+1 1000% Agree!

 

2quik,

Do a lot of research before you buy and take what you read here with a grain of salt. Most here know cars but little about countermeasures. There are lots of opinions about which radar detector is the best and that will always be a bone of contention with many. Certainly the Valentine One is the best for situational awareness with the bogey counter and azimuth arrows. (I have a V1) Also high on the list are the Escort 9500 that employs a GPS technology to filter out signals you know are bogus. I tried it and sent it back because I personally found that it filtered too broad of the signal band for too far of a distance as well as had a bad signal ramp up. (I think they fixed the ramp up problem though.)(A great technological idea however just not quite ready for primetime) The BEL STi Driver is the answer if you are in a state where radar detectors are illegal and you need VG2 or Spectre III protection.
In the laser world there are also many contenders however only a few at the top that offer real sustainable and documentable protection. Those are the Laser interceptor, Laser Park Pro and Blinder. Although the different models use different technology, LED vs Diode , the top 3 mentioned are very lethal in fact. (Price can be a big difference though) Stay away from the SRX or SR7 with Zr3/4 shifters. Not worth the money and do not perform well enough to depend on. Disclosure: I have had Blinder laser jammers on my M3 and K1200S and both tested very well against the Pro Laser 3. (The main threat here in the DFW area) Also a SRX with ZR3 shifters on my 997.
Outrun did the testing for me on my M3 and K1200s and allowed me to also verify the results by using the gun myself. Unfortunately there are those that want to try to discredit some tests in order to sell more or their product. Here are the videos of some of that testing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA0tLKwlhq8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tb9fTNwD8Y
Although I have used Blinders, my choice now after seeing other tests would be the laser Interceptor. Although more expensive, I believe it offers better coverage by using diodes.
My 977C4S came with a Passport SRX with ZR3 laser shifters and it did not pass the jamming tests with the Pro Laser 3. In fact, anyone that would like to help me get it out of my car and have the whole system for free. I plan to install the Laser Interceptor.
http://www.laser-interceptorusa.com/901.html
As I said above you need to do your own research and I would start with this website,
www.guysoflidar.com
and go specifically to the Jammer shootout of July 2008 located here.

http://guysoflidar.com/july-2008/laser-jammer-test.html

 

To succeed at speeding you need all the information that you can get to avoid penalty.

In addition to excellent awareness, good radar/laser detector + shifter, you will want to add a programmable scanner to listen in on police activity (this is legal as long as you are not doing so in the interest of committing a crime). There are scanners on the market that automatically scan for police activity and stop on the channels for you.

http://www.scannermaster.com/BCD996T.../10-501050.htm

Then you'll want a good old fashioned CB radio for that extra bit of knowledge you might glean.

Your car will look like a porcupine, but that's about as safe as you can get unless you go with technology not available to the public. Even then there is no guaruntee you will be protected from penalty.

For a comprehensive study on the subject, look up team polizei.

Another option is to keep it at 4-5 over max, stay with the flow of traffic and for the most part avoid attention.

 

2quik:"I'm a complete newbie and i dont understand what you mean by shifters or blinders?? "

blinders and shifters mask and/or stealth (jam maybe?) your car from laser guns aimed at you.
Detectors alert you when that is being done, by then it is already too late - with laser at least. You should have enough warning to slow down.
Check out this website http://www.1stradardetectors.com/ (there are many others). And check out the radar laser forums. A wealth of information on them.

 

I have a V1, which is useless in Atlanta since it's 100% laser here. It's great out of state though. On a drive to Alabama I was golden with the V1.

Since ATL is all laser, I have the M25 Blinder Extreme. It prevents the laser gun from getting a read on my vehicle. When they hit me with laser, all hell breaks lose in the cabin (Blinder and V1 scream). You then hit the breakes to get down to the limit, and hit the kill switch on the Blinder so the cop can get a reading- of you now at the limit.
CATTMAN

 

That is absolutely true. LED is a diode (light emitting diode) and a plain diode doesn't emit anything so I'm not sure what that comparison is supposed to mean.

Really? Lethal? Well, everyone should stay away from those top three then, if they are out there killing as both murder and/or property damage are serious offenses.

 

Nothing beats the Valentine One in radar and laser detection in the under $500 radar detector category.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/


Valentine One website:

http://valentine1.com/


The Laser Interceptor is the best laser jammer you can get.

http://guysoflidar.com/july-2008/laser-jammer-test.html




http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html




Laser Interceptor website:

http://www.laser-interceptorusa.com/

 

okay so I did some research, I found out my state (hawaii) has laser. As far as I know, the v1s are the best hands down by the overwhelming majority (all of you 6speeders) for both radar and laser detection.

My next question is, who has the best install? in terms of concealed, stealth, whatever you want to call it? I've heard that for the m3s, the v1 monitor can be integrated into the BMW's main display. Can this be done w/ our 997s? As you can see, I am just looking for the CLEANEST install and what works the best. I appreciate everyones input, thank you gentlemen.

 

V1 has saved my butt in Norcal:

Hwy 1, North of Santa Cruz - all K band CHP

North peninsula neighborhoods- Palo Alto, Menlo, Atherton, Woodside

Falses are annoying, but if you get to know where they are that helps..........

I need to disconnect x-band as I understand there is no x in Cali......

 

That is right, but laser detection itself is worthless. If your V1 gets hit with laser and you're speeding, pull over. They've got you. That's why you need a counter-measure, that will not provide Smokey with a read on your speed. For that, I use the M25 Blinder Extreme, but there are others out there. When I get hit with laser, all hell breaks loose in the cabin (lights and buzzers), but Smokey has no read on my speed. That gives you time to hit the brakes and shut down your countermeasure to give him a read at the limit.

With just a V1, you have no time to hit the brakes- just pull over.
CATTMAN

 

CATTMAN is right. That is why you need my SR7 with shifter protection to use alongside your V1. Then you're really protected.

 

yep...i have a V1 and it has saved me every time until I got zapped by laser that is. game over.

 

<<<That is right, but laser detection itself is worthless.>>>

Not true. Sometimes it is hard for the LEO to get a reading on your car at all and certainly there are times when the reading is not instantaneous especially if you are not running with a front licence plate.. Keep in mind dark cars are much harder and reflect less light. Also, aim point is critical. If not speeding also realize there can multiple speed traps in a row. It’s nice to know when you get hit. Here is the DFW area it is not uncommon to have 3 traps in a row separated by one mile each. They will also shoot you from behind on an overpass and have multiple units on the access road ready to pursue. When you get hit, especially when not speeding you know they are in the area. (Keep in mind that many new vehicles have the same 904NM transmitters on their cars for automated cruise control and will create false alearts.)

<<<That is why you need my SR7 with shifter protection to use alongside your V1.>>>

You have hyped the SR7 however it did not fare well in any 3rd party testing I have seen. As I said, I have the SRX with the ZR3 and I know for a fact it has problems with a Pro Laser 3 gun. I know, I have personally shot it with that gun. The updated jammer, Zr4, also has serious performance issues against pretty much every gun out there. Personally I would not waste my time or money installing this unit. (My car came with it however will be replacing it soon.)

As I said you will find many "opinions" that are not quite or completely true. It is imperative that you do lots of research on the subject and look at many of the radar and Laser 3rd party testing available on the internet.. Read and understand the theory as well as how to interpret the signals you receive. Probably the best defense is a good lookout doctrine.