What Radar Detectors are you Running?

[Cortesio]

Back in high school, I got two speeding tickets a month apart from each other. The angry DOT lady suspended my license and as soon as I got it back I bought myself my first radar detector. That Beltronics RX65 has kept me from getting another ticket in the 13 years since (growing up a little might have helped too). I didn’t move it into my last truck when I bought it in 2016. Now that I have my Ram, I figured it was prime time to get back into it.

With the ubiquity of BSM systems on cars these days, I wanted to get something newer that had some degree of filtering built in. I ended up getting a Uniden R3 and hardwired it to the interior fuse box under the steering wheel. The last time I ran a RD, I had it tapped into the overhead console wiring and mounted to the mirror with a BlendMount.

I really liked the BlendMount and was going to get one for the Ram, but it seemed like it would be hanging down too far based on the position of the mirror and how tall I am. I opted to put it up near the headliner on a metal bracket stuck to the windshield with 3M VHB tape.


What kind of equipment are you guys running in your trucks?

 

[Zeeya]

Valentine 1

 

[azzx]

Escort IX with live app

 

[User_18177]

Escort SmartRadar


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[judsonlimited]

I have an escort passport max. Costco special. I mean it does what I need it to


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[Scott_65]

Max 360, works great.

 

[RSConsulting]

Valentine 1 - since '92...

Rick

 

[kblast523]

Likewise, Valentine I, since 1996.

 

[hceptj]

Escort 9500ix

 

[J4U]

Escort 360c

Suction mount under mirror and plug into outlet on top of dash. Shortened cord all the way to coil so minimal slack.

 

[Bluesurf]

After 20+ years of Escorts, I moved in 2010 to Valentine One I keep the software updated. I have three in each car. My personal experiences tell me Valentine one proved best. Nothing like knowing the direction where smokey is lurking.

 

[User_18177]

If you want to learn about different radar detectors and their effectiveness against the different radar types, you should check out Radar Roy. This is his webpage https://www.radardetector.org/detector_category/radar-detector/ and he also has a ton of free YouTube reviews as well.


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[securityguy]

If you want the BEST radar detector on the market, then the UNIDEN R1/R3/R7 cannot be beat! V1 is an outdated machine/design and the Escort 360 series is nice but lacks in sensitivity to beat out the Uniden models. As an EE, I am very anal about my electronic selections and, the more research I did, everything kept pointing back to Uniden. Here is a great unbiased website with hard data:

www.vortexradar.com

 

[securityguy]

If you want to learn about different radar detectors and their effectiveness against the different radar types, you should check out Radar Roy. This is his webpage https://www.radardetector.org/detector_category/radar-detector/ and he also has a ton of free YouTube reviews as well.

Radar Roy is NOT unbiased as many think and I stopped listening to him years ago

 

[RSConsulting]

If you want the BEST radar detector on the market, then the UNIDEN R1/R3/R7 cannot be beat! V1 is an outdated machine/design and the Escort 360 series is nice but lacks in sensitivity to beat out the Uniden models. As an EE, I am very anal about my electronic selections and, the more research I did, everything kept pointing back to Uniden. Here is a great unbiased website with hard data:

www.vortexradar.com

The reason I have stuck with V1, is that they provide "cost effective upgrades" to owners of existing units. New tech comes out - you send your unit in (plus they WARRANTY the updated unit). Mine is way overdue, but I hate to be without it. I usually make an "appointment" for the upgrade, shipped next day both ways.

I don't need live traffic cams and all the other bells/whistles. And with the bluetooth module, you can program features from the phone app (turning off bands and fine tuning others) - and even "stealth" is and use the phone as an active display.

Rick

 

[Cortesio]

The reason I have stuck with V1, is that they provide "cost effective upgrades" to owners of existing units. New tech comes out - you send your unit in (plus they WARRANTY the updated unit). Mine is way overdue, but I hate to be without it. I usually make an "appointment" for the upgrade, shipped next day both ways.

I don't need live traffic cams and all the other bells/whistles. And with the bluetooth module, you can program features from the phone app (turning off bands and fine tuning others) - and even "stealth" is and use the phone as an active display.

Rick

The V1 has been the detector to beat for decades but the future definitely looks uncertain. They’ve been listed as out of stock for months and we are waiting to see if there is a new one in the works or if the company is ultimately going to wind down.

Uniden and Escort have models with directional arrows now, and GPS lockouts are going to be a practical necessity in the future.

I ultimately went with Uniden this time around for the same reasons secuirtyguy mentioned. I’m studying to be an EE myself and the sensitivity of the R1/3/7 is very impressive.


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[securityguy]

The reason I have stuck with V1, is that they provide "cost effective upgrades" to owners of existing units. New tech comes out - you send your unit in (plus they WARRANTY the updated unit). Mine is way overdue, but I hate to be without it. I usually make an "appointment" for the upgrade, shipped next day both ways.

Rick, I totally understand and, if the V1 performed as well as the Uniden, Escort and the Radenso, I would agree. However, you keep paying for "upgrades" that still don't make it competitive with the technology available in todays top performers. Electronic circuitry design, antenna design and sensitivity and the tightness of component specifications (surface mount technology versus dated component design) make the V1 a non-starter no matter how often you upgrade it.

As @Cortesio stated above, Mike @ V1 has allowed his company to become the Blackberry of radar detectors by not investing in the future, listening to what consumers want and remaining competitive. I don't see how he can survive! I am a previous V1 owner too

 

[Jako]

Radar Roy is NOT unbiased as many think and I stopped listening to him years ago

Back in December of 2017 ordered a Uniden and another item from Radar Roy. Waiting for the Uniden to be in stock and before the order was shipped I cancelled the other item. Took several attempts and was solved one step before "credit card dispute". No idea why the difficulties on his end and what is happening 2 years later.

 

[jimk hunt]

Radar Roy is NOT unbiased as many think and I stopped listening to him years ago

He is now dead and someone else is running his site and continues to use his name and image. I liked the guy and used him as one resource in making my RD decision. Never owned a V1 but that design is ancient. Waze has also been very helpful in avoiding radar and laser, especially on interstates.

 

[Moparmad74]

Escort MAX 360c, works great but in order to use the WiFi function in out trucks you need to convert the 5Ghz signal to 2.4Ghz as the 360c only works with 2.4 and our trucks are 5.

This is what I added:

TP-Link AC750 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router - WiFi Bridge/Range Extender/Access Point/Client Modes, Mobile in Pocket(TL-WR902AC) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5RCZQH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_QeA0Db9BQMDH5