Best Installed Detector for Canada

As you may have seen in my intro-post - my wife and I are going to be moving to Alberta soon.

We have been very strict on following speed limits for once... lol, I used to live in Belgium where you can do 145km/h past a speed trap in a 120 zone and they don't even blink - no points system either, so no insurance penalties. 100 in an 80 zone driving in Austria = 25 euros cash on the spot fine and you drive away, no problem. so being back in north america is frustrating as far as driving is concerned....

Anyway - even though I was very careful to follow every speed limit sign I could see - we still managed to get a "103 in 80 zone" ticket because I failed to slow down on the highway when the speed dropped. We had driven that road every single day for 2 weeks and they were radaring every single day, so I knew to slow down for that area, but I was caught up in a conversation with my wife and didn't notice the 80km/h sign until I noticed everyone else slowed down to 80. So just as I slowed to 80, I got waved over and written a ticket.

By the way - there was nothing going on in the road to warrant the 80 zone, but they do that all over the place here. They stick a random 80 sign in an old no-longer-under-construction zone in the middle of the highway then put cops there with laser guns. Total cash grab!

Anyway, it would have been nice to have a little audible beep to remind us about areas like that. I used to have a Bel RX-65 when I lived in Florida and it made life so much more relaxed.

With that said - we are moving to Alberta from BC, and in BC your car window will get broken if you leave ANYTHING visible. Lots of homeless problems around Vancouver, so I don't want a windshield mounted anything.

I was looking at the Beltronics RX-45 but I can't really find any info online about it. I found one forum thread that said it's the same detector as the Qi45, but haven't had a chance to research it. I just hate buying a product from one manufacturer that is identical to that of the other manufacturer, so that right there was a turn off for me.

I really like the sound of the STI Driver, but it doesn't come in a hidden version.

Does anyone here run installed detectors in their vehicles? What is the best one? They use laser a lot up in Canada, so I need something with good laser detection.

I also see a lot about laser-shifters. What exactly do these do, and are they legal in Alberta?

Thanks! :-)

Your only choice for a remote detector that is spectre-stealth (which you likely want even in legal parts of Canada) is the 9500ci, and that will cost you $1600+Install.

I say get a spectre-stealth unit because that way if you take a trip... you aren't SOL, even though it might be legal where you reside.



The Sti is a good unit, but spring for the Redline if your going to get it (they are virtually identical, except the Redline might have a slight edge over the STi in detection... it's close though)... what you can do is hardwire the units 'high' behind your tint... and it will work well.

Just take them down when you leave the car.


The Qi-45/RX-45 is nothing more then an RX-65 or an X50... that you cannot move from vehicle to vehicle.


Basically you are paying $550+Install (So likely $600-$750) for a $300 unit.


If you are going to live in Canada, I would just feel so much better (if I were in your shoes) with a spectre-immune detector... but if you travel little you might be able to get away with the RX-45/Qi-45 and accomplish your goal of not having the whole unit to smash&grab.


Sadly for you... the SR7... which is virtually identical to the Qi-45 on radar detection, and better at laser detection (not that it matters) was on sale for $350 awhile back... too bad you missed that. :(


Read some stickies in the Laser-Jammer sections of the forum to learn about shifters/jammers... no detector will save you from this threat.

The STI-R is anther option, even though it is discontinued they can be found for a little more than $600 and can be stealth installed. If you want a dash mount you can get an STI Driver or an Escort Redline. All of these are spectre immune.

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Originally Posted by Divewjason

The STI-R is anther option, even though it is discontinued they can be found for a little more than $600 and can be stealth installed. If you want a dash mount you can get an STI Driver or an Escort Redline. All of these are spectre immune.

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Buying unauthorized is something I simply cannot suggest to anyone with RD's... unless authorized dealers still have them?

So I'd say: The Sti-R was an option. EDIT: I forgot they gave Canada the detector we have been asking for... :rolleyes:

Beltronics and Escort products are made by the same company, Escort Inc. There are a lot of similarities between the separate brand name products. The major functional differences between similar products are the display settings, audio alert tones, and voices.

The Qi45 and RX45, for instance, are the same except for the display settings, audio alert tones, and voices. These are great performing remote installed detectors, comparable in radar detection to the 9500ix and GX65. They are also very affordable for a remote unit and offer a simple upgrade path for laser shifting/blocking/jamming. Installation is a breeze with them.

Laser detection is typically much better with remote installed detectors because the front plate and headlights are the primary targets of laser, and the windshield's effect on the beam isn't a factor for detection. Laser speed measurements are nearly instant. If you are the target when alerted your speed has already been measured.

Laser jamming is sending a laser signal back to the laser gun preventing a speed reading to be taken. They are not federally illegal like radar jammers are because the FCC doesn't govern infrared light. Their use is prohibited in some areas however, usually under a clause such as "any device which disables police equipment functions". I am not sure if laser jamming is prohibited in your area, you will have to check on this yourself. This forum is a great resource for this information. We offer laser jamming in Escort's 9500ci system, Qi45 (optional), and the standalone ZR4 laser defense system which integrates controls and display with all current Escort and Bel windshield mounted radar detectors. Beltronics offers laser jamming in the RX45 (optional), and the STi-R Plus (optional).

Something else to consider is that some provinces of Canada also prohibit the use of radar detectors. Radar detector detectors (RDDs) may be used by police in these areas to identify the use of radar detectors. These RDDs detect the electronic emissions that most detectors leak. We have patented technology in some of our higher end detectors that prevents these leaks making them undetectable to all RDDs. The Beltronics models with this stealth technology are the STi Driver and STi-R Plus Remote. The Escort models with this stealth technology are the RedLine and 9500ci.

Lastly, please have a look at our GPS equipped detectors, Escort's 9500ix and 9500ci, and Beltronics' GX65 and STi-R Plus. They offer revolutionary features in a detector such as learning and eliminating false alerts, alerting to known cameras and speed traps through an updatable database (requires subscription for updates), speed display, and speed adjusted sensitivity.

Please browse our lists of authorized Canadian dealers when shopping for our products.

Escort Canadian dealers

Beltronics Canadian dealers

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Originally Posted by AirMoore

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Originally Posted by Divewjason

The STI-R is anther option, even though it is discontinued they can be found for a little more than $600 and can be stealth installed. If you want a dash mount you can get an STI Driver or an Escort Redline. All of these are spectre immune.

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Buying unauthorized is something I simply cannot suggest to anyone with RD's... unless authorized dealers still have them?

So I'd say: The Sti-R was an option. EDIT: I forgot they gave Canada the detector we have been asking for... :rolleyes:

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Good point. However I just wanted to let that cheaper alternative be known. Some people care more about this than others, but I never really thought of it I guess because of my buying habits. From now on when I suggest a discontinued detector I will mention that it's best to buy from an authorized dealer if they are still available there.

I think canada is getting the STI-R Plus
That would probably be your best option

Remember that if you do get caught with a detector in an illegal province, they confiscate it. What does that mean when it's semi-permanently attached to the car? They take the car until they can remove it...

And they don't have to pick you up on their Spectre to catch you with one. A member here believes he got his STi found because of someone else's leaky detector nearby - the cop thought he was the source and happened to find his STi. An injudicious application of your brake lights in response to a radar hit is also a red flag.

Statistically though, if you spend 95% of your time in a legal area nothing is likely to happen. Just slow it down a bit in illegal areas, like we all should when we're outside of our familiar zones and aren't as experienced against the enforcement.

If your looking for a stealth installed unit its either the 9500ci or going with the new option (for Canada) STIR+. I believe both units are virtually the same.

Thank-you for all the great responses guys! I really like the looks of the Passport 9500ci so that will probably be the direction we take.

Couple of questions:

Where do the front and rear sensors mount? Are they at all visible when looking at the vehicle or are they totally hidden? Are the GPS antennas etc also completely hidden? We have a 2009 Dodge Ram.

Does anyone know what the law requires to disable a detector when in a province that doesn't allow radar detectors? We travel to Ontario quite frequently, and it may just be simpler to completely disable the detector once we pass Saskatchewan. What method of disabling it would satisfy law enforcement that you are not using it in the case that they notice the display or something during a traffic stop?

Does anyone have any smart ideas for places to mount the display in an '09 Dodge Ram that is easily accessible and visible to the driver, but not visible to an officer standing at either the driver or passenger side of the vehicle looking in? While legal - I have read forums where Alberta cops have posted making comments about how they will for sure issue a ticket to someone if he sees they have a detector, whereas in other circumstances he may consider issuing a warning. It would be nice if the cops couldn't see the detector's existence at all.

Also - I don't know what the laws are regarding laser shifting, but if I were to find out that it is illegal - how do they catch you? And is there a way to disable laser shifting on the 9500ci if I don't want to take the risk of getting caught?

Thanks! You guys have been great! :-)

Ideally, you want the radar antenna to have a clear view of the road.

I don't know if I would mount the shifters on your truck. They are often criticized for being weak and ineffective. While the front "shifters" are considered marginally effective on a few vehicles, the consensus is that the rear shifter is worthless. That combined with the profile of a dodge ram will probably not offer too much protection against laser.

:cool: The 9500ci is completely invisible to all radar detector detectors. No need to turn it off.

Laser shifting- you push the mute button twice to disable it. Not disabling it is called jamming to gun(JTG). We strongly discourge doing JTG!!!!! It only invites trouble. However, it is unlikely you'll JTG with those shifters on your truck. You have massive front head lights.:( Chrome grill?

http://blog.niot.net/blog-images/30_...rom-22-170.jpg


http://image.truckinweb.com/f/130776...e_ram+dash.jpg
Mounting-check out the install section here. Do you have any ashtrays that slide in and out. I think the 09 ram has a big area above the ignition but I'm not sure how you would go about it.

I'm from Calgary AB and I just use the Escort 9500ix.
Radar Detectors aren't illegal here and depending on where you live the chances of someone breaking into your car in broad daylight to take the thing are slim to none, and then hopefully you have a garage for parking at night.

It's easily removed from it's windowshield mount as well so if you want to take it down when you're not driving and throw it in a case, no big deal!

Nice to have the gps ability for all the red light and intersection speed cameras in the city here.

I would say if you have alot of $, try to get the STI-R plus since they are available for canada. user.