Radar Detectors

Submitted: Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 11:36
ThreadID: 59455 Views:3256 Replies:11 FollowUps:11
This Thread has been Archived
I was flicking through Overlander and saw an ad for detectors. I thought they were illegal everywhere, but it seems not so in WA.

Does anyone have one, or more likely do you have a mate who has one and do they work?

Given that they are about $800 and I've been pinched twice in the last 15 years for a total of about $300, they hold nothing other than interest to me. I couldn't justify the cost even if I wanted one.

Also the fine for having in Vic is about $2000 I believe.

Jim.

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Warfer (VIC) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 12:03

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 12:03
Hiya Jim

Yeah mate uses one and he said they are effective,but as you said get caught with it and you'll burn a hole in your wallet as well as demerit points...


The only solution is stick to the limit,Save money on a detector,Save money on a fine and Save your demerit points....~(8--)

In New Zealand a couple of years ago a friend had a Holden Monaro (Brand New)...This BMW decided to take him on heading on the freeway into Wellington (He had his detector going) He pulled out.. The BMW obviously did not hav one and was pulled over !

Cheers


Prestige
AnswerID: 313597

Reply By: howesy - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 12:53

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 12:53
And the police Radar detector detectors have also improved and some old stealth models are now detectable so if you dont buy the right one you may find that even the stealth model you buy might get you a $2000 fine.
AnswerID: 313602

Reply By: Matt(WA) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 12:55

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 12:55
Jim,
You can still legally buy them over here. Don't know about the legalities of using it? Lots of people have them. I had one but found it annoying more than anything. 1. I try not to speed anymore and 2. They are so damn powerful that every time you come to a intersection or bend in the road where you are remotely facing a shop front, it picks up the radar for the auto door opening/closing device or the anti theft beepers. Sure is annoying. Don't have it any more as I had it turned off all the time.
Matt

Lifetime Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 313603

Reply By: V8Diesel - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 14:14

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 14:14
I had one, but found I constantly failed to notice it beeping when I was drunk and had the music up loud.

The burglar alarm at the local kindergaten kept giving me false readings too, meaning I slowed down a number of times for no reason at all.

I swapped it for some crystal meth and a crowbar.
AnswerID: 313615

Follow Up By: Member - Bill F (VIC) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:34

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:34
Hey V8

Its not Friday Funnies time but I sure had a laugh

BillF
0
FollowupID: 579716

Follow Up By: mike w (WA) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 20:00

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 20:00
LOLOL.

Thats good
0
FollowupID: 579756

Reply By: Stephen M (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 14:41

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 14:41
I think WA is the only place where you can still use them, but they are pretty well useless these days as they dont pick up fixed cameras and a lot of states dont give you a series of warning signs that you are approaching one like here in NSW. They will only pick up the radar gun if they aim it at some one else first so that you get a warning if your lucky, eg if you come over a hill they will lock your speed in with in 3 seconds, so techinally you have 3 seconds for the radar detector to get the signal, warn you, you have to hit the brakes and slow down all with in 3 seconds. If you buy a good quality one they are very effective and dont give you all the false alarms the cheaper ones do, BUT still no more effective to what I metioned above.The police do have detectors that can detect if you have one or not. Most of the times the police will wait untill they have some one in there sights before turning it on (in car radar) especially in country areas. Very effective say 10/20 years ago but not worth it now in my opinion. And yes I had two of them over a period of 10 years in some cases running both at the same time (one on dash the other on sunvisor). One was $400 the other $900. Did they save me ?? Possibly yes, or maybe a matter of luck.Did I speed ?? yes, wasnt extreme but was over the limits with out a doubt. Used one all the way over to WA and back sitting on 130k across the plains. Dont know wether they still have them or not but there use to be white lines painted across the roads at certain distances apart and supposidly a plane would be above and see how long it took you to get between the tow painted lines. I never saw any plains when I went over.I couldnt be bothered now. Just cruise along if people want to overtake me they can. We learn as we get older that we are not indestructable like you think you are at 18. Regards Steve M
AnswerID: 313619

Reply By: revhead307 - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 15:41

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 15:41
I have had 2. They saved me plenty of times a few years ago when i had my v8 hilux. i tend not to speed as much anymore haha.

They are becoming less and less effective as the police not only change their technology but also their tactics.

The cops used to have their radars on all the time, and you could often pick them up before you could even see them. allowing time to slow down etc.

These days they drive round with it off, then switch it on when they want. which is usually when they are in sight of you and you have no reaction time.

I wouldnt waste $800 on one. They would still save you sometimes, but not as often as before i think.

Jeff
AnswerID: 313627

Reply By: DIO - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 17:54

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 17:54
Don't waste your money, they are useless in Australia and illegal too (as previously stated).
AnswerID: 313656

Reply By: Zapper - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:26

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:26
Legal to buy and use in WA. Valentine 1 the only way to go, the dearest but still the best, work great on multanova and normal radar. Laser is only prob as it has such a narrow beam is difficult to pick up b4 too late. All the above replies that say they dont work cant have used them much (or bought Unidens) cause they certainly do
AnswerID: 313663

Follow Up By: Garbutt - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:48

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:48
Radar Detectors will NOT work on Lasers. Trust me!
0
FollowupID: 579721

Follow Up By: Zapper - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:52

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 18:52
mmm mine does but not if you are the 1st one targeted its all over too quick then
0
FollowupID: 579723

Follow Up By: Member - Warfer (VIC) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:09

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:09
*Radar Detectors will NOT work on Lasers. Trust me!*




Thats correct !


Cheers
0
FollowupID: 579728

Follow Up By: Garbutt - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:45

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:45
"mmm mine does but not if you are the 1st one targeted its all over too quick then "

Wrong. Radar detectors detect radar. A laser speed detection device does not use radar, but a light emition device which cannot be detected by a radar detector, you are kidding yourself.

GB
0
FollowupID: 579745

Follow Up By: Zapper - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:54

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:54
Wrong??? Why is that? all modern radar detectors detect laser too...

V1

V1 Laser
I have one do you?
0
FollowupID: 579750

Follow Up By: BMKal - Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 at 04:38

Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 at 04:38
Hmmmm - obviously a few comments by "experts" here who don't know a lot about radar detectors at all.

Lasers - even my 6 year old Belltronics will detect them - that's old technology. Anybody who states that a radar detector will not detect laser speed guns really doesn't know what he or she is talking about. There's even a car yard with a laser beam set up across the front of their forecourt at night here to prevent vehicle theft. If I'm travelling in the lane closest to their yard, the detector will give a laser alert every time I drive past there when it is turned on. Will also detect fire engines & ambulances travelling with their lights / sirens activated (do they emit a RADAR signal ???), and also detects some roadworks sites in advance. All of these give distinctive warnings (fire & ambulance - the warning is "emergency vehicle in transit" plus distinct alarm). When it senses a laser, again it emits a distinct alarm, and the american voice calls "laser alert". I have had it go off many times on laser alert, and have seen the copper standing there with a laser gun mounted on a tripod pointed at me.

Nuisance value in the city - yes - they can be bloody annoying. Even when turned to lowest sensitivity, I find that most service stations you drive past will set them off, along with many other businesses.

On the highway - they are brilliant. No - they won't save you every time for reasons mentioned in previous posts, but more often than not, they will give you enough warning to back off. I'd hate to guess how many times mine has saved me.

I don't speed excessively, and don't even use mine in the city any more. But when driving regularly between Kalgoorlie & Perth (600km) you do get tempted to sit just a little bit over the posted 110 limit, especially between Coolgardie & Southern Cross.
0
FollowupID: 580121

Follow Up By: Member - Warfer (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 at 17:54

Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 at 17:54
Hmmmm - obviously a few comments by "experts" here who don't know a lot about radar detectors at all.


Always a smartarse in the crowd,Hang on No-one claimed to be an expert here...

My friend uses one all the time,Its about 4 years old if not older,He has said on a number of occasions it WILL NOT pick up laser...Now if the latest Laser only picks up when your booked what use is it anyway...They are a pain in the ass all the false readings...




Cheers
0
FollowupID: 580168

Follow Up By: BMKal - Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 02:44

Monday, Jul 07, 2008 at 02:44
Well Warfer - you were one of those who claimed that radar detectors WILL NOT detect lasers.

The simple fact is that you are WRONG.

The fact that you have a mate who said that his does not detect them does not mean that all units out there are the same. There are plenty of cheap versions around - maybe that's what your mate had. The better brands, of which Beltronics is only one, have been able to detect laser for years.

And the range at which a decent unit can detect laser is some kilometers, so it is quite possible to detect them before the cops are even trying to record your speed. It is not unusual at all for the detector to detect a laser when it is being aimed at a vehicle well in front of you, giving you plenty of warning of what is ahead - I have had this happen many times. You are correct in that if the cops have not turned on their laser until they have you in their sights, then your warning will come too late, as they will usually have recorded your speed before you have time to react.

Where I was working until recently (a gold mine), the "plastic policemen" as we called them (security) had both "K band" radar and laser speed detectors. On a long straight on the access road into site, I could detect either of these some 5 or more km away as they were training them on vehicles in front of me.

As far as the false readings go, I think I agreed with your comments in my previous post. I don't bother using mine in the city or major built up areas where you do get a lot of false readings. And I usually keep my speed a bit below the limit in these areas anyway, so trying to use it in these circumstances is a bit pointless. But out on the open road, I can't ever remember getting a false reading. If the thing goes off, there is a cop around somewhere. And on a lot of the open roads over here over long distances, the temptation to sit a little bit above the posted 110 limit is difficult to resist in the right conditions.
0
FollowupID: 580230

Reply By: Ray - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:29

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 19:29
Is'nt it time some on marketed a radar jammer???????
AnswerID: 313683

Follow Up By: John S (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 20:11

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 20:11
Years ago we did have radar jammers - and they were very effective. But then the radars went digital, and they can not be jammed. Beltronics have a new stealth range of radar detectors that are invisable to the Stalcar/Spectre RDD - they are available in QLD and are very effective. But as stated with changing tactics, you are really only protected when other vehicles are ahead of you. We used them all the time, now they sit in the draw at home. They rarely get used - the uhf is just as good on the highways.

Laser protection comes in the form of a laser jammer that is effective down to about 150mtrs depending on the jammer and laser gun, and a laser jammer is the ONLY protection.

0
FollowupID: 579763

Reply By: Member - Brett C (WA) - Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 21:30

Thursday, Jul 03, 2008 at 21:30
Have had my Bel AU/NZ Long Range for 7 years. 300 metres minimum warning on low powered speed cameras, 500 metres plus on high powered (these are now rare).

Laser not a problem...two pulses come through. First one, unit goes crazy, hit the breaks, second pulse comes through. NO fine. But Police officer waives his finger at me possibly indicating that the laser devise has been confused.

Police cars....kilometres on notice.

False alarms...very rare, and I now where they are so ignore them

Legal to purchase and legal to use in WA.

This is my second Bel...would not touch another brand after this one.

I do not use it as a license to speed, but more for the warning that it gives me while on the handsfree. Even with handsfree, I am not fully there and running on autopilot.

My two bobs.

Brett......
AnswerID: 313726

Reply By: Member - Alanc - Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 at 02:50

Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 at 02:50
My two bobs worth - I spend most days driving the metro area and after 15yrs of being lucky and not being pinched I got flashed by speed cameras three times in three weeks (only got one fine though) - I was just over the limit each time so I invested in a Bell 995 Radar & LASER detector. I'm not a habitual speeder but at times, when not concentrating , thinking about the next appointment etc speed drifts up a bit.

In the past two years it has probably saved me once , most of the times when it goes off its a reminder to watch my speed, it only false alarms when my mobile rings ?? . It works well against roadside cameras and whilst it works against the hand held guns but by the time it goes off you are booked. It has the added safety feature that when certain emergency vehicles are in the area it gives out an audible warning ',Emergency vehicle in the area" a similar warning is sometimes broadcast when there are road workers in the vicinity.

I like it and they are currently legal here n WA although there are moves to have them banned.
AnswerID: 314065

Sponsored Links

Popular Products (9)