[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 (http://www.kmph.ca/guides/radar-detector-guides/buy-radar-detector-vancouver-bc.html)


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 (http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/radar-detectors/)

[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 (http://drivesmartbc.ca/equipment/radar-and-laser-jammers)

[Timpo]

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

Escort Passport MAX 2
http://cdn3.volusion.com/zqmcg.fyjwq/v/vspfiles/photos/Passport-Max2-2.jpg

Beltronics STi Magnum
http://www.kmph.ca/images/sti-magnum1.png

Valentine One
http://gearpatrol.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/valentine-one-radar-detector1.jpg

[Timpo]

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 (http://drivesmartbc.ca/equipment/radar-and-laser-jammers)

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]

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.

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]

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.

[parm104]

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

Your suggestion is to drive 10km/hr faster than the speed sign noted? That would be SPEEDING...and that WOULD be the exact situation that a radar would be helpful in. Thanks tips.

[Mr.C]

Your suggestion is to drive 10km/hr faster than the speed sign noted? That would be SPEEDING...and that WOULD be the exact situation that a radar would be helpful in. Thanks tips.

To be fair, you're not getting stopped for 10 over anywhere in BC.

[RCubed]

To be fair, you're not getting stopped for 10 over anywhere in BC.

except for this dude.
http://www.revscene.net/forums/702754-speeding-1km-over.html

[Flatsix]

I use 9500i, it works amazingly over here on Vancouver island. I used it driving around dt Vancouver and it was going off ever few feet, but I was too busy trying to figure my way around to be remotely speeding in the first place. On the highway it has saved me more than once, I usually get warnings around corners as well. I would not drive without one anymore.

[underscore]

Just how many tickets are you guys getting to justify buying a detector? In 10 years I've only been stopped for speeding 3 times and gotten 2 tickets. Of those only 1 *might* have been prevented with a detector since they don't stop you from being paced or if the radar wasn't on til they saw you.

[RCubed]

Just how many tickets are you guys getting to justify buying a detector? In 10 years I've only been stopped for speeding 3 times and gotten 2 tickets. Of those only 1 *might* have been prevented with a detector since they don't stop you from being paced or if the radar wasn't on til they saw you.

0. I just wanted one for the hell of it.

[Grim]

Your suggestion is to drive 10km/hr faster than the speed sign noted? That would be SPEEDING...and that WOULD be the exact situation that a radar would be helpful in. Thanks tips.

lol ive been doling that for the past 5 years, so far i havent got a speeding ticket for going 10km over even when im passing a cop while hes scanning.

so far; $0.00 on a radar box
0.00 on speeding ticket.

iuno, my tip seems to be working out just fine.. perhaps maybe you need to recalibrate your speedo cause if you're getting tickets for going "10km" over then maybe its your speedo that needs recalibrating or your eyes,

[parm104]

lol ive been doling that for the past 5 years, so far i havent got a speeding ticket for going 10km over even when im passing a cop while hes scanning.

so far; $0.00 on a radar box
0.00 on speeding ticket.

iuno, my tip seems to be working out just fine.. perhaps maybe you need to recalibrate your speedo cause if you're getting tickets for going "10km" over then maybe its your speedo that needs recalibrating or your eyes,

LOL you're just full of smart ideas...keep them coming. My speedo is digital and analog and I use them both. I don't need to calibrate anything because I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in ages. You've been using your tip for 5 years, is it safe to say you've been driving for 5 years too then kiddo?

I'm really glad you haven't been pulled over for speeding and I'm going to let you finish but...you're still speeding and you're still breaking the law and if you haven't been pulled over, you're simply lucky. In the eye of the law and law enforcement, going over 10km/hr is a big deal and it's not one of those things where police just turn the other cheek. People in this forum will be able to attest to that. If you haven't been pulled over for driving 10km/hr over the speed limit while you pass a cop on a road with little to no traffic, then you've simply been lucky, not skillful as you seem to portray your "tip" to be.

[DavidNguyen]

ive had more cell phone tickets then speeding lol
ive learned to put the phone away.

[Grim]

LOL you're just full of smart ideas...keep them coming. My speedo is digital and analog and I use them both. I don't need to calibrate anything because I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in ages. You've been using your tip for 5 years, is it safe to say you've been driving for 5 years too then kiddo?

I'm really glad you haven't been pulled over for speeding and I'm going to let you finish but...you're still speeding and you're still breaking the law and if you haven't been pulled over, you're simply lucky. In the eye of the law and law enforcement, going over 10km/hr is a big deal and it's not one of those things where police just turn the other cheek. People in this forum will be able to attest to that. If you haven't been pulled over for driving 10km/hr over the speed limit while you pass a cop on a road with little to no traffic, then you've simply been lucky, not skillful as you seem to portray your "tip" to be.

youre telling me you dont speed?
sure. ill believe that you dont. then why need a radar detector? lol :rukidding:
and no internet dad, I've been driving a lot longer than 5 years, pop

[Flatsix]

Just how many tickets are you guys getting to justify buying a detector? In 10 years I've only been stopped for speeding 3 times and gotten 2 tickets. Of those only 1 *might* have been prevented with a detector since they don't stop you from being paced or if the radar wasn't on til they saw you.



I have had two, one in March 2012 was doing 30 over on the highway, sunny day no cars in sight. He gave me the lowest ticket he could.
Then August 2013 I was doing 15 over also highway north of Campbell river.

Having two within a year icbc sent me a bill for $300 so 2 tickets + icbc I decided time for a detector.

At a road check the officer asked me how well it works, my reply " well there is only one problem every Tim Hortons or Starbucks I drive by it starts going off":accepted:

[parm104]

youre telling me you dont speed?
sure. ill believe that you dont. then why need a radar detector? lol :rukidding:
and no internet dad, I've been driving a lot longer than 5 years, pop

HAHA if that's what you got out of that, you have major comprehension problems, kiddo.

You just made my point, speeding is COMMON. Let me make this simpler for you to understand and if you still don't get it, you need help.

1. Most people drive over the speed limit
2. Driving over the speed limit is illegal and you can be given a speeding ticket.
3. Since people speed and will likely get ticket by an officer, a device that notifies them that an officer is monitoring their speed will help them adjust their speed to the limit and potentially avoiding a speeding ticket.

Are we getting it now, son?

[maxx]

escort passport. no false alerts, easy to use, amazing detection distance. 10 years use.
V1 before that.

[R1CED`]

was using a v1 purchased in the mid 90's passed down from le pops. Honestly it looks the exact same as the ones they sell today
the false alarms got really annoying in the city...when it pass by a cell tower it'd go off like nuts....maybe 1 or 2/10 it'd actually be a police cruiser. I simply gave up after a month because my speeding ticket record is squeaky clean

[Tone Loc]

1. Most people drive over the speed limit


You could always, you know, not drive over the speed limit...

Radar detectors and LIDAR jammers are legal in BC. That alone should be a testament to how ineffective they were. Do you guys honestly think that our justice system would let them be legal if they made any significant dent in the ability of LEOs to hand out speeding tickets?

Don't forget that LEOs can always pace you to determine "speeding", and considering I've seen a silver Toyota Venza, a couple of domestic minivans, and numerous other completely normal-looking cars with flashing reds and blues... you won't always see them coming. Or if you are conspicuous enough to be tailed by the RCMP "Jet Ranger", no detector/jammer will stop you from being paced by a heli.

I have also heard many stories of people with visible radar detectors being given a much harder time by LEOs during traffic stops, reason being that those devices show that the driver has both an intent and propensity to drive over the speed limit. Let's face it, they serve no other purpose than to evade police radar so understandably the average cop is going to be a dick about it...

[parm104]

You could always, you know, not drive over the speed limit...

Radar detectors and LIDAR jammers are legal in BC. That alone should be a testament to how ineffective they were. Do you guys honestly think that our justice system would let them be legal if they made any significant dent in the ability of LEOs to hand out speeding tickets?

Don't forget that LEOs can always pace you to determine "speeding", and considering I've seen a silver Toyota Venza, a couple of domestic minivans, and numerous other completely normal-looking cars with flashing reds and blues... you won't always see them coming. Or if you are conspicuous enough to be tailed by the RCMP "Jet Ranger", no detector/jammer will stop you from being paced by a heli.

I have also heard many stories of people with visible radar detectors being given a much harder time by LEOs during traffic stops, reason being that those devices show that the driver has both an intent and propensity to drive over the speed limit. Let's face it, they serve no other purpose than to evade police radar so understandably the average cop is going to be a dick about it...

So are you implying that owning a radar detector won't lessen your chance of being pulled over by an officer? No one here as made the claim that a radar detector is 100% fool proof and will save you from every single speeding ticket.

No one here has made any claims that they will never receive a ticket because they invested $400 in a V1.

Myself, like many others in this thread, are simply giving our personal experiences with our radar detectors and how useful we feel they are.

O.P. posted here to ask radar detector owners for their personal experiences. He didn't ask for a debate over whether or not people here think he should purchase a radar.

Nevertheless, I live the U.S. and a lot of my driving is on the i90 which is a very remote and secluded drive. It's very easy to go over the speed limit on 3-4 hour road trips. This is where my radar detector comes in handy. O.P. I hope this helps as you asked for experiences and insights from people who actively use radar detectors rather than asking to be preached on whether or not you should be driving over the speed limit.

[Mr.C]

LOL you're just full of smart ideas...keep them coming. My speedo is digital and analog and I use them both. I don't need to calibrate anything because I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in ages. You've been using your tip for 5 years, is it safe to say you've been driving for 5 years too then kiddo?

I'm really glad you haven't been pulled over for speeding and I'm going to let you finish but...you're still speeding and you're still breaking the law and if you haven't been pulled over, you're simply lucky. In the eye of the law and law enforcement, going over 10km/hr is a big deal and it's not one of those things where police just turn the other cheek. People in this forum will be able to attest to that. If you haven't been pulled over for driving 10km/hr over the speed limit while you pass a cop on a road with little to no traffic, then you've simply been lucky, not skillful as you seem to portray your "tip" to be.

Bro, do you live in Virginia or Manitoba? You sound paranoid about speeding lol

[Grim]

HAHA if that's what you got out of that, you have major comprehension problems, kiddo.

You just made my point, speeding is COMMON. Let me make this simpler for you to understand and if you still don't get it, you need help.

1. Most people drive over the speed limit
2. Driving over the speed limit is illegal and you can be given a speeding ticket.
3. Since people speed and will likely get ticket by an officer, a device that notifies them that an officer is monitoring their speed will help them adjust their speed to the limit and potentially avoiding a speeding ticket.

Are we getting it now, son?

To be more accurate, everyone speeds.. but theres a fine line between speeding caused by following the flow of traffic or just being an irresponsible dickhead.
just yesterday coming back from mission, coasting back home on hwy 7 with a few loud ass cars going 10km over and sure enough a cop sitting behind somewhat of a blind corner waiting.
Guess what. no ticket, not even a single fuck was given to us by that cop.

still havent spent 3-400bux on that box and still no ticket.
sorry dad,
sorry to disappoint

[rriggi]

lol I'm running 9500ci, ZR4 removed and replaced with LI High Power, still have yet to get a ticket. Going to put the ZR4 back in probably in the summer.

Yes its total overkill but I like the technology in it and I'm a geek.:heckno:

[RicePanda]

To be fair, you're not getting stopped for 10 over anywhere in BC.

I'd like to call bullshit on that. Got pulled over at 11pm going 80 in a 70 section of Fraser HWY - and that was because it had just changed from an 80 to a 70 and I missed the new posted limit.

Just bad luck or a cop having a real bad night. :heckno:

[bcuzracecarz]

Escort Passport 8500 x50 blue - Use it mainly for when I drive back and forth from Vancouver to Edmonton...has saved us a number of times on those long stretches when cops are hiding, especially thru Jasper Park area. No real complaints, learns what are false alarms and what is radar. Does the job

[parm104]

Escort Passport 8500 x50 blue - Use it mainly for when I drive back and forth from Vancouver to Edmonton...has saved us a number of times on those long stretches when cops are hiding, especially thru Jasper Park area. No real complaints, learns what are false alarms and what is radar. Does the job

I'm under the impression that the 8500 x50 doesn't have a false alarm learning mode.