Do any of you use radar detectors? If so which brand. I am thinking of springing for a Valentine 1 or a Bel or an Escort.
Mark
Radar Detectors
Moderator: Moderators
Where to buy?
http://www.valentine1.com
Make sure you ask for the Vacation Return Special.
It'll save you about 10%. Might have to wait a day or two (haven't heard of it taking longer).
Here's my "conspiracy theory":
I think in order to pursuade the "gotta-have-it-now crowd", they will tell you that they don't have them in stock and don't know when they'll get one. If you still order the vacation return, within 1-2 days they usually send out a unit (new if they don't have a returned one) as not to risk losing you as a customer by changing your mind. That was my personal experience, but YMMV.
Make sure you ask for the Vacation Return Special.
It'll save you about 10%. Might have to wait a day or two (haven't heard of it taking longer).
Here's my "conspiracy theory":
I think in order to pursuade the "gotta-have-it-now crowd", they will tell you that they don't have them in stock and don't know when they'll get one. If you still order the vacation return, within 1-2 days they usually send out a unit (new if they don't have a returned one) as not to risk losing you as a customer by changing your mind. That was my personal experience, but YMMV.
Oliver
2008 R1200GS
2008 R1200GS
Mark,celticus wrote:If Valentine 1 INC or whatever doesn't have their own radar detector on hand, what DO they have on their hands? Time? Not much.
Mark
I think I didn't say that too well.
They always have new ones for sale, but they may or may not have returned (used) units in stock.
I'm saying that if you're not in a terrible hurry, order the vacation return.
When I researched the different fuzzbusters, I came across post after post on different forums stating that they ordered "vacation-returns" but received new ones.
I did exactly that and received a unit without a finger print on it, that was billed/shipped 48 hours I ordered it.
Oliver
2008 R1200GS
2008 R1200GS
Apparently I only had to wait 24, not 48 hrs:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... e+vacation
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... e+vacation
Oliver
2008 R1200GS
2008 R1200GS
Depending on where you live, you might want to consider Escort's 9500i. AFAIK, it's the only GPS-integrated radar detector. If you have a favorite spot where someone's security system or door opener causes your radar detector to go off, you press a button, the Escort remembers the GPS coordinates and the frequency of the radar signal, and you never hear that false alarm again. If a cop sets up a radar trap at that same location, the detector still goes off, because no two radar transmitters run at exactly the same frequency.
I personally don't use detectors on my bikes, because the bikes' radar signatures are small enough that I find I can slow down enough before I get into the detection zone. But if I were to buy one, it would probably be the Escort.
I personally don't use detectors on my bikes, because the bikes' radar signatures are small enough that I find I can slow down enough before I get into the detection zone. But if I were to buy one, it would probably be the Escort.
One thing to consider, though, is that more agencies are going to the laser systems over radar. They are very effective and there is absolutely no chance of detecting one outside their working range.
There are a number of companies selling laser jammers, but they dont tend to work too well, and newer technology is making the speed guns even more effective. Additionally, you run the risk of an additional charge of interfering with a police investigation for having the stuff in the first place.
Radar jammers are highly illegal from the FCC point of view. Big fines.
Moral: dial it down and be safe, plus you have money for farkles !
There are a number of companies selling laser jammers, but they dont tend to work too well, and newer technology is making the speed guns even more effective. Additionally, you run the risk of an additional charge of interfering with a police investigation for having the stuff in the first place.
Radar jammers are highly illegal from the FCC point of view. Big fines.
Moral: dial it down and be safe, plus you have money for farkles !
MSF #127350 NAUI #36288
2011 RT
WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
2011 RT
WARNING: TEST RIDING THE R1200R IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR FINANCES
True, but I'd think it would be very difficult to get a good laser reading on a bike.
To get a good reading, you need a good optical reflection. Most cops aim their unit at a car's headlight or its front license plate. You can't use the headlight if it's on--the infrared radiation from the headlight bulb "swamps out" the laser signal. And bikes, of course, don't have front plates.
Disclaimer: This comment is based on engineering speculation, not actual experience. Don't blame me if you get a laser ticket on your bike
To get a good reading, you need a good optical reflection. Most cops aim their unit at a car's headlight or its front license plate. You can't use the headlight if it's on--the infrared radiation from the headlight bulb "swamps out" the laser signal. And bikes, of course, don't have front plates.
Disclaimer: This comment is based on engineering speculation, not actual experience. Don't blame me if you get a laser ticket on your bike
"They always have new ones for sale, but they may or may not have returned (used) units in stock."
I ordered a "Vacation Special" today.
The phone lady was very non committal about when I might be receiving my unit as they were first come first serve. She may have even chuckled a little bit when I asked about the "Vacation Special". I'll let you know. I asked here for my order number in case it took too long and I wanted to change my mind.
Mark
I ordered a "Vacation Special" today.
The phone lady was very non committal about when I might be receiving my unit as they were first come first serve. She may have even chuckled a little bit when I asked about the "Vacation Special". I'll let you know. I asked here for my order number in case it took too long and I wanted to change my mind.
Mark
Val 1 vs Escort
IMHO there is no better radar detector than the Val1.
I have 2, one in the car, and one on the GoldWing, and have tried an escort. The escort I tried was a couple of years ago when they first started trying to challenge Valentine, so they may have improved.
But the escort I tried did not have the range, or give me the information the Val1 does in terms of how many signals, what band and where they were. It's the arrows.
Also, the escort, which I unfortunately did not return within 30 days so I was stuck with it fried in the sun in my car. I usually put the detector under the seat in the hot Sacramento summers and forgot to with the escort which killed it.
I have left the Valentine in the sun numerous times where it was so hot you couldn't hold it in your hand, and it has never failed.
The GPS ignore feature on the new escort is intriguing, but I am sold on the Valentine.
If you get lasered, you will be toast. Bikes do make a more difficult target as was mentioned previouslyby NeilS, and occasionally you will get a sniff of scatter but the result is so instantaneous and it gets pointed specifically so there is really no sufficient defense short of observing the speed limit.
I have 2, one in the car, and one on the GoldWing, and have tried an escort. The escort I tried was a couple of years ago when they first started trying to challenge Valentine, so they may have improved.
But the escort I tried did not have the range, or give me the information the Val1 does in terms of how many signals, what band and where they were. It's the arrows.
Also, the escort, which I unfortunately did not return within 30 days so I was stuck with it fried in the sun in my car. I usually put the detector under the seat in the hot Sacramento summers and forgot to with the escort which killed it.
I have left the Valentine in the sun numerous times where it was so hot you couldn't hold it in your hand, and it has never failed.
The GPS ignore feature on the new escort is intriguing, but I am sold on the Valentine.
If you get lasered, you will be toast. Bikes do make a more difficult target as was mentioned previouslyby NeilS, and occasionally you will get a sniff of scatter but the result is so instantaneous and it gets pointed specifically so there is really no sufficient defense short of observing the speed limit.
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mcooperstein
- Moderator
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:01 am
- Location: Big Stone Gap, Virginia
I'm just curious, I live in Virginia where radar detectors are illegal. However, is there a way that an officer of the law using a radar speed detection device can actually tell that somebody has a radar detector? I've always played with the idea of getting a radar detector, getting one of those helmet mounted LED systems that hook to the output of your radar detecdtor, and mounting the radar detector somewhere...not obvious on my bike. Anybody have any ideas?
Mark
Mark
Sort of. The speed gun itself can't tell if you have a detector, but there are other devices that can "sniff" the environment and tell if a detector is operating. Even though the radar detector is just a receiver, it contains circuits (called oscillators) that can emit radio-frequency energy, and that's what the detector detectors detect.
It's similar to why they won't let you use a radio on an airplane. Even though the radio is only a receiver, there is a concern that the energy emitted by those receivers' oscillators could interfere with the aircraft's navigation equipment.
That said, I don't know if field officers in Virginia actually have those devices, or how widely they're used. I'd also expect that the detector detectors would only be useful at very short ranges--an officer couldn't tell that you're using a detector from a mile away.
It's similar to why they won't let you use a radio on an airplane. Even though the radio is only a receiver, there is a concern that the energy emitted by those receivers' oscillators could interfere with the aircraft's navigation equipment.
That said, I don't know if field officers in Virginia actually have those devices, or how widely they're used. I'd also expect that the detector detectors would only be useful at very short ranges--an officer couldn't tell that you're using a detector from a mile away.