Looking to get my first radar detector.

[Schuyler]

I'm looking to invest in my first radar detector, as the police are beginning to be more and more prone to be sitting around hills and turns where I live, and patrolling the roads I commonly drive to work. It is a mix between country back roads and city, (Upstate SC) but the police seem ever present in both areas. I drive 2 vehicles, so I am looking for something that I could semi-easily swap between the two cars. I have $160 in sears gift cards, so I am looking for something about that price, and at sears. A few that, I think, I've read pretty good reviews on are:

(click for link)

WHISTLER PRO3450

COBRA XRS R7

WHISTLER PRO-78 SE

Beltronics Performance Rules V-955

[fatchick1o9]

Avoid the Cobra like The Plague.

The Whistler Pro-78 & the Bel V-955 are solid choices. You could read through the Beltronics and Whistler forums here and see what people are saying about each model.

Some other folks will chime with better recommendations since they will own these. I don't (Escort 8500x50) so I can't critique the other models accurately. I have however had a Cobra in the past. Don't do it! Life is to precious to own a Cobra.

[Schuyler]

Alrighty, guess I'll do a little more looking around on those two models. Is there any base line of a range to expect with a radar detector such as those?

[Akosikojak]

Take a look at this site.
http://www.guysoflidar.com/radar-det...ctor-test.html

[Schuyler]

Looked through your article. It seems like the Pro 78 scored close to the bottom on a lot of those, with the 995 scoring a little ways higher. Is there much of a difference between the 955 and the 995?

[hiddencam]

Use your Sears gift cards at Sears, return the item you buy and get the cash, then buy the refurb escort 8500 off ebay for $150, and donate the 10 bucks left over to Roy when he puts up a donate button for this site.

[Darrenf]

Use your Sears gift cards at Sears, return the item you buy and get the cash, then buy the refurb escort 8500 off ebay for $150, and donate the 10 bucks left over to Roy when he puts up a donate button for this site.

[fatchick1o9]

Based on the GOL site above, It looks like the V-995 had the best distance on detection range vs. the Pro-78 on Ka band radar as the Ka band freq increased. But it was detectable at a further distance by the Spectre radar detector detector.

So I guess you have 2 major questions to ask yourself based on he GOL site:

1) Do I live in a state where RD's are illegal.
2) What radar freq is most commonly used in the state where I live.

There is a thread around here Radar Bands By Town that may also be helpful to you.

good luck.

/EDIT

sry. I misread your post. thought you were looking at the Bel V-955. sry for the confusion.

[Schuyler]

Is there a noticeable difference between the performance of the 8500 and the 955?

EDIT:

Radar detectors are LEGAL in my state (SC), so detection really isn't an issue.
Didn't find anything in the town post, however, I live in SC, if anyone else happens to read this that lives there and knows the answer.

[hiddencam]

Is there a noticeable difference between the performance of the 8500 and the 955?

Yes, the 955 is weaker than the 8500 with 3 things; a) around the curve / off axis 34.7 ka-band b) around the curve / off axis k-band and c) instant on (missed 2 of 3 shots of 2-second duration), whereas the 8500 caught all 3 shots.
(reference GOL 2007)