First radar detector devices for commercial use were introduced in the early 1970s. At that time it was illegal to have them installed in a car, own or resell them, and were mostly used by street racers and careless drivers, giving the device a bad image.

Purpose of radar detector devices

A radar detector is a compact electronic apparatus which one can nowadays have built into his car as additional equipment. It mostly serves its purpose by alerting the driver with visual or audio signals of warning that a speed radar is ahead so the driver can slow down in time and avoid getting issued a speeding ticket. A radar detector is especially useful for people who travel abroad, due to higher possibility of encountering a neatly hidden radar control device abroad than in their domestic environment. Studies show that drivers who have a radar detector device installed in their car pay more attention to their surroundings and are 24% less prone to be involved in a car accident. Radar detector devices can also detect vehicles like the ambulance, fire squad or police during their intervention, which gives the driver more time to move out of the way, safely. Also, there are lots of devices which emit radar waves, found in radio stations, taxi cars, gas stations, etc., and alarms triggered by these sources may not be what one would expect to be alarmed about, but it keeps the driver awake and cautious most of the time while driving. These can be called fake radar control units, it’s common to find signs which indicate that there is radar control device installed ahead when there actually isn’t any.

Usage of radar detector devices

In most of the countries, usage of the radar detector device is illegal and users of these devices may face heavy fines, up to $2000 and license suspensions, which applies to Greece. In some other countries it’s illegal to use the radar detector in a vehicle, but owning one is legal and some other variations.  Radar detector uses 12V direct current which is the power output found in most cars we know of today. It is best to position your device in a way that its detecting area faces forward and has a clear view of the area ahead of the car. Most of these devices are quite durable and don’t require any special care or maintenance, but it is recommended to shadow your device from the sun during the summer, because of the amplification of sun rays through the windshield glass.

Radar detectors can be adjusted

Most of radar detector devices can be adjusted to detect specific frequencies which is essential for detecting foreign radar devices, due to the fact that not all radar devices used by the police emit the same frequency. When not properly adjusted, a radar detector will either not detect radar waves, or it will, but with significant delay, which renders the device useless.

A radar detector device functions by detecting radio waves from traffic control radar guns, and alerts the user upon detection. It detects electromagnetic emissions from a traffic control radar gun by using a super heterodyne receiver. Radar detector devices can detect false positives due to devices that operate in the same part of the electromagnetic spectrum as radar guns.

The most common radar detector devices

Automatic door openers used in most supermarkets are among the most common devices that trigger a false positive detection in radar detector devices. Recent radar detector models have various technological advantages, such as integrated GPS technology and support for various mobile phone brands. Certain radar detector manufacturers also offer iPhone and Android apps can be used with their radar detector models, allowing the user to plan out a route that avoids frequently used traffic control locations before the user even enters his car.

Radar detector features and technology

GPS support allows radar detector users to manually input the location where they last encountered a traffic control device. This can be considered an advantage when encountering LIDAR-equipped traffic control checkpoints, since most radar detector models do not detect LIDAR guns. Technological advancements have allowed the creation of radar detector detecting technology, but newer radar detector models have integrated countermeasures and operate on a different frequency, thus negating the threat of detection. Certain radar detector models can absorb or scramble radio waves emitted from a radar gun, and are legally considered as radar scramblers. Radar gun traffic control devices have an effective range of up to 300m, which also makes it the effective range a radar detector device will detect them. High-end radar detector models have the ability to detect newer traffic control devices that use LIDAR technology, along with existing radar gun technology. LIDAR-equipped traffic control devices and vehicles do not use radio waves, but instead use a relatively focused beam of light to detect the speed of a moving vehicle.

Most LIDAR devices have to be actively aimed at a moving vehicle to be effective, but have a much longer effective range(up to 910m) thanks to their focused beam. Radar detector devices that do not have integrated LIDAR detection capabilities are rendered practically useless due to the extended range of LIDAR traffic control devices.

Radar detector availability and legality

The usage of a radar detector or radar scrambler device is considered illegal in most countries, so check your country’s regulations before purchasing and using a radar detector or radar scrambler. Radar detector prices can vary from $25 to anywhere up to $400. Most countries’ regulations may allow the usage of radar detectors, but may have regulations in place that outright ban the usage of radar scramblers or laser detectors. Heavy fines may be applicable for the usage of radar detector devices and can vary from 95€ in Germany  to up to 7700€ in the Czech Republic. Certain countries like Belgium can confiscate entire vehicles if the driver is using or even owns a radar detector device. While radar detector devices are very useful, extreme caution is advised before purchasing  or using such a device.

Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Review

If you have never owned a radar detector or if you haven’t purchased one for a few years, you will be truly amazed at the functionality and performance of the Cobra XRS-9970G.

The XRS 9970G radar detector comes with a full color touch screen that makes the unit easy to use and configure. The touch screen contributes greatly to the ease of use even with the multitude of options. The detector senses radar and laser from 360 degrees around you and voice alerts let you know if you are being targeted.

Measuring in at 5″ by 3″ and weighing only 7 ounces, it packs many features into a small space. Particularly useful are the GPS locator, low battery warning and speedometer.

The XRS 9970G alerts you to 15 radar and laser bands (from the newest in use to the older bands as well). False alarms are noticeably minimal. If law enforcement uses jamming radar, this detector tells you when.

The protection is able to be updated as the XRS 9970G includes the AURA Camera & Driving Database. This GPS-based technology provides warning of fixed speed and red light cameras. It also warns of speed traps and dangerous intersections. The information is updated by periodic updates off the internet. Since more and more photo enforcement cameras are being installed, frequent updating is needed to remain current. Lifetime GPS updates are included in the purchase price.

This detector’s settings can be configured to turn on or off pretty much anything. There is a Intellimute feature, which adjusts to active or inactive radar based upon the speed of your engine. So when you are at a drive through or sitting still in traffic, the radar detector will mute itself.

There are several mounting options including suction cups to mount to the windshield and double sided tape for mounting on the dashboard. Some states do not allow attaching objects to the windshield, so check your state’s regulations.

The XRS 9970G is ready to use right out of the box. The GPS update only takes a couple of minutes initially, then 1 or 2 seconds after that. Not bad!

The proven technology and functionality of the Cobra brand makes this a highly recommended, trusted product. The GPS locator a makes a great detector even better. Sealing the deal for purchasing this unit is the fact that comparable units with the same options are two or three times the XRS 9970G.

Buy the Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Detector

A radar gun sends a signal at your vehicle (car, truck, or even motorcycle) that detects your speed and bounces the signal back to the radar gun in the police or sheriff officer’s hand.

Easily and immediately they are able to know your speed within a few miles per hour and can deduce the amount of miles per hour (MPH) over the speed limit you are driving.

They then decide whether or not to begin pursuing you to give you a speeding ticket or citation.

Shortly after the invention of the radar gun came the radar detector.

These detectors can detect radar before it hits your vehicle. The radar detector inside your vehicle then signals to you that there is a radar gun in the vicinity. Some radar guns can detect where the radar is coming from as well.

X, K, and Ka Superwide are the radar bands that are used by police radar guns. X band was the first band used for by radar guns, but is now the least used.

The best way to avoid getting a speeding ticket is to not speed.  If you don’t speed, you don’t need to worry about a radar detector.

If you can’t slow down or stil fear getting written a ticket, then a radar detector might be for you.

Before purchasing, keep in mind that many cities, counties and states have outlawed radar detectors and having a radar detector can be grounds for a ticket itself!