that's right or such thing as low power Ka, that's what I've been told. Seems my Sti has good range, proves it every time on highways, but when it comes to local Ka, my RD does not go off until I'm almost on top of them. I've had the Sti serviced as my warranty was up and in every case, before/after service, it reacted the same when it came to local Ka. Based on that sensitivity to Ka alone I'd consider the Redline to help with the local low Ka attack.
Any word if Bel will be coming out with a next generation Sti, I tend to be stick to one brand, or will they play the tag game, Bel, Escort, Bel Escort, etc.

Thanks

I beg to differ, my Redline hands-down absolutely crushes any STi Driver I have owned (I've owned and sold about 4 or 5). The Redline IS what the STi Driver SHOULD have been.

To be honest, I have never noticed much difference between an X50 and an STi Driver, for all intents and purposes, they are fairly equal.