Hey! Anyone Wanna RADAR ???

[BlackDeuceCoupe]

Anyone have a RADAR detector except me??? I've been trying out some Bel's...

The top three radar detectors, reportedly, are the Valentine One, Escort 8500 and Bel 980. I couldn't find a Valentine One, I couldn't find an Escort 8500. The Bel 980 that I found was a ripoff --- $329 in the store --- only $219 on the web. The Bel Express 936 was $149 in the store --- $129 on the web.

I'll usually buy [and return] 5-10 detectors before I find one that suits me. That's why I prefer to buy from store-front retailers with liberal return policies.

IMO, Bel's has the worst mounting hardware of any radar detector I've ever seen, at any price. The windshield mount is totally useless. It allows the unit to vibrate so violently you can't even read the display. The speaker is on the wrong side, pointing at the passenger-side of the car. With the unit mounted next to the rear-view mirror using the OEM windshield mount, you can't read the display and you can't hear the speaker.

I tried mounting it on the visor, but the damn piece-of-crap visor clip that comes with them won't open wide enough. That only leaves dash-mounting with Velcro strips.

I tried it over the instrument cluster, but that sucked. It looked stupid and put a bad reflection, at night, right where you're looking at the road.

• 

The best place I have found is on the dash, to the left of the instrument cluster, next to the pillar. Yes, I checked it, and it has an unobstructed view of the road ahead --- no windshield wipers in the way, et cetera. No reflection on the windshield, you can hear and understand the audio alerts, you can get at [and read] the buttons, and all that sort of stuff. The only problem is --- this is where the weathermen on TV always fire eggs, to show you how hot it is outside. It's not a great spot for a radar detector in Arizona --- one of the hottest places on Earth.

Also, I hate the numeric read outs/digital displays. I vastly prefer multi-colored LED indicates, or like some Cobra's have, a strobe. The readout on the Bel's is too weak to read in the daytime and too bright and bothersome at night. I've been turning the display off most of the time.

Having said ALL THIS... I think the Bel 980 is going to be a keeper. It saved by ass 3 times on the holiday weekend. I don't know how things were where you live, but the pigs were out in force in AZ.

The 980 is definitely much more sensitive than the Express 936 that I recently tried, and a little more prone to falses [good IMO]. It's still V quiet. You can even use it around town with no probs.

I've discovered it'll detect pulsed KA over-the-horizon, which is a MAJOR plus in this area.

Anyway, now I need to pick out a good place to buy it on the web. I bought it at a major retailer for $329, which is a total rip-off. You can find it at numerous places on the web for $207-$220.

The 980 is an all-around better RADAR detector than the Express 936. It's a shame they play these stupid games with consumers. I don't see any reason why the volume and display should be weaker on lower priced models. The 980 made me jump out of my seat the first time it went off. It's embarassing loud when you turn it on. I've actually turned the 'startup test' off, so ppl don't stare at me when I start my car.

With that, I'll take a deep breath...