Best Radar Detector???
- Thread starter ODM33
- Start date
Listen to MrElussive - you can't go wrong with a Passport 8500, V1, or Bel 900 series (I personally own a Bel and love it).
Now I have to disagree with MrElussive: I'm going to have to say if you got the cash, buy a lidar jammer. And for the love of god NOT the Rocky Mtn crap. Get an Escort Shifter ZR3. Its been tested by different sources and they all are very impressed with it!
The V1/Bel/Pass will be great against radar but are worthless against Lidar. Lidar jammers are the only way to go.
Now I have to disagree with MrElussive: I'm going to have to say if you got the cash, buy a lidar jammer. And for the love of god NOT the Rocky Mtn crap. Get an Escort Shifter ZR3. Its been tested by different sources and they all are very impressed with it!
The V1/Bel/Pass will be great against radar but are worthless against Lidar. Lidar jammers are the only way to go.
On my next purchase I'm going to try to negotiate the price of the car down enough to get the Passport SRX installed. Talk about being able to speed w/ confidence! You'll get enough radar warning and a good defense for laser!
With the $$ you saved on that G35 you should have one MrElussive!! I KNOW its difficult to keep that ride under the limit!
With the $$ you saved on that G35 you should have one MrElussive!! I KNOW its difficult to keep that ride under the limit!
Yeah, actually I am thinking of investing in an Escort remote radar setup. Sometimes on eBay, some vendors sell the Escort Passport SR-7 w/the ZR-3 as a combo deal for like $700-$750 (the ZR-3 plugs right into the SR-7) !!
Right now, I have a Whistler 3400 remote install radar detector. It is good, but I know the Passport SR-7 is a whole step up.
Right now, I have a Whistler 3400 remote install radar detector. It is good, but I know the Passport SR-7 is a whole step up.
Exactly. Forget about radar jammers...they are illegal, they don't work well, and they basically aren't worth anybody's money. You have a good start with the Passport 8500; that is a great radar detector. If you want to take it to the next level, you can invest in the Escort Laser Shifter ZR3 (http://www.escortradar.com/zr3.htm). Now why would you wanna invest in this? Because all radar detectors (including the good ones such as Passport 8500, V1, and Bel 900-series) are not so good at detecting LASER. Typically, once they warn you about LASER, you only have a matter of seconds to slow down, if that. So as a greater form of defense, you can pickup that Escort Laser Shifter ZR3; this should stop the cop from receiving a reading and according to radartest.com, it is the best laser jammer out there. I will PM Big Daddy and see if he can shed some more light on the laser jammer topic, as he knows more about it than I do.
Mr. Elussive:
Thanks a lot for all your help. You definitely know your stuff. I guess it makes sense to get a laser jammer. Its funny though because I actually hard about those radar jammers being like some sort of chip that gets placed on the wheel somewhere, and requires some kind of electrical installation. have you heard anything about this? Anyway, yeah I figured it was stupid because if a cop shoots his radar at you and doesnt get a reading he would get suspicious. But why are laser jammers legal and radar illegal? Thanks again for all your help dude.
Thanks a lot for all your help. You definitely know your stuff. I guess it makes sense to get a laser jammer. Its funny though because I actually hard about those radar jammers being like some sort of chip that gets placed on the wheel somewhere, and requires some kind of electrical installation. have you heard anything about this? Anyway, yeah I figured it was stupid because if a cop shoots his radar at you and doesnt get a reading he would get suspicious. But why are laser jammers legal and radar illegal? Thanks again for all your help dude.
I have heard so many stories about "jamming" radar by hanging aluminum foil balls from your mirrors or bumpers, putting foil inside your hub caps, etc, etc, so it doesn't surprise me that it's evolved into something about electronics on your wheels. The story usually says that the "moving foil" confuses the radar. It ain't true! And how silly would an M3 look with foil balls hanging all over it! BLING BLING! The only way you are going to defeat radar is to build a car with composite radar absorbing material ![[rofl]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_rofl.gif "ROFL [rofl]")
(i.e. Stealth Fighter) or jam it with active electronics, i.e. radar jammer.
Radar jammers are in violation of Federal Law. The FCC governs all transmitting devices. To transmit at radar frequencies with enough power to jam, you need FCC an approved device and a license - that just ain't gonna happen! Furthermore, a jammer interferes with a police officer which is against the law.
Laser jammers are not illegal because light waves are not (yet! lol) regulated by the FCC. However, just as radar detectors are illegal in a few states, it wouldn't surprise me if at some point a few states outlaw laser jammers as interfering with police. But it wouldn't be a federal law and probably they would just confiscate the jammer.
(i.e. Stealth Fighter) or jam it with active electronics, i.e. radar jammer.Radar jammers are in violation of Federal Law. The FCC governs all transmitting devices. To transmit at radar frequencies with enough power to jam, you need FCC an approved device and a license - that just ain't gonna happen! Furthermore, a jammer interferes with a police officer which is against the law.
Laser jammers are not illegal because light waves are not (yet! lol) regulated by the FCC. However, just as radar detectors are illegal in a few states, it wouldn't surprise me if at some point a few states outlaw laser jammers as interfering with police. But it wouldn't be a federal law and probably they would just confiscate the jammer.
Here's another test, confirms that the top 3 (bel, escort, valentine) are all good bets.
http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0402_radar/
http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0402_radar/
Before you buy a Rocky Mountain Radar read this:
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=8501
And then dont buy one! =)
Radar/laser detectors are legal everywhere except VA and DC.
Radar jammers are illegal everywhere (felony) because the FCC regulates the waves they operate at.
Laser jammers are not illegal -yet- because the FCC doesn't regulate those waves.
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=8501
And then dont buy one! =)
Radar/laser detectors are legal everywhere except VA and DC.
Radar jammers are illegal everywhere (felony) because the FCC regulates the waves they operate at.
Laser jammers are not illegal -yet- because the FCC doesn't regulate those waves.
This is from the zr3 info page at http://www.escortradar.com/zr3.htm:
There are no federal laws restricting the use of laser jammers. However, some states may regulate their use. The use of laser jammers is prohibited and/or restricted in California, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah. Check your local laws before using the laser "shifting" feature of the ZR3.
There are no federal laws restricting the use of laser jammers. However, some states may regulate their use. The use of laser jammers is prohibited and/or restricted in California, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Utah. Check your local laws before using the laser "shifting" feature of the ZR3.
Hey guys, I just received my Escort Passport 8500 X50 radar detector in the mail yesterday. I set it up on my windshield and plugged in, and boy was I glad to be back on a Passport 8500 (X50 this time, though). The LED display is so damn bright and easy to read, sounds are clear and very audible, and it's just so easy to use. This is a really great detector and is just so easy to use. Literally just mount it on your windshield, plug it in, and turn it on and you're all set. Leave it on the default "Auto" mode and it let it do its thing. The only feature I would recommend altering is disabling the Auto Mute, but even that depends on everybody's preference. I have an appointment with my local mobile audio/video guy tomorrow to remove my Whistler 3400 remote install and to have him hard-wire the new Escort Passport 8500 X50. If you're looking for a really great and really reliable radar detector, definitely pickup the new Escort Passport 8500 X50 model, you can get it for $275 shipped off of eBay for the red display (I think it's like $290 for the blue display...I purchased the red).
Anyone know if having a radar detector hard wired into your car voids the BMW warranty? I just got a new 325i last week and am about to have one installed. I have a passport and they recommend a chain called Tweeter to do the installations, so I hope they know what they are doing. Anyone have BMW void a warranty because a radar detector was installed? Hopefully this isn't anything to worry about.
There are two kinds of radar jammers, "passive" and "active"
Passive jammers receive a radar signal, mix it with an "FM chirp", whatever that is, and supposedly scramble and "reflect" the signal back to the cop, confusing the gun. The general concensus is that they DO NOT WORK. They dont actually "transmit" a signal so they are not regulated by the FCC. Some states however, have decided that they are illegal anyway including OK MN VA CA NE and DC.
Active jammers on the other hand definately work. They transmit a fairly strong
signal that will overpower the ability of the radar gun to get an accurate reading.
The FCC has authority over these types of units and they are illegal in ALL states in the US. Supposedly cops can tell when their radar is being actively jammed and if you get busted the fines can be HUGE.
Laser jammers work also but are not considered illegal by the feds. Since they transmit light as opposed to radio waves they are not regulated by the FCC.
For some reason they are under the jurisdiction of the FDA, go figure.
Again however, some state governments have banned them including MN VA UT OK NE CA.
Your best defense is to get a good radar detector, learn how to use it wisely, and keep your eyes open. They are legal everywhere but VA and DC. Most come with
laser detection also, but that is pretty much useless. Laser is a very narrow beam
and if you receive a warning that means you, and you alone, are being clocked
right now. You will not receive any advance warning of laser, unlike radar which bounces around, hopefully giving you a heads up of someone ahead of you
being clocked.
I have a Passport 8500 which consistently ranks number one in the tests and
seems to work really well. The Valentine One gets good reviews too, supposedly
falses more but for a hundred dollars more has those really handy directional
arrows that tells you where the radar is coming from.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Passive jammers receive a radar signal, mix it with an "FM chirp", whatever that is, and supposedly scramble and "reflect" the signal back to the cop, confusing the gun. The general concensus is that they DO NOT WORK. They dont actually "transmit" a signal so they are not regulated by the FCC. Some states however, have decided that they are illegal anyway including OK MN VA CA NE and DC.
Active jammers on the other hand definately work. They transmit a fairly strong
signal that will overpower the ability of the radar gun to get an accurate reading.
The FCC has authority over these types of units and they are illegal in ALL states in the US. Supposedly cops can tell when their radar is being actively jammed and if you get busted the fines can be HUGE.
Laser jammers work also but are not considered illegal by the feds. Since they transmit light as opposed to radio waves they are not regulated by the FCC.
For some reason they are under the jurisdiction of the FDA, go figure.
Again however, some state governments have banned them including MN VA UT OK NE CA.
Your best defense is to get a good radar detector, learn how to use it wisely, and keep your eyes open. They are legal everywhere but VA and DC. Most come with
laser detection also, but that is pretty much useless. Laser is a very narrow beam
and if you receive a warning that means you, and you alone, are being clocked
right now. You will not receive any advance warning of laser, unlike radar which bounces around, hopefully giving you a heads up of someone ahead of you
being clocked.
I have a Passport 8500 which consistently ranks number one in the tests and
seems to work really well. The Valentine One gets good reviews too, supposedly
falses more but for a hundred dollars more has those really handy directional
arrows that tells you where the radar is coming from.
Good luck, hope this helps.
maybe it's just me... but these things hook to your windshield at a height that is pretty level with your head. Wouldn't these things 'nuke' ur brains, with all the radio wave their sending out? I'm all for radar dectectors, and intend on getting a V1, but that minor detail just bothers me. I'd hate to have brain cancer 20 years down the road just because I tried to avoid a few tickets....
![[screwy]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_screwy.gif "Screwy [screwy]"){kind=icon}