Are you considering purchasing a remote mounted radar detector?
Several reasons that you maybe considering purchasing a concealed radar detector are that it is stealth to the eye and a remote install affords you a much cleaner and professional install with less clutter.
However there are some important factors that you should take into consideration when selecting the concealed radar detector that is just right for you.
Sensitivity
Your most important consideration is the overall sensitivity of the detector.
As the antenna of a concealed detector is typically mounted behind the grill, the antenna is mounted much lower then if mounted on the windshield and you have the engine of your car right behind it, which will reduce its performance to detection to the rear.
Filtering
Your second most important consideration is the filtering capabilities of the detector.
Several years ago car manufactures have been installing anti-collision sensors into new cars and soon these devices will become mandatory.
However the problem with these anti-collision devices is that they operate on the same K-Band radar frequency police use.
Thus, most radar detectors sold today are nothing but “new car detectors”, alerting you to each new car that is within close proximity.
Because of this you need to make sure that the detector you select has the newest digital processing software, and that you can update the software of your detector when new updates become available.
GPS Integration
Selecting a concealed detector with GPS integration enables your detector to:
Alert you in advance of approaching fixed photo enforcement cameras
Manually mark known speed trap locations and/or other points of interest
Filter out known false alert locations by the exact frequency
Can automatically adjust the detectors sensitivity based upon speed
Police Lidar Protection
Nationally, it’s estimated that police lidar enforcement now accounts for over 15% of the 112,000 speeding citations issued each day by police and this statistic is growing greater each day.
A radar/laser detector by itself is completely worthless in protecting you in a police laser speed trap as when it alerts, the officer has already captured your speed.
Because of this the only way you can protect yourself in these types of ambushes is to jam the officer’s laser gun.
Thus an important consideration when selecting a concealed detector is its ability to either interface or work with an external laser jamming system.
Social Interaction
One of the newest trends in the speed counter measurement community is the ability for your radar detector to share real time alerts with other radar detector users within your area and one of the best social media applications for the road is Escort Live.
With the optional Escort Live interface for Escort/Beltronics remote detectors you will be alerted to:
The Stinger VIP was the 1st place winner of our 2015 Radar and Laser Shootout “Duel in the Desert” and sets a new benchmark for combined radar and laser protection.
Granted, the Stinger radar and laser defense system is the most expensive radar detector and laser jamming system in the world but you do get what you pay for.
The Stinger VIP is not a radar detector in the old fashioned sense of the word. The VIP was developed as a car computer with a spectrum analyzer, programmed to sweep the radar bands used by police.
This unique approach offers important performance advantages.
And because the Stinger HD antenna is a closed and flat Patch Antenna, it is fully stealth to all radar detector detectors (RDD’s) including the Spectre.
The Patch Antenna also helps the Stinger achieve unprecedented accuracy, leading to top-notch filtering, while simultaneously achieving record breaking sensitivity. The Stinger HD antenna system can even sniff out the low powered vertically polarized K and Ka band mobile photo vans.
Another advantage of the Stinger system is that they have their own laser jammer that will interface with their system.
Benefits of the Stinger VIP System
The best performing concealed radar detector available today
Best filtering of all radar detectors made today
Ability to configure your system with different options
GPS enabled – Photo enforcement camera database & GPS filtering
Stealth to all radar detector detectors
Regular and easy software updates to deal with the newest threats
Superb integrated laser jamming system
Sleek design, color touch display offers a user-friendly interface (with directional indication) and integrates nicely with luxury vehicles
The Beltronics STiR Plus utilizes Escort’s patent M3 antenna, which is also used with the Escort 9500ci, the Escort REDLiNE and the STi Magnum.
Because of this the performance of the STiR Plus is equal to that of the more expensive Escort 9500ci, but it does NOT include Escort’s Laser ShifterPro.
Because of this you are afforded the opportunity to install a better performing laser jamming system such as the Anti Laser Priority.
Benefits of the STiR Plus Radar Detector
Extreme range and sensitivity
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for extreme range performance
Traffic Safety Rejection (TSR) filtering
GPS enabled – Photo enforcement camera database & GPS filtering
Stealth to all radar detector detectors
Escort Live compatible
Can be installed with any other laser jamming system sold today
The Escort 9500ci radar detector is basically the same radar detector as the Beltronics STiR Plus except that it has a blue display and also includes the Escort Laser ShifterPro.
The company that actually makes the Laser ShifterPro for Escort is Laser Interceptor and they have not offered any firmware updates for their laser jamming system for sometime and it’s unable to jam the newer pulse rate laser guns now being utilized by police nationwide.
Benefits of the 9500ci Radar Detector
Extreme range and sensitivity
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for extreme range performance
Traffic Safety Rejection (TSR) filtering
GPS enabled – Photo enforcement camera database & GPS filtering
The Escort 8500ci Plus utilizes Escort’s M4 antenna design which is also used in the Passport, Escort 8500x50 and the Passport 9500ix.
Because of this it is rated as a 4-star detector with four times the capture distance of a police radar gun.
One of the main drawbacks of the 8500ci Plus is that it utilizes similar DSP technology used in the older 8500x50 and does not have the abilities to filter out those annoying K-Band alerts caused by the anti-collision sensors as the STiR Plus or the 9500ci can.
Benefits of the 8500ci Plus Radar Detector
Good range and sensitivity
Most affordable remote mounted detector in its class
GPS enabled – Photo enforcement camera database & GPS filtering
Can be used with any laser jammer sold today
Cons of the 8500ci Plus
Dated DSP technology similar to the 8500x50
Susceptible to false alerts from Anti-Collision Avoidance sensors
Is NOT Escort Live compatible
Not stealth to radar detector detectors
Retail Price $799.95 – (Before VIP Discount)
About Radar Busters
This site is family owned and founded by "Radar Roy," a retired police officer and certified traffic radar instructor, who is considered a leading expert in the speed counter measurement industry.
To learn more about Roy, read our radar detector reviews, or download our free radar detector eBook click here.
This site is family owned and founded by "Radar Roy," a retired police officer and certified traffic radar instructor, who is considered a leading expert in the speed counter measurement industry.