Radar Detectors

[JordanL]

Who uses a radar detector on here? I've been wanting to pick up a V1 for a while now and am at the point where I'm able to pull the trigger. Anyone use a V1? Any problems with it? Any stories how it saved your a**?

Cheers
- Jordan

[pingu81]

I swear by the V1. I've had 1 ticket while using it in the past 5 yrs (Skadgit County via Airplane) sigh....

Buy a new one and ensure you get the latest firmware. There IS a difference in the firmware as the older revisions will pickup the low level radar from laneway departure warning systems of surrounding vehicles.

[pb.kidz]

V1 or 9500ix are excellent. Beware it won't save you against Lidar.

[willystyle]

Heard these things only work on highways against radars and are virtually useless against lasers (within the city)?

[Gunsmokez]

Here is some info from Radar Detectors and Laser Jammers in BC, Greater Vancouver - KMPH.ca


Legal to use
In British Columbia, it is completely LEGAL to use a radar laser detector.

Understanding BC Police Radar and Laser Technologies
It is important to understand what the police in BC are using. In the Greater Vancouver Region and BC Lower Mainland, you will find 90% of speed traps using handheld Laser Guns. This means having just a radar or laser detector will not help you much at all. LIDAR, known as laser guns, can only be defeated with Laser Defense, known as Laser Blocker or Jammer.

Radar Detector vs. Laser Jammer in BC?
If you spend most of your commute through cities in BC, a Laser Jammer will be so much more useful than a Radar Detector. Note that with only laser detection on a radar detector, it provides zero protection because you won't have time to react to the quick speed aquisition on a police laser gun.

Is a Radar Detector useful at all in BC?
A radar detector will still be useful at picking up moving radar on a road trip between Vancouver and Interio BC, but laser guns are also used extensively by RCMP / IRSU on highways, including Sea-to-Sky Hwy to Whistler, Highway 17 on Vancouver Island, Highway 1 and Coquihalla Hwy in Interior BC.

[Hondaracer]

I borrowed my dads passport model when I drove up to 100 mile in the summer, gave me a heads up a few times of cop cars I couldn't see coming in the oncoming direction. So seemed to work lol

[BoostedBB6]

I have a V1 and its by far, the best one on the market that I have used.

As stated, there is no detector out there that will give you advanced notice of laser and this is what you will see the most of around the GVRD from my experience.

I was given the V1 as a gift and it works well. I often pick up radar far before I could ever see it. Never had a ticket while having the V1.....but I also don't speed so its kind of useless for me haha.

[4444]

just remember that it's a tool, and that a tool only works as well as the person using it.

i have one, saved me loads of times, but instant on radar, if you're first in line, will get you.

[heleu]

I think it's most useful if you drive around interior BC on freeways a lot.

When I was taking a worktrip from Prince George to Burns lake, my coworker had one and it went off a few times. Sure enough, a cop would drive by in the opposite direction in a few second around the corner.

As other people have stated, it's useless against stationary police speed traps because they all use laser.

[parm104]

I've had my Passport for about 10 years now. It wasn't too helpful in B.C. but when I moved out to the U.S. it has saved me dozens of times. The shitty radars don't do you any good. That's why you often see people with shitty reviews of radars and poor results. In the radar game, in order for you to have a useful device, you need to pay money.

[Skittlez160]

I just got my V1 in the mail this past Monday and will be installing it this Saturday. Although I have borrowed a V1 before and it saved me twice during a drive to Seattle and back. As mentioned, it is a tool and not a garauntee.

I don't excessively speed but during those times I'm cruising 10-15 over the speed limit (trips on the hwy/to Seattle etc.) is what I wanted it for. I drove to San Francisco and back and literally kept it at 70mph (or whatever the posted speed was) because I know US patrol can get anal. But it would have been nice to pick it up the pace a bit to cut down on the travel time.

[BoostedBB6]

With regards to using them in the US, you may want to check the local laws regarding radar detectors. Not all states allow them.

A friend of mine had his taken by a cop who spotted it in the parking lot at a food stop he made. Cant recall where exactly this happened but it was on the way to Cali.

[BoostedBB6]

Radar Detectors | AAA/CAA Digest of Motor Laws

[spoon.ek9]

so this thing about laser jamming/blocking, I assume that would be considered illegal..?

[BoostedBB6]

Jammers are legal in BC and one of the few places they are still legal however a good system will cost you a wack of cash. $1000+ as the averare car will need more than a single sensor to make it effective.....but they are only legal to have not to use. Take a read below.

Radar and Laser Jammers | DriveSmartBC

[Timpo]

I know you can't go wrong with these 3. They always get the top reviews.

Escort Passport MAX 2


Beltronics STi Magnum


Valentine One

[Timpo]

Originally Posted by BoostedBB6

Jammers are legal in BC and one of the few places they are still legal however a good system will cost you a wack of cash. $1000+ as the averare car will need more than a single sensor to make it effective.....but they are only legal to have not to use. Take a read below.

Radar and Laser Jammers | DriveSmartBC

It's illegal to use it as your article says.

Why would you want to take a chance of criminal charges? Obstruction of Justice is a serious crime and you will lose your job, and you won't be able to travel to different country.

Speeding ticket is not a big deal. It's under "Motor Vehicle Act" and it's only a regulatory matter. Speeders are NOT criminal, rather, they are violators of regulations.
Heck, I would gladly take Excessive Speeding + 7 day impound. It's only 7 days and everything will be over with $1,000 +.
Whereas Obstruction of Justice would take years, fear/stress of prosecution, talking to lawyers, preparing for court trials, your future will be fucked, it's just as bad as DUI or assault charges.

I know the cops would have to prove that you were actually using the jammer, rather than malfunction of laser, but I don't know if judge will believe you if you say "I just bought a jammer for decoration, and I had no intention of using it"

[Gunsmokez]

There are only three provinces in Canada that permit legal use of a radar detector - British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Radar detectors are illegal in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and PEI.

Police in these eastern provinces use Spectre radar detector detectors (RDD) to catch drivers using a radar detector. Valentine 1 can be detected, unfortunately. Drivers who get caught using a radar detector will not only lose their detector, but also face hefty fines.

Beltronics STi Magnum is 100% undetectable to all police Radar-Detector-Detector (RDD)

[parm104]

I wanted to add this earlier but I thought it may sound dumb. But here goes.

The radar detector investment pays off not only with real radar detection but I feel like it's helped remind me to be more aware of my driving. Even when I get the odd false alarm or a detection from the opposite way of traffic, it reminds me to do a speed check and adjust myself. I know it sounds dumb to spend money on a device to remind yourself to drive safe, but if it works, I have no regrets about having it.

[RCubed]

I had both the V1 and the 9500xi.

V1 sensitivity is great but it gets REALLY annoying with false alarms. Got rid of it and got the 9500.
9500 has the GPS lock out so it cuts down on falses quite a bit. GPS speed is quite handy as a HUD too.

The new passports look awesome with the colored screen. Ill probably get one if my 9500 craps out on me.

[J.C]

i have a 9500ix
it has saved me multiple times

it seems its only ever KA band or laser where it's ever a cop
but with that said i still got a speeding ticket a few months ago on marine drive from lidar

[Grim]

why not just drive with traffic flow or like 10kmph+ as speed sign noted?
going any faster than that wont get you to your destination that much quicker..
save yourself 300 bux from a stupid box too

[ancient_510]

Originally Posted by Gunsmokez

It is important to understand what the police in BC are using. In the Greater Vancouver Region and BC Lower Mainland, you will find 90% of speed traps using handheld Laser Guns.

I've received 4 speeding tickets in my driving life.
3 of the 4 were from car mounted radar on a cruiser travelling the opposite direction.

Only one was from a lidar trap... my first ever ticket on SW Marine. If you can't spot the guy in a green vest in any one of the multitude of known "fishing holes," you probably deserve the ticket.

Originally Posted by Timpo

I know the cops would have to prove that you were actually using the jammer, rather than malfunction of laser, but I don't know if judge will believe you if you say "I just bought a jammer for decoration, and I had no intention of using it"

That's why laser jammers come with a "park distance" function.
"Oops, I left the park distance function on"

[Skittlez160]

Originally Posted by RCubed

V1 sensitivity is great but it gets REALLY annoying with false alarms. Got rid of it and got the 9500.
9500 has the GPS lock out so it cuts down on falses quite a bit.

This is a good point. I borrowed a 9500 for two months and the lock out feature is great in and around town, when you're on the same route almost every day.

[Gh0stRider]

V1 user here. Too many false alarms in the city.