Radar Detectors - 2015 Opinions

[gwill]

I think there is confusion that lidar means stationary lazer. That's not really the case. For example my ticket on the outskirts of town. It was a cop car going the opposite way and he hit me when he drove by. I had No alerts, no notice... If he was using regular radar I would have been notified well in advance on a high way.

The radar detectors definitely work best on the high ways. I've been half a km away when it would start to go off giving me lots of time to slow down. There are tons of times its gone off and given me plenty of notice... Even driving down the freeway late at night as the police are roaming for speeders while speeding them self.

With all of the lidar I see a radar detector as a diminish value especially if you aren't regularly speeding.

[revelations]

The only thing with lidar is that it cant really be used in snow or rain.....

[NoPulp]

I've been thinking about getting a radar detector too. I usually don't break the law but it would be nice to know who's watching. Unfortunately Lethbridge bought a few undercover trucks for cash grabs, the buggers turn off their equipment until its needed. There's no way to see or detect them until it's too late. They have vehicles pulled over 24/7.

Also, the couple of police officers I know say they have no mercy if they pull over a car with equipment. Automatic ticket for what they pulled you over for with no deduction. Yes, I know that's why you have the detector but people still get pulled over with them.

So IMO it's a lot of money to spend for something that isn't terribly effective.

[Akagi Redsuns]

Originally posted by revelations


I can tell you that in BC with their 50 over laws, and with an exotic, it starts to make sense - not that I advocate constant driving idiocy.
................

In BC excessive speeding is actually going over 40km and at first offensive your car gets taken away for 7 days plus fines and fees. Pretty brutal and why I am always very wary of my speed when visiting.

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/road-safety/speed.htm

[Team_Mclaren]

Originally posted by ryder_23
Keep in mind CPS traffic unmarked use Ka moving in the city as well. Narrow K band now for Photo radar, of course lots of LIDAR.

I still rock a v1. Have for 14 years(different versions)

werd on V1, have had one since I've used yours hahah

[kenny]

With the introduction of photo laser (3 years ago in Edmonton, Calgary must have at least started testing it) and most (all?) speed traps utilizing laser a radar detector is pretty useless now.

Get a laser jammer instead.

[BokCh0y]

Originally posted by kenny
With the introduction of photo laser (3 years ago in Edmonton, Calgary must have at least started testing it) and most (all?) speed traps utilizing laser a radar detector is pretty useless now.

Get a laser jammer instead.

Oh is that what they did? Introduce photo laser? Would explain why my 9500xi never goes off haha.

[jacky4566]

Just for fun I shopped around and the 9500ix is on sale right now.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...PI5S4IGWBTGETP

Also if anyone has a Red 9500ix and wants to trade let me know.

[spike98]

I use the 9500xi and just the GPS feature with camera locations is worth it alone. Its also very good at detecting RADAR and LIDAR. The issue as stated with LIDAR is that if you detect a signal, you most likely are already clocked. The exception is if you detect a reflection off of a vehicle near by.

LIDAR can be used in moving vehicles but given the operation of the unit, the accuracy of the gun is dramatically reduced and i would question every instance that you are ticked while the cop is moving. It is typically used in trap applications and not likely to be used while moving.

RADAR will generally be used to catch speeders while moving and in mobile photo RADAR applications.

Photo Laser Camera's use the new(ish) Dragon Cam and AFAIK calgary does not use them. I believe they use sensors in the roadway to detect the speed for speed on green and different imaging sensors for red light cameras.

The best defense is obviously not speeding but for RADAR is a good detector and LIDAR is a jammer. In AB, both devices are legal for now.

[OTown]

Originally posted by spike98
The best defense is obviously not speeding

Wow! Finally some sense. Pretty simple concept!

I've never had a single speeding ticket, and never had a detector of any kind. Waste of money IMO

[gwill]

Originally posted by spike98
I use the 9500xi and just the GPS feature with camera locations is worth it alone. Its also very good at detecting RADAR and LIDAR. The issue as stated with LIDAR is that if you detect a signal, you most likely are already clocked. The exception is if you detect a reflection off of a vehicle near by.

LIDAR can be used in moving vehicles but given the operation of the unit, the accuracy of the gun is dramatically reduced and i would question every instance that you are ticked while the cop is moving. It is typically used in trap applications and not likely to be used while moving.

RADAR will generally be used to catch speeders while moving and in mobile photo RADAR applications.

Photo Laser Camera's use the new(ish) Dragon Cam and AFAIK calgary does not use them. I believe they use sensors in the roadway to detect the speed for speed on green and different imaging sensors for red light cameras.

The best defense is obviously not speeding but for RADAR is a good detector and LIDAR is a jammer. In AB, both devices are legal for now.

Umm sorry but your 9500ix can not pick up lidar. I have the same machine its just not possible. I had a roving vehicle that hit me on the highway i assume was lidar. Ill confirm when i go to trial but i never received any hits at all. He hit me while going the opposite direction and his ticket matches 100% what my radar detector had my max speed at before he hit his lights. I don't really have a defense so ill plead down but ill get a chance to speak with the officer on what he was using. You're kind of off base in almost everything you wrote.

[spike98]

Originally posted by gwill



Umm sorry but your 9500ix can not pick up lidar. I have the same machine its just not possible. I had a roving vehicle that hit me on the highway i assume was lidar. Ill confirm when i go to trial but i never received any hits at all. He hit me while going the opposite direction and his ticket matches 100% what my radar detector had my max speed at before he hit his lights. I don't really have a defense so ill plead down but ill get a chance to speak with the officer on what he was using. You're kind of off base in almost everything you wrote.

I disagree with you based on the specs Escort supplies and the fact i was hit by laser yesturday on the 1A to cochrane.

https://www.escortradar.com/passport9500ix/

OPERATING BANDS
X-band 10.525 GHz ± 25 MHz
K-band 24.150 GHz ± 100 MHz
Ka-band 34.700 GHz ± 1300 MHz
Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth
RADAR RECEIVER / DETECTOR TYPE
Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO
Scanning Frequency Discriminator
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
LASER DETECTION
Quantum Limited Video Receiver
Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes

EDIT: Not receiving notification of LIDAR is possible of course but it depends on the distance of the measurement (beam spread) and the installation of the detector.

[R-Audi]

I have an escort 8500 and V1, and the 8500 is always on backup duty or thrown in my Wifes car.. tough to live without the arrows!

[gwill]

Originally posted by spike98


I disagree with you based on the specs Escort supplies and the fact i was hit by laser yesturday on the 1A to cochrane.

https://www.escortradar.com/passport9500ix/

OPERATING BANDS
X-band 10.525 GHz ± 25 MHz
K-band 24.150 GHz ± 100 MHz
Ka-band 34.700 GHz ± 1300 MHz
Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth
RADAR RECEIVER / DETECTOR TYPE
Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO
Scanning Frequency Discriminator
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
LASER DETECTION
Quantum Limited Video Receiver
Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes

EDIT: Not receiving notification of LIDAR is possible of course but it depends on the distance of the measurement (beam spread) and the installation of the detector.

You can literally park beside a photo radar truck and move your radar detector to angle at any direction towards the vehicle and if its using lidar it won't pick it up. But whatever go ahead and think the 9500x is good at picking up Lidar. Maybe do a bit more research on it.. yes in the slightest possibility it might pick up a lidar but the chances are extremely remote. Hence why the detectors can be very useless.

[spike98]

Originally posted by gwill


You can literally park beside a photo radar truck and move your radar detector to angle at any direction towards the vehicle and if its using lidar it won't pick it up. But whatever go ahead and think the 9500x is good at picking up Lidar. Maybe do a bit more research on it.. yes in the slightest possibility it might pick up a lidar but the chances are extremely remote. Hence why the detectors can be very useless.

I cannot tell if you are trolling or really just don't understand the differences between LIDAR and RADAR.

Photo RADAR uses....RADAR. Not LIDAR. None in calgary do. Please refer to the City of Calgary link describing the system is a RADAR based system.

http://www.calgary.ca/cps/Pages/Traf...oto-radar.aspx

Then you say that the 9500ix "can not pick up lidar." in one post, then you say "yes in the slightest possibility it might pick up a lidar but the chances are extremely remote." These are contracting statements. Is your position that it does or does not detect laser?

I am not arguing the effectiveness of detecting LIDAR as that would vary wildly depending on installation, environment, and equipment operators. As i stated, if you get a signal, is most circumstances they have your speed clocked. But the 9500ix DOES detect LIDAR and given the correct installation of the device, is one of the better ones at detecting it.

I have provided links and references to back up my position and all you have done is told me to "do more research". Why don't you start backing up your statements with some facts instead of opinion so we can get a coherent debate going on.

EDIT: Here is a link to a Radar Detector forum i frequent that discusses the implementation of ultra low k band for photo radar. K band is a RADAR band, not non-visible light like LIDAR. It also may explain why you have/had issues detecting photo radar. Its low powered and has a very narrow forward facing beam. Unless you get some bounce from on coming traffic/obstacles, you wont catch a signal until you are passed the unit.

http://www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=26072

[Canmorite]

Originally posted by OTown


Wow! Finally some sense. Pretty simple concept!

I've never had a single speeding ticket, and never had a detector of any kind. Waste of money IMO

I've owned one because I hate being pulled over and bothered for going 10/20/30 over the limit with the flow of traffic on highways. Inner city they are pretty useless I agree.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Most useless thing I have ever owned - 99% of CPS/RCMP staffed speed traps are Lidar which you cannot "detect" (the laser beam is only a few inches wide even at 500M - if you detect it you've been hit already). Photo radar is a mixed bag whether or not you will pick it up (you probably won't), and the cars stand out like a giant sore thumb, there is no need for a detector. Anyone who thinks a radar detector can provide some sort of early warning to Lidar does not understand how it works.

In fact, the only 3 times I've ever been pulled over in my life have been while I owned my radar detector haha. Even rural cops are using Lidar.

Get a laser jammer and hope you don't get an obstruction of justice ticket if you ever get caught, or don't bother at all.

[spike98]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
Most useless thing I have ever owned - 99% of CPS/RCMP staffed speed traps are Lidar which you cannot "detect" (the laser beam is only a few inches wide even at 500M - if you detect it you've been hit already). Photo radar is a mixed bag whether or not you will pick it up (you probably won't), and the cars stand out like a giant sore thumb, there is no need for a detector. Anyone who thinks a radar detector can provide some sort of early warning to Lidar does not understand how it works.

In fact, the only 3 times I've ever been pulled over in my life have been while I owned my radar detector haha. Even rural cops are using Lidar.

Get a laser jammer and hope you don't get an obstruction of justice ticket if you ever get caught, or don't bother at all.

Here is an interesting article on the Obstruction charge. The onus would be on the crown to show that you have willfully obstructed policing duties WHILE being clearly informed that the police are executing a duty prior to the alleged obstruction.

http://www.sense.bc.ca/2013/02/12/ta...d-obstruction/

[killramos]

Honestly I am not installing a jammer, i would sooner buy a track membership. I was just looking for a littler insurance of impending quota speed traps on a highway or something where they will ding for for 5-10 over offences etc.

I never drive enough over the limit to warrant a reasonable police response in anything but a trap situation.

I was mostly looking into what detector is best. But seem to have found out that even among people who use them their value is questionable.

So a 500+ dollar device that wont protect me against 80% of enforcement? May even reduce leniency on the side of the road if seen?

Doesn't sound valuable to me.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by spike98


Here is an interesting article on the Obstruction charge. The onus would be on the crown to show that you have willfully obstructed policing duties WHILE being clearly informed that the police are executing a duty prior to the alleged obstruction.

http://www.sense.bc.ca/2013/02/12/ta...d-obstruction/

Interesting article, it makes it sound like there is no way for an obstruction charge to stick with a jammer, unless the cops alert you that there is a speed trap ahead haha.

I think you would get out of it, but I also think they tow your car until it's all sorted out, so there would potentially be a lot of hassle. (that is what Traffic Cop on here was saying).