OT - Radar Detectors, Share your knowledge. What should I buy? Options

[VegasRacer]

My trusty Bell radar detector died on the Route 66. It was rather old and had been serviced / updated several years ago. I was happy with it's performance, but I think it is time to upgrade to some more modern electronics.

Valentine One seems to have an excellent reputation. Is that what I should buy, or do you have a better recommendation ?

[Robarabian]

I used RADAR and LIDAR for more than 30 years in my former LE career.

RADAR detectors still work, but you have to understand the why / when law enforcement uses which.


LIDAR is ONLY used stationary. So the advice given above is valid, look to the horizon and far down the road. I have used LIDAR in excess of 900 feet, but Police LIDAR shoots accurately up to 2400 feet. That being said, it would not be a valid cite in my opinion at that distance, because it is supposed to be used to CONFIRM speed, not to simply shoot at random. The process is visual estimation, audible confirmation, RADAR or LIDAR verification. It is a 3 step process, and in CA if all 3 are not adhered to, it is a speed trap. LIDAR is target specific, so unless the officer is hitting someone in front of you and your detector picks up on it, it's too late. Also, I can visually obtain the speed at say, 80 MPH, and you slam on the brakes and I dont "lock" the LIDAR unit until 69 mph, the citation is still issued at 80. The Lock is only so I can show the violator if they ask, it is largely irrelevant.

RADAR is still used widely in the 50 states mostly in moving mode. That means, the cop is in opposing traffic and can zap you as you close distance. He / she can also shoot RADAR in the same direction, both front and rear. Measuring you pulling away or closing on the cruiser. The CHP routinely illegally operates it. If you have a RADAR detector and you get hit by them in opposing traffic and you see them 20-30 seconds after your detector started screaming, you know they are driving with the RADAR on and "fishing" for a high number. They are not visually estimating, audibly confirming with the doppler tone, and then verifying their observations. Speedtrap. You would need in car camera to capture it to prove it because, well, they will never admit it.

RADAR is still used stationary mode too, but because it is not target specific, the better option is LIDAR. RADAR detectors are still good because radio waves travel to infinity, and if the beam is ahead of you and the officer activates the unit momentarily, your detector will give you advance notice. The RADAR radio doppler beam looks like light coming out of a flashlight.. thin at the source, and a wide funnel as it gets further from the RADAR source. But if it is you and the officer and nobody else, you cant beat the speed of light and wont have enough warning to beat it.

I use a cheap Whistler in my cars, and they routinely provide me with great warning. They also pick up every car that has side or rear radar but they do filter out falsies pretty well. When LIDAR hits it, it screams like someone is torturing it.

Not meant to be an entire dissertation on the technology, just the "how" it works.