Radar Detector Recommendations

[gnr3312]

Expect multiple speed traps on 82 between Glenwood and Aspen. Or take Independence pass which would be amazing but bring yack sacks for your passenger and be prepared to buy new tires in Aspen.

Last minute change, we decided to spend the time in Breckenridge as our home base instead to save a few driving hours. We can still drive around and hike but don’t have to deal with driving all around to get to Aspen.
Curious though why the new tires comment?

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[gnr3312]

Also ended up settling on the R8W which I’m picking up tomorrow, so we will see how it goes!

 

[whitex]

I recommend this forum where you can find a lot of answers to radar and lidar countermeasures.
https://www.rdforum.org/

My favorite windshield mounted detector has always been the Valantine One, though the drawback is you have to use the phone for lockouts (memorized known false alerts).

Also, note, if you have thermal and noise insulation glass on your Taycan, any windshield mount radar detector will be severely limited - so best solution is a remote mount detector. As for laser protection, windshield mount detectors are useless, as they won't even detect if mounted near top of the windshield (where it's best for radar detection) and the LEO has a even moderately good aim. Even if it does detect, it's just a heads up you've been clocked, so if speeding, it's just an advanced ticket notification. The only way to protect against laser is to have a laser jammer installed (legal in most states) - there are multiple brands out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. I personally use ALP. This is not my Taycan, but a good example of a professional Taycan radar/lidar countermeasures setup.


Some other installation pictures:
https://www.rdforum.org/threads/115611/
https://www.rdforum.org/threads/112364/

 

[d00d]

I'm curious, have you ever owned a radar detector?
Starting right when I got my license I've had Mike Valentine's Escort, moved to his Valentine One, then started using Waze as well.

I like how that radar/lidar AutoMod system has been tested to work.
The manual says there are sections to the left and right of the windscreen camera to use for toll devices with the thermal and noise insulated glass option, is this still not good for detectors?

 

[Tighlines]

Last minute change, we decided to spend the time in Breckenridge as our home base instead to save a few driving hours. We can still drive around and hike but don’t have to deal with driving all around to get to Aspen.
Curious though why the new tires comment?

Yeah, there is no easy/direct way to get to Aspen. Independence Pass is one of the windiest/narrowest passes in Colo and the taycan would shred that pass and the tires and your passengers stomach. No joke, i always have a barf bag in my car, too many times i didnt and wish i did.
Breck is the opposite end of the mtn town vibe. More hippies than yuppies. I have a house 50 miles straight north of Breck.

 

[gnr3312]

Yeah, there is no easy/direct way to get to Aspen. Independence Pass is one of the windiest/narrowest passes in Colo and the taycan would shred that pass and the tires and your passengers stomach. No joke, i always have a barf bag in my car, too many times i didnt and wish i did.
Breck is the opposite end of the mtn town vibe. More hippies than yuppies. I have a house 50 miles straight north of Breck.

Thankfully we will be taking the Defender but it will have 22” summer tires, though not as low profile as the Taycans.

 

[DerekS]

Looking to buy my first radar detector as I have a trip to Colorado coming up at the end of the month which I will take in my Defender. Afterwards I plan on mounting it to the Taycan, so looking for recommendations on what has worked for you.

Valentine One. There is none finer.

 

[Voltaire]

I too am a long-time Valentine One fan. I don't think anyone has mentioned the Android-only JBV1 app yet. That really transforms a V1 into something more powerful, with crowd-sourced warnings, speed camera databases, and a bunch of other stuff. There's also V1Driver, which is available for Apple phones, but I haven't used that.

There's a learning curve though. It's catnip for people who like tech, but if that's not you, Uniden is supposed to be more plug-and-play.

 

[pbmorrow]

I have an Escort 360c and it is great. I highly recommend the mounts from BlendMounts. I have used their mounts in my last three cars. Hardwiring any detector is pretty easy, there is a switch 12 volt source in behind the mirror. I’m fairly handy/mechanically inclined and it took my about 20 minutes when I was really taking my time (doing it a second time would probably only take 5-10 minutes.

 

[skudinnit257]

Doesn't the insulated/acoustic glass interfere with an interior detector?

It does but there is a space high on the windshield that is not blocked so it works well

 

[whitex]

It does but there is a space high on the windshield that is not blocked so it works well

That space too small to properly fit a windshield mount RD. Also, any RD that has a rear antenna will have the rear degraded.

I'm not saying it doesn't work at all, but the RD sensitivity and performance is affected.

 

[skudinnit257]

My V1 Gen 2 works just fine in that space left of the rear mirror and high on the windshield, front, rear and sides. So I'm not sure what is happening with you situation. BTW I have the thermal/acoustic glass all around.

 

[whitex]

My V1 Gen 2 works just fine in that space left of the rear mirror and high on the windshield, front, rear and sides. So I'm not sure what is happening with you situation. BTW I have the thermal/acoustic glass all around.

You can compare the signal strengths against a known source (like a handled radar, or store door opener if you don't have one to test with). For example, park your car facing a door opener showing less than 100% signal strength, then take the V1 and stick it out the window pointing it forward, note difference in signal strength. Then do the same with the back of the car towards the source.

I have a V1G2 on the windshield as well, but can tell you its sensitivity is reduced compared to a remote mount RD. I have a project on the backburner to move the V1 to the roof (power it via wireless charging through glass, use Bluetooth to control it). It is still useful, you can definitely detect CO radars as you approach them, just from a shorted distance. With IO shots you can use farther warning. Also, directional indication is not as responsive or precise when using it inside my Taycan.

 

[KLHubb]

I also use my Valentine in the same location left of mirror...with no problems with reception.

 

[skudinnit257]

You can compare the signal strengths against a known source (like a handled radar, or store door opener if you don't have one to test with). For example, park your car facing a door opener showing less than 100% signal strength, then take the V1 and stick it out the window pointing it forward, note difference in signal strength. Then do the same with the back of the car towards the source.

I have a V1G2 on the windshield as well, but can tell you its sensitivity is reduced compared to a remote mount RD. I have a project on the backburner to move the V1 to the roof (power it via wireless charging through glass, use Bluetooth to control it). It is still useful, you can definitely detect CO radars as you approach them, just from a shorted distance. With IO shots you can use farther warning. Also, directional indication is not as responsive or precise when using it inside my Taycan.

Yeah I am aware of this and spoke with the good folks at Valentine who educated me on the best way to test when I first bought the car. So, like others in this thread, I am happy with the V1 G2 performance, if you're not maybe you should switch brands.

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