Need help with choosing radar detector!
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On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: mansfield,oh
Need help with choosing radar detector! I'm looking to buy a radar detector. I want something that will do well in town. Also how much should I spend on a good one? Is there any stores that sell a good product or do I need to get one online?
TECH Resident
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From: Holmes County (thats right Amish Country), OHIO
I got a cobra. Its nothing special but unless your doing a 100MPH everywhere you go and street racing every weekend then this one will do you just fine. I got mine for $125 for Best Buy
heres a list of the best ones.
1. valentine 1
2. escort 9500
3. whistler pro 78
it all just depends on how much you want to spend and what features you want.
the whistler pro 78 is a mid level radar detector which is good and better than a cobra.
the escort 9500 i believe has a gps built in so that you can program spots where they have red light cameras etc.
and the v1 is the most sensitive best all around detector, and has the arrows
1. valentine 1
2. escort 9500
3. whistler pro 78
it all just depends on how much you want to spend and what features you want.
the whistler pro 78 is a mid level radar detector which is good and better than a cobra.
the escort 9500 i believe has a gps built in so that you can program spots where they have red light cameras etc.
and the v1 is the most sensitive best all around detector, and has the arrows
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Teching In
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 40
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From: Iowa
I can vouch for the Whistler Pro 78...
I picked it up for about $130 on amazon. I read some reviews before I made my purchase and on a scale of 1 - 10 Valentine 1 got mostly 10's and the Whistler Pro 78 got mostly 9's. Keep in mind that the Cobra 9930, Whistler 78 and Pro 78 were the ONLY detectors in this review that were under $299!
Just comes down to whether you want to spend 400 for the top of the line or 150 for one that is not quite as good.
Heres the link -- http://www.007radardetectors.com/tests.htm
I picked it up for about $130 on amazon. I read some reviews before I made my purchase and on a scale of 1 - 10 Valentine 1 got mostly 10's and the Whistler Pro 78 got mostly 9's. Keep in mind that the Cobra 9930, Whistler 78 and Pro 78 were the ONLY detectors in this review that were under $299!
Just comes down to whether you want to spend 400 for the top of the line or 150 for one that is not quite as good.
Heres the link -- http://www.007radardetectors.com/tests.htm
$750 for drag racing ticket + 13x$125 for the speed tickets.
trust me the V1 is the best one. never got pulled over with it. sorry i F***ing hate cobra. but to each there own.
I have a Valentine 1. I hardwired it in my car and have the hidden display as well, just need a good spot to mount it. I love my V1. I got my V1 on ebay brand new with the hidden display for $420. Best investment. I used my friends 9500i for a couple of weeks and didn't like it nearly as much as mine.
Just my $.02
Just my $.02
Teching In
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Nothing beats the $399 Valentine One in radar and laser detection in the under $500 radar detector category.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
I have a Valentine 1. I hardwired it in my car and have the hidden display as well, just need a good spot to mount it. I love my V1. I got my V1 on ebay brand new with the hidden display for $420. Best investment. I used my friends 9500i for a couple of weeks and didn't like it nearly as much as mine.
Just my $.02
Just my $.02
Id vote for escort/beltronics........ I may be a little biased. These companies (one is a subsidiary) have the most patents. The V1 just so happens to have really good marketing and everyone believes they are the best without first hand experience. I have been selling/using various detectors for over 7 years.
I started off with an escort unit, I was very happy with it, until someone decided they would like it more than I. I then bought a cobra, which I hated after a few months due to the high level of false alerts. In the end I purchased a Beltronics, because in my area, it gave me the best of both worlds. It has great range, the ability to disable any band, minimal false alerts, and Lidar jamming features which are becoming more and more common in California.
The V1's arrows are a nice gimmick, but I know I need to slow down once I hear the Ka band go off , whether its coming up behind me or in front of me.
I started off with an escort unit, I was very happy with it, until someone decided they would like it more than I. I then bought a cobra, which I hated after a few months due to the high level of false alerts. In the end I purchased a Beltronics, because in my area, it gave me the best of both worlds. It has great range, the ability to disable any band, minimal false alerts, and Lidar jamming features which are becoming more and more common in California.
The V1's arrows are a nice gimmick, but I know I need to slow down once I hear the Ka band go off , whether its coming up behind me or in front of me.
almost 4 years ago i purchased an escort solo s2. it can be wired or run off a pair of AA batteries. love the performance and never regretted buying it! i have picked up speed traps as far as 3-4 miles away and around hills and through wooded areas, works awesome!
i chose this model since it can run off batteries it makes it super easy to transfer to a buddies car in seconds.
the only speeding ticket i have had since buying it was one of the few days i was late for work and in a hurry and forgot to turn it on!
i chose this model since it can run off batteries it makes it super easy to transfer to a buddies car in seconds.
the only speeding ticket i have had since buying it was one of the few days i was late for work and in a hurry and forgot to turn it on!
On The Tree
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From: Katy/Cypress/Pearland, Texas Bitches!
One more vote for V1
I have bought numerious radar's except a V1. They all seem to go bad after 2+ years
My next one WILL be a V1. After reviewing their site and it's "upgradeability" im sold.
big cash up front but worth it in the long run.
I have bought numerious radar's except a V1. They all seem to go bad after 2+ years
My next one WILL be a V1. After reviewing their site and it's "upgradeability" im sold.
big cash up front but worth it in the long run.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 29,404
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From: Houston, TX
I own both an 8500 X50 and the V1 and I say the V1 hands down. Arrows help...fact. People without a V1 ALWAYS state that they'll just slow down when their detector goes off. If my arrows show left/right or behind me, I'm not slowing down.
Also, you can always send in your V1 to be updated. Can you do that with any other?......no
Like I mentioned, I have an 8500 X50 and all they sent me in the mail was saying to send it in and save like $20(ish) for the new 9500, no thanks.
~ Craig
Also, you can always send in your V1 to be updated. Can you do that with any other?......no
Like I mentioned, I have an 8500 X50 and all they sent me in the mail was saying to send it in and save like $20(ish) for the new 9500, no thanks.
~ Craig
TECH Addict
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,591
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From: Massachusetts
V1. DO NOT get a Cobra. They are useless. In fact, they are BAD to have - why? They give you false confidence.
Also, DO NOT listen to people here who say "I got xx tickets with yy product." That is not even a LITTLE useful. It means nothing.
Also, DO NOT listen to people here who say "I got xx tickets with yy product." That is not even a LITTLE useful. It means nothing.
Teching In
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11
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Everyone who has never owned a Valentine One will tell you that the arrows are a gimmick. The Valentine One is the only radar detector with a front and rear radar antenna with arrows to actually locate radar because it is patented. The word gimmick comes to mind when I think of the way Bel and Escort advertise their detectors as having "360 degree protection" when they don't have a rear radar antenna or arrows to detect and locate radar like the V1. Bels and Escort rely on radar bouncing into the front radar antenna so that it can detect radar from behind which is not reliable. The last rear radar detection test that was done by an independent source showed the Valentine One beating Bel and Escort by over 2 miles in rear Ka band radar detection. Maybe you don't like to actually know where a cop is or when you pass a radar source but most people do.