by Craig on December 25, 2009
Many people buy their radar detectors online. Amazon and eBay are popular websites to look for the best device. They offer a wide variety of products including radar detectors. Online purchases are convenient and you can even get the item at a lower-than-market price if you’re lucky. If you’re really lucky, you can even get one or two things thrown in for free with your purchase. I personally prefer Amazon because their return policy is very good. Well, how can you buy a good radar detector unit from Amazon?
Step 1: Create an Account
For browsing purpose, you don’t need an account. But you’ll need one to buy from Amazon. You should sign on if you have an existing account. Otherwise, create a new one if this is your first time buying from the site. You’ll be asked to provide user name and password.
Step 2: Search
You can click from any of my reviews to the exact product page in Amazon. Otherwise you can also key in “radar detector” into the search bar on the site. Hit “Enter” and wait for the results to load. Or else, you can also browse the categories under “Electronics” followed by “Car Electronics & GPS”. You’ll find radar detectors on that page. You can click on the suitable link.
Step 3: Narrow Your Search
You should narrow your search by indicating the wanted features or choose the brand you want. You can also sort the results by “Bestselling”, “Price”, and “Average Customer Review” to get a better idea.
Step 4: Compare Prices
For the same item, different seller may offer different price. You have to check thoroughly and choose one that meets your budget. You can also sign on to check frequently because you’ll never really know when you’ll come across a good bargain. Amazon often gives discounts and free shipping especially if the product is a bestseller and sometimes when the stock is running low.
Step 5: Compare Product Details
Compare important points for each item. Read the technical and product description. The features, model, design, color, function, and accessories should be reviewed. Some items are sold directly by Amazon while others by individual sellers. Check details such as shipping cost, product location, and return policy.
Step 6: Read Feedback
Customer reviews are very important. They tell you what others think of the product after using it. You may just change your mind after reading helpful comments. But some of the reviews in Amazon were not written by people who bought from Amazon. Reviews from people who bought the specific product from Amazon has a “Amazon verified purchase” tag under the reviewer’s name.
Step 7: Additional Purchases
Sometimes, you can also buy accessories at a bundle price. Once you’ve decided on your purchase, select the number of quantities you want and click “Add to Shopping Cart”. After that, you can either edit your list or click “Proceed to Checkout”.
Step 8: Finalize Shipping and Payment Details
The next thing to do is to finalize your shipping and payment details, indicate whether do you want gift wrap service and then place your order. Voila! Your radar detector is on its way to you.
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by Craig on December 8, 2009
These are the more common questions people ask about radar detectors. See if you can find something you want to know here.
So What really is a Radar Detector?
Radar detectors are actually simple devices that detect radar and laser signals aimed at your vehicle. The frequencies that they look for are those commonly used by radar guns that law enforcements use. In other words, it does not make you ‘immune’ to speed traps.
How do they work?
Radar detectors work best in moderate traffic, with cars in front of and behind you. A police officer who is looking for speeders would set off your radar detector when his radar gun captures the speed of a driver in front of or behind you. When your radar detector identifies some signals, you can slow down without being detected.
What about false alarms?
False alarms can occur due to the large number of devices, such as elevators, automatic door openers, or shops with wireless electronics that operate in the same part of the electromagnetic spectrum as radar guns. Those signals usually cause overly-sensitive radar detectors to go off as they are mostly weak signals.
How to prevent false alarms?
There are a couple of different modes your radar detector will work in to help you detect threats and minimize false alerts.
City mode, as it is called, is usually used in the city, when driving in a place full of alarms, door sensors and other detectors. This mode will reduce the sensitivity of the radar detector so only strong signals are picked up by it.
Highway mode increases the sensitivity of your radar detector, therefore increasing range and ability to detect low signals and quick signals.
Auto mode is the most commonly used mode. It works by shifting between city and highway modes depending on your speed.
POP mode is another common mode included in most radar detectors. It is used to catch the quick bursts of radar used in certain guns. While this mode is used by some law enforcement to stop speeders, it is used only to get an “estimate of speed” and not a definitive speed. Having this mode on will also result in an increase of ‘false alarms’, so most users prefer to have this mode turned off.
Why is my Radar Detector is making weird sounds?
One of the mistakes most drivers make after setting up their radar detector is not learning to interpret what it’s telling you before setting out for a drive.
When your radar detector gets a signal it will alert you audibly with a beep or voice. The stronger the signal, the louder these alerts get. But as each radar detector comes with different options and settings, it is best to read through the manual that comes with your radar detector beforehand to make sure you know your device well.
I can assume all soft beeps/weak signals as false alarm. Yes/No?
NO. Ignoring those mild alerts is the biggest mistakes drivers tend to make. Although a weak K or Ka-band signal that quickly disappears may at first suggest a false alarm, it may also mean that the radar may be pointed away from your direction of travel or angled across the roadway ahead and could be far enough away that terrain intermittently blocks the weakened signal.
What else can I do to avoid a ticket?
If you are in sparse traffic, you will have to sharpen up and pay better attention to the alerts or alarms the radar detector is giving, as police officers using an instant-on radar gun could get your speed and your radar detector would have little time to warn you.
Avoid speeding when driving by hills or big curves where traffic police usually lie in wait to ambush speeders. Bridge underpasses, overpasses and access roads are places to be wary of as well. Police can outwit radar detectors by using such geography or structures to hide their radar signals. In these cases, it’s best to slow down.
It sounds like common sense but face it, a radar detector merely confirms the presence of radar and lasers. Relying solely on your radar detector won’t save you from speeding tickets. Nevertheless, if you take the time to learn what you radar detector is actually doing and drive carefully, you will be successful at avoiding speeding tickets.
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by Craig on November 25, 2009
Size and weight
If the radar detector is not permanently mounted, or if you want to use it with different vehicles, the size and weight of the thing may be important to you.
Outer appearance
They say looks don’t matter. Of course that’s true if it is not relevant to the performance of the thing. However, a point to note is that radar detectors with metallic coating might produce glare in bright sunlight.
Modes
Highway mode or city mode? Or both? City mode decreases the sensitivity of the detector and shorten the detection range so that you get fewer false alerts. This is helpful in the city where there are plenty of security alarm. When in highway mode the radar detector becomes more sensitive and will be able to detect radars a longer way off.
Most of the mid-end models nowadays have both modes for you to change as you drive.
Laser detection
Try to find out whether your local police uses laser beams. Some radar detectors are also laser detectors, and they usually detect laser beams in front. The best radar laser detectors with 360-degree laser detection can also detect beams on the sides and behind but are more costly.
Models with laser detection are:
GPS technology
Some radar detectors use the same satellites as GPS navigation. The detector compares your exact location to its database of speed trap locations so you won’t be caught by hidden cameras.
The best radar detector – Escort Passport 9500ix comes with this technology.
Voice alerts and text display
Instead of the normal beeping, you can choose to have voice alerts. Useful text displays show you different simultaneous signals, and for the more advanced user, even the frequency of the radar band.
text display
Mute and Auto Mute
Just press the mute button when you’re aware of an alert so that you don’t have to listen to the continuous beep. When your car passes out of range of the signal, the detector will automatically turn the volume back on.
You can set the detector to auto mute after sounding an alert.
Auto Learn technology
Tired of the same false alert again and again? New models have auto learn technology that will sound the same false alert only the first time. When you pass through the signal next time, the detector will recognize it and won’t beep.
This is one of the nicest features in the Escort Passport 9500ix Radar/Laser Detector.
Power cord
Check also the length of the power cord and the side it is attached to the detector. This may not sound important, but you never know. People have complained that the power cord is not long enough to connect to the supply or that the power cord crosses the dashboard in an untidy way.
Stealth
Oh no, you forgot to take down the detector when you go into Washington, D.C.! (Radar detectors are illegal in Washington, D.C.) Get a radar detector with stealth operation, often called with different names such as Dark Mode or Spectre protection.
These are shielding technologies to make your radar detector undetected by radar detector detectors.
The best invisible radar detector will be the Beltronics STi Driver Radar Detector.
Go back to my Best Radar Detectors main page for more recommendations and radar detector reviews.
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by Craig on November 23, 2009
So you’ve bought the radar detector, and now you want to mount it in your car. So where is the best place and what is the best way to do this?
Unfortunately, there is not an easy answer. Choices usually come down to either mounting the detector high on the windshield or visor or low on the windshield or dashboard, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both.
First and foremost,
It’s a good idea to find out a little more on the type of electronic transmitting devices your local police is using. The two common types are radar guns and laser guns.
Radar is basically a microwave radio signal. This radar beam can normally penetrate glass, plastic, cardboard and even your body. What radar has a problem penetrating are metals, including some window tints that have metalized layers.
Laser is a light beam. Because the beam is narrow, and light, the beam can be effected by virtually anything you put between the laser gun and the detector.
High Mounting
A detector that is mounted high can catch radar signals sooner than one that is mounted low. This is particularly true in hilly terrain, or when your vehicle is traveling up a hill and a police officer is targeting traffic from the other side. A high mounted detector will encounter the radar signal sooner, providing you more time to decelerate.
Unfortunately, a highly mounted radar detector increases your risk of missing a laser alert. Since police officers usually aim the laser at a front license plate or a headlight, a high mounted detector will be unable to receive any of the “splatter” that may indicate you are being targeted by a police laser gun.
Low Mounting
By mounting your radar detector low, on the windshield or attached to the dash (make sure that the windshield wipers are not blocking the front), you will lose a little in radar range, but gain a whole lot in the ability to detect laser.
Always ensure that controls are accessible
No matter how you decide to mount your radar detector, it is important to make sure that you can easily reach the volume and mode controls (highway, city and mute) on your detector with ease to avoid distractions and unnecessary accidents.
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by Craig on October 11, 2009
I’ve owned this Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector for a while now and find it especially useful on the highway as it can detect most traffic police from very far away. It gives me a warning in advance of at least 10 seconds to slow down. The three main alerts, K, KA, and X are pretty much always on target – and with minimal false readings.
Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector
Although this detector can be used straight out of the box, the Escort Passport 8500 X50 has many programmable features for the fussy drivers. Programmable options include Power-On indication, Meter type, AutoMute , Brightness level (including full dark mode), two levels of Audio tones, and selectable radar and laser bands. The steps required to program this detector is really simple and straight forward. I like how user-friendly it is.
This detector is updateable too so you’ll always get the latest updates of new radar and laser threats.
The blue display is really clear. You can adjust the brightness between dim, medium, or max brightness levels, or full dark mode for discreet night driving.
Other than that, the Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector’s patented AutoSensitivity mode helps distinguishes real threats from other known sources of radar – virtually eliminating false alarms. Unfortunately, I encountered a slight lag in this mode, probably because the detector is trying to filter out false signals.
Noise level when driving in the city could get excessive since pharmacy, stores and buildings with wireless signals may trigger this detector. Thankfully the X50 comes with a very convenient mute button right on their “smart cord” power supply.
The only con that really bugged me was that the unit has low-quality internals that do not hold up well to heat. In other words, it overheats quickly and might not be suitable for places with high temperature and a lot of sunlight.
Summary, I think for a price at $300, the Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector is very much worth the money. If you’re looking for a radar detector in this price range, you can’t go wrong by buying this one.
Further information:
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by Craig on October 3, 2009
The Beltronics V995 Vector Radar Detector is an upgrade of the 985 model. The unit is housed in a sturdy plastic case that’s low profile and compact, with easy to reach buttons on top of the unit. Mounting the device couldn’t be easier! At first I wasn’t too sure if the suction cups would hold, turns out that it easily attaches to the windshield with light pressure.
Beltronics V995 Vector Radar and Laser Detector
The detector accurately detects all common laser bands (X, K, Ka) as well Ku band. Hence, it works just as well overseas where Ku band are more favorable (such as countries like UK for example).
Other than a digital display, the Beltronics V995 Vector Radar Detector has a digital voice alert that makes threat identification a simple task. The voice alerts are of excellent quality, and the audio volume is loud enough to be heard even when my car radio is on. And when it does alert, the mute button is right in easy reach on the SmartPlug power cord. (Do note that the 995 doesn’t ship with the SmartPlug cord. It’s only available as a $30 option.)
Aside from the features common–settings memory, auto mute, tutorial mode and multiple programmable options, the Beltronics V995 Vector Radar Detector also has the unique Tech Mode which displays the radar’s frequency, along with crucial information whether the source is a false alarm or real police radar.
I found the AutoScan feature to work best in towns and cities. However, do use this feature with care as it filters all bands and reduces detection range (it spends time figuring out if the radar signal pattern is like those from typical sources of falsing).
The ‘POP mode’ feature is nice, however it triggers a lot of false alarms. I had to turn it off as it was getting irritating.
The Beltronics V995 Vector Radar Detector can have its firmware upgraded by Beltronics – this is particularly useful if they have some bug fixes or updates that provide better detection.
The verdict? Beltronics V995 Vector Radar Detector makes a great-performing detector on the market in the near-premium price class.
Further information:
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by Craig on September 27, 2009
The Beltronics V955 Vector High Performance Radar Detector offers performance at a value price. With the Beltronics 955, you get the performance of Bel’s Vector line of detectors a decent price compared to the 965 and 995 models.
I thought that the unit is a little bulky and heavier compared to my other detectors, but thankfully, I found no problems mounting it to windshield.
Beltronics V955 Vector High Performance Radar Detector
I got the silver version, which I later regretted. I find that the silver top surface of the product produces too much glare on the windshield in bright sunlight.
Like the 965 and 995, The Beltronics V955 Vector High Performance Radar Detector managed to detect a wide range of bands.
So far, it has never failed to alert me of a nearby police radar. It doesn’t give a whole lot of advance notice though. However, the warning time is adequate if you act immediately.
It includes many features such as Safety Warning System radar capability, laser detection, patented Mute and AutoMute features, audible and visual band alerts, and all the standard performance you can expect from Beltronics.
Controls buttons are situated at the top of the device for easy access. Patented Mute and AutoMute technology allows you to quickly silence alerts. Although this detector can be used straight out from the box, advanced programming lets you customize several features to your own preferance, such brightness settings or dark mode if you would prefer only audio alerts.
This Beltronics V955 Vector High Performance Radar Detector uses multiple laser sensors give you long-range performance, and greatly reduce the number of false alarms.
On top of that, the Vector 955 is invisible to VG-2 radar detector detectors, as Bel is well-known for. It also features Highway/City sensitivity settings to tailor performance to your needs.
I think I am getting a lot of false readings from the product. I suspect this is the reaction of the over-sensitive laser based sensor. I found the audio alert a little too soft for my liking as well. Then again for a price of $100, Beltronics V955 Vector High Performance Radar Detector is a really good detector.
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by Craig on September 20, 2009
This thing has an excellent range. I was driving on the highway when the Escort Passport 9500i picked up a radar signal up to 4 miles away. At first I thought it was a false alarm before noticing a well hidden detector along a signboard at the side of the road.
Escort Passport 9500i Radar and Laser Detector
The Escort Passport 9500i detector incorporates GPS technology, which provides its owner with real time vehicle speed display (updated every second), permanent muting of known stationery sources of X-band & K-band falses, identification of known speedtraps (non RADAR, such as Redlight cameras), speed sensitive radar reception sensitivity
At city driving speeds, the Escort Passport 9500i has a feature that automatically decreases its sensitivity to X and K-band sources (Ka-band is unaffected). As speeds increase so does the sensitivity of the 9500i. I absolutely love this feature as I no longer have to manually change sensitivity from Highway to City and vice-versa.
As for false alarms, the 9500i can virtually eliminate them. Whenever you encounter what you know if a false alarm, all you need is a total of 3 keystrokes to program the unit to know this signal in this location is a false alarm. You will never again get that alarm in that spot.
The only thing that I dislike about this detector is that when the first warning shows up you won’t know if it’s a false alarm or not. However, once you pass that false alarm (usually of a low signal) and it goes out of range, you are unable mark it as a fake signal to be blocked. In fact, the only way to mark it down is by passing the same area again.
Escort Passport 9500i also appears to be a lot more sensitive than my other detectors, resulting in more false alarms. But the GPS feature of this unit makes up for it.
The Escort Passport 9500i comes with a built-in USB interface allowing direct hook-up to your personal computer or laptop to download the latest location database updates and detector software updates. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with Mac computers.
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by Craig on September 13, 2009
Tremendous, great functionality, simple design, gives good warning, is all I can say about the Beltronics Pro GX65 Radar Detector. Enclosed in a black, polycarbonate enclosure, this detector efficiently removes glare from sunlight. It covers most of the common radar guns used in the US, but Ku-band Radar Detection for Taiwan and parts of Europe and Belgium driving is available as well.
Beltronics Pro GX65 Radar Detector
The screen is easy-to-read, with clear visual alerts to match the voice alerts. A full dark mode is also available in this detector. In this mode, the display will not show any visual alerts when the GX65 detects signals. Only the audible alert will go off. The clarity of the warning voices can be heard above a radio or road noise.
I love the GPS-powered technology included in this device. Not only does it decreases false alarms from radar-based sensors, the GPS tells you your speed when an alert goes off too, so you only have to look at the detector to know what you’re dealing with and how fast you’re going.
Besides that, the GPS technology is able to pinpoint “safety camera” locations, including red light intersection cameras and roadside, fixed position, speed cameras
You can even connect your Beltronics Pro GX65 Radar Detector GPS to your computer using the optional mini-USB cable and 12Vdc power supply accessories to download all the latest GPS photo location updates.
Unfortunately, I found the download method a little bothersome as you have to keep referring to the numbers on a green card that comes with it in order to get a download.
Auto Scan Mode manages to eliminate false alarms caused by weak radar signals. And although I still encounter a few false alerts now and then, once I’ve marked all the false alerts down, the GX65 is quiet and alerts to just true police radar.
The Beltronics Pro GX65 Radar Detector comes with a couple of accessories, such includes visor clip, extra suction cups for another car, and a USB plug which you’ll need to update the database.
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by Craig on September 6, 2009
The Whistler XTR-140 radar detector is probably one of the cheapest radar detectors on the market. The detector is coated in black to minimize glare, and features a bright icon display.
Whistler XTR-140
I was really doubtful about the performance of a $40 detector, but after a few recent road trips, I am say that this is a well functioning product. Despite not having exceptional filtering ability for false signals, it can still give you enough X/K/Ka warning for you to slow down in time. The XTR-140 features 3 city modes, which allows you to adjust your tolerance false alerts as well.
Despite not having as many features as my ESCORT and BEL, Whistler XTR-140 comes complete with total band protection, total 360° perimeter protection, and patented VG-2 cloaking technology to prevent detection from the traffic police.
The new Dual LED Alert Periscope provides an additional attention getting visual alert. Two extra LED’s flash on and off when the unit detects a signal, which I thought was a really great innovation, because you can easily see them even when your radio drowns out the audible signals, or when the primary letter warning lights is difficult to see in bright sunlight. This alert can be programmed to flash for all alarms, remain on, or completely turned off.
I also like the ‘Quiet Mode and Auto Quiet’ feature of this detector. Quiet Mode cancels audio during an alert (which usually lasts for 20 seconds), whereas Auto Quiet reduces the selected audio level to level 1 to approximately 5 seconds after a radar or safety radar signal is detected. The greatest thing is that even in this mode, VG-2 or laser alerts are not affected.
In conclusion, the Whistler XTR-140 might not have the features of the top of the line detectors (coiled power cord, voice alert, false signals filtering, etc), it does, however, have at its core the basic detection ability a driver needs.
Further information:
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