Radar detector
 

We just bought a new car. 2008 Dodge Charger R/T Hemi. It is too nice to hang a radar detector off the windshield. Does anyone know of a good built-in dash unit? We have lots of speed traps here and I know I will have to set up an account at the local cop shop if I don' t get one.

K-40 works pretty well for a permanent install. If you change your mind about the windshield mount, Valentine One is the hands down winner.

k-40 and bell are the ones that i am familiar with for "built ins"

I have a valentine one, and love it. It tells you if the radar signal is in front, behind, or on the side of you. Really helps. I have not got one ticket since my wife bought it for me 3 years ago.

I read a article on the internet, some retired cop webpage that tests radar detectors and jammers. The site said the advertised jammers don't work.

The site also had results of a test they perofrmed. I think the Passport was the best out of Bel, Passport, Valentine one, and one other I can't remember.

I am not sure if the others tell you where the radar target is like the valentine?

I would recommend valentine one to you, and would buy another.

escort 9500 remote.
escort.com

A good friend of mine does the installs on a lot of Ferrari's and high end cars in Greenwich CT. He swares by the K40 built ins. I personally love the Valentine's. Hands down the best I have used.

i used to swear by my valentine one, but also my passport 8500 works just has good for 100 dollars less, never got a ticket with the passport, got hit with a ka band insta on radar when i was running the valentine one, it was too late once it beeped they had me

There was a guy on Ebay who would incorporate your V1 into your rearview mirrow. Was a neat setup, but wasn't cheap as I recall.

Have the K40 in my black 928 works o.k. Like my Passport 8500 X50 despite the window mount. With the built ins kind of like real estate, location, location! The passport I have more choices and it seems to pick up ka band sooner; as in long before you and the Cops will see each other. For instant on like that don't think any others can beat it on this area. It's almost a waste of money to have 17'' Brembo crossed drilled on my car! :angry-smiley-038:

We have both and have gone down the freeway together. The V1 detects just slightly quicker and much quicker from behind in 8 out of 10 cases. The arrows also help immensely.

Thats the key with the V1, arrows and it counts.

I saw the mirror mount, and want to recreate it. The only problem is it is actually just a display built into the mirror. They then mount the v1 in a concealed dash pad, 3rd brake light, or something similar. I'm afraid to hack a part a 450 dollar V1 to see if I can get the sensors separate too. Then life would be good. If someone wants to volunteer one, I have a fully equipped electrical mod shop at work. I like mine too much to take it apart, and in NJ theres no need for stealth.

The problem with the hidden systems is the sensors are mounted too low for great detection.

If it were my car, I'd wire in the V-1 high, like right below (or around) the rear view mirror. This way you don't see the cord and you get great detection. If you didn't know it already, the V1 uses standard phone cord as it's power line, so it's cheap and easy to install as much as you need to conceal everything. On top of that, you can upgrade the unit by sending it back. It's the only radar detector that actually holds it's value because of that feature.

I actually just sent mine back to get that POP feature as well as a few suction cups, got it back in 4 days, from the day I sent it out. great company.

Seems like the V1 is the way to go. Any good places to buy one reasonable and still get the upgrades? I like the idea of wiring it in direct above the mirror. The higher the better. It uses a standard phone wire cord? Nothing special to wire it direct?

I think they only sell direct.

v1 is the best dashtop with passport close behind. They only sell direct ( owner is from the old passport/escort ). Get the remote display with it if thats the way you go. K40's new calibre system is the best built in and has a laser jammer (they do work). I've used the escort/bel pro remotes too , just not as fast to pick up from behind and no laser (lidar) jammer. A lidar reciever will just tell you youre getting a ticket! Don't bleieve the propoganda on radartest.com , If you read into it , they are very biased to escort and passport , the writer of the reviews works for passport!

Thanks guys for the advice. I bought a V1 yesterday. I am going to hard wire it and suction mount it high above the rearview mirror.

We have a bunch of small communities that all have their own police force. Within a 20 mile stretch of road that I travel every day there are at least 7 different police depts. that patrol the main highway. This is one of their main sources of income. They don't use lasers, just old fashioned radar. These are blatant speed traps. I generally don't speed, but the detector is more to remind me to slow down. It is so difficult to fight a ticket today, that any edge that this detector gives me will be a big help.

I see a trend with police officer's opinions of radar detectors. I have many many police friends, and everyone has the same reaction as enforcer: "They don't work, we got you by the time it goes off".

I think the real thing is being on the other side of the gun, they don't know how to properly use a radar detector.

They do work, and have saved me from MANY tickets.

Basically, if they instant on you, and your the only car... well tough luck, but atleast you know they got you, and your prepared for the stop ahead.

If they instant on'd the car 1/2 mile ahead of you, then you got the beep to, and by the time they instant on you, your doing the speed limit. If the gun is left on, forget it.. I'm at the speed limit well before the gun registers anything. Laser is the better solution for law enforcement, but it is still not widely used for some reason (luckily).

I agree with all of this, I will admit I speed over the posted limit,. but try and stay no more than 5-8 over. The detector let's just say keeps me in line.

I try to stay within 10mph of the posted limit. In Texas that seems to be the agreed upon buffer before a ticket. It is very difficult to do with traffic moving @ 10-20 mph over. The whole reason to get the detector are these local speed traps. My wife just got a ticket in her old SUV when one of them pulled her over and said she was going 12 over. There were 2 others that actually passed her when she pulled over to the center lane to let them go by. There was a radar car and a chase car. When the chase car pulled her over, he actually agreed that she was not the one they were after, but was instructed by the radar car that she was the one speeding. He said that she would have to take it to court. They refused to go back to the radar car and show her the radar gun and marked speed. Here in Texas that will be at least 2 days off from work to fight it and can go to 3 days or more if the officer is not able to show up. It is easier to just pay it and go to traffic school to get it taken off your record. They bank on the majority of the people not being willing or able to take the time off from work. The funny thing is I have been driving for 35 years, and my wife for 30 years and we have never had a speeding ticket until moving here and both of us getting tickets within 1 year. I have always owned hot cars and trucks and probably the laws of probability just caught up with us. Not that I didn't deserve a few, but my wife is a very careful and conscientious driver.

My passport has never failed with another car at least 1/2 mile away..... No traffic local cops are creatures of habit and use the same spots........... :D

The sticker comment from Enforcer. Went to work with my cousin and she forgot her RCMP official hat in my car. She let me keep it. I by accident left it on the dash of my car and could park anywhere even in the US parking ticket free, until I registered my cars in WA. :cool-smiley-011: :D

My town is just as bad. If I make anti-Police comments I'm talking about my area only. The state trooper's use our town for in the field training. So they pull you over just to teach recruits traffic stops! WA has 3 levels of speeding, first range is 1 to 5 mph. Courts normally drop those. But one over the limit still gives the Cops probable cause. I've also ticked off the local PD and you don't do that when you have the only Porsche 928 in a small town!!!!!

State courts website of revised code: Hence why I'm using two radar detectors. I've been stopped at 4 mph over and ticketed. I set my cruise control at the speed limit until I'm out of this county. Outside though 10 to 15 that I'll admit about. I've been let off in that range because I'm polite about it and honest that yeah you got me Officer. Locals I ain't nice and I'll dispute them to the max.................... Scary when your not a lawyer or criminal and the court Deputies know me by name! :eek:

Training or not!!!!!!! Theres plenty of speeders and agressive drivers doing well over 15-20 and even 30-40 over the limit to be worried about 1-5 over. Unbelievable!

One ofthe problems here is the small communities actually go into the residential areas to run the radar. I hate to say "Ticket Quota", but that is the reality. They can sit out on the main highways and pull people going 15-40 mph over all day long. It is bad when they are sitting on our residential street and pulling over locals going 5-10mph over in a 20mph non-school zone. If it was to slow traffic down or show a presence, that would be fine, but they give tickets not warnings. Everyone spaces out at times and the last thing you expect is a ticket outside your door.These are guys with way too much time on their hands. There is very little crime, so traffic stops is their main way of paying their salary.

Don't get me wrong either, my brother is a police officer with over 20 years and my nephew is a Coastie. I have done many ride alongs with my brother. I would love to do a ride along with my nephew on their boat out of NJ. We used to live in Long Island, Ny and Chicago area and all you had to have on your windshield was an FOP sticker or most of our Cop friends gave us Police Supporter, get out of ticket free, cards. Back to the subject of radar, it is just to keep our head in the game, which it is. Not condoning speeding, just want to warn us if we day dream a little.

No problem, I understand. Take care and if you ever come out the East Coast look me up.

SEA YA !!!:drink:

I run a Bell 840, it's older but it works like a charm. Typically I stay between 5 - 10 over. Instant on will always nail you, but around here they do alot of passive running. That you can pick up, because the gun sends out a ranging chirp, most detectors will record it as a weak KA signal. Once you get in range usually 100 to 200 yards it will light you up.

Best way to try and beat a ticket with radar is to ask for the calibration records on the gun. Most departments require a traffic enforcement officer to calibrate his gun before he goes out on shift. Does it get done all of the time? Of course not. It's a gamble, but it's better than nothing. They calibrate them with a special set of tuning forks.

Laser sucks.