radar detectors

[smoke_wagon_6g]

Valentine One gen 2.

It's mail-order only. They also have a good iPhone app.

I won't criticize other detectors. The V1 was always the king back in the day with the other companies trying to compete on price by having $99 junk devices. Of course, their good detectors aren't any less expensive than a V1.

V1 started the arrow thing, but I see that a lot of detectors have the arrows now.

Combine it with an app like Waze and you're as good as possible.

I mount it high on the visor from the windshield side. With a low car like a Mustang you really need to be as high up as possible without actually blocking the detector's sensors.

These articles are interesting and C/D always had a little more technical information and they always published their exact methodology. Not quite Consumer Reports but at least they have a reputation unlike these pop-up websites and YouTube reviews.

Car and Driver 2002
https://www.caranddriver.com/review...395/the-great-detector-test-comparison-tests/

Car and Driver 2023
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g36357159/best-radar-detectors/

Sponsored

 

[junits15]

Uniden R7 is what I run, there's a ton of grassroots support for it and even custom 3rd party firmware available. Really really long range, and lots of adjustability, however I'm not here to definitively say its better or worse than any of the other big names out there, just that it works for me in the northeast.


Regardless of whatever unit you buy, you should absolutely buy a Mirror tap to go with it, it's the easiest and cleanest hardwire solution.

 

[Cory S]

Valentine checks for signal from front and back.dont think others do

My 9500ix picks up rear Doppler from behind bouncing off the inside windshield from almost a mile away already.

 

[thompsje]

A lot of the higher end detectors have arrows now because the Valentine patent on them expired a couple years ago.

Personally, I'd go with a Valentine 1 Gen 2 since it's been my experience with the Gen 1 that Valentine actually continues to develop the same product vs pushing out another model. They offer trade-ins on older models (subject to availability and such), and I just really liked my Gen 1.

If you want integrated GPS to help silence known false alerts... then the V1 isn't gonna work for you unless you pair it with an external software app. I don't mind muting it or living with it, but it makes some people nuts. Same with falsing on Ka due to blind spot warning systems. I think I could get over it, but it's not for everybody.

Watch a couple round-ups of Vortex Radar on YouTube and decide what matters to you.

 

[CBETPTA]

+1 for Valentine

 

[barron64]

Valentine 1...Made in the USA, solidly built and upgradeable. Not a product that will be obsolete after the next years model arrives.

 

[MarquanTR]

Uniden r8 plus Waze

 

[Zooks527]

Personally, I'd go with a Valentine 1 Gen 2 since it's been my experience with the Gen 1 that Valentine actually continues to develop the same product vs pushing out another model. They offer trade-ins on older models (subject to availability and such), and I just really liked my Gen 1.

Not much of a discount, though - $110 off a $600 detector. For that money, if I ever do decide to move to a Gen2, I'll just keep the Gen1 for my truck.

 

[Sariandan]

R7. Best one I’ve ever had. I’ve never owned a V1, though.

 

[thompsje]

Not much of a discount, though - $110 off a $600 detector. For that money, if I ever do decide to move to a Gen2, I'll just keep the Gen1 for my truck.

That's fair, but it's also better than nothing. The Gen 1 is pretty much ancient at this point, so I'm looking at it like a customer loyalty discount.

Also, if they come out with a Gen 2 that's physically upgraded or different they would probably offer a much better exchange. I had my Gen 1 upgraded once that I needed to send back to them and I think the swap only cost me in the neighborhood of $100... but that was 5+ years ago now.

 

[Ret_Sgt]

Uniden R7. It’s saved me a few times so far. Seems to have great range. I will say I don’t have thousands of miles with it, yet.

 

[m3incorp]

Exact same here; Uniden R7 in Mustang and Escort Passport in the Fusion. The Escort loves to false alert with Honda/Acura vehicle Blind Spot Monitoring.

I run a Uniden R7 in the mustang, and an escort passport max 3 in my truck.
In terms of detection distance, they're pretty similar, but the arrows are very helpful on the R7 to determine where the radar source is coming from.

 

[giacomol]

I run a Uniden R7 in the mustang, and an escort passport max 3 in my truck.
In terms of detection distance, they're pretty similar, but the arrows are very helpful on the R7 to determine where the radar source is coming from.

I second this. The Uniden R7 is a great radar.

 

[plc268]

Exact same here; Uniden R7 in Mustang and Escort Passport in the Fusion. The Escort loves to false alert with Honda/Acura vehicle Blind Spot Monitoring.

Yea, you'll get that sometimes. Firmware updates help a little, but I do still get some falses on occasion on the max 3.

 

[moby4dick]

Uniden R8, great range as others have said. I have it with a Blendmount and the mirror tap. My last radar detector…the OG Escort! Man, back then it was a license to speed with impunity!

Great video here:

Sponsored