[hinckley]

I have to ask this question . . .

I continue to use radar detectors (I have both a V1G2 and a Max 360), but do any of us really need them anymore? I've been using radar detectors since the early-80s (anyone remember Cincinatti Microwave's original Solo?), and I'm having a hard time with the thought of living without one. But I live in a pretty populated area and always have Waze running in CarPlay, and I honestly can't remember the last time my detector went off without a simultaneous Waze alert. More and more I think that detectors have become obsolete. Still, after so many years, it's hard to cut the cord . . .

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I have to ask this question . . .

I continue to use radar detectors (I have both a V1G2 and a Max 360), but do any of us really need them anymore? I've been using radar detectors since the early-80s (anyone remember Cincinatti Microwave's original Solo?), and I'm having a hard time with the thought of living without one. But I live in a pretty populated area and always have Waze running in CarPlay, and I honestly can't remember the last time my detector went off without a simultaneous Waze alert. More and more I think that detectors have become obsolete. Still, after so many years, it's hard to cut the cord . . .

It's definitely something I'm considering in the honeymoon phase with my V1G2 and R8. They're pretty expensive for probably not doing a whole lot compare to what you get for free with apps like Waze nowadays. I'd probably just keep one as insurance in case you run into those situations where you don't have a report yet from someone just getting into position, but it's interesting to think about.

[Aalfred]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I have to ask this question . . .

I continue to use radar detectors (I have both a V1G2 and a Max 360), but do any of us really need them anymore? I've been using radar detectors since the early-80s (anyone remember Cincinatti Microwave's original Solo?), and I'm having a hard time with the thought of living without one. But I live in a pretty populated area and always have Waze running in CarPlay, and I honestly can't remember the last time my detector went off without a simultaneous Waze alert. More and more I think that detectors have become obsolete. Still, after so many years, it's hard to cut the cord . . .

I dont run carplay and I feel like waze in my local area isnt as reliable. After all if someone doesnt report it, it doesnt exist. Also there r areas where waze says there is a cop but they have moved on. Most of the traps seems to be sherrifs driving on the road with their radar on and some even coming from the other side of the freeway which waze cant pick up. So depends on ur driving and area of driving. I drive a lot and didnt want too many misses or false alerts. On the contrary, if we drive around or under the speed limit, radar detectors are not needed anyways...lol

[Mike02z]

I’ve had radar detectors for 20+ years and they have saved me many times. I had a V1 for about 15 years. I had it upgraded a number of times. It just had so many false alarms I sold it.

I went a few years without a detector until I got a ticket for 93 in a 45. (Yeah, I was being an ass after getting cut off). I now have a R7 and like it a lot. It seems to be less “chatty” than the V1. To be fair I moved out into a pretty rural area after ditching the V1.

The R7 works great most of the time. If you get painted with Laser the only thing it’s good for is telling you that you just got a ticket! 😉Your only chance with laser is to hope the police officer hits another car before yours. I was not that lucky and got a 91 in a 70 ticket.

Only sure fire way to avoid a speeding ticket is not to speed. It’s really hard not to speed on lonely highways with an M car!

[M4ord]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I have to ask this question . . .

I continue to use radar detectors (I have both a V1G2 and a Max 360), but do any of us really need them anymore? I've been using radar detectors since the early-80s (anyone remember Cincinatti Microwave's original Solo?), and I'm having a hard time with the thought of living without one. But I live in a pretty populated area and always have Waze running in CarPlay, and I honestly can't remember the last time my detector went off without a simultaneous Waze alert. More and more I think that detectors have become obsolete. Still, after so many years, it's hard to cut the cord . . .

My R8 has saved me 3 times in the last 12 months from backroad traps. Waze is great for popular roads, but that effectivness drops drastically on less driven roads, especially during light traffic times.

[cozye]

I use Waze all the time and have been commuting 9 hours down i65 to florida once every 6 weeks or so for 5 years. It works really well, but the .5 mile warnings are sometimes not enough time, and there are occasions where it isnt marked yet.

Just recently, I got a ticket. Waze did warn me, but I didnt get it in time. So I bought a V1G2. I drive on the interstate a lot, so the longer range and extra warning is worth it. I’ll continue to use Waze in parallel.

[Berzerker]

Random side question, does anyone with iDrive 8 (23 M3/24 M4) have an issue where your GPS drifts if you have BT on your V1/R8 w/ a companion app running? I've been running into this issue and it sounds like it's an iDrive bug, but not sure if anyone knows of any workarounds or if they've also been experiencing this.

I have to completely delete all companion apps and turn off BT on the detector as well as restart iDrive (by holding the volume button) for it to come back properly. This is only an issue in CarPlay.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Random side question, does anyone with iDrive 8 (23 M3/24 M4) have an issue where your GPS drifts if you have BT on your V1/R8 w/ a companion app running? I've been running into this issue and it sounds like it's an iDrive bug, but not sure if anyone knows of any workarounds or if they've also been experiencing this.

I have to completely delete all companion apps and turn off BT on the detector as well as restart iDrive (by holding the volume button) for it to come back properly. This is only an issue in CarPlay.

Take a look at this thread. It may be what you're experiencing. It happens to me about once a month.

[golf4kal]

I have had a Uniden R3 for 5 years and it’s still very good. I usually buy a new detector when I buy a new car and will go for an R8 along with a jammer when my G80 comes next month. The R3 has saved me thousands over the last 5 years and paid for itself within the first month. I like to cruise at 90-100 on the highway when traffic allows and a ticket for that sort of speed is $500+ in addition to point/insurance impact so to me, I’m willing to spend to prolong having to pay a lawyer to get me out of a bad ticket.

That being said, if you’re not a moron like me, cruise at 80 on the highway and only open it up when you’re absolutely sure the coast is clear for a stretch, the R3 or V1 + Waze will do just fine for less initial outlay.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Take a look at this thread. It may be what you're experiencing. It happens to me about once a month.

Yeah I did post there, but this has really only been happening if I use BT with a detector. It seems to have stopped for now so fingers crossed.

[M4ord]

Originally Posted by golf4kal

I have had a Uniden R3 for 5 years and it’s still very good. I usually buy a new detector when I buy a new car and will go for an R8 along with a jammer when my G80 comes next month. The R3 has saved me thousands over the last 5 years and paid for itself within the first month. I like to cruise at 90-100 on the highway when traffic allows and a ticket for that sort of speed is $500+ in addition to point/insurance impact so to me, I’m willing to spend to prolong having to pay a lawyer to get me out of a bad ticket.

That being said, if you’re not a moron like me, cruise at 80 on the highway and only open it up when you’re absolutely sure the coast is clear for a stretch, the R3 or V1 + Waze will do just fine for less initial outlay.

I would be intrested in your experience with jammers once you get it installed. I have only been hit with a laser once in my area (I-95 South Baltimore) by a Maryland State Trooper. Luckly he was on waze and I had some warning. My R8 went off, but if I had been speeding it would be an easy ticket for them to write. Luckly in my state only the troopers use lasers. County and City police use Ka.

[golf4kal]

Originally Posted by M4ord

I would be intrested in your experience with jammers once you get it installed. I have only been hit with a laser once in my area (I-95 South Baltimore) by a Maryland State Trooper. Luckly he was on waze and I had some warning. My R8 went off, but if I had been speeding it would be an easy ticket for them to write. Luckly in my state only the troopers use lasers. County and City police use Ka.

Will start a new thread after installed and “tested”!

[harperium]

I use the Escort Redline 360c, and Waze.

Around Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota, about 50% of the cops I see on the side of the road do NOT show up on Waze and Radar, at all... they just be sittin' there eatin' donuts. I see a lot of cops using Instant On techniques: they are silent, then blast Ka band, then go silent again. But I get chirps well in advance.

Waze and Radar are tools, but not a license to assume no one is watching.

[SoCalBimmerGuy]

Well you was going back between the R8 and my usual valentine. Have been a valentine person since college, tried escort once and hated it. Was very intrigued by the Uniden R8. Kept going back and forth. After much thought and talking to people I decided I wanted the R8 but then it was a price thing was it really worth and extra 100-200 dollars over the V2? Luck had it that Amazon was having a sale on them and ended up getting it for $50 dollars cheaper than a V2. Thank god I did. Far superior to the V2 in many ways and now having it I would have paid full price for it. Less false alarms by far, superior technology, I prefer the LED screen and all around a better unit. I was really surprised as I have had a V1 or V2 in almost every car for the past 15 years. I always sell my cars privately and always sell my detectors with car as an “extra” cost as they are already hardwired and it always allows me to get a new unit every few years. I am truly amazed by how much better the R8 is. To be clear the valentine is not bad at all and is also a great unit. If anyone asked me what radar detector to get it would be the R8.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by SoCalBimmerGuy

Well you was going back between the R8 and my usual valentine. Have been a valentine person since college, tried escort once and hated it. Was very intrigued by the Uniden R8. Kept going back and forth. After much thought and talking to people I decided I wanted the R8 but then it was a price thing was it really worth and extra 100-200 dollars over the V2? Luck had it that Amazon was having a sale on them and ended up getting it for $50 dollars cheaper than a V2. Thank god I did. Far superior to the V2 in many ways and now having it I would have paid full price for it. Less false alarms by far, superior technology, I prefer the LED screen and all around a better unit. I was really surprised as I have had a V1 or V2 in almost every car for the past 15 years. I always sell my cars privately and always sell my detectors with car as an “extra” cost as they are already hardwired and it always allows me to get a new unit every few years. I am truly amazed by how much better the R8 is. To be clear the valentine is not bad at all and is also a great unit. If anyone asked me what radar detector to get it would be the R8.

Pair it with v1driver on your phone and it elevates up to the next level. Auto learning GPS lockouts, some great other QoL features. It's a fantastic combo.

[M4ord]

Today, I was driving down a two-lane double yellow road, and the K band alert on my R8 went off. Usually, when Kband goes off, it blips for a second or two, and the signal strength never goes above half (alerting on a vehicle or store proximity sensors). However, This time, the signal started low and gradually built up until it was full strength. Sure enough, a Ford Interceptor (SUV) is traveling in the opposite direction, scanning oncoming traffic while in motion. I mention this on this thread because of the usefulness questions in today's world with Waze and other apps. The R8 gave me about half a mile of notification. Also, don't ignore K-Band fellow travelers.

[Mike02z]

I got hit with laser last year and my R7 gave me a nice alert informing me I just got a ticket😂

I see people talk about laser jammers. I thought these were strictly illegal in the US or is a state by state law? Of course I would never buy it if illegal.

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

I got hit with laser last year and my R7 gave me a nice alert informing me I just got a ticket😂

I see people talk about laser jammers. I thought these were strictly illegal in the US or is a state by state law? Of course I would never buy it if illegal.

Laser jammers are legal in most places actually. It's a fairly involved and not cheap setup, so most don't do it.

Illegal in: California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington D.C

Legal everywhere else.

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

Laser jammers are legal in most places actually. It's a fairly involved and not cheap setup, so most don't do it.

Illegal in: California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington D.C

Legal everywhere else.

Thank you! Unfortunately SC looks like they are banned 😪

[SwankPeRFection]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

I got hit with laser last year and my R7 gave me a nice alert informing me I just got a ticket😂

I see people talk about laser jammers. I thought these were strictly illegal in the US or is a state by state law? Of course I would never buy it if illegal.

There never has been and will never be a better laser scatter pickup than what the V1 has. The V1G2 had it neutered for a while, but it seems the latest firmware for it has reintroduced its ability to pick up LTI TSS guns. The jury is still out a bit on it and K band reactivity is still slow compared to the previous gen, but laser detection on my previous gen version has saved me a few times where the cop is shooting down the road at cars in front of me. If you’re by yourself, it’s probably not going to help, unless you get shot, slam on your brakes hard enough to cause the cop to let you go out of choice, but it does work. Other detectors absolutely blow in comparison to the V1 in this department, so if you’re in a state you don’t want to get caught with jammers trying to portray as parking sensors, it might save you on such occasions, depending on the circumstances.

[kiw1]

Originally Posted by M4ord

Very subjective question. Check on this forum - https://www.rdforum.org

I went with an R8 for fewer false positives, and I am happy with it. I use Apple, so the Highway Radar app paired with a Valentine or Escort does not appeal to me. Waze and the R8 have worked well but check out the forum.

+1 for rdforum and the R8. This channel is also great: https://youtube.com/@VortexRadar?si=qatlXCaQOfc35XYD

[Berzerker]

Originally Posted by SwankPeRFection

There never has been and will never be a better laser scatter pickup than what the V1 has. The V1G2 had it neutered for a while, but it seems the latest firmware for it has reintroduced its ability to pick up LTI TSS guns. The jury is still out a bit on it and K band reactivity is still slow compared to the previous gen, but laser detection on my previous gen version has saved me a few times where the cop is shooting down the road at cars in front of me. If you’re by yourself, it’s probably not going to help, unless you get shot, slam on your brakes hard enough to cause the cop to let you go out of choice, but it does work. Other detectors absolutely blow in comparison to the V1 in this department, so if you’re in a state you don’t want to get caught with jammers trying to portray as parking sensors, it might save you on such occasions, depending on the circumstances.

Getting hit with Laser no matter which RD you're using is just for show. It's a ticket notification system rather than something that'll save you from one.