The 10 Best Radar Detectors – [2020 Reviews & Rankings]

It doesn’t matter who you are; we all are prone to having a ‘LEAD FOOT’ every once in a while, right? However, avoid getting into trouble with the police if you speed often; get yourself a reliable radar detector today.

Speed traps are a nightmare to motorists wishing to test how fast their rides can go. The best radar detector will warn you way before you approach a speed trap.

This gives you ample time to adjust your speed accordingly, hence avoid getting a speeding ticket. A good radar detector should be able to balance sensitivity and filtering (commonly referred to as signal rejection).

Radars can’t see over corners or through hills. They also can’t see you if you’re behind another car. When you’re in the open, how strongly your vehicle reflects will depend on the distance of the radar from your car, as well as your vehicle’s size.

Ideally, one should buy a radar detector with sensitive radio, tuned precisely to frequency bands used by all traffic radars; X band, K band, and KA band. 

Are Radar Detectors Legal for Use?

Radar detectors are legal in passenger vehicles in most states across the USA, except in Washington D.C, and Virginia. In Canada, it’s legal to use a radar detector on public roads in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Alberta.

One may ask: What will happen if I’m caught in Virginia? The times when they have confiscated radar detectors are now gone as the law has been relaxed in recent years. Instead, they just write down the serial number of your detector.

Furthermore, radar detectors aren’t legal on military bases. They are also not allowed in commercial trucks that weigh over 10,000 pounds regardless of the location. To read more on the legality of radars, click here. 

What Are Radar Detectors?

A radar detector is an electronic device that is specifically designed to detect police Radio Detection and Ranging (radars) as you approach them.

These devices are installed in vehicles and used to monitor the presence of radio waves or radio signals; the two electromagnetic waves commonly emitted by police radars.

Such radars are installed along roads and highways by the police to catch motorists who are driving over the speed limit. With a radar detector installed in your car, you will get alerts whenever a police radar is within range, allowing you to adjust your speed accordingly.

The more advanced radar detectors are also capable of detecting the presence of laser speed guns as well. The gadgets are meant for drivers looking forward to avoiding speed traps.

How Much Do Radar Detectors Cost?

The basic radar detector devices are priced at around $30. Such sectors are simple in design with such capabilities as a 360-detection of reader/laser signals. Detectors that require an iPhone or any other iTouch device to function are costlier, often priced between $80 and $180 apiece.

Most radar devices used by motorists to detect police radar systems are mid-range detectors. Depending on the features and capabilities they have to offer, such devices cost anywhere between them. $150 and $350 each.

Top-of-the-range radar detectors are often equipped with advanced features, such as GPS technology. Depending on what the unit has to offer, you should expect to get one for between $400 and $650.

Comparing the 10 Best Radar Detectors

1. Valentine One – The Best Radar Detector for the Money

The Valentine One is one of the best radar detectors for vehicles today. The effectiveness and performance of this gadget may be attributed to the fact that it is equipped with two antennae.

As a matter of fact, the only other competitor to the Valentine One that has two antennae is the Bel STi Driver. As opposed to the Bel STi Driver, the antennae in the Valentine One detector face different directions. How is this relevant, you must be wondering?

Having the antennae facing different directions not only allows the detector to offer the best rear detection; it also enhances the accuracy of the device.

This being the case, the Valentine One detector can accurately pinpoint the direction the detected signal is coming from. This is made possible by the directional arrows fitted on the device. It is these arrows that turn and point to the direction the threat signal is coming from.

Why The Valentine One Is Our Top Pick

The objective of Mike Valentine while founding the company was to produce the only radar detectors motorists would have to buy. To make this a reality, the company offers a continuous upgrade path for both the firmware and the hardware on the Valentine One detector. Although it is still the best detector today, the Valentine 1 detector has retained the same price tag for about 27 years now.

Over the years, the manufacturer has applied various upgrades to this model methodically. Hence, this detector can pick up an array of signals, including X, Ka, K, Super Wideband Ka, and Ku band signals. Similarly, this gadget features a 360-degrees protection against the various laser types, too.

2. Escort Passport 9500 iX – All-Round Performer for City and Highway Driving

Although the 9500 iX is an outgoing model in the Escort iX series, its place in the industry is still unshakable. Based on several research findings, the Passport 9500 iX is still the best selling unit of all times.

Rather than focusing on a specific feature, the manufacturer designed an all-round performer with the passport 9500 iX radar detector. In this regard, this gadget is equipped with the essential features to make it one of the best detectors for city and highway driving today.

Owing to its impeccable anti-falsing capabilities, the 9500 iX does not require the “all-digital” processing technology being used by the manufacturer on its Max series detectors.

Even without All-Digital signal filtering, the 9500 iX detector is a decent performer, with regards to filtering out K-band false alarms. The K-band false alarms are commonly produced by automotive collision avoidance systems being used in cars today.

Reviewing the Escort Passport 9500 iX Further

One of the things you will love this gadget for is its built-in GPS. According to leading experts, the GPS system being used in this model is still the best and most capable in the industry.

This being the case, this Escort radar detector offers reliable GPS satellite connections and precise geo-positioning. Like the Valentine one detector, this detector can also be Ka-band segmented. Additionally, this gadget offers quick response. As such, it is capable of detecting the rather elusive instant-on radar signals.

Being the all-round performer that is, this device is specifically designed to balance advanced filtering with sheer sensitivity and signal rejection. This detector comes with a quick-release magnate mount, which enhances its convenience.

3. Uniden R3 – Extreme Range & Coverage

The Uniden radar manufacturing company is fairly new in the industry. Since its introduction to the market, the company has taken the industry by a storm with two innovative and functional products; the Uniden R1 and of course the Uniden R3.

Regardless of the odds, Uniden has succeeded in producing a high-performance product with the Uniden R3. As a matter of fact, the performance of this product may be compared to that of the costlier options, such as the Escort Redline radar detector.

As such, you do not need to spend a lot of money to get a high performance and effective radar detector today. In order to achieve this, the model is packed with an array of features. This includes a dedicated filtering system for K-band signals, and an OLED display that is brighter than costlier displays. This unit can literally pick up K and KA signals from miles away.

Why We Absolutely Love the Uniden R3

The Uniden R3 gives you the option to lockout false signals. That way, you don’t have to keep pushing the mute button as you would with other detectors. What we really love about this detector though, is its extreme accuracy. Whether you’re on the highway, on open terrains, or local roads, expect this unit to perform.

Firmware updates are free on the Uniden website, as they are constantly improving with timely updates. If you end up purchasing this unit, make sure to stay up-to-date.

Other features you will love in this gadget include the 360-degree digital signal processor, an inbuilt GPS that offers red light camera alerts as well and free updates for GPS databases.

If you want to reduce false positives and enjoy literally one of the best radar detectors on the market, this is for you. It is quite, full of features, and most importantly, very accurate.

4. Escort Max 360 – Record Response Time & Great Value for the Money

The Escort radar detector manufacturer has raised the bar a notch higher again with the new Max 36 radar detector. The new gadget in the Max 360 series is a true marvel for motorists across the country.

To begin with, the new model features the renowned directional indication by the manufacturer. Additionally, the gadget offers record response time, extended range. Such capabilities, coupled with the precise directional alert display make the new Max 360 one of the best detectors for the price.

However, the Escort Max 360 is not just a detector with arrows; it is a gadget full of convenience and performance features. Having been equipped with one of the best GPS systems, this device boasts of an exceptional photo enforcement database in the industry today.

The Escort Max 360 Offers Several Features

The new model is also fitted with built-in Bluetooth, which allows you to pair the device with your Smartphone. As such, the new Escort Max 360 allows for custom, App-based filtering

Additionally, this also allows you to tether your Max 360 detector with the Escort Live crowd-sourcing application by Escort. The exclusive processing performance offered by this gadget may be attributed to the fully digital signal processing technology by the manufacturer.

According to the manufacturer, this technology allows the gadget to filter out most of the K-band signals.

5. Beltronics GT-7 – Several Driving Modes & Easy to Use

The GT-7 Beltronics is one of the few radar detectors you can find today that features an appealing design. As you can see from the image, the exterior construction of the radar detector is solid and aesthetically appealing.

However, the aesthetics of a detector should not be the sole consideration, how does the GT-7 performed when compared to similar gadgets? In addition to the attention-grabbing exterior construction and color scheme, this detector is one of the best performance detectors you can get, within this price range. One of the GT-7 aspects you will like is its ease of use.

In this regard, the gadget is fitted with buttons that are easy to access. The five buttons mounted on top of this radar may be used to control the operation of the unit. You can easily control such aspects as power, volume, SEN, BRT and MRK, using these buttons.

The alert system used on this device is comparatively fast. Again, the alerts given out by the unit are audible, but not too loud to disturb your driving. If you find the alerts a bit irritating, you can use the mute button to silence them.

Why We Love the Beltronics GT-7

This Beltronics radar detector prides itself over a comparatively effective alert system. In this regard, the detector delivers all the information you need, including the signal quality, strength and type.

To make things a bit easier for you, this model is fitted with 3 driving modes, the Auto NO X, Highway and Auto modes. As such, you do not need to adjust the various properties individually, which could be cumbersome and time-consuming.

All you have to do is preset the device to the mode you want with a single push of a button. For instance, you can set your unit to the Auto NO X, if you want it to automatically block false signals caused by x-band signals.

6. Radenso XP Radar & Laser Detector – The Best Radar Detector Under $400

Do you need a radar detector that offers the quietest performance and features top-flight sensitivity? If you are in need of such a gadget, the Radenso XP radar and laser detector is a great choice.

What I love most about this gadget is its ability to remember false alarms along the routes you frequent and forget them in future. As a result, you won’t have to put up with the same false alerts as you drive along the same route the second time. This is really innovative of the manufacture, don’t you think?

The Radenso XP Rader and Laser detector may not offer the best sensitivity in the range, but guarantees you a quieter ride. This may be attributed to its effective K-band collision avoidance system.

Also, the fact that it can remember the false alarms along a route you have used before. Again, this gadget is very effective at detecting police radar even when used in a vehicle with a considerable amount of k-band signal pollution.

More on the Radenso XP Radar Detector

The Radenso XP detector is also GPS enabled. As such, it offers better sensitivity, as compared to other detectors in the category, such as the Radenso Pro SE. The latest XP Detector model can also be Ka segmented, which improves its performance exponentially.

The performance of this gadget is backed by a two-year warranty by the manufacturer. It is such reliability, performance and capabilities that make this detector your ideal speeding-ticket protection guarantee.

7. Cobra Electronics RAD 350 Radar – Best Radar Detector Under $100

Are you working on a limited budget, but still want to buy a radar detector that offers performance and coverage? Your options may be limited, but the Cobra Electronics RAD 350 is just what you are looking for.

One of the fascinating things about this detector is the fact that it is lightweight, thanks to its black anodized aluminum construction. Additionally, the model is easy to install, adjustable and comparatively durable.

In this regard, the RAD 350 comes with an installation guide as well as the required installation hardware. This device is compatible with most Japanese and American vehicles.

Other reasons that make this unit great

What we love about it is that it detects all radar signals, it is instant-on ready, and automatically reduces false alerts. It has an attractive color display with 7 segments, and a bright display you can see in almost any light situation.

The filtering is pretty good with this detector, and we believe that it has surpassed user expectations, especially for the money. The only drawback we found is that it doesn’t announce the frequency it displays by voice, but that’s not major drawback.

While it is not the best radar detector on the market, it is definitely a phenomenal budget option, being that it is priced just under $100.

8. Beltronics RX65 Red Professional Series – Best Radar Detector Under $200

If you are a beginner to radar detectors and are looking for an affordable gadget, this is one of the few detectors you should consider.

Instead of a fancy display, the RX65 only has a few buttons that may be used to control its 3 sensitivity settings. This being the case, the gadget is comparatively easy to control. It is one of the first detectors to have twin forward facing radar antenna. As it has low noise amplifiers, this radar has considerable range.

The Beltronics RX 65 is equipped with 3 main sensitivity settings that are easy to calibrate. These are the City, AutoScan and Highway modes. If you set your unit to the Highway setting, all the filters will be turned off.

As a result, the gadget will only be able to alert you of speed guns that are within a distance of 2 to 4 miles. The AutoScan mode, on the other hand, initiates an internal computer. This computer then applies digital signature processing to differentiate between real and false alerts.

Further Reviewing the Beltronics RX65

A great addition to this device is the audio jack that can be connected to an external speaker, which can be helpful if you are operating a noisy commercial vehicle. This detector is a big favorite among truck drivers. This is mainly because it can overcome most police technology that aims to detect illegal radars.

While this detector is quite affordable, it can also detect laser radars. All in all, the RX 65 features a compact design and is packed with beneficial features. However, the detector does not have GPS, which is a key disadvantage, when compared to similar detectors in the market.

9. Beltronics STI Magnum – Simple Design, Yet Effective

Many motorists today love this radar detector for its simplicity. It features a compact and portable design. This radar detector has been on the market for over 20 years, and still a favorite by some.

Just like some of the well renowned performance detectors today, the STI Magnum features two antennae. This being the case, the STI Magnum delivers one of the longest detection ranges possible in the industry today.

In addition to the extended range, this gadget is also very sensitive to the various police radar signals. What’s more, the gadget is fitted with sensitivity settings.

These allow you to calibrate a few things, hence boost the sensitivity of your STI Magnum radar detector. With regards to usability, the device has a rather simple display that includes a few buttons. The only downside of this detector is that it lacks GPS.

More on the STI Magnum

Just like the RX65 detector, the STI Magnum is equipped with three sensitivity settings, the Auto No X, Auto and Highway settings. The functioning of these settings is similar to that of the RX 65 settings discussed above.

All in all, this older model is not the best radar out by Beltronics, but it’s definitely a seasoned choice.

10. Whistler CR93 – Great Combo Radar/Laser Detector

If affordability is your key concern, here is another radar detector you should consider. Although the Whistler CR93 detector is priced below $200, it is radar and laser detector you can rely on.

Currently, Whistler is among the leading manufacturers of detectors. The manufacturer is renowned for producing effective, easy to use, high performance and affordable units. This being the case, buying the CR93 guarantees you a great value for your money.

In addition to the outstanding radar detection capability, this device also features impressive laser detection capabilities. Just as is the case with many other Whistler models, the CR93 can also display police pulse rates. The detector is also fast and capable of detecting police instant-on signals.

More reasons to love this product

This radar detector has a crisp blue display, with beautiful LED lights at the top of the unit. Even in direct sunlight, you should be able to see the display clearly. The voice alert is pretty neat too and not annoying like some other detectors.

Perhaps the best feature about this radar detector is its integrated GPS feature, with a lifetime subscription at no cost to you. Users of this detector experienced a few false readings here and there, but you can simply press the mute button to ignore them. What we do love about this radar is that it gives you lots of time to react to real threats, such as speed cameras and red light cams.

In a recent test, we found that the Whistler CR93 gives you a warning about 20 seconds before you a threat emerges, so you can start slowing down. All in all, it is a big fan favorite.

How Do Radar Detectors Work?

In their functioning, radar detectors act as radio receivers to pick up specific frequencies produced by radar guns. Once the detector has picked signals of a specific frequency, most models are designed to sound an alarm and even light up visual displays.

You may think of a radar detector as the receiver part of a conventional radar system, featuring a radar receiver, receiver antennae, and rudimentary signal processing components. These work in unison to detect the presence of radiofrequency energy in the air and produce a simple notification to alert the driver of the same.

Advanced Radar Detector Mechanism

Some of the more advanced radar detector devices are designed to detect police radar and throw off the readings of police radar detector receives at the same time. Such units function both as a leader receiver and a transmitter.

When such a detector picks up a radar signal, an internal radio transmitter emits a scrambled signal, often referred to as a jamming signal. The jammed signal is superimposed on the initial return signal that is reflected back to the police radar. This makes it hard for the receiver to analyze and resolve the return signal.

Things You Must Know Before Buying a Radar Detector

A few years ago, the best radar detector was simply the one that could detect police radar from the farthest distance. However, a lot has changed in traffic enforcement as well as in the radar detector industry over the years.

Owing to technological advancements in the industry, modern radar detectors offer reliable sensitivity. The best radar detectors are capable of detecting and alerting you of police radar at a considerable distance. This will give you ample time to react to the warning; hence avoid being caught over speeding.

Back in the days, the best radar detector was the one that could detect police radar from the farthest distance away. Over the years, a lot has changed in law enforcement as well as in the radar detector industry.

Not only are modern detectors more sensitive, they also offer a vast array of convenience features. This being the case, choosing the right radar detector for your car is not easy.

To ensure that you buy nothing, short of the best, these are some of the aspects you need to consider while choosing one:

1. The Type of Detector

There are two main types of detectors being used in these gadgets today, based on what they can detect. When radar detectors were first unveiled, they were available in only one type, the radar detectors.

To help you choose the right type, here is what you need to know about the two detector types:

Radar Detectors

These are the basic type of radar detectors today. They are meant to detect and alert you whenever you are approaching a radar gun. Radar guns are commonly used by the police to net speeding motorists. The most basic of the radar detectors are compact in size and do not offer additional features.

If you do not speed a lot, a simple radar detector will help you avoid radar guns. However, such detectors cannot detect the modern speed traps (which are technologically advanced) being used by police today. While this is the case, these are comparatively affordable; hence a good choice for drivers working on a limited budget.

Laser Detectors

In recent months, there has been an increase in the use of laser speed guns by the police; in an effort to catch speeding drivers. To avoid these, you will need a detector that can actually detect them.

Currently, an increased number of drivers are going for the combination radar/laser in a bid to stay in line with the latest technology speed guns. Such a detector may be a bit expensive but will help you avoid both the radar as well as the laser speed guns.

Remote, Wired, or Cordless

While choosing between the two types, you may need to know these gadgets may be remote, wired, or cordless. The remote type of detectors is permanently mounted in your car, which makes it hard to steal.

However, you will not be able to use it in another car, should you decide to change cars. There are some wired radar detectors that are highly-efficient, regardless of the weather condition. These are commonly attached to the windscreen of the car.

If you are looking for a more mobile option, you should consider buying a wireless unit. The latter is the best choice if you have several cars and do not want to buy a detector for each of them.

2. Top Radar Detector Brands

Just as is the case as with any other gadget today, there are certain radar detector manufacturers that are renowned for quality and performance.

With so many radar detector brands in the market to choose from, you will find some that offer minimal features on their detectors and others that offer you a decent value for your money.

This is not to say that there can never be a brand better than these; however, the following are some of the leading manufacturers of radar detectors today:

Escort

This is one of the most popular radar detector manufacturers today when it comes to producing some of the high-performance, effective and reliable detectors. As a matter of fact, different detector models by the manufacturer dominate almost every price range for these gadgets today.

Most of the detectors by this manufacturer are a great buy, having been tried and liked by many drivers across the globe.

Whistler

Whistler is another brand we cannot afford to ignore while reviewing the most popular radar detector manufacturers today. The manufacturer is particularly known for equipping its gadgets with an array of beneficial features. As a result, whistler detectors are some of the most preferred detectors by many drivers today.

Beltronics

This is another reputable brand you should consider when shopping for the best radar detector. Depending on your budget, beltronics offers some of the best detectors, equipped with performance features.

3. Range and Distance

Since you are looking for a gadget that can warn you of speed traps, you should get one that allows you enough time to adjust to the warning.

It will not be of any use to get a warning of an upcoming speed gun, when it is just a few feet away, don’t you think?

Therefore, the range offered by your preferred detector model is important. The various detector models available today offer varying ranges.

For instance, there are some that will warn you of radars that are hundreds of feet away and others that only have a range of a few feet. Basically, the more the range and distance a detector has to offer, the better.

4. Coverage

Radar detector models that have one lens can only cover one direction. When looking for a detector, you should prioritize the ones that offer 360 degrees coverage. Police are known to use concealed techniques to catch speeding motorists today. As such, you should get a gadget that can detect the radar from any angle interception.

5. Usability

With regard to ease of use, you should insist on buying a unit that is easy to operate and interpreted. Most of the high-end radar detectors today come with visible LCD, touch-enabled screens.  Such detectors are often the easiest to operate.

There are some affordable radar detectors that are also easy to use. A detector that can give you updated and detailed data at all times will be the best option, in this case.

6. What Can It Detect?

To understand what your preferred radar detector can actually detect, you first need to know how the police use their radars. A reliable gadget should be able to detect the speed gun, regardless of how it is being used.

Provided that the radar is within range, it should be able to pick the following radar scenarios:

Instant On

In this case, the police officer will wait with the speed radar gun off until the target vehicle is in sight. In other words, the police officer will only use the radar gun to transmit when he or she sees your car. Unless yours is the first car to be targeted within the detector range, the detector you opt for should be able to detect such transmission and warn you in time.

Constant On

This is a case where the police officer leaves the radar gun on all the time to catch any overspending vehicle on the road. It is comparatively easier for radar detectors to pick such a transmission because the gun is constantly transmitting. Actually, almost all the available radar detectors today can pick such transmission at a safe distance.

Quick Trigger

This mode of radar gun transmission type is similar to the ‘instant on ‘scenario described above. However, the police officer turns the gun on and then off very fast, in this case. Police officers today are using this trick to beat your detector.

In this case, the gun is turned on and then off in an effort to be faster than the detector. However, this should not be a cause of concern, provided that you have bought a highly sensitive radar detector.

POP

This is one of the most advanced tricks cops use to beat radar detectors. The pop trick is similar to the Quick Trigger one described above, but comparatively faster. In this case, the speed gun is turned on and then off within a radar frequency burst of 67 milliseconds.

While most of the available radar detectors can pick pop transmission, it is advisable to turn the POP detection capability off. This is because the Pop radar has been proven to be very inaccurate, hence will give you many false alerts. Turning this feature off will improve the performance of your detector.

7. Additional Features

In addition to the radar and laser detection capabilities, almost all the detectors available today come with additional features.

This makes it even harder for drivers to choose the right detector. This is because most of the users do not know what features are essential and which features to ignore.

Radar detector features you should consider:

• Digital Signal Processing (DSP) – a considerable number of radar detectors today use microchip technology as well as DSP. Not only does this technology reduce false alarms; it also magnifies the range of the gadget considerably.
• Multi-Sensor Laser Protection – As mentioned earlier in this guide, it is advisable to buy a detector that has several sensors. The use of several sensors enables the device to pick up beams that are off the axis. However, multi-sensor laser protection technology often requires the use of laser jammers to be able to give laser alerts in time.
• Dual-antenna Design – Some of the best radar detector models today, such as the Escort Max 360 and the Valentine One detectors have a second antenna, which protrudes in the forward direction. Various tests have proven that the use of a second antenna on these gadgets boosts performance. The second antenna faces forward so as to allow the LED arrows in the device to pinpoint the direction of the threat more accurately.
• TotalShield – Ever heard of the radar detector-detectors (RDDs)? These are devices that are used to tell whether a vehicle is fitted with a radar detector. TotalShield is among the leading technologies, with regards to making these gadgets invincible to RDDs. This is important as nobody will be able to tell whether you are using a detector unless you tell them.
• Strobe Alert – This feature makes these gadgets more versatile. In addition to helping you detect speed gun radars, such a detector also helps keep you safe on the road. The device will produce the strobe alert to notify you of an emergency vehicle that is approaching head-on and is within a point-blank range of the radar detector.
• Expert Meter – Conventional radar detectors get confused whenever two or more microwave signals are detected simultaneously. To help the detector tell which signal to alert first, manufacturers have prioritized signals, with the laser signals being the most critical. These are followed by Ka, K, and then X band signals in the order of priority.

FAQ’s About Radar Detectors

Q: How do radar detectors differ from radar jammers?

A: As its name suggests, the radar detector is meant to identify radars ahead of you on the road. That way it gives you time to slow down or adjust your speed.

Radar jammers work by jamming and impeding police radar guns. The goal is to prevent radar guns from getting a reading.

Unlike radar detectors, jammers are illegal for use, meaning they put you at risk of getting significant financial penalties.

Q: Why doesn’t my radar detector go off sometimes when I drive past a cop?

A: Radar detectors pick up the signal of another radar, not police vehicles. If your radar didn’t go off, there’s a good chance the police car was equipped with a radar detector (90% chance).

At times, police officers have their radars turned off when not in the vehicle, or they have in instant-on mode. Since their radar is off, there’s nothing to detect and so your radar doesn’t go off.

Q: Does a radar detector work if the cop car is moving?

A: Yes, a moving radar is far more effective than a stationary radar. Radars on the move often have an antenna in the front and the back, equipping them with front-rear coverage. Also, such radars have the ability to track vehicles moving in the same direction, whether they are in front of or behind the cruiser.

Many of these radars can also lock in the fastest moving vehicle in a group, making it nearly impossible to try and blend it behind slower vehicles. In most cases, a moving radar meets an oncoming speeding vehicle. As that vehicle passes, the officer normally makes a U-turn and comes up behind you, just to pull you over. When that happens, you’re pretty much caught red-handed.

Q: Where is the optimal place to position a radar detector?

A: You are advised to mount your detector up high by the rearview mirror. That would ensure the perfect view of the road as well as the best performance. It will enable your detector to see radars over other vehicles and over hills alike.

Still, the range of a radar detector cannot be improved by mounting it a few feet higher than it was before. In quite rare situations, an extra 50 plus feet may make a difference.

However, a radar detector is mannered more closely by orientation than height. If you wish to maximize its range, keep it level and pointed down the center-line of your car.

A tint strip is a good place to hide your detector since it is less noticeable from the outside. Plus, it allows for a clean install when hardwiring the detector. However, keep in mind that it takes a little more effort and work to mount the detector initially.

Q: Why does my detector go off when I don’t see a cop?

A: In the event that it’s an X- or K-band alert going off, it could be just an automatic door opener triggering it. Some radars are very sensitive and can trigger such alerts from a quarter-mile away. A short K-band signal may simply be from Blind Spot Monitoring radar in a vehicle nearby.

And, if it’s a Ka-band alert going off, it’s almost certainly instant-on radar triggering cars in traffic ahead of you. When the radar is on hold, the police officer activates it right away at close range, picking up a speed almost at once.

Q: Are there false alerts and what to do against them?

A: False alarms usually occur in case the radar frequencies generated by a door opener fall into the range of your radar detector.

You can reduce this effect and address the problem with the help of a filter and a mute function. These are available in most radar detectors.

Ready to Avoid Speeding Tickets with a Radar Detector?

Even with these considerations in mind, you will realize that you still have many units to choose from. To save you the time and hassle of having to test each of the models, we have reviewed 10 of the best radar detectors today.

These are the models we found to be the most effective, with regards to range, sensitivity, and signal filtration. As such, you can rest assured any of these radars will get the job done.

Besides radar detectors, having a bidirectional scan tool scans and reads the error codes your engine may have. Finding any critical errors early saves you thousands of dollars later.

What’s your favorite radar detector? Share with us below!