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

[dhuckabay]

You clearly have not driven in California... 80mph is about the norm in the fast lane. if the speed limit is 70 then 85 or 90...


I picked up a car in LA. Posted 65mph, doing 85 in the lane next to the HOV. Staying with traffic. A CHP in the HOV lane blew by. A ways up he turned his lights on to move a guy over that wasn't going fast enough for him. Figured it was shift change or a sale at the doughnut shop.

[bbrock]

As was mentioned earlier, our posted limit is 80mph interstates and 70mph on most rural two-lanes. That means 90 mph is the norm with a fair percentage exceeding 100 mph. This in a state where highways twist through mountains, and a very high percentage of drivers are out of state and unfamiliar with the roads, and often with mountain driving in general. Roll over accidents are very common here. We nicknamed the canyon between our house and town, "the land of upside down cars." I've personally witnessed 5 that happened right in front of my eyes where I was lucky not to be caught up in them, and have driven by too many others to count. I love the high speed limits but have come to appreciate the rare HP out ticketing the maniacs.

[Robarabian]

My new Toyota has radar in 4 directions. Is this going to interfere with my own use of a detector?

It shouldn't... but if it does, you may have to adjust the RADAR detector to filter it out. My 2016 tacoma has it and the truck doesn't set it off... but following a 202 Tahoe will.

[Robarabian]

@Robarabian

Great information!
Given everything you said, and your statement that you use a cheap whistler detector, has radar technology changed that much over the years? I have an older Whistler detector that was their top of the the line model back in the day, but I haven’t used it in a while thinking it to be obsolete. But maybe that’s not the case?

I had a Snooper D 2000 when I was 16 in my 914!! using that today, it would work on RADAR, but not LIDAR. So don't use the old one, put it on the shelf and reminisce about all the times it saved you... The new ones are pretty good. I retired in 2020 but I still mess with my friends on the job. I am going to have one of them hit me with LIDAR and RADAR and see if my whistler can warn me.... It wont happen for a while, but when it does, I can report back... Maybe I'll video it..

[Robarabian]

@Robarabian

Great information!
Given everything you said, and your statement that you use a cheap whistler detector, has radar technology changed that much over the years? I have an older Whistler detector that was their top of the the line model back in the day, but I haven’t used it in a while thinking it to be obsolete. But maybe that’s not the case?

Personally, I would not spend more than 150 bucks on one. Go to Autozone and get a Whistler. It works well. I road tripped up to Seattle 2 months ago with a friend buying a corvette, and we drove it back to CA. That whistler saved us 3 stops by law enforcement. Worth its weight in gold. The Valentine and Escort etc.. they are upwards of 400 dollars... RADAR and LIDAR only operate at certain frequencies in law enforcement. They all read the same..

[76-914]

@Robarabian

Great information!
Given everything you said, and your statement that you use a cheap whistler detector, has radar technology changed that much over the years? I have an older Whistler detector that was their top of the the line model back in the day, but I haven’t used it in a while thinking it to be obsolete. But maybe that’s not the case?

Personally, I would not spend more than 150 bucks on one. Go to Autozone and get a Whistler. It works well. I road tripped up to Seattle 2 months ago with a friend buying a corvette, and we drove it back to CA. That whistler saved us 3 stops by law enforcement. Worth its weight in gold. The Valentine and Escort etc.. they are upwards of 400 dollars... RADAR and LIDAR only operate at certain frequencies in law enforcement. They all read the same..

Great info. I have to ask though; why do you need a radar detector? Are the days of professional courtesy between Blue's gone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Montreal914]

Great information, thank you all for sharing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

So, by Whistler, would it include this low end model I bought 30 years ago? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's been collecting dust for the past 20-25, mostly because I thought technology had evolved and these were now useless, but maybe I should start using it again? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[930cabman]

I have found the speed limit +13 is generally a good rule of thumb. Out West on flat/straight highways you can add another 10 mph and in urban traffic I keep it the speed limit +8. A bit of common sense usually works.

[branston]

I use a cobra RAD400, which has now been superseded, it was $99.

It has saved me many times, I drive 1000 miles/week in my Tesla and like all modern cars it's way too easy to go over the speed limit accidentally.

The only downside is false alarms from electronic signage, I'm okay with them as they are preferable to a ticket. I'll replace it soon with a later model as the LED display is failing.

[Robarabian]

Once you're retired, there are no guarantees. And I have many friends who are CHP, they will write their own mothers...

@Robarabian

Great information!
Given everything you said, and your statement that you use a cheap whistler detector, has radar technology changed that much over the years? I have an older Whistler detector that was their top of the the line model back in the day, but I haven’t used it in a while thinking it to be obsolete. But maybe that’s not the case?

Personally, I would not spend more than 150 bucks on one. Go to Autozone and get a Whistler. It works well. I road tripped up to Seattle 2 months ago with a friend buying a corvette, and we drove it back to CA. That whistler saved us 3 stops by law enforcement. Worth its weight in gold. The Valentine and Escort etc.. they are upwards of 400 dollars... RADAR and LIDAR only operate at certain frequencies in law enforcement. They all read the same..

Great info. I have to ask though; why do you need a radar detector? Are the days of professional courtesy between Blue's gone? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Robarabian]

It'll still work... just less false alarm filtering... and not on LIDAR!! That's a cool old detector though!

Great information, thank you all for sharing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

So, by Whistler, would it include this low end model I bought 30 years ago? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's been collecting dust for the past 20-25, mostly because I thought technology had evolved and these were now useless, but maybe I should start using it again? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)