There are three main factors that need to be considered when deciding upon which radar detector is best for YOU and your driving needs.
Firstly, are radar detectors legal in your country or state? Currently the use of a radar detector in a passenger vehicle is legal in all U.S. states except Virginia, Washington DC and on any military base. In Australia however, it is an entirely different story with most states banning the use of radar detectors in all vehicles.
Those that choose to ignore the laws and
use a radar detector where
prohibited run the risk of a
fine, varying from state to state - which can be viewed on our
FAQ page. The police use an electronic device (known as a
radar detector detector
or RDD for short)
that can pick up the small lo frequency leak inherit to all (but two)
radar detectors. Even though a RD is in itself a passive device, it
still emits electronic noise and it is this electronic noise that the
police
RDD will detect.
This is how police catch motorists using a (non-stealth) detector in
areas where they are banned.
So whilst we certainly don't encourage nor recommend using a radar detector in an area that bans their use, those that choose to ignore the laws require one that is "invisible" to ALL radar detector detectors. Many radar detectors are invisible (cannot be electronically detected) to the older VG-2 RDDs, but there are only two that are invisible to all RDDs and that is the Bel STi and the Bel STi-R.
The second most important factor in deciding which detector is
best for
you, is determined by which speed
measurement devices are used in your country, state, or in some cases,
even town? This is an important question that is often overlooked
by the novice radar detector owner conducting their initial research, or
relying on a salesman at a particular car electronics store (who may or may not stock every brand
available).
The best radar detector (for your specific area) should perform exceptionally well against the specific threats used in your area. This may seem somewhat obvious, however different speed measuring devices have subtle differences that are better detected by different RD models.
For example if Gatso speed cameras are used around your area, then you need a radar detector that is performs well against the Gatso, such as the Cheetah Sentinel.
If Multanova speed cameras are used, then ideally you need a RD with a Ka-narrow band filter to detect the 34.3Ghz frequency of these units, such as the Bel 990i, 975 remote or Bel STi-R.
If laser is used in your area, then you should consider a RD with excellent laser optics, such as the Valentine One.
The point I'm trying to make here, is that whilst one particular model radar detector may do exceptionally well when tested (in a particular country or even state) and may be declared "the world's best detector" - it may not be the best detector for your neck of the woods.
North America is one of the largest markets for radar detectors, where many excellent reviews have been written. The difference between the US and Australia markets however, is that:
1) Most Australian states ban the use of a RD and
2) There are many more speed cameras used in Australia than in the US.
These two differences alone mean (for example) the Beltronics RX65 radar detector performs exceptionally well in North America, but isn't the best choice for Australian drivers for two reasons:
Firstly the Bel RX65 is NOT invisible to RDD's such as the Stalcar (called Spectre in the US) that are used extensively throughout Eastern Australia. If you choose to operate a RX65 on the East Coast of Aus, you run the risk of it being detected and the unit confiscated. Fines in Australia can be viewed on our FAQ page. You can also see some videos on how far the RX65 can be detected by the Spectre 2 and Spectre 3.
The second reason the RX65 isn't the best choice for Australia is that is has very poor performance against Multanova Speed Cameras (used in WA and NZ). Inconsistent would actually be a better description. On some occasions the Bell RX65 detector would give a couple of hundred metres warning on the cameras, but other times, as little as 40m. The RX65 was never designed to deliberately "sniff out" Ka narrow band signals, like the Bel 990i was, and so for this reason is not ideal for Multanovas.
So for these two reasons, we do not recommend the RX65 as the best choice for Australian conditions as other detectors perform better and / or are much better suited.
Review by nvr2fast 7/9/04
"I have tested the RX65 against the Multanova 6F (34.3 KA
band frequency), which is a very common and popular brand of radar outside
of the USA, and is used extensively in Europe, Asia, Australia, etc. I am
personally in Asia.
For these photo radars (photocop), the radar and camera is pointed forwards
together with the outgoing traffic (to imagine, it is taking a photo of the
rear number plate as you pass it, NOT the front like in the USA). So
basically as you pass the radar/camera, it detects your speed and if you are
speeding, it takes your photo.
Now, I've tested 2 different radar setups 10 times going back and forth on 2
separate occasions, so there is little chance that my results are a "fluke".
What I found is that if you are on the opposite side of the road (ie. not
the side the radar/camera is operating), then the RX65 can detect it almost
8-10 seconds away while going approximately 60-70Kmph.
However, if you are on the same side of the road as the radar again at
60-70Kmph (the side that the camera can shoot your rear number plate!) then
the warning is anywhere between 1 to 3 seconds ONLY! In my mind, 1-3 seconds
is NOT SUFFICIENT to slow down or react. I was almost next to the radar
before it beeped! I was actually watching the radar get closer... closer...
waiting for it to beep...waiting.... THEN it beeped as i was almost there
with only a second or two to react.
Also note that the radar must be put into "INTL" mode and not "USA" or "DEF"
(default) mode. In any mode except International mode, ABSOLUTELY NO
response is received. So I am sure that in USA mode, 34.3 KA band frequency
is not monitored by the RX65 (if you know what frequencies USA mode
monitors, please reveal!). This is not explained in the manual.
Also, I had the detector in "HIGHWAY" mode for maximum range and detection
already! I predict that in "AUTOSCAN" and other modes, the performance will
be WORSE.
I also tried progressively turning ON/OFF the X band, K band, KU band, and
POP band, hoping the results would improve, but it didn't affect anything at
all. Finally I turned everything else off except KA band (X band off, K band
off, KU band off, POP band off, KA band on) and it still only responded
about 1-3 seconds before the camera/radar, so there was basically no
difference.
My friends with the Valentine 1 (V1) also tested it against the same radar,
and they got about 2-5 seconds warning. This isn't a huge difference, but it
is very slightly better.
Personally I would say you need at LEAST 5 seconds warning before the radar
to react and slow down.
I even sent my unit back for replacement once, because I thought the
perfomance couldn't possibly be this poor, but the same happened again. I
purchased from a large authorized seller for Beltronics in the USA.
As a side note, when POP band is enabled it seems there are quite a few
false alerts/warnings.
Also, the Escort 8500 X50 has basically the same electronic internals except
with voice alerts and KU band disabled (same microprocessor, same antenna),
so I cannot imagine it performing any better than the RX65 (I have not
personally tested this unit's performance so I am not 100% on this but 99%.
Maybe someone else with the 8500 X50 can directly test and comment!)
Overall, I am disappointed that the RX65 performs so poorly outside of the
USA. This unit is supposed to be the BEST unit offered by Beltronics, so if
this "best" unit performs so poorly, I can't imagine how the lesser units
are going to perform"
Whilst the first two factors in determining the best radar detector for you relate to your geographical location, the third factor is your budget. How much you're willing to spend, will naturally have an impact on the final decision you make.
So what does all this mean?
We'll make it very simple for you:
For
Australian drivers:
WHY?
If you are in Western Australia, your number one choice for "best radar detector" is the Valentine One
1) It has the longest range against Multanova speed cameras...period. Even when they are set up facing the rear of traffic. (proof)
2) It has the best optics in the world for laser detection, which means you have the greatest chance of a pre-warning against laser (proof)
3) It is the most sensitive detector in the world for detecting the Falcon hand-held radar and the Kustom (K-band) dash mounted radar used by the West Australian Police (proof)
4) It is one of the quietest detectors against false alarms when programmed correctly (videos coming)
The second choice would be the Escort X50
WHY?
1) It has good warning against the Multanova cameras (it out-performs the RX65) but doesn't give as much warning when the camera is set up facing the rear of traffic.
2) It has the second best laser optics for detecting police laser.
3) It is a cheaper buy than the STi, which is why we have chosen the X50 as the number 2 choice.
If you are in Eastern Australia, then the number one choice for best radar detector would be the Beltronics STi with our added Hidden Installation Kit
1) The Bel STi is the only radar detector that is 100% invisible to radar detector detectors (RDD's) such as Stalcar & Spectre (proof)
2) The Hidden kit package allows you to have your detector permanently mounted, but hidden out of sight.
Our second choice would be the Escort X50, although this detector is NOT invisible to RDD. It is easily detected by Stalcar & Spectre, just like the Valentine & RX65. It comes in second because it is a cheaper buy than the Valentine and out-performs the RX65
For New
Zealand Drivers:
