Best radar detectors to use in IL roads?

[txbullsfan]

Originally Posted by Koji7

Either the Radenso Pro M or the old standby Valentine One, google both, I have both and they can be configured to add or block frequencies (bands) that aren’t needed or used much. For instance the state I live in doesn’t use X band so I shut it off unless I travel out of state then I turn it back on. I don’t travel much thru Illinois or the Midwest but there are radar detector forums that will help you.

The Valentine One radar detector is long in the tooth and has been has been outclassed in many areas for multiple years now. The only thing that is keeping it afloat and on life support is its third party app support (which other manufacturers are starting to utilize) and its slowly dying group of (generally older) loyalists in which the mentality is V1 or nothing. Some of those areas Valentine One is no longer the strong performer includes (but not limited too) detection range (in test after test now from many reputable testing groups, it is towards the bottom of the pack in detecting from the farther distance - important for instant on radar), false alert suppression (currently updated it still struggles with false alerts/non police radar such as vehicle BSMs), it does not have auto lockouts, requires an upgrade fee every year or so if one wants to maintain Valentine's version of current etc. Years ago, Valentine use to be top of the pack in many of these areas but Mike is at retirement age now and his product is no longer up among the leaders of other manufacturers. Valetine has been surpassed by Escort, Uniden, Radenso and some other manufactures in these areas.

Also, Mike Valentine has not sold one single radar detector for about a year now (still doing upgrades though) as for about that time, it has been showing as out of stock. Valentine says it is a holdup of parts but that has been the story for a year. I have never known parts for any company being held up for a year. Rumor has it, Valentine will close its doors soon and this is just Mike Valentine's way of letting the warranties expire and run off into the sunset with his privately held company.

Originally Posted by stockwiz

Waze app and a phone. Radar bands are so filled with clutter that I would just focus on the Ka band only and turn everything else off. Problem is, cops still use K band in rural areas. Laser detection has always been useless without a jammer setup and is prone to false alarms when the sun is low in the sky. Having a simple detector that can do a good job with Ka will pick up the low hanging fruit... cops that sit parked with the unit constantly on, and a sensitive unit can pick it up from a distance for cops that cycle them on and off.

I just go with the flow of traffic and typically don't have a problem.

Waze is a great additional tool for everyone to use regarding police traps and live threats. Turning off K or segmenting a detector is dangerous but yes, all current radar detectors and radar detector companies (Escort, Valentine, Uniden, Radenso etc.) struggle with vehicle BSMs and all use their own brand of tricks to try to limit these alerts. These trick unfortunately just make the detector selectively blind and/or slower in detecting actual police radar. No manufacturer up to this point has been successful with eliminating them completely.

Originally Posted by dicedx1

What radar detectors do you guys suggest for suburban and city driving in IL? What kind of radar or lasers are IL troopers equipped with?

If you can hold off, I would recommend waiting for the Radenso RAI Theia detector expected to be released this year. There has been major buzz regarding this detector as a revolutionary changer in the field of radar detectors both in completely eliminating false alerts from all BSMs as well as giving the most range of any detector. This is being done by using machine learning to actually learn what a true police radar signature looks like and then filtering out the rest. Currently, even Radenso's current lineup struggles with BSMs just like every other RD manufacturer. However, Radenso has promised something big and revolutionary to be coming to the field that may be especially important to you because you live in an urban/city area with lots of non police radar emissions (false alerts).

Now if Radenso can actually pull through with this and how much it will cost will all be determined with time but I can tell you a lot of people are excited about this and other manufactures feel threatened by this.

As an FYI, as others have mentioned having a detector with great laser detection does nothing other then alerting you instantly that you are getting a ticket if alerted when traveling above the PSL. Laser is instant as it travels the speed of light and needs direct line of sight. While some light scatter from police equipment is possible it is generally very rare. If your detector is detecting laser it is because the police officer has his equipment trained on you already. No point in slowing down. Instant speed recorded. Here is your ticket. Radar detectors work at detecting radar because they dont require line of sight and radar is emitted in all directions. So the police officer could be targeting other vehicles other then you but because radar is emitted everywhere your RD can sniff it giving you enough time to slow down. The only way to mitigate getting a laser ticket would be jammers but they may be illegal in Illinois.

With that said, please drive safe, be mindful of traffic laws and be mindful of your surroundings.

Here is a fairly long video from Vortex (someone very respected in the RD enthusiast and review industry) but if you are willing to sit through it you may learn quite a bit and it may help you with your upcoming choice.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfJ4...ature=youtu.be

[reppin_the_847]

I have the Passport Escort X50 (have had it for well over a decade) & it has definitely prevented me from getting into some situations especially back in Illinois. But once a cop has already nailed you & decides to follow you for whatever reason, you're likely getting pulled over no matter what. Nothing is 100% foolproof.

[KerrTown]

It seems that the design of radar detectors has not changed in the past 30 years. I remember seeing one for the first time as a child in the early '90s, and surprisingly the current ones still look like a pager.