Cheap Whistler with Selectable Bands?

[SpeedingVolvo]

Hey everybody,

I'm looking to buy someone a birthday present. This person just received a radar speeding ticket from the PA State Police... she needs a radar detector.

I'd like to get her one with selectable bands, since only K and a very little bit of KA is used in PA (No X is used and no laser is used). I would really like her to be able to turn off X band and laser, since the iphone seems to set off laser alerts on my V1.

Even a very inexpensive detector would be good for her... I used a $40 whistler 5 years ago and that saved me from many speeding tickets. PA state police usually use constant on K band or very sloppy frequently triggered instant on K band and can usually be detected far in advance, even with a detector that isn't that good.

So, anybody know of a cheap whistler that has selectable bands?

[djrams80]

If you are looking to turn off bands, then a Whistler is not a good choice. When you turn off X band on a Whistler, it just alerts to X band signals as K band. My suggestion would be a Bel v955 as a cheap detector that one can disable X band on, since it has a "CityNoX" mode. A better choice would be an 8500, if you can find one, since you can then maintain full K band sensitivity with X band disabled.

[SpeedingVolvo]

Best i found was the PRO-68SE, $99. Anything out there maybe a little cheaper?

[SpeedingVolvo]

Oh really... thats a big problem! Would not want the detector alerting to K band when X is around...

Do you know if the Pro-68SE has that problem?

[Michael B]

If you are looking to turn off bands, then a Whistler is not a good choice. When you turn off X band on a Whistler, it just alerts to X band signals as K band. My suggestion would be a Bel v955 as a cheap detector that one can disable X band on, since it has a "CityNoX" mode. A better choice would be an 8500, if you can find one, since you can then maintain full K band sensitivity with X band disabled.

Not entirely correct.
There are instances where MULTIPLE X band signals can cause the unit to alert K band if X is shut off.
Bel and Escort do have some very good models that would certainly be more than enough but before spending that kind of money, there are other options they may want to consider.

If shutting off X band is the only concern, every Whistler has a city 2 function to disable X band and every unit from the 265 and higher contains memory so that you do not need to engage every time you power on the unit.

The choice is yours, there are many models across many brands that will provide some level of protection but a detector alone is not going to prevent a ticket. Your friend will need to learn how to use the detector as an additional aid to good awareness.

[djrams80]

Oh really... thats a big problem! Would not want the detector alerting to K band when X is around...

Do you know if the Pro-68SE has that problem?

Yes, the Pro 68SE has that problem. Here is a video of the Pro 3600 showing what I am talking about.

[djrams80]

If you are looking to turn off bands, then a Whistler is not a good choice. When you turn off X band on a Whistler, it just alerts to X band signals as K band. My suggestion would be a Bel v955 as a cheap detector that one can disable X band on, since it has a "CityNoX" mode. A better choice would be an 8500, if you can find one, since you can then maintain full K band sensitivity with X band disabled.

Not entirely correct.
There are instances where MULTIPLE X band signals can cause the unit to alert K band if X is shut off.

Every single Whistler that I have ever tested has alerted to K band in areas where there were only X band signals. Every Whistler does it. Your basic argument against this is not that it doesn't happen, but that it doesn't happen all the time. OK, fine, but they all do it and they do it alot from my experience. The fact remains that you cannot turn off X band on a Whistler. There will always be times when it alerts to X band as K band.

[Michael B]

And if the area of PA are anyting like my areas in MA where the vast majority of door openers ar K band, shutting off X band will have very little impact to the alert regardless of brand unless he purchases a GPS based unit from Escort or Bel that offers the ability to learn or trained to ingonre those locations of K band false alerts.

[Freebird]

And if the area of PA are anyting like my areas in MA where the vast majority of door openers ar K band, shutting off X band will have very little impact to the alert regardless of brand unless he purchases a GPS based unit from Escort or Bel that offers the ability to learn or trained to ingonre those locations of K band false alerts.

Pa is loaded with construction style signs that emit k-band. Most of them I have encountered are on the Interstates. Since Pa State police use k-band some are getting smart and hiding behind these signs, figuring users will ignore the signal from the signs. Bogey counter or expert mode comes in handy in these encounters.

[SpeedingVolvo]

Yup, V1 helped me with that one on one particular occasion. PSP was hiding behind a K band sign. V1 said 2 radars. My friend was following me and ended up flying past me and getting the 86mph speeding ticket.