BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Buy a Radar Detector

By eHow Cars Editor

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The obvious way to avoid a speeding ticket, of course, is not to speed. But where's the fun in that? Crafty manufacturers, such as Escort, Valentine, Bel-tronics and Cobra, have developed sophisticated radar detectors to keep those flashing red lights out of your rear-view mirror.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Understand that radar used by law-enforcement officers works by shining microwave searchlights down the road. When your car comes into range, the beam bounces off of it. The radar antenna calculates your speed from the reflections it receives.

Step2

Decide where you'll mount the radar detector--to the windshield, the dash or the visor, for $50 to $100--or have it custom installed for upwards of $1,000. Where the unit is mounted significantly affects signal detection--the higher the better. Consider, too, whether you'll use it in one particular vehicle or in multiple vehicles (in which case you'll need a mount that's easy to remove).

Step3

Shop for a radar detector that's most appropriate for your driving habits. The greater the detector's sensitivity, the more effective it'll be. An experienced salesperson can help you determine the best detector and placement for you.

Step4

Look for a unit that detects a wide range of frequencies, or bands, including laser (sometimes called Lidar). Police radar guns use a variety of frequencies to clock speeders. If you want to be stealthy, look for VG-2 alert, which protects your vehicle from VG-2 radar detection and makes your detector undetectable. Check with a salesperson for the frequency in your area.

What to Look For:

Installation position
Sensitivity of sensor
Wide range of frequencies detected
Laser detection

Tips & Warnings

Radar detectors aren't foolproof. You can get false positives or be alerted too late to that radar gun behind a hill or around a bend.
Radar detectors are illegal to use in some states and Canadian provinces, and on certain vehicles. Obey the laws wherever you drive.
Avoid radar jammers: They're illegal and don't work.

Comments

boy-racer said

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on 6/2/2007 I found the best place to buy radar detectors and laser jammers in Australia was www.radars.com.au by far the best prices and also the largest range I have found in Australia. Some other pages are selling modified equipment that obviously has no factory warranty!

Jezzamcbezza said

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on 10/6/2006 VG-2 is outdated now. Most good detectors are invisible to VG-2 & VG-4 but are NOT invisible to Spectre (Stalcar in Australia). The only unit (to date) that is completely invisible to police radar detector detectors (RDD's) is the Bel STi - suitable for states where they are illegal (four in the US) 18-wheelers or countries such as Australia. A good source of info is Radar Roy's forum or for Aus users www.delonixradar.com.au The best 3 brands of detectors are from Bel, Escort & Valentine. If you can afford one of these, it's defineately worth the few extra bucks. Like the article sais radar jammers are illegal and don't work (despite all the claims by Rocky Mountain Radar - which are continually proven to be as useful at jamming radar as a brick sitting on yoru dash). Laser jammers do work, again banned in some states, but are very effective such as Blinder & Escort.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 As stated by the article, some states ban them from being used. Some will even consider their possession illegal. If you're using one where they're banned, be smart and operate it out of sight and take it down if you're being stopped.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 I mounted mine above my rear view mirror and hardwired it to hide the curly wire that came with it. This protects it from most thieves and gives it more of a professional look.

Note: I tapped into my windshield wiper fuse blade and used a 1 amp fuse. Be careful when working with electricity.