So you are on your way to work running late for an important meeting when you take a turn around a bend in the road and when you straighten out again you see lights flashing and a siren behind you. You were caught speeding, and now not only are you going to have to pay an expensive speeding ticket but your insurance is also going to get more expensive. All of this could have been avoided with one simple tool, one simple piece of equipment, a radar detector.
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How Radar Guns Work
First, we need to learn how a radar gun works before we can understand how a radar detector functions. Most radar guns work by transmitting radio waves and bouncing them off objects (your vehicle) and then receiving them again. A radar detector however detects the radio waves the radar gun is transmitting before it can reflect off your vehicle. So by being able to pick up these waves you are able know when someone is measuring your speed, most specifically police officers.
Common Radar Detector Types
Radar detectors come in 3 main types cordless, corded and remote mounted units.
Corded units are usually the cheapest and the plug right into your car’s cigarette lighter and they typically have better range. One corded radar detector unit we looked at was the Escort 8500. It was very easy to install and detected radars 10/10 times we tested it. The only drawback is the high price tag of $300, but when you think about the money it will save you on speeding tickets, it is well worth it!
Cordless units lack in many areas. They need to have batteries replaced constantly and have more limited range and functionality tan corded counter-parts. The upside however, is that you have no cords and your cigarette lighter is free to be used for other such things. There are only a few high quality cordless models one of them is Escort’s Solo 2. It has surprisingly good range despite other cordless models but it is still not up to par with a corded detector.
The final type of radar detectors are remote mounted units. These detectors are typically more concealed than other detectors but are more expensive and not very easy to remove. These should always be professionally installed.
Are Radar Detectors Legal?
Radar detectors are legal in most U.S. states excluding Virginia and Washington D.C. Radar detectors are also illegal on or near military bases or camps. Commercial trucks that exceed 10,000 pounds are not permitted to have radar detectors in them. Police use special technology that can detect when a radar is being used and track its location down as well.
A radar detector is a necessity for any automobile driver that may get a little heavy-footed. Although no radar detector will work 100% of the time, they might save you from pesky speeding tickets once in a while. They can be expensive but if they save you from paying tickets and higher insurance costs it is well worth it.
Benefits of Having a Radar Detector
Anyone who had the experience of being given the speeding ticket will tell you about the significance of a radar detector. A radar detector is a small device that helps in preventing you from getting a speeding ticket. It is one of the various advanced features of today’s hi-tech world and is of tremendous use in saving you money not only on the parking tickets but also the insurance amounts you have to pay.
It is quite common to see a radar detector plugged into the cigarette lighter and mounted on the dashboard area. But most of you take it for granted and probably have no inkling of how the devices work and other important details like whether they are officially permitted or not.
Use of Radar Jammers
Use of radar jammer is considered as against the law in the United States and if you are caught red handed with the radar jammer then you may face severe consequences like felony conviction coupled with a fine. The radar jammer is used to decipher the radar waves and LIDAR which are targeted on your vehicle and prevent you from being detected. Due to the risk involved it is certainly not advisable to own one.
Different Brands of Radar Detectors Available
You can get various types of radar detectors in the market like the Beltronics BEL RX54 radar detector, Whistler XTR-690 radar or laser detector and many others from which you can select the one required by you. The guarantee offered by the manufacturer should be perused properly before purchasing a particular brand.
You may wonder whether purchasing a radar detector prevents you completely from being caught for speeding. Many companies offer a guarantee of one year within which if you get a speeding ticket then the cost of the expense will be paid by the company. Some companies do not have this feature so it is always wise to check before going for an outright purchase of the equipment.
Beltronics Vector 955: A Quick Review
The Beltronics Vector 955 radar detector does not give false readings and can be turned off in local areas by pressing the mute button three times. The radar detector has excellent sensitivity on normal roads and the ramp-up is much better than all. This detector gives its best performance on straight highways. It is also inexpensive when compared to other products and comes at a reasonable price.
However, the Beltronics Vector 955 Radar Detector is not very sensitive around curves, which makes it difficult to use on interstate highways with wide curves. This is a rare case but apart from that, the features of this radar detector are far better than its previous models.
Beltronics Vector 955 radar detector is a perfect travel partner and versatile. The suction cup provided in the mount cord is good and the detector is very stable on bumpy roads due to shock resistance provided by the suction cups in the mount.
The radar detector is very good for city driving, as it can save the user from a lot of speed traps. It is much better than any other cheap radar detector and it is worth every dime spent. Beltronics Vector 955 Radar Detector is a reliable and secure radar detector that can be used by all drivers.
