best radar detector for nsx

[nsxtasy]

I love my Valentine 1. I really do.

However, there are two "dirty little secrets" that those in the radar detector industry, and many of those who advocate one detector over another, would probably prefer not aired publicly:

1. The best radar detectors on the market - the top ones from Valentine, Bel, and Escort, for example - all have enough sensitivity to give you warning so far ahead that it's more than you need.

2. No detector in the world can save you from the use of instant-on radar if it's kept off until it's aimed at your car, and no detector in the world can save you from the use of non-radar enforcement methods like VASCAR (essentially a stopwatch and calculator).

So what would I recommend, keeping these two facts in mind?

With regard to the first point, the differences among the best units are primarily in features and price, rather than performance. If you want features like the directional arrows and upgradability to newer technology, consider the Valentine; if you don't care about those, save the hundred bucks and get one of the $300 models from Bel or Escort.

With regard to the second point, don't think that any radar detector makes you immune to tickets. However, it can help, either if you encounter enforcement not bothering to use the instant-on feature most effectively (visually scanning traffic and waiting for a very fast car before turning on the radar), or if you get a warning from radar aimed at a car ahead of you. Use a detector if you want, but be vigilant (and safe) regardless.

 

[nsxtasy]

will it's rear antenna see through the rear window of the nsx being on the visor

Yes.

 

[Hugh]

Picture police radar as you would shining a flashlight on a foggy night. If you're out in the fog, you can see the light long before the holder of the flashlight would be able to pinpoint you. That's a pretty close parallel on how a detector "sees" the radar before it sees you. Therefore even if your detector with a rear facing antenna doesn't have a perfect line of sight view of the road behind you, it really doesn't matter. Especially since microwaves travel at the speed of light and your car is probably a tad slower.

 

[nsxtasy]

Picture police radar as you would shining a flashlight on a foggy night. If you're out in the fog, you can see the light long before the holder of the flashlight would be able to pinpoint you.

Picture instant-on police radar as a flashlight that's turned off. If he waits until he hears your footsteps before turning on the flashlight, you won't be able to see the light until it illuminates you like a neon sign.

 

[94BlkNSXinNC]

FYI--there are no "refurbished/returned" v1's available currently. Another member mentioned a 10% discount so I figured I would investigate. If they come available I will repost with the update.

 

[VBNSX]

just as an fyi... that is how I recently got busted w/ my detector.

The police here don't have the instant on... but what they've been doing is a modified version of it.. ie. they just turn the unit off... then slap it on...

I was traveling at around 4 in the morning on a very big road so it was easy for the police to see which target he hit. When he turned the unit it on my V1 went from zero lights to all on immediately...

boy did that hurt.... however traveling on the same road during the daytime I find that they leave the units wide open hence I can see them way ahead of time. I figure they do this b/c in the day time there are more cars and they don't know for sure which vehicle they're pointed at...

just my .02

x

 

[RaDaRkInG]

FYI--there are no "refurbished/returned" v1's available currently. Another member mentioned a 10% discount so I figured I would investigate. If they come available I will repost with the update.

They always tell you that none are available to encourage you to buy a new V1. Tell them you don't mind waiting on the list and guaranteed they will contact you and tell you that a V1 will be shipped to you immeidately.

 

[NSX-GUY]

just as an fyi... that is how I recently got busted w/ my detector.

The police here don't have the instant on... but what they've been doing is a modified version of it.. ie. they just turn the unit off... then slap it on...

I was traveling at around 4 in the morning on a very big road so it was easy for the police to see which target he hit. When he turned the unit it on my V1 went from zero lights to all on immediately...

boy did that hurt.... however traveling on the same road during the daytime I find that they leave the units wide open hence I can see them way ahead of time. I figure they do this b/c in the day time there are more cars and they don't know for sure which vehicle they're pointed at...

just my .02

x

Just like everybody else that works for a living. Some are more complacent and some are more dedicated.

Some cops just leave the radar on knowing they'll eventually catch some unwary driver with NO radar detector. So they don't give 2 shits if a car with a detector detects them and slows down in time. :wink:

Others will do what their bosses tell them to(?) and leave the radar gun off and wait until they eyeball someone going really fast, then "zap" 'em. As stated, no defense for that. :frown:

However, workers who work for somebody else unsupervised, are often, welllllll,,,,,,,, inherently lazy,,,,,,,, sooooooo

 

[apple27]

I have the passport 8500 x50 and the V1.
The V1 does have a few more false signals but it is a BIG advantage knowing how many and what direction the threats are coming from.
I think the V1 is better and the one I wish I had two of.

The Passport 8500 x50 will also tell you how many threats are around if you put it in expert mode.

 

[Hugh]

The Passport 8500 x50 will also tell you how many threats are around if you put it in expert mode.

It not only displays multiple radars (up to 8 of them) on different bands but their relative strength as well.

 

[Mr.Wolf-Spokane]

I guess this is a good a place as any to make my first post to the forum and chime in on a subject close to heart.

I've recently had the chance to run a few different units in daily drivers in and around the Spokane, WA area where the tax collectors there use everything from K, Ka, Laser, pacing, and my personal fav. LOW POWER POP.

The units used have been a BEL Sti unit, Passport 8500, V1, Silver Bullet and the Passport SRX system.

Having used these units in daily drivers (hence daily) you get accustomed to your system going off in the usual places like store fronts etc. You also get to know where the speed traps are usually placed, and your more or less ready for them.

It's in these places and I've taken all these units and put them to the test as it were. The cars used were an S2000, Honda Ridgeline, 2000 Firebird and the NSX. I merely tell you this to show that different size targets sometimes make for easier hit by John Q. Law.

Without hitting all the details as it would be really long. Although the V1 did perform well, I have to give it a weak 2nd place overall as per cost added into the mix. Hands down winner was the SRX system in the NSX. The real second place would be the stand alone 8500.

Same tracking as the pre-mentioned passport unit except all built in to one package and able to jam lasers, as the state trooper on the pass between Spokane and Seattle can atest to whilst he tried to clock me doing 92 and all he got was that confused look on his face.

So I'll keep the V1 as it's portable and I can take it anywhere. The drawbacks are this.

Once I've been hit by laser or POP with a V1, it's all over but the screaming.

With the SRX I have a slightly better chance. If I'm in an accident, I don't need ANOTHER 2 lbs. projectile flying around the cockpit (suction cups notwithstanding) and when my units alert. I SLOW DOWN. I don't look around at my machine wondering WHERE it came from.

Who Cares!

Front. Side. Back.... Does it matter? If it's alerting in a new place/known place with a Ka signal.... Those arrows do me no good whatsoever. As I said, good units but way overpriced and features I just don't need, and the ones I do, just aren't there.

Love the forum.. Looking forword to making small contributions.

 

[Hugh]

I've discussed the arrows before and how utterly useless they are. First of all a person's instincts are to immediately hit the brakes when the detector sounds it's alarm. You're not going to glance over at the cute little arrows first.

Secondly, police radar eminates like a cone and is reflected in many directions by fixed objects, other cars etc.. Granted on a deserted road in the middle of the desert the arrow might be accurate but again who cares. Brain hears detector go off, brain sends signal to right foot to hit brake pedal. Period.

The 8500's ability to integrate with the ZR3 Laser Shifter alone places it in the number 1 spot. As nsxtasy pointed out, all of the top detectors will give you ample warning in real life situations for a radar threat. However the ability to actively defeat laser which is more and more predominant is an extremely huge advantage.

Yes you can use the ZR3 independently of the 8500 so if you have a V1 by all means go and get one. However if you have an 8500 there are 2 advantages. Advantage one is that the ZR3 integrates with the 8500 (as well as the S2, 7500 and SR7) to let you know if it is jamming laser from the front or rear and secondly you can "hard wire" the 8500 via the ZR3 control unit eliminating the need for a lighter plug.

Here's a pic of the setup in my car with the ZR3 control unit in the center console.

 

[jond]

Hands down winner was the SRX system in the NSX.

Really? I was looking at the K40s, but I'll have to check this out. Better then the V1 in terms of accuracy, false positives, range, etc?

 

[Hugh]

I'm not so sure abuot those K40s. The top units have traditionally been from V1, Escort and Bel.

My brother picked something a while ago called the PNI Siver Bullet that he said got great reviews and cost about $100. He's had it for about 2 years and never gotten a ticket but then again he drives 2 speeds, dead slow and stop.

 

[nsxtasy]

Once I've been hit by laser or POP with a V1, it's all over but the screaming.

Apparently your "test" included an older Valentine 1 unit. Send yours back to Valentine and pay the lower charge for the upgrade to a new one - a feature that the other detectors don't offer (I wonder why you didn't mention it? Bias, perhaps?) - and then re-test it against the others. The new Valentine 1 units come with POP protection.

I've discussed the arrows before and how utterly useless they are. First of all a person's instincts are to immediately hit the brakes when the detector sounds it's alarm. You're not going to glance over at the cute little arrows first.

Hugh, it's obvious that you have never used a Valentine 1 extensively. Please stop criticizing features and results for products you have never used; your comments carry no credibility when you continue to do so about the Valentine 1, Zymol, and other products.

Anyone who actually owns and uses a Valentine 1 will usually mention the usefulness of the arrows as the first and most important feature on the unit. And they ARE useful! A Valentine 1 gives you enough warning that you don't need to slow down when it first sounds. You can see the direction and look out for what's happening and have enough time to make a decision on whether to slow down and how fast to do so. (Unless you are getting hit with instant-on radar, in which case it is already too late with any detector.)

Some of the comments that people have posted in this topic are just pure hogwash. Any time someone says that the arrows are useless, the only thing I can believe is that they've never actually tried the Valentine 1 for any period of time.

Again, if you're in the market for a radar detector - buy one of each. They all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try them out. New units, not older ones! Check out the features. See how you like them. And return the one(s) you don't like as much.

 

[rbirling]

I've discussed the arrows before and how utterly useless they are. First of all a person's instincts are to immediately hit the brakes when the detector sounds it's alarm. You're not going to glance over at the cute little arrows first.

I would never hit the brakes when a detector goes off - I would make every effort to train myself not to. That pretty much says, "yeah, it was me, over here!". If I see a cop visually (don't have a detector), I make myself just take my foot off the brake if possible. Maybe brake a little, but not if I've already passed the cop.

 

[Mr.Wolf-Spokane]

As a point of fact, the V1 used is only about 8 months old and has the newest update applied. My observations stand unchanged. I didn't mean to bash a product, the V1 is very good indeed. But the original post asked the question of the "best".

So IMHO the passport detector/defense systems detected/defended the best for the money.

Besides that. The note I made about things flying around in a car during an accident is a major concern. I've seen accidents at fairly low speeds and items as small an after market ashtray and coin holders have caused death due to impact to the head.


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As a small side note here
===================
And in looking through this thread once again, I noticed a fellow from Ontario saying that the O.P.P. had him down with their new RDD methods.

(HINT) Ontario Highway Traffic Act states that "operation" of a radar warning device is Illegal. NOT owning one in Ontario.

If you have a detector in your car operating and you see you've been targeted (i.e)Crusier makes a sharp turn around after you. Unplug and shove the whole works down your pants (no kidding). The law allows the P.C. to search your complete vehicle for a device, NOT YOUR PERSON. Merely explain that you had just hit the dial button on your cell phone when he went past you... Most of them don't know any better. And the search of your person and evidence leading from that search is unlawful and would be thrown out in traffic court or criminal for that matter.

Not only have I been on the writting end of those tickets. I've been pulled over and done this exact same thing. We had a memo posted in the traffic department way back when.

 

[Hugh]

Hugh, it's obvious that you have never used a Valentine 1 extensively. Please stop criticizing features and results for products you have never used; your comments carry no credibility when you continue to do so about the Valentine 1, Zymol, and other products.

Perhaps not extensively but I've had them in my car on long drives more than once. My opinion is that the arrows are useless. I'm entitled to it. Some people such as yourself might find them valuable. Power to you! The main reason I use the Passport 8500 is because it integrates with the ZR3 Laser Shifter, the other reason is that if I had a V1 in my car, my mind would conjure up images of this guy's dopey face everytime I got in my car and I wouldn't be able top drive it.

 

[Hugh]

I would never hit the brakes when a detector goes off - I would make every effort to train myself not to. That pretty much says, "yeah, it was me, over here!". If I see a cop visually (don't have a detector), I make myself just take my foot off the brake if possible. Maybe brake a little, but not if I've already passed the cop.

Then why use one? The whole purpose is to be notified of radar and slow down if speeding. If you're able to slow down to a legal speed before he can lock onto you you're not going to get pulled over because your brake lights are on. That's just plain silly.

 

[nsx2tall]

Then why use one? The whole purpose is to be notified of radar and slow down if speeding. If you're able to slow down to a legal speed before he can lock onto you you're not going to get pulled over because your brake lights are on. That's just plain silly.

I Agree. A cop can't give you a ticket for putting on the brakes, nor for the appearance of speeding. I'd slow down as fast and as safe as possible.

A radio talk show in our area had an officer as guest discussing his opinion of speeding. His comment was that if you're quick enough to hit your brakes to avoid over speed detection, it means that your paying enough attention to your driving for him to consider it safe.

 

[sjones]

Then why use one? The whole purpose is to be notified of radar and slow down if speeding. If you're able to slow down to a legal speed before he can lock onto you you're not going to get pulled over because your brake lights are on. That's just plain silly.

As crazy as it sounds, I had a cop local to my area give me a ticket for just that. He didn't clock me nor did he have any idea how fast I was going. When I saw him, I slowed down. The ticket had a dash in the speeding box and in the comments section stated that "Driver was traveling at a speed greater than 35mph in a 35mph zone" That was the exact wording in the ticket. My attorney was able to get it dismissed.

 

[rbirling]

I Agree. A cop can't give you a ticket for putting on the brakes, nor for the appearance of speeding. I'd slow down as fast and as safe as possible.

My point was just about calling attention to yourself. Here's an example. If you're going 15 over the speed of other cars, and your detector goes off, you hit the brakes to slow down. The cop wasn't looking, just had the detector going which just triggered on you. He looks up and sees the sportscar rapidly braking. That's enough in his mind to go after you. All he has to do is say "you know how fast you were going?", and most people admit it. Wereas, if you just took your foot off the gas, he looks up, just sees a bunch of cars, no one going obviously faster, and says, "huh, I wonder what triggered that?", or just picks a car at random. Especially if you're braking hard by a panic reaction to the detector, you stand out from the crowd. I would also consider sudden braking for no reason, other than traffic conditions, to be unsafe.

That is how I envision it working, and were my comment comes from. Of course, all situations are different. I don't think this scenario is unrealistic, though. Just my .02. :smile:

As far as why to have it -- I would expect a detector to in most cases tell you about a cop before you're the target. Not always, but most of the time. And then you can slow down at a relaxed pace without hitting the brakes instantly.

 

[Hugh]

Obviously the current traffic conditions should dictate how hard you're going to hit the brakes. But they will also dictate how fast you should be driving. If you're driving so fast in heavy traffic that you need to be concerned about someone ramming you in the ass when you hit the brakes, you're driving recklessly I have no pity for you. During times of little or no traffic it's safer to drive faster but there are fewer targets out there for the instant radar to sample and you have a much better chance of getting zapped. if you're REALLY fast on the brakes you have a small chance since instant radar samples the speed twice at one second intervals I believe and if it doesn't get a match withing a certain margin of error it won't display a locked on speed to the officer.

On most interstates the highway patrols allow higher than posted speeds. It pays to know what's tolerated in your area. Strike up a conversation with a Trooper at a rest stop if possible and ask him or her. In Florida for instance, assuming clear conditions and a normal traffic flow, FHP allows a 10 to 15 MPH bufffer. However enforcement is left to the discretion of the individual officer.

 

[nsxtasy]

Whether or not you slam on the brakes depends (or should depend) not only on traffic conditions, but also on the type of alert, the terrain, etc.

If I'm out in the middle of nowhere with no other cars on the road, and the radar detector suddenly lights up like a neon sign, yes I'm going to slam on the brakes. And I'm probably going to get a ticket anyway. But that is not the typical situation when the radar detector alerts.

In the much more common circumstances, I'm on a road with other cars here and there (not necessarily bumper to bumper), and I start to hear one or two blips, generally indicating that radar is being aimed at another car up ahead (or behind) and is being picked up at a much greater distance than I need to slow down. In those circumstances, no, I don't brake immediately. I check out where it's coming from, and think about how far away it is (when it's beeping slowly, it's not all that close), and think about whether I need to slow down because he's coming from behind, or whether I need to slow down because he's up ahead, or whether I don't need to slow down at all because other cars around me are going just as fast as I am.

 

[skyguy]

I have a day one sumtin' or other radar detector that was invented by Fred Flintstone himself. It's hard wired and when I drive it goes something like this:

Beep----Beep-BeepBeep-----Beep.

I give it the ol' RCA dog look and wonder why it does that?

I decided to call it "Wilson."

Wilson is my only friend and sometimes I say Beep back to Wilson when the days pass slow.