Radar Detectors

SpeedZones.com reports on the incredibly well-documented radar-detector tests by Speed Measurement Laboratories. All of the detectors in the test work fine, but a few stand out. The Escort Passport 9500ix… has the strongest detection signal, even at long range. Three models from Beltronics and Cobra do the best job evading radar-detector detectors, and testers name certain Whistler and Cobra products as the most innovative. A laser jammer, the Denmark-made Laser Blinder, jams every laser gun in the test, every time. The iRadar app for iPhone alerts you to red-light cameras and speed cameras, but it doesn't detect radar or laser guns.

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Former police officer and certified radar instructor Roy Reyer runs this site, which also sells radar detectors. Reyer was sentenced in 2001 for computer tampering in a satellite-TV fraud case. However, his… radar-detector reviews appear credible -- unlike many retailer-written reviews, the testing methodology is clearly explained, and Reyer highly rates some detectors he does not carry, while downgrading some he does. Products are awarded from zero to five stars, and Reyer makes specific recommendations, here and in the section titled "Radar Roy's Badge Ratings." Customer reviews posted here are also helpful, with several detectors amassing 50 or more reviews. Beltronics and Escort models are the winners here.

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This is another retail site that tests the radar detectors it sells under "real-world" driving conditions. However, there is scant documentation about how the tests are conducted, and there is little… detailed discussion of individual models. Instead, each is given numeric ratings for performance and additional considerations, such as features and build quality. The Valentine One rates best overall, but the Beltronics GX 65 and Escort Passport 9500ix give fewer false alerts.

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Mixed in amongst reviews for cars, motorcycles and GPS navigators, Brook Wilkinson has posted four August 2009 reviews of radar detectors and speed/red-light camera detectors. Units from NavAlert and Cobra… are so user-unfriendly that they get low ratings, and the Cheetah GPS mirror has its drawbacks, but the Escort Passport 9500ix is an Editors' Pick. The brief write-ups give very little information, however.

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Though Epinions.com sometimes lags behind retailer sites when it comes to review volume, radar detectors actually get a fair amount of feedback. Some of the reviews reflect months and sometimes a year or… more of use, something few professional reviewers can do. Still, this is a better site to visit after you've narrowed your choices down somewhat, as many radar detectors rate similarly. In addition, many radar detectors remain listed long after they've been discontinued. One current model, the Valentine One, is the clear favorite here. It averages 4.5 stars (out of five) in 140 reviews.

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