Radar detectors Europe

[pipinos1976]

Hello,

I am from Europe. I read a lot about radar detectors latelly and I want to buy one myself.

In Europe the best model (only for dashboard) is "Bel 550 Euro". I want to know if there is a model "Bel 550i" for the rest of world. A friend has one, but he doesn't know if it supports europe's frequencies. I'm interested in Ku band as in Europe police uses Ku band Cameras (something like GATSO with a different band). My friend told me his detector was 1,5 years old and didn't support Ku band. Is it posssible, as 550 was the substitute for 990 and it was made especially for that reason, to cover the new frequencies.

If the 550i is not suitable for Europe, do you know if the US models, such RX65, V1, Escort etc (they support Ku band) are suitable ? Do they support the same frequencies as in Europe ? I don't know if the K and Ka bands are exactly the same in Europe as in US.

Another question is about the laser detection capabilities the radar detectors have. Does anyone have an experience where the detector detected laser guns ? I mean when a laser gun is pointing other vehicles in front, cause when we are aimed that's it, we are busted. If there is a detection, at what distance is this possible ?

Finally, what about POP mode and spectre ? In Europe we only have VG2, which is easy to detect, so no problem about that. But what about POP ? I believe the euro models are not equieped with POP mode and spectre. Do you have any information about this?

Thank you in advance about your time. If anyone could help I'd be glad.

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Well:

Beltronics RX65 - Set to Ku On, "Ka International" - covers everything
Valentine One - Set Ku on, might want to disable Ka false filtre, for better detection on Ka photoradars.

ESCORT PASSPORT X50 doesn't have Ku ability right now. A software change can add it easily, and ESCORT may do just that soon. But - why bother when there is the RX65.

BUT - from what I know, the older Beltronics 550 and 990, or the 970-series remote are better for European conditions. I do not believe the 550i has Ku detection. The RX65/V1/X50 are designed primarily for USA market, which is a mobile radar gun on K and Ka territory, with the occasional X band and soon there may be Ku.

Where are you in Europe? I know some countries (e.g. Holland) do use Spectre devices. A new "Brand X" unit should come out this summer that is Spectre immune.

I wouldn't worry too much about POP mode. Laser detection is poor with a detector. You may be interested in a laser jammer, like the Lidatek or Blinder. A radar detector will possibly detect the laser early enough, but most often it won't. The Valentine One has far superior laser detection compared to anything else, but it also falses more on laser, from car brakelights, et al.

[Crash]

In Europe the V1 rarely falses on laser, only behind some newer BMWs. As for the best detector for Europe, I suggest you buy the Valentine 1. The new ones coming from the factory are well equipped to do the job.

[pipinos1976]

I asked an expert for UK and he gave me this answer about 550i:

"Its fine anywhere as it has all the bands needed."

I also found a site in UK, where they sell the 550i and they say it has Ku band. Here's the url: http://www.electroniccentre.co.uk/sh...sp?ID=4&SID=93

I'm totally confused now. You say it doesn't support Ku band, the other two say it supports. How could I know for sure ?

Thanx for your time, your other advice where very helpfull.

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Then it probably does. I did a quick search which showed me it only had X K ka but it probably has an option to enable Ku like the V1 or RX65.

[laserblaster]

the bel 550 detects all bands in europe!

this info is from target automotive they are the European distributor of beltronics.....


Frequencies: 9.41 GHz, 9.9 GHz, 10,525 GHz, 10,600 GHz (X Band). 13.45 GHz (Ku Band). 24,125 GHz, 24,150 GHz (K Band). 34.00 GHz, 34.30 GHz, 34.70 GHz (Ka wide Band).
Detection range: Average 200-800 meters (depending on environmental factors).

where are you from..... europe has the spectre rdd's! and radar detectors are banned in most european countrys!

if they are illegal in your country the chances are they will use the spectre rdd!

if they arnt illegal i would worry about rdd stealth !

at present time no detector stealths enough to protect you from the spectre rdd threat..... a few detectors are immune to certain specre types but not all!

the bel 550 is detectable by the spectre rdd!
http://www.target-automotive.nl/en/r...geteuro550.php

[pipinos1976]

I knew about the target site in Europe, but there ara 2 models of bel 550, the Euro model and 550i. But as you said they ara probably the same, with the possibility to activate the Ku band in Europe.
Thanks for your answers.
I am from Greece. There we have the following systems:

1. Electronic signs tha inform you how fast you go (X band)

2. Gatso and mini Gatso photographic cameras (K, Ka and Ku band)

3. Gatso cameras with piezoelectric lanes (the started this year to put on all highways - the only way to avoid this is by GPS systems)

4. Radar guns (K or Ka band - I don't know for sure)

5. Portable radars (K or Ka band - got 1 tichet from 500m for speeding + 44Km/h)

6. Laser guns

As you see the only way to avoid tickets, especially at night is by a radar detector. The laser guns are not too many, they are difficult to use and the other drivers warn you with the headlights about such things.
The problems are during the night, especially in roads you don't know. They put a mini Gatso and they come to collect it after a couple of hours.
The detector is to avoid such tichets and some times the protable radars (rare thing nowadeys, they prefer the cameras) or even the lasers (i hide behind other cars so I believe I can detect them if no warning is possible from the other drivers).
As for the detector detector thing, in Greece they only have VG2, as the use of radar detectors is limited to very few people as it's illegal to use it, but not to posses it. I never heard about spectre I,II,III and such things, not even one busted for using radar detector.
But how they can be sure you have a radar detector ?
Usually they are bored to search, or they don't even know what's a detector. After all it's the court thing were they don't want to get involved.

If I had one, until now, and for the last 2 years, I could have saved at least 200 euros = 260 $ from tickets. The main reason why they stop you is for speeding and especially in areas where the highway passes through villages (speed limit 50Km/h). They don't care so much about safety belt or other violations as they don't offer much money the easy way.

They do the same trick, every cop in the world does. The limit is 70Km/h, you go 100+, they stop you, they tell you that they are good so they write you were going only 85-89 Km/h. Up to +20Km/h you pay 17 euros = 22$, you say thnx and you go. If you are a little rude they write up to +40Km/h were you pay much more, but they don't have to prosecute you (paperwork saved, no need to come to the court etc). You must be very unlucky, or speed in a highway (speed limit 120 km/h) more than 200 Km/h to prosecute you and only when there is traffic.

The cameras now...end of the speeding history !!!

Sorry for the big post. I wanted to inform you about things in Greece.

[KGB]

It seems to me that things in Greece are getting worse since the last time I was there for my summer studies in ALBA (athens).

I am in Bulgaria now and over here the cops only use the X-band...and for the last couple of months they work mostly on low-power instant-on very deadly weapon.

Well a month ago I did a road trip from Sofia to Madrid and the way back...ongoing journey was Sofia-Beograde-Wienna-Munich-Zurich-Geneva (visited the autoshow there )-Lyon-Barca-Valensia-Madrid...then Zaraggoza-Barca-Cannes-Nice-Monaco-San Remo-Torino-Milan-Padoa-Venice-Slovenia-Croatia-serbia and back...

well my V1 saved me couple of times...especially from Laser in Serbia...total of 3 times saved my Laser ...in austria they work on K-band photo camera...germany is the same thing but they use as well Ka. Bad thing in Germany is that on the highway they have undercover police cars which use same line same speed to get you measurment of speed...while been recorden on video...Speed limits on Germany highways do exist when crossing near cities and when it is raining snowing.

Swiss...ok I didn bother risking it...so i didnt use my V1 and anyways everyone there drives with 120-130 you go over it...you are in troublle....France is much better case...dont use my V1 for the reasons of spectre but you can go 150km/h without any problems...

I have to finish the post someother time cause i have to go now...

take care

[brick]

It seems to me that things in Greece are getting worse since the last time I was there for my summer studies in ALBA (athens).

I think the first written greek sentence I ever figured out was a HUGE sign warning of radar enforcement on the highway from the new airport into Athens. At the time I was thrilled to be able to read anything.

[pipinos1976]

Does anyone know how good the Snooper S5 works?
I know for Europe the best is BEL 550, but in ebay I can't find good and cheap detectors from BEL. There are only 1-2-3 pieces each time and rarely shipped to Greece where I live. So I decided to go for Snooper S5.
Any tests or opinios about this detector?
The www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk recommends it along with BEL 550, Cheetah, BTST and of course Valentine V1.
I want to know more opinions though.

Thanks in advance for your time.