This has saved me so many times while haulin' on the freeways here in California. My insurance policy and driving record are highly indebted to this detector.
It looks not only in front of you, but also behind you. No other one does that. It has 4 different types of radar/laser that it detects. It is absolutely fantastic. I can't drive without it. We have one in every car we have. You can also get a hardwire kit for it, so you don't have it plugged into the power outlet all the time. I highly recommend it!
This has saved me so many times while haulin' on the freeways here in California. My insurance policy and driving record are highly indebted to this detector.
It looks not only in front of you, but also behind you. No other one does that. It has 4 different types of radar/laser that it detects. It is absolutely fantastic. I can't drive without it. We have one in every car we have. You can also get a hardwire kit for it, so you don't have it plugged into the power outlet all the time. I highly recommend it!
This is THE BEST radar detector available. period.
Once you use it, you will never go back to any other brand.
I've had mine since 1996, and upgraded it in 2003.
Performance is unsurpassed, and service is FAST! (if you ever need it)
Saw your post on the STI..... Its redeeming quality is this. It is truly undedectable. Not a big deal for us "4 wheelers" (that is what big rig drivers call us) but a big deal for those that drive trucks. Other detectors say they are but this one really is against anything and everything. Other kind of are and I don't have the time to explain why. This is very important to truckers as it is illegal by FEDERAL LAW for any vehicle over 10,000 lbs and used for commercial purposes to have any kind of RADAR or LIDAR detection device.
Anyway, as far as sesitivity and detection, none better than the 8500 x50. If you read www.speedzones.com, they will tell you.
KA is the most popular radar band for police and no detector has ever picked it up further than and 8500 x50. Valentine is a great detector but they have fallen behind the times and haven't changed their antennae design since the Apple IIe was popular. For those who don't know that's the 80's.
I am not knocking the Valentine it is a great detector and anyone that has one should feel lucky. However, the 8500 is better in some ways, not all, and at least $100.00 cheaper.
Lastly, the STI is the newest thing on the market and just as sensitive as the competition but really designed for truckers. It isn't worth the extra money in my opinion.
Sorry guys, but there have been at least 2 very lengthy threads on radar detectors in the S197 forums in the past year. This one seems to be heading in the same direction as those, so jump in on those threads to read everything you wanted to know.