A new guy in the forums has a question.

**Divewjason** · 03-19-2008, 10:12 PM

Hi. Some of you may of noticed that I recently joined, before I ask the question I figure I should introduce myself. You all can just call me Jason.

In about October I started taking interests in radar detectors. I had just got my Maxima after my Chevy Prizm was totaled in a car accident by a driver of a Dodge Ram who failed to yield to my right-of-way. I was looking things to put in my cars and then I started thinking about radar detectors. I didn't have too much money at the time to spare, I was Christmas shopping, but I read up on detectors and confirmed that a safety alert system could help me avoid an accident and I knew that sometimes I go a little over the PSL but am not aware of it, a radar detector that can spot cops would be handy.

I started shopping around in Target and Wal-Mart. I knew nothing of detectors. I saw the Cobra ESD 7000. My first thought was. WOW!!! 6 bands!! Then I look at some of the higher models. I saw 14 bands, and these things looked sick to me. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a red package.(I was already heavily considering the Cobra ESD 7000 seeing how it picked up 6 bands, looked cool, and it was only $40.) It was a Whistler 1732. It said "Great Features for the Price!" I looked at it and it was also $40 dollars. I noticed that it didn't pick up 6 bands. So then I was about to ask my parents to get me the Cobra for Christmas but I thought that something was amiss. Why would the Cobra pick up 6 bands and be the same price? I am looking through Whistlers and Cobras around the same price range and I'm thinking "What the heck? On paper it looks like these Cobras are far better than the Whistlers. But there has to be why the Whistlers don't seem to be any cheaper than the Cobras." So I ask a sale associate. He picks up a detector and says "This one has 14 bands." I wasn't convinced, I decided to go with a Whistler 1732 because it appeared to me that Cobra might have been a scam and I thought that from the way they advertised that Whistler wasn't trying to stretch the truth. I called my parents and asked them to get me the Whistler 1732 for Christmas along with a Garmin Street Pilot C330 GPS.

I am very pleased with my decision and I'm relieved to find out that I was able to make a good decision. This detector has been a great help to me and it gives ample warning. However, I have a few questions. My VG-2 alert seems to go off when I don't see a cop anywhere sometimes. Is there a way that I can get a false VG-2 alert?(I never disregard any alert though, even common false ones. I use them as a reminder for me to check my speed and slow down.) Also, is there a site to see if there are transmitters in my area for my SWS feature? I don't think I've ever seen that work.

Thanks a lot, sorry for my rambling.

**jdong** · 03-19-2008, 10:51 PM

VG-2 detection can be tripped by gas stations and nearby radar detectors. It's, in my experience, rarely actually indicative of VG2 in use.

And as far as SWS transmitters, more than likely they are not in use in your area.

**tjbender** · 03-20-2008, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by jdong

And as far as SWS transmitters, more than likely they are not in use in your area.

Are they in use anywhere outside of Crapra's labs?

**Michael B** · 03-20-2008, 04:49 AM

There are other brands and models of radar detectors that produce a signature similar to the VG-2 and therfore meets the alert criteria and the unit alarms.