What are some good Radar Detectors out there? 🤔

[Junkyard Dog]

Pretty much anything above will give you enough notice to appropriately react to RADAR, provided the officer has it on. There are no guarantee's against Instant On or POP, especially if they're used by someone who knows what they're doing. Most everything now days has laser (LIDAR) detection, but nothing legal is going to save you from that. If you get a laser alert, you're pretty much cooked.

In the past, when I used a radar detector, the police sitting stationary with the radar off and using it intermittently always broadcast their presence before I got there several times by using the unit on traffic ahead of me.

With laser, is there no warning unless it is pointed directly at my car and reading my speed already?

Sponsored

 

[Yamazuki]

With laser, is there no warning unless it is pointed directly at my car and reading my speed already?

Pretty much, yeah.
If we were to compare both radar and laser in terms of lighting, radar would be a lot like a flood light; whereas laser is more like…..a laser. Think laser pointer.

 

[Ducatti20]

Uniden R8W is what I'm using. I generally drive responsibly but there are those moments I find myself caught up a little enjoying the car and the radar detector helps bring me back to reality and keeps me honest. Read Vortex's reviews!

 

[BlueWayOut]

My recommendation: don't bother with anything but Valentine. Decades-long user here, and it's saved me many times. The high performance, the quality construction & longevity, the arrows, the intuitive operation. Their current Gen 2 model is a very nice upgrade. I suggest matching it with a Blendmount bracket and hardwire kit, for the very best way to have a little extra insurance.

Your Mustang was expensive, and your driving record is valuable -- the Valentine gives you extra peace of mind for both.

 

[jbrnigan]

My recommendation: don't bother with anything ........ My last ticket was over two decades ago, my detector went off, but, too late. Since then, I just drive "smarter" .... everybody on this site and this thread, "knows" where to go when they feel the "need for speed", where there is little risk to your license. Personal decisions and choices and really no "guarantee" that your detector will protect you from the technology being used by law enforcement.

 

[Sig Oris]

But very tough for me to do consistently in any car, but tougher in a 500 hp car.

Extra insurance will help remind me to slow down when getting a ticket is a dangerous, whereas I might be blissfully ignoring my speed without the warning.

I have been relying on Waze, the phone app, but a radar detector is probably a good idea.

Years ago, I did many trips from say PWM to PHL by motor vehicle. I did the math for TIME vs MPH at various MPH and came to realization that the stress of a ticket and the associated cost wasn’t worth the time saved.

but I get how you feel

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Years ago, I did many trips from say PWM to PHL by motor vehicle. I did the math for TIME vs MPH at various MPH and came to realization that the stress of a ticket and the associated cost wasn’t worth the time saved.

but I get how you feel

For me it is not always a conscious decision. If I am thinking about it, I put my cruise control on, which keeps me from getting a ticket. If am not thinking about it, though, my "feel" for the correct speed is just not the same as the posted speed in most situations.

I lived in Germany for a couple of years and grew used to traveling distances at triple digit (mph) speeds. I was then a police officer in a jurisdiction that had a lot of chases (again getting used to speed on public roadways) - plus that typically means no tickets when pulled over in a private conveyance for exceeding the speed limit.

I have never been able to adjust to the speed limit.

Cruise control helps.

Waze helps - police officer ahead, reminds me to look at the speedometer and slow down if necessary.

Radar detector also helps. My wife's SUV that we traded in a year ago had a hidden radar detector system, and, with Waze running alerting us to police officer positions, was about perfect getting both alerts.

I have not yet added a radar detector to our current cars but probably should. This is not so I can intentionally speed. It is really to save me tickets from unintentionally doing so.

 

[Ducatti20]

For me it is not always a conscious decision. If I am thinking about it, I put my cruise control on, which keeps me from getting a ticket. If am not thinking about it, though, my "feel" for the correct speed is just not the same as the posted speed in most situations.

I lived in Germany for a couple of years and grew used to traveling distances at triple digit (mph) speeds. I was then a police officer in a jurisdiction that had a lot of chases (again getting used to speed on public roadways) - plus that typically means no tickets when pulled over in a private conveyance for exceeding the speed limit.

I have never been able to adjust to the speed limit.

Cruise control helps.

Waze helps - police officer ahead, reminds me to look at the speedometer and slow down if necessary.

Radar detector also helps. My wife's SUV that we traded in a year ago had a hidden radar detector system, and, with Waze running alerting us to police officer positions, was about perfect getting both alerts.

I have not yet added a radar detector to our current cars but probably should. This is not so I can intentionally speed. It is really to save me tickets from unintentionally doing so.

This is EXACTLY why I have one. This car is SO easy to drive fast and the AZ roads kinda beg for high speed.

 

[FitmentIndustries]

Uniden R8's are typically regarded as best of the best right now. Valentine 1 Gen 2 are still top notch as well. Radenso has some that are pretty darn good. And, Escort's aren't incredibly terrible either I suppose.

Pretty much anything above will give you enough notice to appropriately react to RADAR, provided the officer has it on. There are no guarantee's against Instant On or POP, especially if they're used by someone who knows what they're doing. Most everything now days has laser (LIDAR) detection, but nothing legal is going to save you from that. If you get a laser alert, you're pretty much cooked.
Photo radar is becoming more popular in some areas, so you will want to find out if that is a thing where you live and get a detector that will pick that up as well, if needed.

Expect to pay a couple, to several, hundred dollars for something worth having.

In my area most cops are using "X - Band" (country/city), and lasers on the Highway - This is good to know. I'll check those radar's out. Thanks!

 

[FitmentIndustries]

I have the latest unidenR8. So far very nice unit. Last unit was the escort redline. Expensive but it has paid for itself several times over easily. I think there both pretty much very close in performance. I'd maybe lean towards the uniden. Can't go wrong with a decent priced unit in any of the top three manufacturers. Escort Uniden Valentine. Valentine is probably best for directional alerts. Big arrows ect.

Arrows are useful, interesting.

 

[FitmentIndustries]

I have the Uniden R3. It used to be a budget option but now prices have gone up with tariffs (still cheaper than a ticket). Direction sensing is a gimmick and I wouldn't spend extra for it. If the detector is beeping, you'll know almost immediately if the source is getting closer.

My advice is to figure out which frequency bands the agencies in your area actually use. This is a helpful resource: https://lexbrook.com/rdf/?ka

I was being overwhelmed with false alerts because there is so much RF noise in our modern world. Fortunately, local/state police in my area use Ka band and laser exclusively, so I was able to turn off the other bands and now I get zero false alerts.

I just saw the price of this - it's decent. "X- Band" and lasers are used usually. Otherwise, cops that are traveling highway speeds randomly turn on their radar, might as well be a laser, but otherwise no other bands.

 

[FitmentIndustries]

This is very good information. I have done the same and found they only use KA and laser. K is the speed signs that show your speed but I have them turned off. Im in northern CA as well.

Wisconsin for me.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

This is EXACTLY why I have one. This car is SO easy to drive fast and the AZ roads kinda beg for high speed.

I drove across Arizona more than once when the speed limit nationally was 55 mph.

Talk about torment.

 

[FitmentIndustries]

Interesting that no one mentions having a detector that blocks radar detectors detectors. If the police know you are coming due to detecting your detector you could get a nice POP before you can react. Vortex has done reviews for years and is a solid start down the proverbial road to detector knowledge. I’ve had detectors since the original Escort 1, and cannot count the savings from tickets. Another consideration is support, make sure to get a detector that puts out updates on a regular basis and is easy to update. Currently we are running 2 Uniden R7 and 1 R4, having proper locating arrows is a thing. Mounting to the rear mirror and tapping into the windshield sensor is easy, keeps prying eyes off the detector. A weak detector will give false confidence, a good detector will help, a great detector will be a companion. Like many things in life, you get what you pay for.

This setup is wild! Thanks for the feedback!

Sponsored