And that includes some of the highest gas prices I have seen [in the U.S.] -- $3.29 for regular and $3.49 for mid-grade, ouch! Am I glad, I don't drive a gas guzzling SUV.
Ohio also has the distinction of being the home to the three leading high-end radar detector manufacturers -- Beltronics, Escort, and Valentine Research. The state also appears to have a good quality road system, especially when compared to Pennsylvania. It makes me wonder why our state's tax dollars aren't be channeled as effectively in maintaining our highways. Smooth roads equal safe roads!
We also encountered just about every form of speed enforcement currently out there including instant-on X (10.5 Ghz), K (24.1 Ghz), Ka (34.7 Ghz), Ka (33.8 Ghz), and police lidar (904 nm) all in the course of a couple of days! WOW!
We certainly don't have that kind of action in PA...In fact, PA almost feels tame, in comparison, although I did run into a very tricky police radar speedtrap [in PA] on our return (more on that later). The only thing we didn't see in Ohio (and northern Kentucky) was VASCAR, Ka (35.5 Ghz), and aerial traffic surveillance although we understand that each of these additional methods are alive and well, there.
My wife and I covered about 1875 miles total over the course of our trip to Ohio (actually Kentucky) and back.
We were well received by each of the three leading radar detector manufacturers (thanks, each of you for your kind hospitality) -- we'll have to do it again, some time.
In the course of our visits, we were able to get our Escort Passport 9500i firmware updated, our Valentine 1 (V1) v3.826 dropped-off for a "tune-up," purchase a new retail model of the V1 (v3.861 /w digital temp compensation circuitry) directly from Valentine Research, and purchase another retail model of the Beltronics (BEL) STi Driver directly from BEL's/Escort's retail store. All told, it was almost $900 in total expenditures [all in the name of 'testing' of course!] We're going to have to hold off sending a check to Greenpeace, this month. (TA) :)
The most notable speed trap encounters were...
We "stumbled" upon a police laser speedtrap on our return trip on I-70E in Ohio about 30 miles west of Wheeling, WV. At the time of our initial laser hit (with an LTi Ultralyte at about 750 feet), we were traveling in excess of 95mph, to be honest. The traffic was fairly light, at the time, and we would have been toast, had it not been for our battery of laser countermeasures -- which, of course, included VEIL and a laser jammer.
My particular metallic silver sedan has a pretty lousy (in terms of stealth) frontal profile -- even without a front state license/number plate. At the distance we were initially targeted, we may not have had sufficient time to completely peel-off all of our additional 25-40mph speed had we used either VEIL or a laser jammer alone (due to the potential for punch through with this particular vehicle), however since my Dinan'd Bimmer was equipped with both laser countermeasures working in unison, we had more than enough time to safely slow down to a more sedate speed.
Both the BEL STi Driver and Valentine 1 alerted to the laser hit, as did the laser jammer. Once we got slowed, I turned off the laser jammer, to give the trooper his speed -- no sense "rubbing his nose in it."
I was so excited, I tried pulling a Jason maneuver, but by the time I made the return pass, the officer had already moved on to his next victim! I can understand how some guys have gone from fearing these police laser speedtraps to looking forward to them! Too bad Pennsylvania doesn't have this kind of action!
The other speed trap, that we encountered, worth mentioning was a tricky one -- either by design or coincidence -- in which a PA state trooper had left his K-band radar gun in steady-state (constant-on) mode while positioned between several radar-drone signs!
It was in the early evening and it was almost dark. In western PA on the PA Turnpike traveling eastbound towards the Reading/Morgantown exit. I was west of Breezewood when I stumbled into this trap. Of course, both of the radar detectors were screaming with strong K-band signals, but I almost completely disregarded them, as I incorrectly assumed that the K-band source was just another drone sign.
That could have been a very expensive mistake. Fortunately, I drive with "eagle eyes" and managed to spot the trooper's radar antenna on the side of his vehicle which was sticking out from the embankment that he was hidden behind. I was fortunate to get my speed down to a margin over that was not too excessive and managed to "squeak" by -- gotta love those effective BMW disc brakes (upgraded to cross-drilled with ceramic pads).
Another speed trap, worth noting, was an instant-on X-band hit from a rolling Ohio state trooper (white vehicle) from the opposite direction of I-270E. Steve (who lives in Ohio) is right. X-band is still alive and well in Ohio just like it is in New Jersey. If you drive in either of these states better not disable X-band reception -- that could be very costly, indeed.
Finally, I must write, Sheffield Village police really know how to use instant-on radar while cruising. They are prudent, quick, and lethal with their trigger-pulls. Be careful if you ever find yourself on River Road. A radar detector, alone, will likely not save you. My advice is to obey the posted limits.
The good news is that after almost 1900 miles of driving at speeds that would most certainly warrant speeding tickets (all in the name of real-world testing), we managed to successfully avoid every potential one [and it wasn't because we weren't trying, mind you] with our trusty radar detectors and laser countermeasures.
While I personally don't advocate speeding or the willful violation of traffic laws, it's nice to know that these products, can indeed serve to save your bacon and pay for themselves many times over, in the unfortunate event that you happen to be traveling a bit faster than the posted speed limit at the time you find yourself in a speedtrap.
Next week, we will continuing our long-term radar detector review series and comparisons, when we travel to Georgia and back (about 2200 miles round trip). Looking forward to taking our BEL STi Driver to a land "where 'no detector' has gone before."
Happy and safe motoring!
(Especially during this Memorial Day long holiday weekend. And please remember to buckle-up and watch the booze! Please celebrate our fought for/defended freedoms by driving safely, responsibly, and courteously. :))
Veil Guy
7 comments:
Unfortunately Bob you only experienced about 20% of Ohio's speed enforcement tenacity (SET). There are times when you will encounter speed enforcement avery couple of miles in Ohio. I am sure this holiday weekend would have been stellar action for you enough to satisfy your hunger for months to come
After reading your reviews for the past few months - one would have to favor the Bel STi.
Are you going to do a summary '07 review soon similar to the Radar Detector Review '05??
I noticed the Passport 8500 isn't mention much in terms of comparisons (vs Sti/V1) - Is the still considered one of the TOP end detectors??
snic,
Yes, indeed, we are. I decided to blog much of my day-to-day experiences instead of waiting to compile a full-length review -- which will come later in the year as "The Ultimate Radar Detector Review '07."
Using the resources of the blogging medium, I felt it was a more efficient method of delivering up-to-date information in the quickest manner.
My full length reviews take a considerable amount of time, resources, and energy to compile in their entirety.
I am liking the STi Driver very much (just as I did the RX-65 Pro). I think of the STi Driver as an RX-65 Pro on "steroids." Each radar detector is exceptional in their own right and I could happily live with any of them.
The same goes to both the Valentine 1 and the Escort 8500 X50. They still continue to have a rightful place on my windshield.
The Escort Passport 9500i [in my mind] is somewhat of a "work-in-progress."
In time, I believe the top windshield-mount radar detector group will be comprised of all five of them. Each provide a slightly different ownership experience.
For our full-length review we will likely include our experiences with the newer top-end models of Cobra and Whistler, as well.
We've got a big trip coming up next week and I will continue to examine the real-world performance of each of them, including a more thorough examination of intra-model production variance and other variations of use.
I have been spending the bulk of my recent focus on these newer radar detectors because that's where new information can be gathered -- since the Escort 8500 X50 and Beltronics RX-65 Pro haven't really changed since our last full-length review.
Our next full-length review will encompass all of them and I expect to be able more accurately access their respective performances now that have I lived with them for a very long time.
We have done such comparisons with the "older" radar detectors, but I am saving those results when I can provide the complete picture.
In the meantime, I sincerely hope my blog is making a positive contribution to expanding the informed knowledge base of high-end radar detector usage.
You said escort gave you a firmware update on the 9500i. Can you tell me what you think the firmware did?
Thanks Matt
Matt,
Haven't put enough miles on the revised unit to be able to give you a clear answer. But, the little time I have put on it suggests to me that more work needs to be done [with the tweaks], frankly.
For example, the signal [strength] ramp-up is still not 8500-like. In the coming weeks and months, I will continue my evaluation of the Passport 9500i. Given the sheer complexities of their sophisticated algorithms, I would expect that it is going to take them time to strike the "right" balance of sensitivity and [false] signal rejection.
If the final result will be anything like Beltronic's STi Driver, it will be well worth the wait!
To answer what you are probably getting at...I don't believe, at this time, that you need to send your unit back to Escort to have it flash-updated. I'd wait a bit longer (you should have, at least, a year to do so for free). I would recommend waiting either until you approach that time period or we learn that there is a major revision that would be worth having right now.
I'll, of course, post something, when something significant happens that you should be aware of.
Veil Guy
What "laser countermeasure" (besides Veil) are you using??
I was looking for a L.Jammer but have been waiting to see some real tests-
Have you seen any tests with the New Blinder units??
Are you familiar with the new Laser Interceptor??
What's your recomendation??
Really like your blog!!
snic,
While I have heard good things about the company's prototype and the engineer behind it, I couldn't comment on an LI until after a good year of experience with a production model. In my experience diode-type jammers have appeared to outperform their cool-burning LED jammer counterparts, but not consistently so and I have seen more than one "burn-out" for lack of a better word in well under a years time.
On my vehicle, where Veil may not provide the level of protection I would prefer (such as my metallic silver 540i) I have augmented my laser countermeasure solution with a Blinder M20 with great success.
I have yet to encounter a speeding ticket with that combination, the Blinder/Veil combination has provided many years of absolute trouble-free operation, and they form a relatively inexpensive approach as compared to the more expensive (and, in some case, less reliable diode-types).
I am expecting to soon experience a new Blinder M25. But honestly, I won't likely be pushing to replace my existing M20.
Why mess with success? For me, I am comfortable staying with what I know works.
And while JTG results look good on charts, I personally am not the kind of guy that gets pleasure out of jamming an officer to point blank range. I prefer to let them get their reading [after I have successfully slowed down]. That way, everybody is happy. I don't get a ticket and they don't get their noses rubbed in it.
Knowing Blinder Denmark, those new M25's have been extensively and I mean extensively tested before seeing the market. That's just the way they work. They don't make their customers beta testers.
So if you are acquiring your first jammer, you may likely find that the new M25 will do the job just fine.
Good luck with whatever way you choose to go and thanks for your question.
BTW, you'll be pleased to know, that I have incorporated the Passport 8500 X50 back into our latest test cycle to and from Atlanta, GA. Results to be included in our upcoming review.
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