What radar/laser detector do you champs recommend? I picked up a $120 ticket this summer and afterwards checked out several websites. Found that smokey is now using instant laser gear that clocks you in 0.5 sec, not allowing detectors to work. What do you think, should I keep looking?
radar detector for MO
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I whole heartedly recommend the Valentine detectors. (http://www.valentine1.com/) I have one and love it! It has saved my bacon many times. They are not the cheapest ones out there, but the cost of one ticket and the insurance hit, and it pays for itself.
My thoughts on laser.... It's like listening to the guillotine slide down the rails. The alarm just tells you that you are dead. :behead:
A laser beam does not have 'stray areas' that give you advance warning like radar. I think that at a distance of about 1000 ft, the beam width is only like 3 ft and if it hits your detector you are toast regardless. The only benefit of the detector is that the radar spray off the center path is wide enough to catch it early.
My opinion only....
I can not say enough for the V1. They have a great product support system and you can get upgrades to the hardware as they are made. Just ship them the box and they put new guts in and don't charge full cost for a new one. If memory serves me, Mike Valentine designed the Escort products but left because Escort disagreed with his philosophy that they should not make a cut-rate device. Make the best one and it will sell itself.
Good luck.
My thoughts on laser.... It's like listening to the guillotine slide down the rails. The alarm just tells you that you are dead. :behead:
A laser beam does not have 'stray areas' that give you advance warning like radar. I think that at a distance of about 1000 ft, the beam width is only like 3 ft and if it hits your detector you are toast regardless. The only benefit of the detector is that the radar spray off the center path is wide enough to catch it early.
My opinion only....
I can not say enough for the V1. They have a great product support system and you can get upgrades to the hardware as they are made. Just ship them the box and they put new guts in and don't charge full cost for a new one. If memory serves me, Mike Valentine designed the Escort products but left because Escort disagreed with his philosophy that they should not make a cut-rate device. Make the best one and it will sell itself.
Good luck.
Valentine One is the best - no doubts about it. I've used it for years without any tickets. I can go on, but the web site says it better.
The one thing to keep in mind about laser is that a cop has to actually point his gun at your vehicle. Hence, they have to be able to have line of site to you (unlike regular radar)
It is possible to pick up laser off another car, but it's not very likely.
The one thing to keep in mind about laser is that a cop has to actually point his gun at your vehicle. Hence, they have to be able to have line of site to you (unlike regular radar)
It is possible to pick up laser off another car, but it's not very likely.
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I concur. It's the Valentine 1. Worth every penny.
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I bought my Valentine 1 in September 1994 (when I bought my first Nissan)and it has saved my "a$$" many times over the years. I paid $399 at the time and the price is still the same, almost 10 years later.
I have driven over 330,000 miles with my V1 and never had a speeding ticket (but been very close a few times). I also drive (obviously) a lot of highway miles at about 10-15 mph over the posted limits.
As for service, my V1 was sent back for a new display (bottom arrow went out) after I had owned it for 3 years. They replaced the display for free even though they had only a one year warranty and I was well beyond that.
They also have an excellent upgrade program.
I can send in my used unit today (10 years later) and for $229, get back a brand new unit with the most current technology.
Problem with the upgrade is, I can't even think about not having my V1 with me when I drive. :2:
I have driven over 330,000 miles with my V1 and never had a speeding ticket (but been very close a few times). I also drive (obviously) a lot of highway miles at about 10-15 mph over the posted limits.
As for service, my V1 was sent back for a new display (bottom arrow went out) after I had owned it for 3 years. They replaced the display for free even though they had only a one year warranty and I was well beyond that.
They also have an excellent upgrade program.
I can send in my used unit today (10 years later) and for $229, get back a brand new unit with the most current technology.
Problem with the upgrade is, I can't even think about not having my V1 with me when I drive. :2:
Many owners on the Corvette forums also like the Valentine. I don't have one. I have seen where they have done a real clever hard-wire install.
I remember that another Corvette owner has done the same in his MO....
http://www.nissanmurano.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=864&highlight=hard+wire
good luck
I remember that another Corvette owner has done the same in his MO....
http://www.nissanmurano.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=864&highlight=hard+wire
good luck
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4,601 Posts
And for those of you that want to hide your detector and remotely control the power, you can wire up a garage door receiver to a relay for the power and use your homelink buttons in the mirror to turn it on and off.
I'm trying to remember the name of the guy who gave me the idea. It's too early in the morning for me to think right now!
I'm trying to remember the name of the guy who gave me the idea. It's too early in the morning for me to think right now!
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13 Posts
Do you want radar or laser?
Yeah, there are radar detectors that also have laser detectors, but as someone mentioned, they're usually too late unless you happen to pick up the scatter from someone in front of you being targeted, and I don't know how likely that is.
If you want to avoid a laser ticket, you might want to look into something like the Lidatek laser detector/jammer. No, I haven't used one, just heard nice things about them.
The company may either be truly concerned about safe driving or just covering their a$$e$, but the jammer only works for five (?) seconds after it gets hit by a laser. The rationale is that it gives the driver enough time to slow down to near legal speeds. This prevents him from driving at extremely excessive speeds and also from completely flouting the laser by speeding past a cop. Rather, this helps the company (and their customers) keep a low profile so that the jammers aren't immediately made illegal.
No, laser jammers are not yet illegal that I'm aware of. Because they use light (albeit an invisible part of the spectrum- and don't start picking nits about the whole electromagnetic spectrum) they are not covered by FCC regulations and I'm not sure counties/states have enacted any laser specific regulations yet. I have heard that in some places it is illegal to point a laser pointer at someone (fears of guns/rifles with laser sights, I've heard), but I don't know how well that would cover the laser jammer.
The manufacturer's recommendation is to mount the device close to the front license plate, however since the grill of the MO is so wide and reflective, you might want to use their secondary transopnder too.
Yeah, there are radar detectors that also have laser detectors, but as someone mentioned, they're usually too late unless you happen to pick up the scatter from someone in front of you being targeted, and I don't know how likely that is.
If you want to avoid a laser ticket, you might want to look into something like the Lidatek laser detector/jammer. No, I haven't used one, just heard nice things about them.
The company may either be truly concerned about safe driving or just covering their a$$e$, but the jammer only works for five (?) seconds after it gets hit by a laser. The rationale is that it gives the driver enough time to slow down to near legal speeds. This prevents him from driving at extremely excessive speeds and also from completely flouting the laser by speeding past a cop. Rather, this helps the company (and their customers) keep a low profile so that the jammers aren't immediately made illegal.
No, laser jammers are not yet illegal that I'm aware of. Because they use light (albeit an invisible part of the spectrum- and don't start picking nits about the whole electromagnetic spectrum) they are not covered by FCC regulations and I'm not sure counties/states have enacted any laser specific regulations yet. I have heard that in some places it is illegal to point a laser pointer at someone (fears of guns/rifles with laser sights, I've heard), but I don't know how well that would cover the laser jammer.
The manufacturer's recommendation is to mount the device close to the front license plate, however since the grill of the MO is so wide and reflective, you might want to use their secondary transopnder too.
Bel and Escort make laser jammers. Tests by SpeedZones.com have shown that these 2 units to can jam laser for a sufficient amount of time, thus allowing you to slow down. Although there a 2 drawbacks: 1) expense (>$400) and 2) newer laser guns alert the trooper that the laser has been jammed.
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47 Posts
Anyone preformed a Hard wire with one of these valentine1? if so can you provide us the how to? and which hard wire to purchase from the Parts Dept. from valentine1?
Also any feedback on the Escort 8500?
Many Thanks!!!
Also any feedback on the Escort 8500?
Many Thanks!!!
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717 Posts
All you need is a wire tap as shown in the member below's photo gallery. He didn't mount a V1, but the principle is exactly the same.
http://www.nissanmurano.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=8929&thumb=1
There's a very handy grounding screw in the exact same spot too.......
The hardwire kit comes with the V1 when you buy it, at least it did when I got mine about 10 years ago.
http://www.nissanmurano.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=8929&thumb=1
There's a very handy grounding screw in the exact same spot too.......
The hardwire kit comes with the V1 when you buy it, at least it did when I got mine about 10 years ago.
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