Radar Detector Selection Tool

[thx1138]

I have a radar detector selection tool in the form of a excel spreadsheet with user defined weights on different parameters.

My question is how do I upload an excel spreadsheet? It doesn't seem to be a supported file type in the forum.

[stlcardsfan]

Make a screen shot off it and upload it.

[rocky2]

I have a radar detector selection tool in the form of a excel spreadsheet with user defined weights on different parameters.

My question is how do I upload an excel spreadsheet? It doesn't seem to be a supported file type in the forum.

I hope your not a zombie and after all data is input it always = V1 :)

It is a good idea so we don't have to answer the which is the best detector ? 5 times a day.

[GET 1T DONE]

I agree! Great idea!

That would be great if it could somehow be integrated into your post rather than simply be an attachment. Otherwise, just attach it for download somehow so we can check it out, weigh in on it, and then have a moderator "sticky" it.



-Clay_in_Nashville

Taking a screenshot wouldn't be of any use since you probably have to select criteria from a drop-down menu or manually input parameters.

[Stealth Stalker]

Awesome idea! It's one I've been toying with and actually drawing up a flow-chart outline for, but I wasn't sure what format to put it in. I'm not proficient with Excel. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

[kpatz]

Put it in a zip file and then attach it. The forum does accept zip files.

[Cips]

I'm interested in it as well. There could be well over 20 different questions depending on how in-depth you decided to go with it.

[thx1138]

Ok, here it is....

The tool requires the user to allocate points to 10 parameters (max 10 points). If only one factor is critical, they can assign all ten points to that parameter. More than likely people will be forced to allocate their points and weigh the relative importance of some parameters vs others. Fractional points can be assigned.

The tool takes these point assignments from the user multiplies them through ratings of each radar detector for each parameter. I'm sure there will be massive disagreements on RD ratings I've assigned. I tried to use data from GOL or data points I've read here. There may be other parameters that folks want to add. I used 10 because its a round number.

The tool shows you the scores for all the radar detectors The intent is to force people to look at the parameters and their importance. They may want to change the rating given to the radar detectors. Actually It would be good for some other more experienced, objective RD users to validate my ratings.


Parameters
Cost: How much can I spend?
Sensitivity X band
Sensitivity K band
Sensitivity Ka Band 33.8
Sensitivity Ka Band 34.7
Sensitivity Ka Band 35.5
Quietness/"False" Alerts
Reaction time
Stealthiness
Situational awareness features


Radar Detectors Rated
V1
Escort 9500ci
Escort 9500ix
Escort 8500x50
Bel Sti
Bel Sti-r
Bel RX65
Bel V995
Bel GX65
Bel V940/955
Whistler Pro78
Whistler XTS
Cobra XRS

[Cips]

Playing with it now. I'll let you know what I think.

I don't like how the Total Points Value can only be 10. I was rating each input on a 1-10 basis.

Aside from that minor thing, I think it's very neat. The layout is easy to understand and it's simple to use. Very good work!

I also love the disclaimers.

If anyone's wondering I filled it out as honest as possible, and my results were great:

Top 5:
V1: 8.63
9500CI: 8.29
9500IX: 7.34
STi: 6.56
X50: 5.19

[Zapple]

I like it. Here are my results:

9500ci - 8.36
V1 - 8.16
STi-R - 8.15

[rocky2]

I think its a nice spreadsheet, I would remove the Cobra from the list of detector's. Never a reason to use a Cobra.

Update:If you put in 5 for Reaction time, and then 1 for all the bands. STI is lower than GX-65, and 9500ix, I thought the reaction time for a STI should be better than the Belscort GPS models.

[Zapple]

Unless you give cost all 10 points.

[indykappa]

wow, this is a really neat tool...definitely something that a RD newb such as myself could benefit from!

[slg]

As a relative newb here, I think this is a great tool and I wish it had been available a few weeks ago.

That said, the one thing I don't like is the KA band separated into three lines.

If this is aimed at helping newcomers to the RD world, my guess is that most of them won't know the difference between the three KA bands or have any idea which is in use locally. I know I didn't until I got my RD and started watching the hits.

Once people have done some research or reached out to others in their area, it may be more helpful to have them separated, but from the complete newb standpoint, I think it's confusing.

But don't get me wrong. I like the execution overall and have had fun playing w/ it this afternoon.

[kpatz]

Cool spreadsheet. The only way for Cobra to come out on top is to assign cost all 10 points, and then the Whistler XTS also appears there. Might as well drop the Crapra completely, unless you add a "stupidity", "amusement", or "I plan on aiming my RD at the sky" category. :D

I don't know if this is a bug or not... but when I allocate all 10 points to "stealthiness", the 9500ix gets ranked at 10 along with the 9500ci and the two STis. Is this correct? The 9500ix isn't Spectre-immune is it?

Just put in values corresponding more-or-less to my needs, and got:

Escort 9500ci: 8.40
V1: 8.13
Bel STi-R: 7.80
Escort 9500ix and Bel GX65: 7.24

My trusty X50 clocked in at a paltry 4.90, and my RX65 at 4.45.

[djrams80]

Here were my results:

9500ci - 9.20
9500ix - 7.95
GX-65 - 7.95
Bel STi-R - 7.40
V1 - 6.60
STi - 6.55
X-50 - 5.60

I'd say it's remarkably accurate for me, except that in my brain, the gap between the STi and the V1 is larger than that.

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1061/outputrgh.png (http://img198.imageshack.us/i/outputrgh.png/)

[Stealth Stalker]

I like it. Here are my results:

9500ci - 8.36
V1 - 8.16
STi-R - 8.15
I too ended up with the CI slightly edging out the V1, presumably because of the weight I put on 34.7 sensitivity, which is key in Floridia and Texas. Of course, if you don't stick your CI antenna out in the open, you probably won't see that performance difference, so that really negates it.

This rocks! Totally sticky-worthy! :thumb2:

[thx1138]

I don't know if this is a bug or not... but when I allocate all 10 points to "stealthiness", the 9500ix gets ranked at 10 along with the 9500ci and the two STis. Is this correct? The 9500ix isn't Spectre-immune is it?




Probably a mistake as I assigned the9500 ix the same stealthiness as the 9500ci. Here are the values for each RD for stealthiness....It could use some tweaking. I was searching for spectre test reults but couldn't find them. I think I saw them some time back from Jazzy. So I should bump the Bel STi down to about 0.6?

RD ratings---1 =best, less than one is proportionally less performance. Cobra is really bad, V1 is pretty noisy, belscrot are a little better and the CI is best.

V1 0.4
Escort 9500ci 1
Escort 9500ix 1
Escort 8500x50 0.6
Bel Sti 1
Bel Sti-r 1
Bel RX65 0.6
Bel V995 0.6
Bel GX65 0.6
Bel V940/955 0.6
Whistler Pro78 0.6
Whistler XTS 0.6
Cobra XRS 0.1

[thx1138]

I have a radar detector selection tool in the form of a excel spreadsheet with user defined weights on different parameters.

My question is how do I upload an excel spreadsheet? It doesn't seem to be a supported file type in the forum.

I hope your not a zombie and after all data is input it always = V1 :)

It is a good idea so we don't have to answer the which is the best detector ? 5 times a day.

God that would have been easier to rig it for zombie ouput!!.

Hopefully its objective enough and people are honest with their point assignements for it to be useful. I'm not sure the Fanboys, cobra junkheads will be happy unless they really discount sensitivity (based on GOL data). Zombies and belscort techheads should be happy

[kpatz]

So I should bump the Bel STi (for stealthiness) down to about 0.6? I hope you meant the 9500ix... the STi should remain at 1.0 for stealth. :)

[thx1138]

yep I meant 9500ix....but typed sti....thanks for clarifying

[category4]

Cool it's pretty good, it picked my 3 detectors, 9500ci, STi-R, V1.

[thx1138]

Thanks for all the feedback. Here is a version where I corrected the 9500ix stealthiness rating.

[CactusMan]

Super job. Thanks for all the hardwork and very impressive data.

[thx1138]

Here is the updated RD selection tool using the GOL2009 results...

Thanks GOL for all the data....

[Cips]

Here is the updated RD selection tool using the GOL2009 results...

Thanks GOL for all the data....

Coolie. It's good to see this is still valid.

[jem58]

Great job dude, that must have taken alot of time. Thanks for all the work.:)

[thx1138]

Great job dude, that must have taken alot of time. Thanks for all the work.:)

Thanks, it took a bit of time. Hopefully it is an objective metric that someone can use to figure it out.. Excel is 2nd nature, so it was fun to use those skills to develop somethng for the forum.

[8freerunner8]

This is awesome, great job, I ended up with 9500ci, STi-R (own) and V1(own). Very cool, this is great tool for newcomers!:rock:

[v1user]

Wow! I was on vacation on 7/22 so I missed it. This looks like it took many hours if not days. My results were V1, sti-r and 9500ci.