Radar Detector

A radar detector notifies you when your car is being scanned by a laser. It adds to the speedometer in displaying your vehicle's speed, allowing you to control it accordingly. Having the right radar detector installed in your car involves a considerable selection process.

Matching detectors to your privacy needs

Three different types of radar detectors are available in the market. These vary according to how it is attached to your vehicle and how high or low its sensor capabilities are.

• Remote mounted detectors ? It's key strength is stealth. Also called a concealed radar detector, an advantage of using the remote mounted type is that it's not as easy to discover as the other types. It's suited in states that prohibit usage of radar detectors, such as in Virginia, Washington DC, and in some provinces in Canada. Some remote units, like the Escort SR7 and Beltronics RX75, even have an active laser jammer function, allowing your vehicle to pass through laser guns without being scanned. The only vice in this type is that it's expensive and it requires installation by a professional.
• Corded detectors ? Also called wired radar detectors, this is the most common type of radar detector. It goes either to your car's cigarette lighter or into your vehicle's fuse box. Its' easy to install since it just requires mounting and plugging. Aside from the capability to detect all bands, this type works without batteries. If you go for convenience, then a corded radar detector would be your bet.
• Cordless detectors ? It's key strength is organization, no messy wires hanging around. There's no need to worry about keeping your wires hidden. But in getting rid of these wires, the cordless detector's range and sensitivity decreases by 30% compared with a corded detector. It's also unable to detect POP radar since it turns on and off in milliseconds. Unlike the corded detector, this type runs on battery, hence, it requires regular battery replacement.

Selecting features that are beneficial to you

Each radar detector type comes with its own features and specs. Determine your perfect radar detector by looking at how these features and specs translate to your benefits. Assess features like city mode, laser detection, VG-2 and Specter protection, "instant-on" protection, and digital voice alerts, and identify which ones you'll need often. If you work in a city, for example, you'll need a radar detector with a city mode for less false alerts.

Knowing when your car is going beyond the speed limit in a given area is crucial in daily driving. In places where speeding along the highway is a major issue, a radar detector would definitely guide you through. Installing a radar detector on your vehicle is an easy task and can take up to 20 minutes only.

Here's a step by step procedure on how to set up your car's radar detector:

Difficulty level: Easy

Tools to be used:

• Radar detectors
• Cable ties
• Multipurpose screws
• Screwdriver set
• Variable-speed drills
• Wire cutters

Step 1: Get your radar detector and read the manual that comes with it. Understand the instructions carefully before you begin with the installation.

Step 2: Gather the tools you'll need ? drill, screws, wire cutter, silicone, grommets, screwdriver, wire ties, and wire loom, if available.

Step 3: Open the box of the radar detector and check if you have all the things it's supposed to include in the package.

Step 4: Look for the required components in your car, which you'll need to connect to the radar detector later. The receiver should go to a place that you can easily see while driving. Visualize that easy-to-see place while driving to ensure that your hands will not block it while holding the steering wheel. The typical locations are the ashtray position, the sun visor, or just hanging beneath the dash.

Step 5: Find another location where the other components of the radar detector, the front and rear sensors, will go to. The manual offers ideal places for these. Keep in mind that radar detectors can't go through metal and laser can't infiltrate plastic.

Step 6: Proceed with the installation and mount the components to your chosen locations. Secure them to a metal surface using screws.

Step 7: Route the wires from the front of your car to the passenger compartment. Check the manual to see where the wires should go through. Organize the wires and tie them together.

Step 8: Run the wires from components in your car's rear through the passenger compartment. Then, mount the receiver and attach the wires from the component to the receiver.

Step 9: Finally, turn on the radar detector and wait for a test beep. If there's no beep, try rechecking the wires.