Radar detector for "not so open road driving"
 

I live out in the country in Texas...I often drive to bigger cities to getaway.

Its very tempting to just floor it out in the middle of nowhere but then you see a single trooper or cop.

I got my first ticket in the 370z and I wondering which type of radar I should get? I dont drive very aggressively once I actually get to the city and I'm not concerned with falsing due to automatic doors at shopping centers. Also some small Texas towns are riddled with speed traps to catch out-of-towners so if there is any radar out there that recognizes speed traps too that would be nice. So far I'm considering the V1.

Every ticket I've recieved since moving out to West Texas has been in a small town that I'm not familiar with sudden speed changes and speed traps. Thank you for your help and advice.

I use a V1 for the past few years, i will say it is not a cop detector, but a radar/laser detector...

You can shut off the modes you dont need, the bands that get set off by doors and what not, i have only laser and one radar band on out here, and sometimes behind certain vehicles it goes off from their brake lights as a laser.

Heading out on long stretches of nothing ness i have had ranges up to a mile away... when i picked up a cop, has been really useful going from SD to Las Vegas and back or out to AZ.

I am very happy with my purchase! Saved my *** quite a few times.

I bought a Beltronics RX65 after doing a huge amount of research. It basically is competitive with the top of the line detectors in terms of performance at 2/3 the price, plus the red display matches the Zs gauge lighting very well.

On open highways, it can pick up radars 1-2 miles away and is very accurate, plus I got mine for $200 brand new from someone on ebay.

I, too purchased the Beltronix RX65 and am very happy with it. It consistently picks up the Ka band that cops use out here. The only downside is the number of false-positives you get from laser; however, I suspect that's a problem common to radar detectors in general given the nature of light sources. On a very bright day, I get laser chirping when the sun glints off of a clean car in front of me. But then again, laser detectors have limited use since laser guns are narrow beam burst effect weapons. If your detector picks it up, chances are you were already hit.

I want to get a rader and laser jammer. Both combined are costly. Guess I need to save it for the track.

Thinking about what you said concerning speed traps. I would get the Beltronics Pro GX65. Reason being, you can program the speed traps into the database so it will remind you of where the cops hang out. It does other things you may or may not need like tell you where all the stop light cameras are, school zones and it also has a preloaded database of speed traps. As I stated above you may have to put it in the database if no one has done it for your vicinity. The database is growing so its getting better. It runs around $400+ Depending where you buy it but for its overall features its worth it.

:happydance:

I would (I am) stick(ing) with a V1, can't beat its range.

I have to say Valentines 1 is the one you are looking for. I've been using it 7yrs and no tickets, yet. Had saved me numerous times and it has been very accurate. That is my experience with V1.

Good Luck sir.

Stick with the V1. Just keep in mind that TxDPS uses an "instant-on" version of the KA band. So, they can be sitting there, just waiting, and pop it on when they see you, then it's too late. Same thing goes for ANY laser detector. The laser band really just alerts you to when you just got hit, not much more. The range is awesome on the V1, but the cop has to have his radar on the whole time in order for it to pick up at distance.

The best way to get out of a ticket is simply respect. I have the same routine every time I get pulled over and haven't gotten a ticket in years because of it.

1) Turn the engine off
2) Turn on the interior dome lights.
3) Roll down the windows
4) Have license and insurance in hand
5) Have both hands on wheel
6) All of the above done BEFORE the officer ever gets to the car.
7) Admit I was speeding and apologize without making excuses
8) End every sentence with "sir" or "ma'am"

I've got a lot of police friends and they all say this goes very far in making the officer comfortable, especially at night. The more comfortable the cop is, the less likely you are to get a ticket.

I still stick with the V1, though.

+1 on the V1. I loved mine and wish I didn't sell it three years ago. Great range.

Been using an Escort Passport 9500ix. Has a GPS in it to warn of known "permanent" radars, traffic/red light cams, K, Ka, X, and laser. It connects with your PC and gets a weekly update of new hot spots as well as locations that set off false K band warnings ( like those from the Lowes auto door openers).

thanks
 

im going to look into the V1 and the Bel Pro GX65 further. I will definetly take into consideration what you said Sundown about getting pulled over.

My ticket was for 8mi over...a friend got one for 5...so I need a radar to alert me to go under the speed limit before entering small towns. Or might just drive the extra hour to avoid small towns altogether. Just the extra security of a radar would help.

Yeah, being polite and respectful goes a long way in not getting a ticket. Remember, in Texas, anything ticket for less than 10% over the speed limits doesn't accrue points on your license. You can take defense driving to eliminate the ticket all together, unless it's in a school zone, construction zone, or >25mph over the posted limit.

I think I hold the record for biggest speed and still getting a warning. 105mph in a 55mph zone (Hwy 124 between Galveston and Winnie) and walked away with a verbal warning.

The Passport 9500IX is by far the best detector I've ever used. While you think you don't care about falses, you'll be sorry down the road (pun intended). The GPS learning function is worth 10x its weight in gold. As for sheer detection, I think the tests put it just a hair behind the V1 but we're talking extreme distances to begin with (ie, it doesn't matter if one detector picks up a signal at 2.2mi and the other at 2.0mi...you're still notified well in advance). The V1 is old technology, you'll get false readings that will make you pull your hair out and ignore the detector completely, and you're still paying $500 for it. Would you buy a 1st gen iPhone for $500 now that the 4th gen is out and priced the same? Me neither.

As stated above, these are radar/laser detectors, not cop detectors. If a cop is sitting with his radar off and then pegs you as you go by, it doesn't matter if you own ALL the radar detectors on the market. Radar jammers are illegal and laser jammers are available in many states if you want more protection. I still wouldn't use them as a crutch for faster speeds though...I'd consider them to be a bigger insurance policy to avoid tickets while driving the same way I do with a detector alone.

I'm not going to get into how to maximize the effectiveness of a radar detector on here as I'm not condoning anyone drive around at illegal speeds :tiphat:

spearfish25...
 

I have read that the V1 falses alot hitting cell phone towers in open road. Also not having the ability to mute or mute as easily as the Passport 9500ix or the Bel GX65. In that case I like how the passport 9500ix audibly alerts your current speed as well as displays it. I hope that the Bel GX65 also does this.

The Bel GX65 may be a little bit more built for the 370z since the display is red and it hooks up on the right side closer to the 12v connection.

got a effin ticket this past week!!! first mod for my ride is radar detector for sure!!!!

Been using the V1 for years. Had it permanently mounted in my 350 but not doing that with my 370 roadster

The V1 actually has two volume adjustments. The big knob and a ring outside the big knob that you adjust for the mute volume. So you just hit the big knob once and it is in mute. Very easy to mute and with any new hit you get two loud chirps and then the rest is at the mute level you set on the outside knob.

Never had a false positive from a cell phone tower, not in 8 years...

Oh and if anyone cares the V1 display is red also :p as well as the indicator arrows which I consider invaluable for detecting where the popo are and when you pass them on the other side of the road.

And yes I have run into a few layered speed traps where one cop was just sitting out there in plain sight running his radar full blast, and then 1/4 mile away the real trap was hidden behind a large sign with 3 cops working it. Nice to have the radar signal counter and arrows in that case...

All that being said the radar detector is just a tool, use the tool that works best for you...

I don't have any experience with the Bel. My feeling is red is just as out of place in the Z as blue. I personally really dislike the red/orange color combo in general.

One power solution that is fantastic is Invisicord. If you have the touring center rear-view mirror (powered), you can plug the detector into the back of it. No more cords!

I had a permanent power cord installed for my Escort 9500.Runs between the windshield and trim. Hardly seen and when seen I get asked , why do I have a phone plug in the car.

This is a great mod. Had it in my G37. To bad I have a base model now. I'll just have to route threw the roof and down the pillar.

I have to completely agree and back up what Kirkster said about the Valentine 1. I've also been using a V1 for about 5+ years (still works like new). I haven't used many radar detectors but everything I've read puts it up top with the best. A little pricey but well worth it (as it has saved me from getting possible tickets numerous times. More than I can remember). You really have to consider the affects of even just one speeding ticket over time. Not only do you have to pay the upfront speeding ticket cost, but there is the potential for the ticket to raise your car's insurance rate over the next 3 to 5 years before it drops off your record (depending on your insurance company). So one ticket can easily cost you more than $400 over the course of 3 years or so.

In terms of the features of the V1, the unique dual volume knobs are very handy to prevent having to hear the false alarms of automatic door openers and such (with Logic mode on), though you can still see the visual cues when it lights up. The mute function is very easy to use (just push the big knob button once and it mutes the volume down to whatever you have the secondary volume set at. Very nice and customizable). The Logic mode (which I have mine always set to) which cuts down on the false alarm x bands from blaring at your primary volume. It automatically starts them out at the lower secondary volume. (is x band even used by law enforcement anymore?).

A couple other things that I didn't see pointed out here is that the V1 comes with both a curly cord cigarette lighter power cord and also with the hard wire kit so you don't have to use up one of your 12V power sources and you can conceal the wires if you want a clean looks. You also get both a windshield mount and (my personal favorite) the sun visor mount. Makes it real easy to slip on and off and the mute button is very close by. I think they also make a Z specific mount for it that mounts it to your rear view mirror and it hangs just below the mirror.

Oh and yes... the directional arrows are VERY helpful and if I'm not mistaken, a patented V1 feature only. Many times its allowed me to see that there are radar sources in front of me and behind me. It also helps you know when you have passed the radar source, so if you see the arrows go from front, to sides, to back while you are driving, and you didn't see a cop car, than he was either hiding really good or it may have been a false alarm, but at least you know that it is behind you now. Also, when you are cruising down the highway and it starts beeping, you immediately know if the cop is in front of you or if he is coming up behind you (which most people may not realize with other detectors).

Again... you are not invincible with this thing so keep that in mind. It is a tool to aid you that can sometimes give you early warning but you can still get caught so drive responsibly.

One last thing that I like about my V1... its not distracting and annoying while driving. When its on there are not big bright annoying lights. In fact when I have it set in logic mode it just displays a small "L" and that's it! No annoying lights on while just cruising along... but when radar is detected, she will light up like a Christmas tree, which I like.

Get a V1. You won't be sorry.

As others are I am also using the Beltronics RX65. My dad got it for me for my b-day. It has saved my *** quite a few times. I don't get a TON of false laser positives but it does happen now and then. I have been lasered by actual cops a few times though.

I was pretty sure that laws (atleast in CA) that the cops had to actually track you doing that speed for 2 seconds or something so if you slow down fast enough you wont get a ticket but I dunno. Most of the cops around here ise Ka band and not laser and that can be detected from quite a ways away.

Whichever way you go, the Invisicord and the bracket are definitely worth the money. Here is the Invisicord thread.

I went with a Stealth cord for my 9500ix. It is the same idea as the Invisicord, but, if memory serves, has a fuse built in. Installation was all of 2 minutes.

BTW: Do not be fooled into thinking that radar detectors are in any way guarantee you to be ticket free. I have been using radar detectors for more around 26 years (Escorts and Passports) and they do make you aware when you are getting painted. However, i got a speeding ticket (my first in 12 years) in 2008, even with radar detection on.

I was heading up Hwy 99 north of Sacramento in my 240z where the road is two lanes in each direction and is without a barrier. It is a rural area and early in the AM. I saw the CHP coming toward me in the opposite direction and my detector (a Solo S2) emitted a single beep. When he passed me I saw his brake lights come on in my rear view.

After we exchanged pleasantries and he wrote me up (he knocked off 10 mph), I asked how he got me. He stated that they tend to keep their radars in passive mode until they want to nail someone and it just takes a push of a button for them to get an instant read.

Food for thought.

Yes, the above poster mentioned some good points. Damn instant on Radar! It really makes our detectors less affective. Also, if they are using Laser (which seems less common) the detector will let you know you've been hit with Laser, but once you hear that sound you are pretty much screwed. Once it goes off they know how fast you are going. You can get some false alarms there as they may be hitting a car next to you if you are in traffic (so they may go after him). Although with Laser they need direct line of sight and I believe you have to be coming at them or driving away from them (doesn't work around corners or over hills). These days radar detectors are basically for detecting those cops sitting on the side of the road with their radar constantly on. With my V1 I can "see" these guys from a mile away.

That's why you always speed with a "rabbit" in front of you, i.e., some poor sap speeding as well. When the revenue squad paints him with I/O radar you'll get a warning and can slow down.

I have been using a passport. It's cordless. Batteries last a long time in it. Best detector that I have ever gotten. Had a whistler, bel, etc. They make a lot of sounds and are pretty to look at with all the lights but they don't work as good as the Passport. The V1 I have not tried, haven't had the need to buy another. It sounds like you need a radar laser jammer. Go to the Radar Roy site.

Osiris... where did you buy your rear view mirror bracket from? Can you send a link to the company you bought it from? I'm looking for one that I know will fit the 370Z's mirror (I'm assuming you have the powered rear view mirror correct?)

Also... I plan to buy the Stealth Cord for my V1. If anyone is looking for this you can find it here (for other detector models as well) and this YouTube video shows you just how simple it is to wire this Stealth Cord in to your powered rear view mirror.

This is sweet... I am definitely buying one of these.

Blendmount.

Go back to that link i referenced...and right above the 3rd pic, you'll see another link for the bracket. If you decide to get it, the homelink mirror in the 370z has a 23mm stem. You will need that info in order to pick out the appropriate bracket.

Here's a couple pics of my install:

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...00618-1540.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...00618-1538.jpg

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...00618-1537.jpg