Radar detectors - what's best?

[colsan1]

I'm looking for a radar detector but i want to know what you guys thing
are the best ones to go for.
I want something that'll cover all bands of radar but is also
easy to use and can also be used in a car aswell

[p.dath]

Check out:
http://www.radardirect.co.nz/
They have reviews on their web site. They have special Motorbike radars.

[smoky]

And the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=104840&highlight=detector

This topic is almost as popular as Maori bashing on KB


I bought a Cobra 9945, works well

[Chooky]

And you could have a yarn to this guy also...:cool:


http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detector-info.cfm

[Sidewinder]

valintine one hands down!

[LBD]

A Bike specific TPX from Radar Direct....for the umptenth time.

[TerminalAddict]

passport x50

oh .. and warren's quite handy with soldering iron .. and could do with $20 in his pocket :D

[hospitalfood]

look for a model with a RPG back-up

[Mikkel]

Unless a new and fancy product has entered the market the best unit, if you can afford it, is the BelTronics STi.

You can enable the bands that you want it to pick up, it is non-detectable and extremely sensitive. Won't save you every time though.

[NSR-Dan]

valintine one hands down!

I second the valentine one

[Biggles08]

Unless a new and fancy product has entered the market the best unit, if you can afford it, is the BelTronics STi.

You can enable the bands that you want it to pick up, it is non-detectable and extremely sensitive. Won't save you every time though.

I second the Beltronics XR,,,and what do you know... I have one for sale...everythig to get you going on a bike including the wireless HARD system (flashing light in your helmet) for $1000 ono.

Pm me for details

[cs363]

I second the valentine one

I'll third it, the directional arrows and multiple threat tracking makes it a winner in my book.

That said though, Bel and Escort are both excellent products anything else is just a waste of money, unless you're in the market for a ticket detector.... :)

Best part is all these three are easily transferable to your car and have plenty of bike specific accessories available for them.

[LBD]

Unless a new and fancy product has entered the market the best unit, if you can afford it, is the BelTronics STi.

.

The TPX.....

[cs363]

The TPX.....

Well firstly the OP wants a detector to switch between car and bike rather than a purpose designed motorcycle radar detector.

But more importantly whilst seemingly well made and finished the TPX appears to have some shortcomings, I haven't read a test yet that rates it very highly - this one being fairly typical: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=100585

It looks like Adaptiv have some good ideas but they need to develop the unit further IMHO. I think in time they may have a product that will be up with the market leaders.

The difference with Bel, Valentine & Escort is that they all consistently rate highly in independent tests, echoed by the findings of many KB'ers as is evident in this thread and many others.

But, if it works for you then that's all that matters at the end of the day.

Personally I'll stick with my trusty Valentine that has continued to give me good service over several years in many vehicles. Another benefit, in that time it has been sent back to Valentine for a software upgrade, one of the beauties of the Valentine, enabling it to keep pace with changing trends.

[LBD]

Well firstly the OP wants a detector to switch between car and bike rather than a purpose designed motorcycle radar detector.

But more importantly whilst seemingly well made and finished the TPX appears to have some shortcomings, I haven't read a test yet that rates it very highly - this one being fairly typical: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=100585

It looks like Adaptiv have some good ideas but they need to develop the unit further IMHO. I think in time they may have a product that will be up with the market leaders.

The difference with Bel, Valentine & Escort is that they all consistently rate highly in independent tests, echoed by the findings of many KB'ers as is evident in this thread and many others.

But, if it works for you then that's all that matters at the end of the day.

Personally I'll stick with my trusty Valentine that has continued to give me good service over several years in many vehicles. Another benefit, in that time it has been sent back to Valentine for a software upgrade, one of the beauties of the Valentine, enabling it to keep pace with changing trends.

I dont have experience with other detectors to compare with so won't comment on relative merits.

But I do take task with the sensitivity claimed in the refered to review. We have a 1.6km straight, undulating, bush either side where myself and a constable friend had a play...

He was near one end and I came around the corner say 1.3km away. Both hand held lasar and car mounted radar was detected just as the straight is coming into sight.

Definetly avoided several infringments overthe 5500km I have been using it.

Andit can be more easily addapted for car use than a car radar detector can for a bike.

[cs363]

I dont have experience with other detectors to compare with so won't comment on relative merits.

But I do take task with the sensitivity claimed in the refered to review. We have a 1.6km straight, undulating, bush either side where myself and a constable friend had a play...

He was near one end and I came around the corner say 1.3km away. Both hand held lasar and car mounted radar was detected just as the straight is coming into sight.

Definetly avoided several infringments overthe 5500km I have been using it.

Andit can be more easily addapted for car use than a car radar detector can for a bike.

Yeah, even with all the available info sensitivity can be a tad subjective what with atmospheric conditions, how and where the unit is situated, voltage supply and a few other variables. So what works well for some (regardless of brand) may not neccessarily work as well for others (and vice-versa). Most users of the big 3 brands will usually have reports of detection of constant on radar from considerably longer distances than 1-2km in ideal conditions.

Also, some detectors are better at picking up the remains of 'instant on signals' from further away. This is particulary important if your main area of use is in the Nth Island where this practice is widespread, my experience travelling in the Sth Island on numerous occasions indicates that this is less common down there, though maybe I'm just lucky?

The main thing for you is of course that you are happy with your purchase which it appears you are and it's obviously saved you some coin which is the purpose of the whole exercise. As the TPX is relatively new it would be good to hear from other users to build up a balanced view (no offence intended LBD) to add to the pool of info on here for future prospective buyers.

From previous threads it's obvious the top models from Bel, Valentine and Escort all work exceptionally well, with each unit having it's own advantages in certain areas or with certain features that appeal to the user. Argueing over the relative differences between them is almost superflous, the main thing is they do the job and do it well.

With more input from other users it may well work out that the TPX is comparable, time and feedback will tell the story.
In the meantime, hope yours keeps doing the job for you. :ride:

My 2c spent... :)

[Pixie]

Make sure you get one "modified for NZ conditions":rolleyes:

[jono035]

Check out the Guys of LIDAR (http://www.guysoflidar.com/) website for some pretty comprehensive testing info on radar detectors and laser jammers...

[p.dath]

I guess I should point out that the new distance based road side speed cameras will make radar detectors obsolete in the coming years (not very far away).

The new cameras are digital based, and the number plate system supports OCR (aka, it can read your number plate).

The intention with the new cameras are they can be placed a set distance apart, such as 10km. They take your number plate and date/time, and then 10km later the next camera takes your plate and date/time.

They then compute your average speed over the 10km.

So slowing down for 300m for a single camera and speeding up again will still result in a speeding ticket.

[cs363]

Make sure you get one "modified for NZ conditions":rolleyes:


:rofl:.....:rofl:

[nodrog]

I guess I should point out that the new distance based road side speed cameras will make radar detectors obsolete in the coming years (not very far away).

The new cameras are digital based, and the number plate system supports OCR (aka, it can read your number plate).

The intention with the new cameras are they can be placed a set distance apart, such as 10km. They take your number plate and date/time, and then 10km later the next camera takes your plate and date/time.

They then compute your average speed over the 10km.

So slowing down for 300m for a single camera and speeding up again will still result in a speeding ticket.


what if the numer plate is not visable?

[Swoop]

I'm looking for a radar detector but i want to know what you guys thing
are the best ones to go for.
Has the search button broken?

[jono035]

Has the search button broken?

Yeah, must be because I'm sure that I said the exact same thing in the exact same thread less than a week ago...

[Swoop]

Yeah, must be because I'm sure that I said the exact same thing in the exact same thread less than a week ago...
This is your first post in this thread...

[beyond]

Unless a new and fancy product has entered the market the best unit, if you can afford it, is the BelTronics STi.

You can enable the bands that you want it to pick up, it is non-detectable and extremely sensitive. Won't save you every time though.

Bang on buddy. :) Bloody good unit.

[jono035]

This is your first post in this thread...

Yeah, was referring to a different (but nearly identical) thread from a week ago :)

[aahsv]

Bang on buddy. :) Bloody good unit.

Bel Sti +1:niceone:

[NSR-Dan]

just looking at the test on "http://www.guysoflidar.com"

valentine one own's in all the tests

[jono035]

just looking at the test on "http://www.guysoflidar.com"

valentine one own's in all the tests

Yeah, but it also gets much higher rates of false-alarm in real world conditions from memory. It also costs a heap more.

[pritch]

I'll third it, the directional arrows and multiple threat tracking makes it a winner in my book.

My Escort has multiple threat and relative strength indicators. Of course if you're riding a bike you shouldn't be wasting time reading that much info and it's too far out of line of sight anyway so I have that switched off.

In a car though maybe...

[jono035]

I wouldn't be 100% on the directional stuff anyway, a lot of the signal you get outside line of sight will be reflections which could mean the guy is absolutely anywhere. I can't see the directional thing being worth anything other than being fancier.

If my detector makes noise, I slow down to the speed limit. If it stops making noise I wait a minute or 2 then let my speed creep up again.

[bully]

heres some real world info for ya. i had the belltronic sti, 3 of them to be actually. they are the better ones i think, better than the v1 i have now!
so you might ask why do you have a v1 then. well it seems my late model inline four wrecked them, i had all the proper and expensive gear but they kept on failing, the radar guy couldnt figure out why, maybe to much vibes or too much heat nobody new, which sucked because i really liked the sti!
the guy just kept replacing them for me but after 3 or 4 of them and only being able to ride half an hour then it would pack a sad and ask for a service, i couldnt go on and had to move to the next best,l v1. so beware, keep your warrenty. the guys at mad sounds know me well now!

[NSR-Dan]

Yeah, but it also gets much higher rates of false-alarm in real world conditions from memory. It also costs a heap more.

A false alarm is better than no alarm. nothing wrong with slowing down when you should be anyway.

[boomer]

I wouldn't be 100% on the directional stuff anyway, a lot of the signal you get outside line of sight will be reflections which could mean the guy is absolutely anywhere. I can't see the directional thing being worth anything other than being fancier.

If my detector makes noise, I slow down to the speed limit. If it stops making noise I wait a minute or 2 then let my speed creep up again.

It's accompanied by how strong and the number of 'hits' that receiver receives. The module is quite smart.

Theres no point having a radar detector that doesn't cover your ass; literally.

My V1 doesn't false.. ever.

[jono035]

It's accompanied by how strong and the number of 'hits' that receiver receives. The module is quite smart.

Theres no point having a radar detector that doesn't cover your ass; literally.

My V1 doesn't false.. ever.

Good to know they got that sorted out. You can pick up a hell of a lot from the RF splashing off metal objects but that doesn't work quite so well when you're in the middle of nowhere.


A false alarm is better than no alarm. nothing wrong with slowing down when you should be anyway.

You do get why people have radar detectors, right? And true, false alarm better than no alarm, but accurate alarm is better still.

[boomer]

Good to know they got that sorted out. You can pick up a hell of a lot from the RF splashing off metal objects but that doesn't work quite so well when you're in the middle of nowhere.



You do get why people have radar detectors, right? And true, false alarm better than no alarm, but accurate alarm is better still.

RF will propagate of any object mate :)

[jono035]

RF will propagate of any object mate :)

Nah, gotta have something with good conductivity for it to reflect. A tree is useless as an RF reflector for instance. (I'm an Electrical Engineer :D)

[boomer]

Nah, gotta have something with good conductivity for it to reflect. A tree is useless as an RF reflector for instance. (I'm an Electrical Engineer :D)

So mr Electrical Engineer, are you telling me that if im in the whop whops and there are no man made objects i wont pick up scatter, propogated Rf waves or radar hits other than those directed directly at me?

[jono035]

So mr Electrical Engineer, are you telling me that if im in the whop whops and there are no man made objects i wont pick up scatter, propogated Rf waves or radar hits other than those directed directly at me?

I never said anything about manmade, I said conductive. And you will, but it will be not be as effective, relying more on dispersion and diffraction than reflection. Also you will get reflections off the surfaces of the car you are in and I don't know what the gain plot of the feedhorn antennas look like either.

Basically it's a crap shoot, but it will definitely be a hell of a lot less signal than an equivalent situation in an urban environment.

Edit: Bear in mind that 'directed directly at me' isn't really the way it works either, the radar gun will basically be spraying RF all over the damn place...

I was just trying to provide more information but it looks like this conversation may be taking a turn towards the heated side, which I'm not particularly interested in with respect to radar detectors. Use what works, if you like the V1 then congrats, good choice. I haven't been ticketed with my Escort 8500 and am also extremely happy with its performance. Ultimately that's all that really matters and it all becomes relatively meaningless if they shift to non-radar based speed measurement.