Hello all RD fans
Just joined up and wanted to say hello.
I've owned detectors since the original V1 came out in the early 1990's---which I was one of their first customers. Greatest detector of its time, but the early versions were TERRIBLE on Ka band. Never updated it to the later versions, because VR wanted nearly as much for a brand new one just to update it, so I got rid of it and swore off V1's forever.
Next was a Bel Express 945 S7. Got it at a well known travel center for $79.95. I didn't think that at that price point it could be a very good unit, but boy was I ever wrong! COUNTLESS saves with plenty of warning on all bands, especially K and Ka both on and off axis. But, the plastic mount finally gave up the ghost, and Bel doesn't make the mounts for that detector any longer, so no choice---gotta get a new one. Otherwise, I would still be using it---never even came close to getting nailed using this little gem.
Thought I'd give the Pro 78SE a shot since it got such good reviews from Veil Guy and has a very attractive price point, certainly. VERY disappointing K band sensitivity, sad to say---and there are plenty of locals in my area still using that band, so couldn't trust it. It would hardly alert even when facing a K band door opener at 50 ft! The old 945 would be at full blast alert at 10 times that distance. I will say, however, that if Whistler ever gets it together and figures out how to up sensitivity on K band, they will have a HUGE winner, because the detector is a BEAST for long range C/O, I/O and Q/T Ka band detection----equal to (or maybe even BETTER than) the big boys. Anyway, can't use this one, next please.
Enter the Bel 955 M4. Very similar in performance to the old 945, maybe slightly better sensitivity on Ka band---BUT, the detector seems to have "tunnel vision" and has very poor off axis performance--it just wasn't good at picking up "scatter"---very important no matter what anyone may say. In my known falsing areas where my945 would be alerting to weak off axis signals, the 955 was completely silent. It certainly falsed less than the 945, but at the expense of inferior off axis sensitivity. Next please---
Enter the Escort Redline. Now we're getting somewhere---but at 3 times the bucks of the 955, I would expect as much. EXTREME sensitivity and range on all bands, but not at the expense of excessive falsing, especially on Ka band. Very uncanny how a detector can be this sensitive, yet when it alerts on Ka band, it's a LEO 95 out of 100 times. And superior range on K band as well. Haven't had a Q/T encounter (that I know of) so can't comment about that (well discussed) issue. Overall, very pleased with it, other than pathetically low volume (even when set to MAX). Still in the trial period with it, but will probably be the keeper. Awesome over hills, curves and off axis performance!
Anyway, that's my story and I'm stickin to it! 3's and 8's to all the CBer's in the group, and thanks for letting me be a part of it.
Ferdy
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Originally Posted by snoopyc4
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