What guns are they running in Illinois?

[Phillip559]

I just got back from a trip to Chicago (actually the suburbs around it).

Anyway, I drove by one of the local cops and the mounting position of the radar looked very "foreign" too me. I guess this is because I am used to seeing dual antenna Stalker Ka guns mounted in cars.

It actually looked a lot like a picture of the Stalker ATR ( and just mounted smack in the middle of the dash). It just look really funny to me because it was so obvious when you drive by.

It looked like a big long rectangular grey box.

Honestly though, I could be completely wrong. It might be k or ka band because I had no detector with me (wasn't my car)

[bart99gt]

If it was a larger radar, it was probably a Kustom HR-12. Its a K band moving capable "convertable" like the ATR.

[proudNMAmember]

They are running k,ka,laser and I hear POP mode radar is used in Chicago (but personally, haven't witnessed it being used there). X band is used in various locations in IL suck as Stickney, Crestwood, Aurora, Orangeville, Freeport, Rockford, and various locations in Western IL. To my knowledge, outside of the suburbs of Chicago I listed, X band isn't being used. Spinner can you enlighten us a little more on this?

[Phillip559]

I believe it was around the Itasca and Medina areas. There is another city around there also but I forgot the name. The police station was right by a Wal greens.

[Phillip559]

I wish i had brought my own car. I would have liked to take a trip though laser capital ohio and also Michigan where they use a lot of speed detection.

[proudNMAmember]

Well, from using many different rd's and testing them. I have found the best sounding audio for a VG-2 alert has to be the Bel 795. At least the 795 has one good thing going for it. This doesn't mean it detects VG-2 the best, but sure sounds cool when it is going off. Another person on here tested this w/ me and can vouch for it.

[groovyipo]

City of Chicago cops love using laser on Lake Shore Drive (I call it lidar shore road) both north and south. On tollways the state troopers love lidar too, since they sit in their Impalas (always black or dark gray with no mars lights), F150s and Grand Caravans (I am not joking) and blasting into their side read view mirror. Suburban cops run different stuff, depending on how rich the suburb is. The more MBs, BMWs, Lexus, and other expensive cars you see, the more likely the suburb will be running laser.
Oh, also, Chicago cops do run one of those outside mounted radars that look like pipe bombs, but I have no idea what those are.
The further downstate you go, the more likely state trooper will have radar not lidar.

All of this comes from lots of commuting :D

[Spinner55]

Hello,

Been 'away' from the forums a while.


X band is used in some smaller villages like Orangeville (north of Freeport) in Stephenson Co. Been X band radared in City of Rockford and Winnebago Co and other places where bugets are tight.

I just had a run in with X band last week on a trip near Rockford. Late at night, (1 am) the V1 started to beep x band alert and I was no where near a mall etc. Turned on my Ka Kustom Golden as the car got close, got a reading of 74 mph as the LEO 'trucked' by on a way to a call. BTW the LEO was running at that speed with only normal lightning. No warning lights etc.

IF I was a LEO, taking out a old X band might be 'fun' in area's where people have turned off X band on their detectors.

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Ka: Illinois State uses either Ka - Kustom Golden Eagles or Decatur Genius II

I got to look at a Dist. 16 car 2 weeks ago. I knew it was not a Kustom, rounded Ka horns. Was a Genius II, didn't get to talk to him long. Next chance I get to chat with one. I ask how they like the Decatur vs Kustom.

Ka: Counties seem to like the new Kustom Talon which looks kind of like a Stalker ATR.

I know Stephenson Co. has a few of them. Personally I would rather have a Stalker II, takes up less dash room etc.

[groovyipo]

So I assume than that running V1 for lots of mixed highway/city commuting in Chicagoland is the way to go? Or having STi is a better idea for that mixed of an environment?

[Spinner55]

Hello,

What type of driving do you do?

Area of driving etc.

I would say:

STI / X50 for mainly city / mall area driving areas of heavy non-LEO signals.

V1 for city and county driving.

The reason I say that about the V1. The V1 is 2 detectors in one, one horn facing forward and one facing backwards. So it is a bit more chatty then most single horn detectors in heavy mall / non-LEO signal areas. It hears / see's more signals then a single horn unit. You get twice the signals because of the dual horns. One headed toward the source and more when you are driving away from the source.

I do use mine in Winnebago and the City of Rockford (2nd or 3rd largest city in Illinois) Also in my travels to Wisconsin / Iowa and points south (TN / Ky). It has held up well in the last 4 years, is upgradable and they stand behind the product. (better then my dealings with Escort - another story)

I do like the arrows, nice knowing where the signal is coming from. (ok not 100% accurate do the fact radar signals reflect off metal.) As we all know, metal etc causes microwave signals to bounce and you could get a blocked signal and a 'false' reading due to that.) On my travels cross country, it sniffs out radar very well.

I own the escort and v1 and a few other older detectors starting back from early 70's. All detectors have there good and bad features.

LIDAR:

Really all a detector does is tell you been had. A good 'parking' laser setup is a must. (not that I can legally have one in my state :wink: )

Take care,

Spin

[groovyipo]

So basically the stealth feature is worthless for my driving? The only reason I am looking for stealth is because I am assuming good number of LEOs are running RDDs, so I don't want to invite more attention. Am I wrong?

Right now most of my commute is on Lake Shore Drive, I55, I290, and I294.
Tollways worry me the most, since state troopers are using lots of unmarked cars. Second worry are suburban cops in certain burbs (like Westmont, Highland Park, Niles, Buffalo Grove, and etc.) that are under pressure to write tickets.

I will be also doing more traveling to MA and CA for business, will be driving mostly within burbs and the metros.


I want to make the right choice that I will not regret. Difference is mere $50 between V1 and STi.

I drive a muscle car and a race car, both are like moving bullseyes. Too many close calls :oops:

[Spinner55]

Hello

Only state that I know of that use RDD is VA. Since use of a detector is 'illegal' there. (plus the US capital and US military bases it's a BIG no-no)

So read about each detector at the GOL site and pick your detector. Most have a 30 day trial. You can also get a V1 'return' at a good price.

Take care,
Spin

[groovyipo]

Thanks for your answer dude!

[Spinner55]

Hello,

Well, I forgot about commerical vehicles it is illegal to use one. So many states do use them to check for commerical users of detectors. If you are a private car / truck, no worry about using one. ISP i have heard do have a few of them to check commerical traffic on tollroads etc. They don't even bother with use private people since it's legal to have one every where but VA (DC and military bases also) and parts of Canada. So unless you are driving a big rig, plan on going to VA etc. Private ownership of a detector will be no problem.

Take care,

spin

[groovyipo]

Well, looks like they started using motorcycles on I55. Now it is really time to get that RD. Those Harleys are very hard to spot, since they are the color of the concrete barrier that separates each side of traffic.