Time for a new radar detector?

[mfcentex]

LIDAR doesn't seemed to be widely used. I see mostly Ka. A quick search shows that standard RADAR is 65-75%. What areas do you see using LIDAR?

I agree that passive detection is needed now. Highway radar (app) has been quicker than Waze and includes aircraft alerts.

 

[KatyTxCT5V]

@FLYARMY, my radar detectors have more than paid for themselves and more times than I can count. Waste of money, not IMO, for me. I could care less what others believe and I’ll keep using them as I’m still ticket free and have been for decades. I guess I could just be lucky

In my area, RADAR (ka band) is used the most. Yes, on occasion I see LASER, thus why I keep my head on a swivel (my learnings from my long history of motorcycle riding) and pay attention to my surroundings if I plan to speed. You should not rely on a detector alone.

It’s good to understand what technology is used and how to be prepared. Of course, if you don’t ever speed, I guess you have nothing to worry about…

 

[leres]

I have only owned Uniden products, so can't comment on other brands but my current R8 works well here in Oklahoma. Like others suggested, I used the settings recommend by Vortex Radar. I have had one issue since trading in my C8 for a BW. The Adaptive Cruise system on the BW false alerts KA band 35.100. I can not segment this band because it is often used by OHP, but with the current firmware update, the R8 mutes the band at low detection (typically 1 bar) and with a stronger signal (more than 1 bar) , I will get a notification.

It's actually the google built-in display not adaptive cruise leaking 35.100 GHz (I have a M6 so I do not have KSG). Check this thread from last year. Many detector models have work arounds for the issue.

 

[rubberduck]

@FLYARMY, my radar detectors have more than paid for themselves and more times than I can count. Waste of money, not IMO, for me. I could care less what others believe and I’ll keep using them as I’m still ticket free and have been for decades. I guess I could just be lucky

In my area, RADAR (ka band) is used the most. Yes, on occasion I see LASER, thus why I keep my head on a swivel (my learnings from my long history of motorcycle riding) and pay attention to my surroundings if I plan to speed. You should not rely on a detector alone.

It’s good to understand what technology is used and how to be prepared. Of course, if you don’t ever speed, I guess you have nothing to worry about…

Add to that, I’ve never seen LIDAR used on highways/freeways in the west. Only in the city and I’ve been using jammers since around 2013. Jammers do work.

I agree radar detectors and jammers are a tool, not a substitute for situational awareness and good solid thinking skills. They will not save you from getting busted at double the speed limit.

 

[blackeneth]

Add to that, I’ve never seen LIDAR used on highways/freeways in the west. Only in the city and I’ve been using jammers since around 2013. Jammers do work.

I agree radar detectors and jammers are a tool, not a substitute for situational awareness and good solid thinking skills. They will not save you from getting busted at double the speed limit.

Last year I was hit by LIDAR on the I-10 in California. Interestingly, Ka band was used on the approach, but once close, I was hit with LIDAR.

Since I was running Highway Radar and using a Valentine One, I of course was traveling at the speed limit when this happened. It was in a rental car, not my Blackwing. I run a Uniden R9 in the Blackwing, but I don’t drive much anymore, so I haven’t had any good saves with it.

Previously I used V1 for ~40 years. Great detector. Funny story, when I got my first V1, I used it for *an entire year* before I picked up police radar. That year was productive, though, as I learned where all of the false alarms were on my regular route. Now I use the latest V1 as my “travel detector”.

 

[FLYARMY]

I can only say that here in NY area is nearly all LIDAR. It is 100% accurate and requires far less testing and set up than to use RADAR, not to mention that RADAR has caused some lawsuits relating to alleged cancer of Officers. Just before I retired, my department bought some LIDAR units that looked like small binoculars. The LIDAR i used (Pro Laser 3) was accurate to 6 inches ! The funniest excuse used in court by a female speeding in a Mustang was that she said she was coming down a hill and gravity made her go faster ! She also stated that she believed I was "anti- Mustang" owner. Might have been some truth to that one ! LOL !

 

[Merlette]

I run a Uniden R9 in the Blackwing

I read in a thread from last year that you had an R9w installed. Would you mind uploading a few pics of the installation? Or even just a few words about where the display unit and keypad are mounted would be great.

 

[leres]

I have notes on my valentine 1 install here.

 

[Atlien]

S

I have only owned Uniden products, so can't comment on other brands but my current R8 works well here in Oklahoma. Like others suggested, I used the settings recommend by Vortex Radar. I have had one issue since trading in my C8 for a BW. The Adaptive Cruise system on the BW false alerts KA band 35.100. I can not segment this band because it is often used by OHP, but with the current firmware update, the R8 mutes the band at low detection (typically 1 bar) and with a stronger signal (more than 1 bar) , I will get a notification.

What setting exactly ignores the one bar aka 35.100?

 

[blkout]

S

What setting exactly ignores the one bar aka 35.100?

Escort Max 360c Mk II

 

[blkout]

I was a cop for 28 years. The LASER/RADAR school was taught by very experienced Highway Patrol cops. The class was three 8 hours days long. (I could teach you how to use LIDAR in 2 minutes.) The final day was going out and the instructor was using LASER to see what vehicle speeds were, coming and going. I had to visually watch a vehicle and tell the instructor how fast , to within 3 mph shown on the LIDAR gun. I had to do this 50 times in a row, no errors, and then I would get certified. Cops can use RADAR (very seldom used), LIDAR (mostly used) and or visual estimation of speed. You cannot beat the LIDAR gun. Period. The gun does a self test every time you turn it on and if it detects an issue, it will not work. The gun shoots a laser beam of light at 186,000 miles PER SECOND ! It reads your speed in less than 1/3rd of a second. The beam is the size of a pencil. You are toast, even with your detectors. I NEVER lost a court case that I used the LIDAR gun. The best thing I have found, currently, is using the WAZE APP and relying on others up ahead of you to report a cop on the side of the road. Also, LIDAR/RADAR works even if the patrol car is moving. I have used it to read a car from over a quarter mile away, long before they even see me. My personal opinion is that these new detectors are a waste of money....unless you live in a rural area where they still use RADAR. RADAR likes to find the largest moving object.

I've been using my Escort radar detectors for almost 7 years now, the ONLY ticket I ever received was from laser and that was ONCE. I literally can't count how many times I've been saved from radar. I've traveled all over the southeast and even up to Virginia and Ohio, all radar. Laser is far and few between.

 

[autoregression]

I've been using my Escort radar detectors for almost 7 years now, the ONLY ticket I ever received was from laser and that was ONCE. I literally can't count how many times I've been saved from radar. I've traveled all over the southeast and even up to Virginia and Ohio, all radar. Laser is far and few between.

This mirrors my experience in the SE USA. Once or twice a year, I'll see a stationary LEO with a laser gun. Last time my laser detector (360 Redline) went off was over a year ago when there was a sheriff on a Harley clocking drivers in a school zone.

Perhaps the SE is behind other regions? In rural GA on a roadtrip last week, I got clocked by a local officer with K-band (not even Ka!). I had to explain to my passenger how rare that is.

 

[blkout]

This mirrors my experience in the SE USA. Once or twice a year, I'll see a stationary LEO with a laser gun. Last time my detector (360 Redline) went off was over a year ago when there was a sheriff on a Harley clocking drivers in a school zone.

Perhaps the SE is behind other regions? In rural GA on a roadtrip last week, I got clocked by a local officer with K-band (not even Ka!). I had to explain to my passenger how rare that is.

I've got a few LEO's in my city with K band but its pretty rare. I usually ignore K band but thankfully the Escort detectors do such a fantastic job of filtering false positives that I don't mind being a little more cautious when I get the rare K band alert. KA is always 100% accurate to alert me to a LEO though.

 

[blackeneth]

I read in a thread from last year that you had an R9w installed. Would you mind uploading a few pics of the installation? Or even just a few words about where the display unit and keypad are mounted would be great.

My install was done by Signature Audio in Scottsdale, AZ. They 3D print some brackets to hold the control keypad and the display. One photo shows the control keypad, which is fitted into the “coin holder” in the center dash. The second photo is a little harder to see, but it shows the display mounted above the rear view mirror. It would actually be better if they made their 3D printed bracket so that it was turned towards the driver a few degrees; it’s mounted straight on. The final photograph shows one of the laser sensors/emitters under the trunk lid (you can see a bit of the license plate frame at the bottom). The front sensors/emitters are all behind the grill.

A nice clean install. The only issue is connecting to the R9w by Bluetooth works like crap. I don’t even try. I don’t know if that’s a placement issue with the install or a Uniden issue.

 

[Merlette]

My install was done by Signature Audio in Scottsdale, AZ. They 3D print some brackets to hold the control keypad and the display. One photo shows the control keypad, which is fitted into the “coin holder” in the center dash. The second photo is a little harder to see, but it shows the display mounted above the rear view mirror. It would actually be better if they made their 3D printed bracket so that it was turned towards the driver a few degrees; it’s mounted straight on. The final photograph shows one of the laser sensors/emitters under the trunk lid (you can see a bit of the license plate frame at the bottom). The front sensors/emitters are all behind the grill.

A nice clean install. The only issue is connecting to the R9w by Bluetooth works like crap. I don’t even try. I don’t know if that’s a placement issue with the install or a Uniden issue.

Love it--very nice!

I agree a little cant of the display towards the driver would have been a great touch. Good to know there is adequate room behind the grill for the sensor(s). I'll have to forego the emitters here in Cali like I did with the Bel STi-R in my V2.

Thank you for taking the time to take pictures and describe your installation. (now all I need is the car... )

 

[ngoni]

I've got a few LEO's in my city with K band but its pretty rare. I usually ignore K band but thankfully the Escort detectors do such a fantastic job of filtering false positives that I don't mind being a little more cautious when I get the rare K band alert. KA is always 100% accurate to alert me to a LEO though.

Like you I ignored K band and thought everyone had moved on to Ka until I got pulled over by an unmarked that pinged me with K. I originally thought it was a nearby car's avoidance radar. Luckily just a warning then, but now I definitely ease up on any K alerts given that I've already filtered out the most common false-positives.