Finally ready to get a radar detector, need advice.

[Crashmaxx]

So I got another ticket after more than a year without one. Thought I had gotten this down, I've been going slower, move out of Southern MD where every Trooper in the state seems to be. But the ONE day I am back in MD I get a ticket for 85 in a 65. I had been cruising since the major highways in PA and central MD don't have much enforcement and its 65 instead of the 55 I'm used to. But I guess I was careless and ran into a Trooper 3 miles from my destination, who had a trap hidden under an overpass and radar blazing. Now I need to figure out if this is a 2 point or 5 point ticket and might just need to hire a lawyer this time.

Then saw a trap on my way back in PA who was behind a mound on the side of the road facing forward hanging the gun out the window facing back towards traffic. Couldn't see him till you were almost passed, and it really annoyed me since he clearly couldn't even see what he was pointing at.

Anyway, so I am pretty sure I finally need to get a radar detector to level the playing field a bit. I'm also seriously looking at laser jammers.

So the first thing I really want (other then the unit to work as flawlessly as possible) is a hidden or at least permanent mount for the detector. I really don't like the was a windshield mounted one looks, how obvious it is, nor how it compromises laser detection. Unfortunately, they are much less common and more expensive. So if I could take a normal unit and dash mount it, that would be great, but most units don't seem to have anyway of adding remote antennas, so this may not be an option. I also just had my dash clock die and would like to put something where it used to be.

I am also really interested in laser jammers. the reason is that it seems that they are very hard to detect until it is too late, and since they are legal I would like to use everything I can to fight back. I don't know that they even use laser in PA or MD though, so I'm not sure that they are worth the added expense. If I do get one, I would very much prefer it to be integrated into the radar detector and not be a whole other device.

Lastly, I would like to spend less than $500, but I will go up to $1000 if I have to (ouch, my wallet). And I am concerned about the few times I go into VA and DC where this is all very illegal, but I figure that a hidden unit will not cause trouble as long as I leave it off.

So I'd like any advice or thoughts you have to give. This will be my first radar detector, and I hope it is the last one I need to get for the life of this car.

[ActiveKAjam]

It all depends on your price range for the detector and / or jammer, and what you really want out of the detector.

As for the detector,
$400 will get you a V1 witch is the most sensitive RD next to escorts new 9500ci witch is $1600. The V1 has directional arrows that tell you where the radar source is and the most sensitive laser sensor witch is not anything you should look for in a detector. For about $450-$500 you can get a 9500i witch is slightly less sensitive and can lock out false radar falses like automatic door openers, so you don't have to press mute everytime you drive past them.

You don't have to spend $400 plus though to get a good RD but it is recomended that you spend atleast $120 to get a decent amount of radar protection.
It's also important to know what they use in your area, and how much sensitivity you really want. For instance, 34.7 Ka and K band are my main threats and my 8500 X50 deals with these just fine, but there is some 35.5 Ka witch is the most hard to detect radar due to the signals being very directional so I'm trying to get either a 9500i or a V1 (still deciding) because I want to detect the 35.5 Ka better then my X50 does. If your main threats are Ka (besides 35.5) K or X band you should be fine with an 8500 X50, a whistler, or various beltronics model RDs.

As for the jammer,
The best one currently on the market right now would be the LI witch is expensive, but worth every penny. But there are other jammers that go for almost half the price such as the blinder or escorts ZR4. It all depends on what laser guns the LEOs in your area use as well, if it's pretty much all PL3s you should just buy a cheap jammer because this gun's easy to jam.

You should look around on the laser jammer forum, they got alot of good info there and you'll learn quite a bit from it

[ActiveKAjam]

I forgot about the stealth part; if you're worrying about being detected with RDDs ( radar detector detectors) then get an STi and you'll be undetectable.

Otherwise, you can hardwire your RD so it's a much cleaner install, or you can buy a remote RD that's installed in your car so there's nothing on your windsheild at all but you still have an active detector.

And also keep in mind that no matter what detector or jammer you buy it doesn't make you immune to speeding tickets. Just use them as tools, never depend on them.

[bkrell]

Yeah, sounds like you may like a Bel STi-r (remote).

STi-R Remote Radar Detector, Laser Detector - Beltronics USA

That is, if you are going to want the stealthiest.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Yeah, sounds like you may like a Bel STi-r (remote).

STi-R Remote Radar Detector, Laser Detector - Beltronics USA

That is, if you are going to want the stealthiest.

That detector has the worst ramp up(Audio sound increasing speed the closer you are to the radar soure) in the world

The 9500ci comes with laser jammer as will and its undetectable to all police RDD's

[bkrell]

Lol, I knew the ramp up was bad but didnt realize the 9500ci was undetectable. 9500ci it is!

[erickonphoenix]

I've never lived or been in Maryland but I've heard they are constantly competing with Ohio and West Virginia for Police State of the Year.

STi R. And an Li jammer is my recomendation. Don't "F" around when your in "der Vaterland"

BTW: If your trying to justify your cost, use my "toy barometer"

How many hours a week do you use it?
Take those hours and divide the cost per hour by as many years as it's likely to be in service.

I spent $2000 on a RDs and jammers.
My commute time was 15 hrs a week for three years.
Typical U.S. work year is 47 weeks.
2115 hours commuting for three years.
That's a little over a dollar an hour for protection

At the end of that time I had a total of 29/31 saves
5 laser saves by the ZR3 Laser Jammer
2 proximity saves by the Pro98 Police Scanner
Two speeding tickets dismissed by a traffic lawyer. $100 a piece.
Estimated ticket costs saved to date in U.S. dollars $6800

$6800
-2000
----------
$4800

Or, of course you could just drive the speed limit But that would be rediculous.

[Cips]

Well it sounds like you really want the Escort 9500ci, but you don't want to spend the $1600. The 9500ci has everything you want. Stealth, remote mounted, and a built in laser jammer.

[YTCD]

You have 3 choices really 9500i, STI, & V1. I personally wouldn't get the 9500ci because the laser jammer to me isn't the best. Really all 3 of those perform around the same, there all top of the line detectors.

The 9500 has gps which is really nice locks out falses and has quite a few other features. The STI has the undetectablity and performs amazing (if you do go to DC and VA, I suggest getting this because its nice to have that piece of mind, I live in VA and I have friends that have detectors and when it goes off they have to rip it off the windshield and always worry about getting pulled over for it, but I just drive right on pass the cop with the detector on and on the windshield and never have had a problem). And the V1 has the best performance of all of them but it is noisy because of all the falses.

Really its what you want. If you want the piece of mind of having one that can't be detected then STI, if you want the sweet features of GPS and it being quite 9500, or if you want the best performing detector then you want the V1.

[Fritter]

Try slowing down. Having failed that, have your license and insurance ready and in an accessable place.


(sorry, I can't help myself.....)

F