What is your favorite radar detector?

[Radar Detector Reviews]

What is your favorite radar detector to own and why?

I would say probably the valentine one radar detector would be my favorite after reading all the radar detector reviews. Yes it is known for having a high amount of false alerts...however I would rather know about an alert then not know one at all, which is why its important to read the reviews of radar detectors first.

The valentine radar detector is expensive at 399.00 but would you rather settle for a cobra radar detector at 80.00 and have a false sense of security. If you read the reviews on the cobra radar you will find these radar detectors don't work.

Where I live X band isnt used and in most states it isnt...however up in NJ I have heard reports of it being used, so find out if your area cops are using x band or not, probably best to leave x band on for some time to make sure that there is no cops using the x band. X band is usually false alerts from stores, gas stations, supermarkets, etc.

Given that I dont have cops using it and only run into laser, k, and ka band for police speed enforcement I am safe to turn off x band.

The valentine one radar detector has arrows that tell me where the cop is and how many, no other radar detector out there can do that, read the reviews ....

plus the range on it is unbelievable and one of the best radar detectors for detecting laser which is VERY hard for any radar detector to detect laser given the width of the beam of the laser which makes it hard to pickup...if you have alot of laser in your area check out a laser jammer that is diode based heads. Can read the reviews in our radar detector reviews forum on the next page.

Well the valentine one has never failed me, I have used the escort passport 8500, escort passport 8500 x50, 9500i, 9500ix, bel & many whistler models and have to say Valentine One I have yet to see another radar detector out match it.

What is your favorite radar detector and why? Also check out our radar reviews to see what other people prefer.

[stano0098]

I would say that my favorite radar detector would have to be my Escort 9500i. Being that i had a Cobra which please don't waste your money, save it and buy something that works. It was a big step up from that cobra. I get more then double the range and it gave me plenty of time to slow down to the PSL.
But my opinion if your willing to spend the money for the 9500i i suggest to spend 50 more to get the 9500ix which comes with a red light database. Well worth it.

Very good detector i my opinion!

[Radar Detector Reviews]

Originally Posted by stano0098

I would say that my favorite radar detector would have to be my Escort 9500i. Being that i had a Cobra which please don't waste your money, save it and buy something that works. It was a big step up from that cobra. I get more then double the range and it gave me plenty of time to slow down to the PSL.
But my opinion if your willing to spend the money for the 9500i i suggest to spend 50 more to get the 9500ix which comes with a red light database. Well worth it.

Very good detector i my opinion!

I would have to agree, the cobra is a false sense of security...I think it is mainly popular because that is what Walmart sells and the highest priced item, people think it is the best because that is the most expensive radar carried by walmart. Seems like it has all the bells and whistles...but cant detect police, the best cobra radar is good for about 1/4 mile of range or less given the cop is using constant on radar.

The whistler pro 78 & bel 980 are great bang for your buck radar detectors to get the job done, if you are looking for the best obvioulsy the 9500i by escort or the valentine one would be up there.

[unjustlaws]

This is difficult to answer since so many different models have served a purpose for what they have had to offer. I think I would break it down to 4 models, the Escort X50 Rev 3, Valentine One Rev 3.826, Bel STi Rev A4M9, and Whistler Pro 78 Rev C. Valentine One is best on laser detection. X50 has really surprised me on off axis k band and simple x and ka band detection. Bel STi is best on "off axis" 35.5 ka band, straight on 35.5 ka band neck and neck between V1 and Bel STi, from rear 35.5 ka band both about the same, sometimes Bel STi picks it up longer, sometimes V1 picks it up longer. Whistler Pro 78 is a very impressive model w/ some awesome features such as Auto Dim and Filter/Filter 1/Filter 2 modes and for the "budget" minded individual, this is the one I always recommend.

[Radar Detector Reviews]

Originally Posted by unjustlaws

This is difficult to answer since so many different models have served a purpose for what they have had to offer. I think I would break it down to 4 models, the Escort X50 Rev 3, Valentine One Rev 3.826, Bel STi Rev A4M9, and Whistler Pro 78 Rev C. Valentine One is best on laser detection. X50 has really surprised me on off axis k band and simple x and ka band detection. Bel STi is best on "off axis" 35.5 ka band, straight on 35.5 ka band neck and neck between V1 and Bel STi, from rear 35.5 ka band both about the same, sometimes Bel STi picks it up longer, sometimes V1 picks it up longer. Whistler Pro 78 is a very impressive model w/ some awesome features such as Auto Dim and Filter/Filter 1/Filter 2 modes and for the "budget" minded individual, this is the one I always recommend.

Curious why you said the valentine one version 3.826 I believe the most current model out now is 3.864 ? Seems like the newer model would be more upgraded? What are your thoughts?

From your list the Whistler Pro 78 I always hear is the best bang for your buck, can find it in price around 150.00 on the internet and heard it can hang with the big boy detectors like the escort passport 9500i or the valentine one...but for less then half the cost!

Bel STi I have heard nothing but good things about.....very expensive but the performance I hear is great. Plus it is immune to vg2 which is used to detector radar detectors where they are illegal at such as in Virginia...so if you live in a state where radar detectors are illegal this would be the radar detector to go with!

[unjustlaws]

Curious why you said the valentine one version 3.826 I believe the most current model out now is 3.864 ? Seems like the newer model would be more upgraded? What are your thoughts?
The 3.851 units and newer, have a digital heat sensor which a hole was drilled into the horn antenna. Because of this, these units leak more on the Spectre RDD. The 3.826 units and older, have an analog heat sensor and no holes are drilled into the horn antenna to cause "extra" leakage. I still support newer V1s though.

From your list the Whistler Pro 78 I always hear is the best bang for your buck, can find it in price around 150.00 on the internet and heard it can hang with the big boy detectors like the escort passport 9500i or the valentine one...but for less then half the cost!
I have both 9500i and the Pro 78 and I personally like the Pro 78 better. Yes the 9500i has saved me a few times in the past, the Whistler Pro 78 is very user friendly. Whistler has come a long way.

Bel STi I have heard nothing but good things about.....very expensive but the performance I hear is great. Plus it is immune to vg2 which is used to detector radar detectors where they are illegal at such as in Virginia...so if you live in a state where radar detectors are illegal this would be the radar detector to go with!
The Bel STi is a great rd although some out there, don't like the k band detection. Personally, I have never had a problem w/ k band on the Bel STi so no troubles here. The Bel STi is the only window/dash,visor mounted rd that is undetectable against the Spectre RDD (radar detector-detector). The only other two models that are undetectable against the Spectre RDD are the remote mounted Bel STi-R and the Escort 9500ci.

[cantcatchme09]

I would say the x-50 and here is why.

It's quiet in urban enviroments.
Doesn't false often.
Has awesome range 6 miles come on now.
Here is why i didn't choose the other top units.
I have yet to see the x-50 have issues against the 35.5Ka they have here.
The x-50 gives you an option to see the freq. Can't do that with a non escort or bel unit.
You can test your scan via the scanning dot. Which is nice it let's you know how far out of tune you may or may not be.
They give you a decision of color, blue vs red. Instead of just red with pretty much the rest on this list.
It can dim more than any unit i've ever seen.
The ramp up is Top notch and will never be matched again. The x-50 has some of the best rampup i've ever seen.


9500ix -- Lack of user control ability. They are taking things away that you could control even on the original 9500i. It's also very weak against Ka. Which is sad, and sorry since Ka band radar probably accounts for 90 percent of radar in use today. K band probably about 8 percent. Lastly X band which is probably at 2 percent now day's nation wide. Laser is also closing the gap vs radar at about a 50 percent to 50 percent ratio with what you will encounter daily.

The Sti Driver.

Yes it is undetectable. Although the K band detection sucks. I have never had a Sti Driver that functioned well or even better than any x-50 i've ever ran against K band radar. It is a good laser detector, although i think the x-50 still trounces it here which is sad since the x-50 is so much cheaper, and the sti even has an extra laser receiving diode that the x50 doesn't have.

The 9500i Once again i've seen it fail on 35.5ghz ka horribly as in you wouldn't even have known he was shooting constant on Ka. Talk about make me upset, and sick to my stomache. This was the last 9500i i'll run.

The Pro 78. I've seen it miss Ka radar, i've seen it not alert to lidar when it was pointed directly at the windscreen. Talk about royally upsetting. That's just a nogo sorry.

v1. Oh v1. Their cs sucks just as bel and escort's does. Although if you perhaps get kay valentine on the phone do yourself a favor and hang up and try again later as the phone automation sometimes tells you when you call and a line is busy at some places lol. Lastly the v1 is horrible with any type of off axis radar from what i've seen especially 35.5 which is primarily in use where i live which sucks. I've even almost got tickets with the v1 against K band now days which is royally wowing. I thought it was supposed to be this k band god. That's laughable. The arrows are nice, but they are hardly ever accuret. Even if you have used the thing for like 10yrs. Very rarly unless your on the Freeway will they even be close. It's a huge chicken little and it alerts to everything within 4 miles. My new nickname for the v1 is the grocery store finder. If in dier straights, just turn on v1 and it'll lead you to the nearest, party store, food chain, or supermarket.

Lastly RMR and Cobra. Both garbage and won't alert untill it's far too late, not to mention leak like a siv. I think early warning, and uniden also fall into this catagory. Leaky garbage that should have been in waste managments dumpster many moons ago.

[unjustlaws]

The GX65 does a great job against off axis 34.7 ka band. Shocked.

[adaptivradar]

My favorite radar detector is here:- http://www.radardetectorforbikes.com/

[videoinmind]

My favorite is the one that is not expensive and work very well, i like it. it's so perfect.
You can find it here: http://www.buyeasystore.com/Radar-Detectors_c_12.html