Hello from DC - Looking for complete countermeasures

[category4]

I forgot about DC and VA being close by. The Sti Driver is a very good alternative to the V1 if the trips to those areas concern you. I don't have the STi Driver, but many here love it and swear by it even over the V1. If it's similar to the STi-R then you are well protected.

[snoopyc4]

- Price limit: With all things, there is a price performance curve, and that curve has a peak, and when you go past the peak, you pay more but you don't get more. I feel like right now the curve peaks around $1200.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on your peak assessment. The peak should be higher than $1200. You can get a lot more past $1200. You read the stickies and forum so I'm going to list a couple well known countermeasures:

-LI Quad
-Valentine One
-Escort 9500ci

Add the prices of these up and it goes way past $1200. You get plenty with these three countermeasures. With the Quad, you get peace of mind against both front and rear laser speed traps. With the 9500ci, you get incredible range against all radar bands and GPS features for RLCs, speed cameras, and false alerts. The V1 gives the user more situational awareness than any other RD available. With its arrows, the V1 lets you know exactly where the signal is coming from and how many there are around you (bogey counter). Also, the V1 is a must against QT as it is the most consistent RD against QT. I/O detection on the V1 is outstanding as well. You get plenty over $1200.

[Stealth Stalker]

Yeah, depending on what you drive, $1200 will only buy you laser protection. That's above and beyond radar detection ($400 to $1200), GPS protection, and passive countermeasures. I'd say you're going to need nearly twice your $1200 dollar figure for a complete and competent system.

[category4]

If he wants front protection only, it's well achievable for $1200. It won't be the ultimate system, but it will be a darn good one!!!

[AutobahnDreams]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on your peak assessment. The peak should be higher than $1200.

I feel like I've explained myself poorly - and this is also spillover from two threads, as I have another one over in general. That said, I'll try to "asplain" myself better.

When I say a peak in the price/performance curve, that's different than a peak in the performance curve. I'm talking about additional performance per dollar. For instance, this curve exists for cars. When you talk about "fast per dollar", you can't really get better than the Caterham Superlight R500. You can keep paying more, but the amount of "fast" per each dollar starts going down. So the peak in the curve is where you stop getting more bang per buck and start getting less bang per buck- which is a lot different than finding the most bang.

So, agreed I could get more bang. But, think about it, at $1200 I can get a V1, LI dual, trapster on iphone, and Veil. If I throw a SECOND detector into the mix at $500 or $1200 more... will I get double the performance... for someone who only cares about highway driving in MD and NJ?

Breaking it down:
$400 Valentine One (I have a remote display someone gave me)
$0 Trapster on Iphone
$100 Veil
$625 LI Dual
$75 Shipping, hardwiring, fabrication, sure I'll spend this at least
----
$1200

[Stealth Stalker]

Ah... well yeah, if you're only talking about the front end of your car, and nothing else, then I would agree that $1200 is a reasonable point of diminishing returns. LI dual and V1, and you're basically set for $1k. Another $400 on top of that would give you a Cheetah GPS for accurate camera and speed trap notifications, as well as extra V1 programming options. That's what I would call a complete, ultimate system -- except for rear laser protection -- for $1400 bucks. No need for Veil or anything else, and you can leave your licence plate on.

[snoopyc4]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on your peak assessment. The peak should be higher than $1200.

So, agreed I could get more bang. But, think about it, at $1200 I can get a V1, LI dual, trapster on iphone, and Veil. If I throw a SECOND detector into the mix at $500 or $1200 more... will I get double the performance... for someone who only cares about highway driving in MD and NJ?

Here is the problem. The peak that you have set for yourself prepares you for the bare minimum. Your peak accounts for "normal" traffic enforcement tactics. It doesn't account for the "unpredictability" of traffic enforcement. The current setup you have protects you from front laser. What about rear laser? LEOs can always change things up and start shooting form the rear. That is what happened in Houston. You live in DC correct? RDs are illegal there and some LEOs use Spectre RDDs. Assuming you take down the V1 to avoid detection when you are traveling in DC and VA, where do you get your radar protection then? I hate to say it but V1s have been known at times to J out real Ka signals. How would you know if the signal was real or not (another leaky RD) if you don't run another RD along side the V1?

When buying countermeasures, you don't want to set a peak. LEOs change there tactics all the time and you want to make sure you have all the right tools at your disposal to take them on.

[AutobahnDreams]

Assuming you take down the V1 to avoid detection when you are traveling in DC and VA, where do you get your radar protection then?

Trapster. Honestly I'm almost never there, I'm ok with driving like a slowpoke when I'm there.

I've watched your youtube; you obviously know what you're talking about. Maybe I do need rear jamming for NJ. I'm going to continue running within the PSL with my V1 and try to observe tactics, maybe get a police scanner. It's all risk management. I'm unsure about the risk of being hit overpass-rear radar - I've never seen it anywhere I drive.

[Batman]

I would say if you want complete protection with all bases covered then get what I have on my car: 9500ci plus LI Quad

if you want to stick to a 1200 budget get an STI-R, Blinder M27 and a cheetah c50.

[Stealth Stalker]

I'm unsure about the risk of being hit overpass-rear radar - I've never seen it anywhere I drive.

And you never will. That's why they use it.

Scanners are a waste of money as a countermeasure in 90 percent of the U.S., and difficult, at best, in the remaining 10 percent. Certainly no bang for the buck.