Laser Jammers vs Radar Detectors

[DVEINEDER]

If you could only buy one, a radar detector or a laser jammer, which would you choose and why?

[pffog]

If you could only buy one, a radar detector or a laser jammer, which would you choose and why?

Radar detectors work, laser jammes DO NOT! I have never seen a credible test showing a Laser jammer doing anything but draining ones wallet.


NOW if they did work, Radar detector for sure, I encounter 200 radar set ups to every 1 laser encounter, if not more. Laser is primarily used on Interstates and major highways, and I do not ride interstates, and avoid major highways like the plague.

[SteveAikens]

Valentine 1. They do not violate federal law and work. Most so-called jammers do nothing. Those that do are transmitters that violate the law.

I run a V-1. There are others out there that are at least as good in detection, sensitivity and false signal rejection but to my knowledge, the V-1 is the only one that actually shows you how many and where they're located.

[DVEINEDER]

Thanks for the feedback on the laser Jammers. Also good info on the valentine 1

[tommcgee]

Here we go again...

[DVEINEDER]

Here we go again...

If you know of a thread on this topic, please share it.

[RINTY]

Here's a current thread from the Rennlist (Porsche) site. There are some laser jammer units that work well:

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...r-jammers.html

There are a number of older threads in the 993 subsection as well, with some of our members swearing by their jammers.

...which would you choose, and why...DVEINEDER

The radar detecter is your first choice, as there are more radar sets around than lasers, and radar detecters will pick up radar miles away, under the right conditions. If you can afford it, a jammer is nice, for additional protection. A radar/laser detecter may help you against laser if you have a scout in front of you who gets lasered, but otherwise not. As soon as you hear and see the signal detection, you've already been clocked.

I've done a lot of research into this topic, and JIMO, the best, cost effective unit is a Valentine V1, if used behind a scout. I have an Escort 8500 X50, and it, and other detecters before it, have saved me dozens of tickets over the years. My usual practise is to follow a scout, by a few hundred metres, depending on the situation.

[pffog]

Here's a current thread from the Rennlist (Porsche) site. There are some laser jammer units that work well:
...............

I don't trust testimonials, no one will admit they wasted $500, so they convince themselves it works.

I want a test by a major automotive publication, or completely independent lab (test NOT paid by a manufacturer)

[tommcgee]

I don't trust testimonials, no one will admit they wasted $500, so they convince themselves it works.

I want a test by a major automotive publication, or completely independent lab (test NOT paid by a manufacturer)

The ones that work are not jammers, they are frequency shifters. Still if you get painted by a laser spot at a place on your vehicle away from the shifter device, they are useless. The LIDAR beamwidth is about 3 feet at 1000 feet.

[RINTY]

I don't trust testimonials...pffog

Fair enough, but I have been a member there for years, and, as with the Forum, you get a feel for the culture of the place, and who you can and can't rely on.

And, like the MOAers, the Rennlisters are a critical bunch, so any BS gets dealt with, sometimes harshly.

[Omega Man]

I haven't seen anything come close to the Valentine 1. Some say "I wouldn't pay $400.00 for a radar detector", actually that's one save-when you add the costs.
When you run any of these devices you need to educate yourself as to how the radar or laser works. If you are first in the line-or the only one on the road-when you are targeted it's pretty much over. IIRC you need a deceleration of around 3 feet per second to compensate for the device to update and you might make it.
The V1 gives such a long distance warning that vehicles targeted ahead of you will set it off. As for false alarms-really no such thing. Anything operating at the radar frequency will set it off. This would include the automatic door openers at the mall you pass on the highway. A use of the wiper/washer while headed into the sun can be seen by a detector as laser shot.
If doing the Ton really gets you going, that's one thing. If you like to be reminded that the speed limit changed when you get off the highway-it's another. OM

[lmo1131]

Here we go again...

If you know of a thread on this topic, please share it.

radar detector? - 7 pages

Laser, Radar, Jammer...what? - 5 pages

Laser protection - 5 pages

Radar Detector - 5 pages

Seeking radar detector advice - 3 pages

Radar detector for the thrifty? - 3 pages

Radar Detector Valentine vs. Passport - 2 pages

[RINTY]

Yeah, they're like oil threads.

[Kent Niederhofer]

Dear BMWMOAers,

Is the Valentine V1 a designed-and-built-for-motorcycles radar detector in that it is compact, can be operated with gloves on, has visual alerts AND is waterproof? I've been thinking about getting one and have been looking at the unit made specially for motorcycles by Adaptiv. Does anyone have a view on that device versus the Valentine? And what good is the Valentine if it can't get wet? Thanks.

Kent

[RINTY]

The V1 is not specifically designed for motorcycles. Neither is my Escort. If I see rain coming, I just detach it and throw it in the tank bag, as I'm not going to need it in the rain. I believe there are still waterproof boxes available.

As for being glove friendly, these units are set it and forget it; my Escort is on automatic all the time.

The only hassle for me is the helmet wire, so this spring I'm going to have to go wireless, with a BlueTooth rig.

As for the Adaptiv, I took a long hard look at it, but the reviews I read were mixed. I really wish it were as good as Valentine/Escort, but I'm just not sure, so I'm not buying.