Radar Detector Comparison (from Car and Driver) The following is the result of two weeks of research and searching: ----- I distrust radar detector comparisons. Every one that I've seen gives far too many points for "features" and crap like "three display dimming levels" or "variable city mode." They discount the important stuff, such as sensitivity and the bogey counter (which both the V1 and the top Passports have). A good way to handle these is to copy and paste the test results into a spreadsheet, set up a formula for getting the total score, and then DELETE the columns that don't add value for you. For me, features, ergonomics, and alert volume all got tossed. This leaves a score based on only what *I* considered to be tangible. I'm actually surprised at the results of the C&D test, usually the V1 loses points because it can't be manually dimmed (it's automatic) it doesn't have variable city modes (it actually does, through it's programming), and a bunch of other bad crap that Craig Peterson says (he obviously hates Mike Valentine for some reason). Heck, he sang the praises of the bogey counter when Passport added it to their lineup, even though it is more difficult to use. NOW that feature is worth points, but when only the V1 had it...too bad. I've done a ton of research personally, and here is my list of detectors, in order of desirability: 1. Late model Valentine V1 (upgradeable software, 7+ mile Ka band range)** 2. Passport SRX (remote mount, integrated laser jamming) 3. Passport SR1 (remote) 4. Passport 8500 5. Bel 980 (upgradeable software, 5+ Ka band sensitivity) 6. Bel 915 (Vector LR remote) 7. Bel 970 (Vector LR), 950, or Vector95 (also all upgradeable software, 5+ mile Ka band sensitivity) 8. ANY other 1998+ Passport detector (except cordless) 9. ANY other 1998+ Bel detector (except cordless) 10. Passport Solo (cordless) 11. Bel Express (cordless) ** Early V1 detectors didn't have laser detection, and around 1998 the Ka sensitivity was nearly doubled. That's about it. My deciding factors were simple. It MUST have X (10.525 GHz), K (24.150 GHz), and Super Wideband Ka (33.5 GHz-35.9 GHz) detection, as well as laser sensors on the front and rear. All of the detectors I listed above detect these bands, and they are ranked according to their Ka band sensitivity. I also give preference to remote mount systems of comparable performance because they would work well on a motorcycle (I find them better, but too expensive for me). The detectors from Uniden, Cobra, and Whistler will also detect the above bands, but they lack sensitivity. Think of Valentine, Passport, K40, and Bel as in the same league as Alpine car stereos, B&W home speakers, or Minolta cameras. Uniden, Cobra, and Whistler detectors are closer to Audiovox car stereos, Radio Shack speakers, or Polaroid cameras. Sure, they do essentially the same job, but definitely not to the same level of excellence. The $99 Bel E906CS is better at detecting all radar bands than the $329.95 Cobra XR1050 and the $349.95 Whistler DE3300, both top of the line models. In fact, the cheapest Bel detector detects Ka better than ANY detector currently made by Uniden, Cobra, or whistler. Laser sensitivity was not measured, but I tend to believe that since it's such a narrow beam you are nailed if it ever goes off (unless you detect it through a car window in front of you). To me, laser detection is a yes/no thing. It will at least give me enough notice to put the detector away before the cop pulls me over. The link below is a test commissioned by Bel against Uniden, Cobra, and Whistler. They did not include any detectors from Escort/Passport, K40, or Valentine in their testing, likely because they would outperform them on sensitivity. I give no points for having a built in compass, GPS waypoints to memorize speed-trap locations, SWS compatibility, or a Sleep-Alert system (it puts out a series of beeps every 30 seconds, and if you don't press a button the same number of times, it goes off like a Screamin' Meanie). These may be useful features, buy have little or nothing to do with the main goal: detecting police radar. All the cool features in the world are useless if it can't sniff out the truffle-trollers. :-) http://www.beltronics.com/perf_guar2.html I pasted the information from the page above into a spreadsheet and sorted it by average Ka band sensitivity. I omitted some of the columns to make it readable in E-mail (it was too wide). Keep in mind that sensitivity doubles about every 3dB. The results (as recompiled by me) are below. Ka Band X Band K Band Price Model -108.3 dBm -114.3 dBm -110.9 dBm $339.95 BEL 980 -107.9 dBm -114.8 dBm -115.4 dBm $299.95 BEL VECTOR LR 970 -106.9 dBm -110.8 dBm -111.9 dBm $269.95 Bel 950 -106.8 dBm -111.8 dBm -111.9 dBm $229.95 Bel 890 -105.7 dBm -114.7 dBm -112.3 dBm $279.95 BEL VECTOR 95 -105.4 dBm -115.8 dBm -109.9 dBm $599.95 BEL VECTOR LR Remote 915 -103.0 dBm -108.2 dBm -106.3 dBm $169.95 Bel E936CS -102.8 dBm -106.7 dBm -106.3 dBm $129.95 Bel E916CS -101.7 dBm -104.7 dBm -106.3 dBm $149.95 Bel E926CS -101.2 dBm -108.7 dBm -107.8 dBm $ 99.95 Bel E906CS -098.7 dBm -108.7 dBm -104.3 dBm $169.95 Bel 880 -097.6 dBm -106.8 dBm -105.9 dBm $129.95 Bel 870 -096.9 dBm -103.8 dBm -103.9 dBm $139.95 Uniden LRD757 -095.6 dBm -102.8 dBm -105.9 dBm $129.95 Uniden LRD747 -095.3 dBm -107.7 dBm -106.8 dBm $329.95 Cobra XR1050 -094.6 dBm -107.8 dBm -104.4 dBm $199.95 Bel Express Cordless -093.1 dBm -105.8 dBm -101.9 dBm $229.95 Whistler DE1785 -092.6 dBm -104.3 dBm -096.9 dBm $349.95 Whistler DE3300 -091.8 dBm -107.2 dBm -101.8 dBm $179.95 Whistler DE1770 -091.8 dBm -103.3 dBm -100.9 dBm $149.95 Whistler DE 1660 -091.3 dBm -111.3 dBm -105.4 dBm $279.95 Cobra XR1010 -091.3 dBm -105.8 dBm -101.4 dBm $119.95 Whistler DE1655 -090.5 dBm -107.2 dBm -098.8 dBm $249.95 Whistler DE1790SE -089.4 dBm -104.8 dBm -101.4 dBm $219.95 Whistler DE1780 -088.4 dBm -106.8 dBm -101.4 dBm $104.95 Cobra ESD9100 -088.4 dBm -102.3 dBm -097.9 dBm $129.95 Whistler DE1650 -087.8 dBm -104.8 dBm -095.9 dBm $124.95 Cobra ESD9200 -086.5 dBm -109.7 dBm -101.8 dBm $139.95 Cobra ESD9150 -086.4 dBm -103.8 dBm -101.4 dBm $169.95 Whistler DE 1675 -085.8 dBm -105.7 dBm -101.3 dBm $ 99.99 Uniden LRD957 -085.7 dBm -109.2 dBm -105.3 dBm $189.95 Cobra ESD9220WX -085.2 dBm -105.2 dBm -099.8 dBm $129.95 Uniden LRD967 -085.1 dBm -107.3 dBm -104.4 dBm $199.95 Uniden LRD777 -084.6 dBm -108.3 dBm -108.9 dBm $169.95 Uniden LRD767 -084.5 dBm -106.7 dBm -100.8 dBm $179.95 Uniden LRD987 -083.7 dBm -107.2 dBm -099.8 dBm $164.95 Cobra ESD9550 -083.1 dBm -106.8 dBm -098.9 dBm $184.95 Cobra ESD9850 Here are some other sites I found useful in my search for a good detector: http://www.beltronics.com/consumer.html http://www.escortradar.com/ http://www.valentine1.com/ http://www.speedzones.com/ http://www.radarbusters.com/radar_test.htm http://pages.ebay.com/search/items/search.html http://list.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/show/searchoptions?tab=geo http://search.shopping.yahoo.com/search/advanced/all.html?q=h In the end, I narrowed my list to the following: 1. Valentine 1 2. Passport 8500 3. Bel 980, Vector LR, 950, or Vector 95 Price was the only concern, se I searched eBay and Yahoo! auctions, as well as Yahoo! shopping. I found an auction with a Vector 95 (a new model as of 9/01 or so, barely listed at Bel's site) that I was able to win for less than half of what it cost new. That's right, I got the $269 Vector 95 for $176 including two FDNY T-shirts, about 300 various flag stickers, 50 3x5 flags, about $120 for the detector. It was complete with all accessories in the original box and works perfectly. eBay rules! As for how I got it so cheap, people weren't bidding. I suspect that since there was almost no information online about this detector, people assumed that the Vector95 was an old 1995 model unit, not new for 2001. Research paid off (and I ALMOST got outbid in the last 2 seconds, but my higher proxy bid saved me). Oh, if you are looking for a used detector, here are some tips to keep in mind: 1. Ka band is the most popular police band in the US. 2. Ka wideband was introduced in 1995 or 1996. Don't get a detector older than that, it is unable to do it's job properly. 3. The four big names all produce good detectors: Valentine, Escort/Passport, Bel, and K40. 4. Search the Internet for old tests when considering older models. There are still a few old (1996-1998) sites still up, but they are hard to find. I didn't bookmark them. In a message dated 1/7/02 11:16:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, way2fast at bellsouth.net writes: > February issue of C & D has detector comparison. > Their scores: > > Valentine One 97 > Passport 8500 73 > Bel 980 61 > Cobra XR-1050 43 > Whistler 1780 35 > Uniden LRD 987 34 > > As you might expect, the best cost the most. And the lower three get most of their points from "features," not "sensitivity to police radar." PS: I find it funny that my spell-chucker wants to change "Uniden" to "Undies." -- Dan Pierce ~ Bailey, MI 1986 Concours "Hardcour" ~ IBA#7057 ~ SS1K ~ GitD 6th