[mattc1176]

I'm in a heavily populated area in NJ and last time I had a radar detector (late 90's) I got rid of it as it seemed to go off so often due to outside interference that I was ignoring it so what's the point? Actually cost me money instead of saving as I got pulled over in VA for having one.

Anyway, has technology improved these days to where it won't be beeping non stop? Any brand or feature to look for when buying? I've had a few close calls lately so I'm debating getting one again.

[overcoil]

1) use the Waze app on the highway

2) radar detector forum is good https://www.rdforum.org/index.php

3) radar detectors that have ‘segmentation’ reduce false alerts. The big issue are cars that have blind spot detection giving false warnings and segmentation helps you dial out those frequencies.

4) also detectors use gps lockouts to to help you guide your detector to remember locations where you get false alerts.

But detectors are chatty by nature so you tend to learn what to ignore and what’s important. New good detectors are way quieter than an old detector or low end detector.

If it’s local county cops doing Ka on the side of the road many or most detectors will work if you tend to go 15 to 25 mph over the limit.
Some places use low power Ka radar particularly on the move and even a good detector won’t alert until 100 feet. So there is a learning curve as to how to benefit from a detector.

And use a database to learn if MRCD or MRCT ( roadside photo radar boxes ) are being used in your area.

[BEM-S4]

Check into something like the Max 360 with GPS, it learns your area and you can also help it by "ignoring" things at your discretion, it also comes with Escort Live which is like professional Waze where the detectors upload data to be shared by everyone.

[Two4me]

They have definitely saved my ass a few times, but the last time I got a ticket was from LIDAR... So that is too bad.

[TrboMike]

Unless you're going to get a setup with GPS to flag the false alarms, you might not want to bother with radar in a city area. With that said, be prepared to pay for that setup.

I've been using Valentine 1's for 20 years and Escorts before that and its saved my ass so many times, even in the city areas. But the last few years EVERY car now has side radar for "blind spot monitoring" so you need a new detector that will filter that out. Also X band radar is now used everywhere for everything (security, door openers, etc) and almost no cops use it anymore. So you need a detector you can program to turn off X band. And even better limit the K band radar ranges. New K band detectors only use certain bands, while older detectors will look at the whole K band range get get tons of false alarms.

I've read great reviews about all the new GPS detectors, so read up and choose yourself. Right now in both my cars I have a newer V1 that will work with bluetooth, and the extra $50 bluetooth dongle. Then there are two aftermarket apps that will work with it and let you program it and use the phone's GPS and it saved a "false" database on your phone. The third time you drive by any false, it saves it automatically on your phone and will never beep there again. If you always have your phone with you with bluetooth on (I do for Waze) then its a good way to go. But the app is complex.

If you dont want to deal with a complex app and the hard initial setup, OR if you dont plan on always having your phone in the car with bluetooth on (which would take away your GPS database of false alarms) then I recommend not getting a V1 and buying elsewhere with built in GPS.

[Rolf14]

"Never leave home without it", that is my bottom line when it comes to detectors. However, be aware that most localities use laser and Vascar, which render the detector useless. See https://www.radarbusters.com/Police-...ate-s/2524.htm

My detector gives me a K-band alert whenever a Honda or a Cadillac drives near me, so I was used to simply ignoring it. Then a few weeks ago I was in a rural area when the K band went off. I discovered a Sheriff from a small town still using that frequency here in Alabama (almost caught me). Now I no longer ignore K band alerts.

As for X band (door openers, etc.), as others stated: get a detector with GPS and it will ignore those.

WAZE seems to work, but I found it too distracting (which could cause an accident) so I deleted the App.

Bottom Line: get a quality ($$$) detector.

[rfii]

Neat idea

[cooolone2]

I have a Uniden R3, and it fitlers out false alerts, or you can change sensitivity and also if you travel the same routes, mark the location by GPS to remove false alerts. The firmware is updatable, and easy to back out of an update if they don't do a good job. As is the Geo data for red light cameras, speed cameras etc, used to be separate loads, but today it's one easy file that updates all. And it RD works for all, even low power Ka units, way more than 100', probably the only thing that it won't help with is Laser, but then again, no RD will. You can only use a jammer for that, and you really don't want to get caught with one of those.

Biggest problem is learning the sensitivity and what the unit can do, and trusting it. We get to not trusting the RD's of years past because the false alerts. I don't have the newer unit that has arrows like the Valentine, but who really needs it? The thing goes off, foot comes off the pedal, simple!

I have personally benefitted from this unit at least a half dozen times, one time the unit blazing and picking up a trooper about 1/2 mile ahead, through turns and a few hills. Was nice to wave at him with a smile as I passed

But the only two units I would waste money on are the Uniden or the Valentine, with a slight edge to the Uniden because I'm using it now. I did the mirror tap and it's a nice set up. Like I mentioned, it already paid for itself.

Good Luck

[Rich.Wolfson]

Originally Posted by mattc1176

I'm in a heavily populated area in NJ ...I've had a few close calls lately so I'm debating getting one again.

I have a V1, live in Northern New Jersey and wouldn't leave my driveway with it not on. It's worth every dime and then some.

///Rich

[Maynard]

I'm going to play with the x and k filters - my V1 has a ton of false alarms from stores, other vehicles and the thruway monitoring sites.

[overcoil]

New Valentine 1 Generation 2 radar detector is now shipping.

Even though still listed as Out if Stock on the V1 web site.