[Bobbybmw22]

What is the best radar you can buy for the money. been doing my research and found the escort redline to be the best any others that the BMW world suggests. Just got this jb4 tune and dont want to get a ticket lol

[gpb]

Some would say Bel STiR+ plus Laser Interceptors.
Others swear by Redline.
Another set of folks would say V1 or nothing.
Yet other folks would point you to the 9500ix.

"Best" is subjective and depends on your situation and needs. NYC streets vs open stretches of New Mexico are vastly different.

[Bobbybmw22]

i live in a rural are so i have open country roads that state troopers sometimes patrol but if i drive on the highway i wanna be able to cruise going 90mph and know of my surroundings. and from what i read the redline is my best choice.

[gpb]

Just remember that a radar detector is not a free-pass to speed whenever/wherever you want. Instant-On will spoil your day with no warning if you're the only one on the road.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by Bobbybmw22

on the highway i wanna be able to cruise going 90mph and know of my surroundings.

cool, you're not 18 are you? And a radar detector (redline, V1, 9500ix) will not save you from laser which may be a threat although it would help if we knew where you did your driving.

[techwhiz]

I have a hardwired V1. The only way to go. V1 also has laser detection. But if you get pinged by laser, the detector is just letting you know that you are getting a ticket. a laser Jammer is the only way to go for laser avoidance.

The V1 is one of the few or only one that I know of that will detect the Ca. Highway Patrol radar guns just sitting idling. The arrows are great also that tell direction of the radar source. That along with a bogey counter that tells of multiple threats.

If you drive down a road that always makes your detector go off and you get a count of "1" every time you pass the road. Then one day you get an alert and your bogey counter has a "2", there is an additional source and you should watch out.

No other detector on the market does that.

[Bobbybmw22]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

cool, you're not 18 are you? And a radar detector (redline, V1, 9500ix) will not save you from laser which may be a threat although it would help if we knew where you did your driving.

nah im not 18 but what would that make a diffrence?? I do my driving in nj locally and turnpike most of the time

[Bobbybmw22]

Originally Posted by techwhiz

I have a hardwired V1. The only way to go. V1 also has laser detection. But if you get pinged by laser, the detector is just letting you know that you are getting a ticket. a laser Jammer is the only way to go for laser avoidance.

The V1 is one of the few or only one that I know of that will detect the Ca. Highway Patrol radar guns just sitting idling. The arrows are great also that tell direction of the radar source. That along with a bogey counter that tells of multiple threats.

If you drive down a road that always makes your detector go off and you get a count of "1" every time you pass the road. Then one day you get an alert and your bogey counter has a "2", there is an additional source and you should watch out.

No other detector on the market does that.

appreciate the info my problem is the ppl that swear about the v1 and ppl that swear about the redline...but what does a v1 usually go for

[Biohazard29]

$400 for V1 worth every penny

[brad bedell]

I have the V1, STI-r Plus and 9500ci in all my vehicles.

STI-R plus works best. However, alerts are hard to hear compared to the V1 and 9500ci.

9500Ci is a close second if not identical to the STiR STI-r wins because I can lock out frequencies to reduce possible falses.

V1 has failed me twice this past year in the same area. It's the current firmware. The only reason I keep the V1 is for portability.

That said, the STi-r and 9500ci are both very expensive units. You can buy 3-4 V1's for the price of either. Range IS better on the 9500/stir and I find my reaction time is better on them as well. Due to the GPS lockout, I know a signal is really a radar signal. With the V1, I have to look at the data and make a decision, which slows my reaction at least 1/2 second.

Window mount and budget, the V1 wins hands down. ~400. With no budget, take a serious look at the 9500ci and the STi-R. They can be had online for about the same money. Plan on most of the day for an install. I have 8 hours in mine and I'm not finished. Unit cost was about ~$1300 Then I put the display in the mirror and wired a mute button to one of the unused factory switches below the AC panel.

I'll be adding HP Laser Interceptors to the car soon.

I have no experience with the Redline.

[upstatedoc]

There are 3 V1's for sale in the classifieds:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=762302

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=770055

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=766442

[nate5ks]

If you're living in an area that uses laser a lot seriously consider a jammer. I have the blinder m27 installed and it hasn't failed me yet. Pay attention to whether the cops in your area usually stand or kneel outside their patrol car to get your speed or just sit inside their car. Laser has problems when passing through glass so cops will usually get out when using it although occasionally I have seen cops getting out while using radar too. I'm using an STI Driver right now, looking to upgrade to the Redline. I don't like that I get an audible alert up to a second after the visible alert on the STI. I don't understand why the manufacturer would design it this way because every second counts and sometimes the radar detector is out of my view. Another reason I like Escort's design better is that the expert mode will display multiple hits within the same band and the strength of each. The STI only displays the strongest in each band. This can be detrimental when you frequently travel through an area with those annoying "your speed is" signs. Since those signs usually put out a high strength signal they could be masking a greater threat and if you're using the STI you would never know. If Beltronics has fixed this somebody please correct me as I don't want to trash talk an otherwise great product. To be fair it has saved me countless times and these are just minor corrections I would like to see. As for the V1, I have never used one. All I have heard is that you can't turn of X band which would make me want to turn the whole thing off.

[upstatedoc]

ok nate ^

time for some edumaction

1: the blinder M27 is becoming/has become obsolete in some areas due to new lidar guns (truspeed S) which it can't jam. Go with Laser Interceptors or the new Blinder 905's

2: STi and Redline have the same problem, they delay alerts like you said. The V1 (of dash mounted units) has the quickest reaction time. There may be a Whistler RD that has as quick a reaction time as the V1 IIRC but why bother with a Whister.

3: The V1 has a "bogey counter" much like Escorts "expert mode" which counts threats.

4: You can turn X band off on the V1 as well as K, Ka, Ku, laser etc. whatever.

Hope this helps.

[nate5ks]

I used to have the escort passport 8500 x50 which had no delay. Why would the redline incorporate this? As for the V1 I will take a second look into buying one. Do they make a V1 that is totally resistant to RDD's like the STI? This has a big influence on my purchase as I travel through VA and DC from time to time.

[Bobbybmw22]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

ok nate ^

time for some edumaction

1: the blinder M27 is becoming/has become obsolete in some areas due to new lidar guns (truspeed S) which it can't jam. Go with Laser Interceptors or the new Blinder 905's

2: STi and Redline have the same problem, they delay alerts like you said. The V1 (of dash mounted units) has the quickest reaction time. There may be a Whistler RD that has as quick a reaction time as the V1 IIRC but why bother with a Whister.

3: The V1 has a "bogey counter" much like Escorts "expert mode" which counts threats.

4: You can turn X band off on the V1 as well as K, Ka, Ku, laser etc. whatever.

Hope this helps.

would you spend the 500 on the escort redline or is it a waste

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by nate5ks

I used to have the escort passport 8500 x50 which had no delay. Why would the redline incorporate this? As for the V1 I will take a second look into buying one. Do they make a V1 that is totally resistant to RDD's like the STI? This has a big influence on my purchase as I travel through VA and DC from time to time.

V1 is not "Spectre" immune which means it can be detected by radar detector detectors (the Spectre) used by VSP. Only STi and Redline are invisible as far as dash RD's. STi-R and 9500 ci are invisible but are installed RD's

Originally Posted by Bobbybmw22

would you spend the 500 on the escort redline or is it a waste

I have one. It's not a waste. I use it as a back up or on long trips in my wife's car because it's more sensitive than her 9500i. I don't think anyone will ever convince me to switch from my V1. The arrows, bogey counter, portability, sensitivity and price seal the deal for me.

[Amini77]

I don't this is true but a friend of mine told me that police another type of radar that knows if you have a radar detector with you? I don't believe its true..it isn't right? I'm looking to get a V1 because I have tints and not looking to being bugged about them..I live in LA 818 area also so the V1 is a good choice for the city right?

[jamis]

I highly recommend you the Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Detector, it is durable, accurate and stylish, and the price?, not so expensive compared to other best radar detectors list in the market.

[InsanePineapple]

I've done a ridiculous amount of research on this topic. If you cruise around radardetector.net forums, the general consensus the best radar detectors are:

Beltronics STiR+
Escort 9500ci
Valentine One
Escort Redline/Beltronics STi Magnum
Escort 9500ix/Beltronics Pro 500

Overall the Beltronics STiR+ is the best, but it's also the most expensive at $1200 plus installation. Very good sensitivity, good "spread", good protection against QT (Quick Trigger), GPS enabled to let you lock out false alerts (very useful in an urban environment!), also able to disable certain frequency bands (only 3 Ka bands are used in the US) so detection time is improved since the RD has to sweep across fewer bands of frequencies. This is called Band Segmentation (BS).

Escort 9500ci is the corporate cousin of the STiR+ and has almost the exact same feature set (they are owned by the same company), but doesn't have Band Segmentation so it's not as adapt at picking up very short radar pulses.

Valentine One is also very good. It's very fast, meaning it will pick up Quick Trigger radar pulses more often than the Redline or the 9500ix. Its range is not as long as Redline (but still plenty in most cases), and about the same or a little better than the 9500ix. But the V1 is much less directional so it's better at pick up signals to the side (i.e. around a corner). The downside is the V1 can be very noisy in an urban environment due to its sensitivity and the fact it does not have GPS lock out. Some V1 users swear by the arrows.

The Escort Redline/Beltronics STi Magnum corporate cousins have very long range detection, which is great for highway driving. Probably the longest range detection, on par with the STiR+. But it is not as adept at catching QT pulses as the V1.

The Escort 9500ix/Beltronics Pro 500 are again corporate cousins. They have good range. But the big draw here is that they are GPS enabled so in a noisy urban environment, you can lock out false alerts. This is great because you are not overloaded with alerts that you start paying less attention to it. When you get an alert, you know it's likely a cop. Like the Redline, it's not as good at catching QT as the V1. It's "spread" is also narrower than the Redline and V1.

Note that Escort and Beltronics RDs have a ExpertMeter display mode, which shows multiple detected signals, kind of like V1's bogey counter. Another display mode is called SpecDisplay, which displays the actual frequency of the radar wave. This is useful if you know what you are looking for.

Summary:

STiR+ is the best if you can afford it and don't mind a fixed install. None of the portable detectors are perfect. Each have pros and cons, depending on your situation and usage pattern. If you mainly drive in an urban environment, consider a GPS equipped model (9500ix, Redline, 9500ci, STiR+) to cut down on the false alerts. If you drive mostly highway, and want the longest range protection, consider the Redline or 9500ci/STiR+. If you drive more highway than city, and the cops in your local area use QT a lot, consider the V1 or STiR+.

Note that none of the detectors will save you from laser. Laser has a small dispersion radius, so basically by the time your detector has detected it, the LEO has already clocked your speed. Get a laser jammer (if legal in your area) if you want real laser protection. Laser Interceptors are highly recommended around the forums.

Also, nothing will save you from Instant On if it's targeted at your vehicle. This is when the LEO keeps the radar off until you are close, then target you specifically. There is no protection against that. Your hope is for the LEO to target the cars in front of you, and for your RD to pick up the reflected radar waves. So be very careful if you are the only car on the road!

A RD is a tool and does not guarantee a ticket free ride. Long time guys on the countermeasures forums will tell you, speed long enough, you will get a ticket regardless of what kind of countermeasures you have. Be smart. Stay alert. Be aware of your surrounds goes a long way. My last two speed tickets are from a LEO pacing me from behind at night (no radar) and a laser speed trap from a LEO on motorcyle (very hard to see on the side of the road).

Lastly, I personally run a hardwired Beltronics Pro 500 due to the GPS lock out ability (I drive almost only in the city) and better warning ramp up than the Escort equivalent.

[InsanePineapple]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

V1 is not "Spectre" immune which means it can be detected by radar detector detectors (the Spectre) used by VSP. Only STi and Redline are invisible as far as dash RD's. STi-R and 9500 ci are invisible but are installed RD's

Originally Posted by Amini77

I don't this is true but a friend of mine told me that police another type of radar that knows if you have a radar detector with you? I don't believe its true..it isn't right? I'm looking to get a V1 because I have tints and not looking to being bugged about them..I live in LA 818 area also so the V1 is a good choice for the city right?

upstatedoc is completely right, only the Redline and the STi Magnum are invisible as far as portable RDs go.

[InsanePineapple]

Originally Posted by nate5ks

If you're living in an area that uses laser a lot seriously consider a jammer. I have the blinder m27 installed and it hasn't failed me yet. Pay attention to whether the cops in your area usually stand or kneel outside their patrol car to get your speed or just sit inside their car. Laser has problems when passing through glass so cops will usually get out when using it although occasionally I have seen cops getting out while using radar too. I'm using an STI Driver right now, looking to upgrade to the Redline. I don't like that I get an audible alert up to a second after the visible alert on the STI. I don't understand why the manufacturer would design it this way because every second counts and sometimes the radar detector is out of my view. Another reason I like Escort's design better is that the expert mode will display multiple hits within the same band and the strength of each. The STI only displays the strongest in each band. This can be detrimental when you frequently travel through an area with those annoying "your speed is" signs. Since those signs usually put out a high strength signal they could be masking a greater threat and if you're using the STI you would never know. If Beltronics has fixed this somebody please correct me as I don't want to trash talk an otherwise great product. To be fair it has saved me countless times and these are just minor corrections I would like to see. As for the V1, I have never used one. All I have heard is that you can't turn of X band which would make me want to turn the whole thing off.

As far as I know, the newest generation of Beltronics all have ExpertMeter as well (mine does). You can also send in your STi Driver to be upgraded to STi Magnum.

[redz06]

Totally satisfied with my V1, realizing that I am somewhat vulnerable to Laser detection traps. Am not convinced that jammers are the solution.