Some real life impressions of this detector that may be useful for anyone contemplating a purchase.
Note this is an official NZ ( from TWL ) detector so I have no idea how it compares with a parrallel import.
This detector replaces an Escort X50 (from a well know Trade me store )that is 1 month out of warrantee , still works but detection range on speed cameras has reduced to none and the old Bel 980 is much better.
The first thing is the quality of construction , compared to the Escort its got a quality feel to it. Set up is similar to the Escort and you have a choice of displays all this stuff is covered in the sales stuff on various websites so I wont go into it further.
How does it work ? I had the unusual occurance of a patrol car heading towards me with its radar on rather than using the instant on.
I was on a long straight with about 800 metres to a corner that was followed up by another perhaps 2.5 km long straight in the wairarapa.
I use the display that shows the frequency of the radar so I know what it is , 34.7xx usual Highway patrol 34.6xx a speed camera. 33.5xx another detector (unidens are worse)
When I got the first warning I checked the odometer on the car and the warning on the detector was persistant , there were no cars in sight and I had straight road in front and behind. I started to consider the patrol car was hidden around th corner there were 2 cars approaching the second some way off it was the patrol car and we crossed at 1.5kms from the first warning.
So given that we were both travelling at around 100km/h he could have been 3kms away (2kms around a corner) . Very impressive but in as perfect conditions as you will find.
What this means is that if a car is using instant on there is at least a reasonable chance you will get a warning from the patrol car pulsing another ahead.
2nd warning was cruising through Carterton ( I think) and I started to get intermittent warnings. These continued for some distance and I thought from the strength that I must have a Patrol car behind me somewhere. Once I got clear of the main street I saw the car in the distance ahead of me going the same way I was ( about 700 metres) pulsing traffic coming towards us .
So its ability to find Ka band radar is first class and better than any detector I have previously used, including an older V1.
The downside is a little more falsing from cheap detectors but this is reasonably rare compared with say the Bel 980 but its not as quiet as the Escort.
They are expensive but you should be able to haggle the retail price down.
They are not fool proof but a good back up to being alert and keeping your eyes open.
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For the record Qkkid was in my bed, not the other way round
Originally Posted by Yow Ling
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