Which Radar Detector?

[WGB]

My family are searching for a birthday present for me in the near future and as I am doing a lot of city and country running and as the constabulary seem to be getting more active I decided on a Radar Detector.

Western Australia is the only State in Oz where RD's are still legal but there is always the chance that the law may change in the future.

I purchased my first detector - a Super Snooper in 1978 - then a Passport in 1985 and some other thing in the 1990's that told me after I passed through a Multanova  (my wife and I always said thank you to it but as we'd usually passed through the trap before the three muted "bleats" it was useless in the real world) and spent the rest of the time beeping at every passing door opener.

My previous detector was hardwired into my previous E320 and I never bothered to put it into my ML when I purchased it so I have spent the last 2 1/2 years (out of 31) without a radar detector.

Without moving into the world of Jet fighter Technology price is not really a major issue but my requirements are
1) detection of the old WA standard "in car" mobile radar
2) hand held laser
3) good resistance to passing door openers
4) useful sensitivity to Multanovas.

I have been searching the internet and have come up with two prospects
1) Whistler PRO - 78SE Whistler Link
2) Escort Passport 9500ix Passport Link

The satnav control of falsing and warnings, sounds useful for the extra money on the Passport with the added advantage of it using the "Bel" shielding - making it undetectable by the Police Radar detector detectors (RDD's) - which may be useful in the future if the law changes or the Police just take a snitcher against you if they have a Radar Detector 'detector' in their car.

My worry is that the Whistler has superior Multanova performance but no RDD shielding.

Anybody got any knowledge?

Bill

[Ryan1980]

All i know is that in w.a. , our multanovas use the 'ka' band , as opposed to the speed cameras in other states which use 'k'.

Check this site out - http://www.radardetectors.com.au/index.html

[Burty]

Hi Bill,
     Bit like you i've had RD's all my driving life , now have two , one in my car and one in the wifes car (got sick of having to pay her fines).
I'm no real expert with these things , but what i have learned is that the RD's that are more sensitive to doors ect are better performers when it comes to the real thing. I have an older Passport and it is a real pain in the ass when it comes to Doors , but it picks the Camera's up within reasonable distance and the Mobile Radars (so long as the local Sherif has it on) miles away. The wife has the Passport 9500 with the GPS and i find it is not as sensitive , you need to be on the brakes pretty quick with the camera (we're only talking approx 10 - 20km over the limit). The GPS idea is great for your general day to day driving as you can lock out the false alarms (doors ect) - This is my pick if you like a quiet drive..
The Laser's are virtually impossible to detect , (a mate of mine was a traffic cop) and we had a practice day one day , as soon as they hit the trigger , they have the reading , not really fair..
You'll also notice from you're old sooper snooper days that you could be cruising at 140 , it would go off and you hit the brakes and no problems , not like that nowadays (although i'm not as quick on the brakes as i used to be - something about old age!!) , i find that you can't really exceed the limit by much.
My main reason for having the RD now is , the camera's (very handy) and as per prev posts , when i come across the "tosser" that speeds up when you have an overtaking lane , it would be my luck that there would be an oncoming Sheriff as i'm passing the "Tosser" , again , just gives me that comfort..
Probably have not told you too much and just ranted on - hope there was some info in there..
Cheers

[WGB]

Hi Bill,
     The wife has the Passport 9500 with the GPS and i find it is not as sensitive , you need to be on the brakes pretty quick with the camera (we're only talking approx 10 - 20km over the limit). The GPS idea is great for your general day to day driving as you can lock out the false alarms (doors ect) - This is my pick if you like a quiet drive..

Thanks Burty,

That was my worry - that the passport 9500 was maybe  a little too quiet especially with multanova.

Bill

[CraigS]

Of course you could be law abiding citizen Bill and stick to the speed limit - in which case a detector is a superfluous purchase !

[WGB]

It's too late for some of us to change our spots Craig

[Ryan1980]

automatic doors etc, use the x band laser. So get one that has the option to turn that off, and you'll avoid a hell of a lot of false alarms.

K is your handheld laser... and in every other state (and probably country) bar w.a., is also your speed camera.

so really you need to be looking for reviews on these things from people in perth...

[Burty]

Auto doors used to be X and you can cut it out (i have) , but the newer ones (last 5 years) are K band which is also the mobile Radar , hence not a good idea to cut out and the camera's are Ka band - at least thats what my detector says , and it does work !!