Do the police in Norcal use radar or laser detectors? I would assume laser detectors as those are the newer technology. Can anyone clarify this? Thanks

 

My V1 alerts laser every once in a while. But it usually tends to be newer cars with adaptive cruise control that sets it off, rather than cops. I've only been hit by laser a couple of times and had it actually be a cop.

Radar is much more common- Ka and occasionally K band.

 

+1...I've yet to get my Laser warning to go off in the Bay Area. (I think a lot of patrol airplanes use laser-it's a narrower dispersion pattern, which is needed at farther distances to distinguish between multiple cars)

 

K or Ka is the norm, but just be safe, I bought a more expensive detector that senses them all. It also senses radar detector detectors. A technology which I didn't know cops even had.

 

Then the cops will get radar detector detector detectors

 

You guys with the V1's are getting ripped off. I have a Whistler and it cost 39 bucks at Fry's. Granted it doesn't give you direction but man it works great here. It picks up some false alarms such as school zones and at shopping centers, but every cop and CHP that leaves their guns on so it picks them up about 1/2 mile if they are in sight. If any of you want to get one you can take a ride with me on the freeway and see how well it works. I just don't see the need to spend that much. And if they shoot behind me it still picks them up.

 

radar is the most common but some departments do use laser.

 

It's like saying that guys with HREs are getting ripped off. I can get Motegi for $139 and it's 19". There are reasons why one cost $39 and one cost $399.

 

V1 ftw......i'll be gooding one soon

 

So is it a status thing, why have one then. Wheels i can see, there's a difference in looks/performance. Why spend 400 bucks on a radar detector that doesn't pick up all the signals as good. I've been cruising with people that have one and mine will pick up the signal 1st. I just wouldn't want it. Its like buying condoms with holes in them. If they worked better than thats a good reason. If they have some distinct advantages that i couldn't notice from just seeing one in someones car or reading a lil about it then i could understand.

 

that's great you found a substitute that works just as well. either way, my V1 has paid off itself many times over, so it was worth it...plus, i got it as a gift.

i dont believe cops in norcal use laser, so i only have K & Ka on.

 

I have only been hit with a lazer once since I purchased my V1 over a year ago, all others have been Ka. They use K on 101 only for photo speeding ticketing.

 

There are annual reviews of which detectors give you the most warning. The V1 has been the top one or two for like 10 years for some reason or another. I find it really hard to belive that you $39 model is beating a V1 as all the others that are close to the V1 in performance are also close in price - $300 and above. The V1 and the other high-end ones do a lot of checking and cross checking to avoid as many false alarms as possible. The V1 has a couple different settings that you can tweak - the city/highway setting of some models to reject or accept stray and possibly bogus signals.

I've had radar detectors in my car since the mid-1970's Fuzz Buster and Fox XK detectors ... they better ones are worth their money. Some times quality cost money.

 

The V1 rocks. I've got a speed sign down my street, so it always goes off. About a month ago, it was going off like normal, but was reading 2 signals (instead of the usual 1) and after I passed the sign, one arrow was pointing back at it, and one was pointing forward. Turned out to be a cop literally a block away. I woulda been toast without it. One ticket is enough to pay for it.

Oh, and I like having the display innstalled in my A-pillar, where only I can see it but I can see it perfectly, while the detector is hidden away in the back.

Back on topic, I got lasered literally 2 days ago on my way to work by a (I think) local cop, on foot, next to his bike. The detector went off, and I assumed it was an Infiniti or something, but then I saw him... Now, granted, I got lucky that his first shot didn't get a read on me (no front plate fix-it ticket is worth every penny of $10 if it saves you...), and I got lucky that a bus pulled out in front of him before he got a second shot off.

Lesson learned is YES they have laser, and slow down until you confirm it's a false alarm, not the other way around...

 

PLUS...with the higher end ones, they will pay for the ticket. Just not driving school or the hike in insurance rates :-D.

 

I've been hit with radar's operating in the ka bands by police and chp. Was getting onto Hwy 4 from 680 and blasted onto Hwy 4 at 95 mph, radar went off like crazy so I slowed down to 65. Rounded the curve and there was a motorcycle cop standing there with a radar gun pointing at me. Of course he was reading 65 instead of the 95..heh heh. But for some reason I get Laser's around construction sites like when you're under a freeway that's undedr construction. I suspect they use lasers to level or pin point their construction layouts. ????

 

My radar detector didn't save me from a ticket tonight... but that's because the cop paced me (or so he said). Finally, it's been over a year since I got my Z, I was just waiting for it to happen. I think he came from far behind me a lane or two over, as I was paying attention to onramps and the like.

He said he paced me at 84 mph going down 280 in Los Altos, but he only ticketed me at 75 mph. Traffic school here I come. I'm glad he didn't mosey around the front of the car to see if I had a front plate...

Now, I won't say if 84 mph is faster or slower than I usually go down 280 at 8pm... but I'll happily take the 75.

 

they have photo radar on the freeway??!?



I was thinking of turning K band off since i never see a cop anywhere with K.. I guess not?

 

I drive From LA to South Bay on Average of 2-3 Times a Month. I've NEVER Gotten a Ticket with My V1 Even with my every other Month jaunts 2 Vegas also. Yes I've been up 2 150MPH racing other people. I SWEAR By my V1 befor that I Had the $299 K2 That Was a Piece of $hit the falsed every Block. Yes you PAY fro Quality! How Much is 1 Speeding ticket worth it to you?????!!!!!!!!

 

I've had Other Radar detectors Cobra, Bel, K2 I Swear by My V1. The #1 reason? It Tells me Where 2 Look Front Back Sides. And How many Radar Guns are in use 1,2,3,4,5,6 Yes I've survived EVERY single encounter with My V1 But it Also takes SMART SPEEDING also! 50% of the Times CHP ISN'T Using Radar! Daytime Look out for Chp on the Road and OFF! Look for the PLANE Circling the Road! Look for CHP Parked on the Side or MIDDLE of the Highway! Don't Haul A$$ down the #1 Lane! Speed in the #2 Lane and go around Slower traffic! I usually Average the Drive in 5 hours or less My Average Speed is 85-90 Sometimes over 100 but The fastest was in a Hair over 4 Hours