Passport radar detectors?

[03mach1]

I have found my dads old radar detector and it works and it was still in the original packaging. I was wondering are these detectors illegal to use or would it be out of date from the constant change in technology. It is a very nice one, I found the receipt for it and it was 250.00 dollars new It was new in 1996. But the main ques would be if it would still track cop radar detectors. I am not a speeder I just want to see if it works.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

They are legal in most of the USA, I think Virginia may ban them, but according to the FCC they are legal. It would still work, but the best radar detector is the Valentine One.

http://www.escortradar.com/

and

http://valentine1.com/

[03mach1]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

Thanks for the suggestions and the only reason why I wanted to find this old one is that there are so many cops in my area now and not all of them are nice. I live in the back country and I did get a speeding ticket when I was on my crotch rocket and I was going 70 in the 55 zone ( I was passing someone and I rolled on hard to complete the pass and the next thing I knew I saw lights in my mirror oh well it was my first one. I got my licences a year ago and well it has to happen sooner or later).

[mckeand13]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

Passports are great! I've had one for many years. Probably since 1992 and I used it up until about 2 years ago. It still works, I just didn't transfer it to my new car.

Passports were awesome when the came out and still beat out many of the newer detectors for many years to come. Check out some of the reviews that were in magazines.

I would guess that the V1 is probably a better detector. It has many years of technology on the Passport and has been widely regarded as one of the best for quite a while now. If I remember, Mike Valentine worked for Escort (the mfg. of the Passport) before leaving to make his own.

The feature you will be lacking is laser detection. Not much you can do there, and many police forces have changed over to laser.

Put it in and use it. It's better than nothing.

[roushstage2]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

My opinion on the whole thing: They are really useless nowadays. Most use laser, so that would give you about a 1/2 second or less to slow down to what you should be doing. Plus, I doubt the police (gov.) are about to let something that can out-do their radar/lidar guns be legal. I don't own one, never have and never will.

Use your money on something else.

[03mach1]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

I plugged it in and it works and I will give it a test run tomorrow to see what happens on the detector. So laser is more accurate than the radar, On the detector it says Micro wave tech on it. I looked up laser detectors and wow 200 to 400 dollars is a lot. Not worth it to me I will stick with my old one.

[VonLego]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

Word of warning--- Police can detect detectors

[Lt1Corvette]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

I looked up laser detectors and wow 200 to 400 dollars is a lot. Not worth it to me I will stick with my old one.

Just a warning, old detectors don't work well and if they do not have the ability to turn off individual bands, they will leave you worse off than without one.

I have owned several over the years and have had my current V1's upgraded once already. Detection range, filtering, and display data have drastically advanced since the mid 1990's. Increased range will give you more time to react. Filtering ability means it does not go off constantly when there are no police around. I was recently driving back from Las Vegas at about midnight in my friends car equipped with a roughly 3 year old Bel unit. Had it on for about 5 minutes before I unplugged it and threw it in the back seat. All it was doing was giving me a headache.

$400 may seem expensive for a detector, but if it saves you from one speeding ticket it has paid for itself.

In regard to the comment on them being useless now a days, depends on where you live. If the police in the area only use Laser guns or the timing thing between points (East Coast, don't ask) then 100% good advice, if you are a speeder, put that money toward a jammer/ diffuser.

Mine have saved me so many times that I bought and extra one and now have them permanently hardwired in each of the cars.

[WrightDetail]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

My opinion on the whole thing: They are really useless nowadays. Most use laser, so that would give you about a 1/2 second or less to slow down to what you should be doing. Plus, I doubt the police (gov.) are about to let something that can out-do their radar/lidar guns be legal. I don't own one, never have and never will.

Use your money on something else.

Spent $$ on Detail supplies.....leave earlier.....

Had one in 80s (passport type) didnt catch the trooper who caught me doing 82 in a 55 , he followed me for 2 miles for benefit of doubt.....after that, took mine smashed on ground....

Since then, just go limit, or no more than about 3-4 over

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

The problem with all units besides the V1 are, they give you no idea of where the signal is coming from and how many signals you are getting.

[mckeand13]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

The problem with all units besides the V1 are, they give you no idea of where the signal is coming from and how many signals you are getting.

Who cares where it's coming from. When a detector goes off, you slow down.

I can't imagine anybody with some intelligence saying "gee, the signal is coming from the left, I'm just going to keep my foot in it."

Immediate reaction by most poeple when you hear a beep it to mash the brakes whether you are speeding or not.

[AeroCleanse]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

Who cares where it's coming from. When a detector goes off, you slow down.

I can't imagine anybody with some intelligence saying "gee, the signal is coming from the left, I'm just going to keep my foot in it."

Guess you've never owned one.

[roushstage2]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

Who cares where it's coming from. When a detector goes off, you slow down.

I can't imagine anybody with some intelligence saying "gee, the signal is coming from the left, I'm just going to keep my foot in it."

Immediate reaction by most poeple when you hear a beep it to mash the brakes whether you are speeding or not.

I was waiting for this one. So your the lead car or are in a line of traffic and then all of a sudden slam on your brakes. YOU ARE ASKING for an accident, and multiple tickets on top of that.

Why did you slam on your brakes? My radar detector went off...

[Lt1Corvette]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

Who cares where it's coming from. When a detector goes off, you slow down.

I can't imagine anybody with some intelligence saying "gee, the signal is coming from the left, I'm just going to keep my foot in it."

Immediate reaction by most poeple when you hear a beep it to mash the brakes whether you are speeding or not.

Arrows provide you with a lot of information. If you get a suddenly advancing signal from ahead, then quickly moves to side, then behind, while there may not be much variance in signal strength, the changing in the arrows tells you the source was likely on the other side of the road going the opposite direction. You start picking up a signal should you be scanning more ahead of you, behind. I dismissed the importance of the directional arrows for years with the same mindset that if they unit goes off I need to adjust my speed accordingly. After using a V1 for a day, I gave my maybe 3 month old 8500 X50 to a friend a bought a V1.

[Joe's detailing]

Re: Passport radar detectors?

I had a cheap Cobra, it detected right on target....
It had false alarms, but kept me on my toes, one day a cop was clocking on and off nailed me .
No matter what (RADAR) brand, what price, cops being sneeky is the key to getting caught speeding....