Radar Detectors

So I'm planning a long road trip and have been researching Radar Detectors.

There are a host of detectors out there, but, the type that interest me are the "remote" detectors. They are detectors which install in the grill with a small display for the passenger compartment which connects wirelessly. But they are expensive (think $1600-$2000).

The all in one units are very advanced and much cheaper ($700 and less).

So... whose using radar detectors? Which are you using?

 

You can go fast enough in your 4Runner to warrant a radar detector?

 

my thoughts exactly, this thing feels like it's going to roll over when I take the exit ramp at 60mph
the same ramp I always exit at 80 mph in my Corolla with ease

 

Sure... Lock in cruise control at 90 isn't fast, but fast enough to get pulled over. Also, today's radar detectors offer speed camera and red light camera protection, which is also something important to me.

 

Guys... on the open road (think 80 West or 95 South), you can open your 4Runner up. Again, I'm not looking to do triple digits. But it makes sense to have a radar detector if you want to travel at 90 and the speed limit is 75.

AGAIN there are other benefits. Driving around town, many detectors alert you to red light cams and speed cams. Radar detectors aren't only for sports cars.

 

FYI my response was sarcastic. I just trekked from Vegas to SLC, Utah via 15 and touched 85-90 several times haha

 

They all rely from my understanding on an active radar. If cop sees you coming in fast but you don’t see him, uses his radar gun, yes your radar will pick up on the signal but he already clocked you at whatever speed you’re going. Now if they’re driving down the highway with it on, that’s a different story. Seems like an expensive investment for something that may not work. If you run a red light on purpose, then that’s just a lack of care for others, plain stupid, and you probably deserve a ticket
Ymmv

 

I normally cruise 10mph over, and only got pulled over once with a warning, because the cops know that at 75-85mph range, 10mph is within margin of user operation error and if I went to court, the ticket could be easily dismissed.

15mph over is potentially a ticket so I can understand why you'd want that.

 

Wait, @dxhum, aren't you the guy who wanted "a greater presence on the road"? Not sure I understand how that goal aligns with the priority to avoid law enforcement...

This aside, in our other vehicles I've run Escort Passport detectors for a couple of decades. I don't feel the need to run one in the 4Runner because that's not how we use it. The Passport models we have are all more or less the same version of the current 9500x and I'd be comfortable endorsing that product from both a performance and value perspective. It isn't the most advanced version they offer relative to options - it's a wired detector lacking bluetooth, social media, live updates, etc. - but it does what I need and I already own them. They work very well for what they are, and at least in our area, if you pay attention and combine their use with an app like Waze - you will be very well protected. The comment about laser/lidar is true. If the detector goes off you've already been clocked. However, in our region I've found that the vast majority of police are still equipped with older radar tech (X/Ka bands). An app like Waze helps with laser/lidar (provided you're paying attention and traveling in a relatively high volume traffic area so Waze is of use).

I don't drive at blistering speeds, normally 10 - 15 mph over on highways, but there are a lot of communities where that would be enough to get you pulled over and ticketed.

The remote versions look great, but we bought ours before they were released and since what we have is still working fine I don't have an itch to upgrade. Also, make sure you're aware of where detectors are legal/illegal. For a LEO, I imagine the only thing better than pulling someone over for speeding with a radar detector is to do it in a state where the use of said detector is also illegal.

 

Escort radar detectors are great in my experience. They also offer a radar jammer which temporarily "confuse" the radar gun allowing supposedly enough time to slow down. My understanding is that jammers are illegal if caught.
I ran an Escort detector on my '21 Mustang GT and loved it. Sold the Mustang and don't use the detector on my 4Runner. Thinking of selling it.

 

What's with you dude? Don't go hanging all that on me. You don't even know me. I'm responsible behind the wheel.

I mentioned that the newer detectors also pick up speed cameras and red light cameras to discuss the features.

I'm not looking to run red lights! If you had any reading comprehension at all, the OP states my intentions.

 

The Uniden R7 is top tier, but, i actually like my Valentine V2 better than it. Also, no need to reply to posts that tell the obvious. No one is anyones dad here, though many like to act that way online.

 

I stopped using a radar detector when police started using lasers more often. I use Waze as my gps and hope someone ahead marked them on the map.

 

Everyone’s moving to lidar anyway. Most radar detectors are useless anymore

 

Sorry if you took that directly, was more of an open rant. Good luck on your search.

 

Yes but no. Around here, cops use Ka...a lot. I have my V1 set to alert for Ka only as the other bands are useless. For lidar, I run an ALP 3 head system on my 4Runner. Waze gives me a heads up a lot of the time so my other countermeasures are just a backup. I've been using a V1 since '99 and the ALP the last 4 years or so. The number of "performance awards" these two have saved me from in different vehicles is hard to say but it's a lot. I don't driver recklessly or exceed speed limits to the point of being unsafe. Speed limits and how they are enforced promote the unsuspecting public from being unwilling customers of the traffic enforcement cops. I've had the 4Runner since September and have gotten hit with lidar about a half dozen times. I only got shot 4 times in 4 years while I had my 911. My wife has gotten hit with lidar many times in her Odyssey. Cops have to aim lidar at the vehicle and larger vehicles make easier targets. I recommend you run what you are comfortable with. For me, that's a good radar detector and a lidar countermeasure. Lidar detectors are no help given how the lidar technology works.

 

I use a Radenso Pro M, hardwired to the overhead console. This has GPS so it knows speed cameras, red light cameras and I can program lockout locations for know K-band stations.

 

Indeed. A lidar detector is of little use. For this, you need an effective countermeasure instead of a detector.

 

Keep in mind that radar jamming is illegal in any jurisdiction and a serious offense as radar is governed by the FCC. Lidar is governed by the FDA and jamming it is illegal in some jurisdictions but not all.

 

Yes, and then some.

 

If you are going to spend this much money on an integrated install, you might as well combine the radar detector setup with a lidar countermeasure.

 

I don't think radar detectors useful anymore. Police seems to be using Lidar now. With lot of cars with blind spot monitoring radar detectors seems to give false alarms more nowadays.

 

I routinely get useful alerts of the Ka radar actively used in my area. BSM monitoring systems are on K which like X, isn’t in use in my area so both of these bands along with laser are turned off on my V1. When my V1 alerts me now, it’s always because of a cop using Ka which is useful.

 

Well... just because I'd like my vehicle to have a greater presence, doesn't mean I want to be pulled over by law enforcement. There is a balance.

Yes, I agree with you. I didn't buy a 4Runner for speed, but for capability in inclement weather. But I do find that the vehicle is stable on stretches of road when I want to get up into the 85-90 range. I'd like to be able to operate at that speed on long road trips with a reasonable peace of mind. Then if I get stopped, I get stopped.

Just want the added layer of protection.

 

I was reading about the V2. It was a review comparing it to the Uniden R7.

The R7 seems to be very high scoring and the benchmark that other manufacturers compare their devices to. The Valentine V2 seems to hold up well against the R7 in performance and features. I particularly like the low rate of false alerts.

 

I use WAZE around town and find it pretty effective for many things, including alerts for traffic cameras and highway speed traps. But as you said, you have to rely on people updating.

 

LIDAR?

 

Water under the bridge.

 

I highly recommend the same set up whistlin diesel has in his lambo, you will most certainly be safe!

 

Same here. I stopped using the radar a long time ago, there were too many false alarms. I was driving my cts-v, gt350, & c7 grand sport without radar.