I don't know much of the technical side of detector vs jammer. I have a V1 myself and ALWAYS have it on when I'm driving. It beeps more when I'm passing Safeway than passing a CHP with a gun pointing straight at me.

9500ci is part detector and part jammer (which I don't have... too expensive with install). At least the CHP cannot read your speed and you may have a chance of fighting it.

 

You can't legally jam radar, but a good detector is fine (even against instant on unless you are the only one out on the road, you will pick up signal from other cars getting tagged).

Laser Detector does nothing but tell you you are screwed, you have to have a laser jammer for any protection. Laser has a very small spread and you won't pick it up unless the cop is hitting you with it. You need a jammer to screw up his reading and give you time to slow down (then you click it off so he can get a good reading). It sounds like it should be obvious to the cop but its not, laser is very finicky and its common to not get a good reading if the cop is moving the gun even a little.

 

Hey AdamW81,
Why do you think they charge $1300 to install that? To conceal it. I saw an install of a K40 on a Gallardo; they do such a good job that I know it is there but couldn't find it.

 

Ya I said what I would do, if concealment is worth that much to someone then go for it. It took me 5 minutes to hardwire a v1 and if I take the detector down you can't even see the wire (and its not a distraction anyway being up high on the windshield by the mirror). Regardless, you need a solid laser jammer in addition to a detector.

 

I think the big selling point on the GPS based radar detectors is that they learn false positives. After you pass the same location a certain number of times it learns that it isn't cop (usually store fronts and such). You can also hit a button to force it to learn false positives too. I have never used one so I don't know how effective they are. But it does sound like a great way to avoid it beeping at you for nothing.

 

I have a cobra 9 band which is the low end in terms of cost
and I know for a fact has saved me mutiple tix. It warns you
that's all. Second day I had it it "detected" and I immediately
reduced speed to see a bike cop sitting approx 1/4 mile ahead.
I was speeding but he never even looked at me but was tracking me
just prior no doubt. I figure I've gotten my $ worth already. I test drove
an 08 TT with a passport wired and placed inside the glove box and spent
half an hour turning it off and on which involved opening the glove
box to reset/shut the damn thing off. No thanks. My 80.00 POS cobra sits affixed
to the windshield with those stupid suction cups and rarely falses as it has an "auto mute" feature.
I'm sure the pros will know why the 500.00 passport is the one to have
but my experience with it was like. Forget it.

I couldn't live w/out the clear bra but I'm convinced that every
rock that chips my windshield only occurs as god knows Ive got the clear bra!
Just few weeks ago I was messin around trading places w/ a 430 on a very gravel pitted canyon road near malibu and took a nice chunk out Of my upper
passenger side glass. Doncha just hate that sound! Argh!.. Next time I think I"ll just keep the lead. Lol.

 

K 40 concealed is the way to go. After my V1 was smash and grabbed out of my car, never again. V1 is a great detector but not worth the hassle, I'm so much happier with the K40.
Clear bra is also a great investment.