Test Day #5, 05 FEB 05 – (PA, NJ, and NY Route)

We set out to examine the performance of each of these radar detectors on X-Band so we headed to the only place where not only is instant-on/pulsed X-band radar used, it thrives and it is lethal! That place is the Garden State of NJ.  We selected a route that would take us through some of the most heavily patrolled areas in the entire state, Interstate 78 in the north-western part of the state.

We initially compared the Bel RX65 Pro to the Valentine One v1.8 (w/POP2) at 28 miles into our trip both radar detectors alerted about the same time to a sign with stationary K-band radar above Quakertown, PA.

We proceeded on I-78 east towards NJ. At 31 miles into out trip the Valentine One alerted to K-band about one second sooner than the RX65 as we were traveling about 85mph.  The source was another steady radar sign located in the median around a left bend in the interstate that was facing us.

Within three miles both the RX65 and the V1 alerted K-band almost simultaneously to another sign located in the median facing away at the opposing lanes of traffic after passing the source, the V1 alerted to rear K-band for about 2-3 seconds longer than the RX65.

When we reached the NJ state line, we enabled X-band radar on both radar detectors and re-confirmed that each were set to Highway sensitivity mode.

During this portion of our test, we drove a little more cautiously as compared to the West because we knew we were swimming in shark infested waters.

About six miles into the state on I-78E the Valentine One briefly alerted to a weak X-band signal about two seconds prior to the RX65.  We were traveling at about 75-78mph at the time and could not confirm the source although it was likely a pickup of pulsed X-band radar usage.

These extremely well-trained radar operators prove the adage that it is not the equipment that counts – it’s how you use it.  NJ state troopers operate an older (but still made) radar unit from MPH Industries – the in-car K55 moving radar unit.  It operates on X-band in either steady or pulsed-modes; when either moving or stationery.  The K55 has been in use in NJ for more than two decades!   No doubt this equipment has been paid for several thousand times over!

An all too familiar site on this stretch of highway.

MPH, happens to be the maker of the [relatively] new POP killer BEE III.  Don't let the marketing hype throw you, though - radar detectors will not be obsolete as it must be operated in normal mode as legally required to obtain your vehicle tracking history and thus, alerting radar detectors in typical fashion.

The technology is pretty cool, but as you will read, a well-trained radar operator - regardless of technology/radar band used - is more of a threat than a "casual" or carefree POP user.

While driving on this interstate, a radar detector will often alert to X-band, but it can be very difficult to locate the source and we eventually found out the reason why.  We had come across a state police barracks located just off the interstate that had a patrol car that had left a K55 unit on.

During one of our approaches, we watched and followed a trooper leave the barracks and drive to what was, obviously, a preferred speed trap location.

In this particular trap, the trooper positioned his vehicle on a very short on-ramp to the interstate that was obscured from view, from approaching drivers, by an embankment and overpass (see picture).  You’ll notice that the officer is actually pointing his radar unit on a slight angle to the road thus directing much of the low-power radar across as opposed to following the roadway.

Low-power pulsed X-band K-55 from rear - 20+ yrs old technology!
Concerned about POP RADAR?  No need.  Plenty of other lethal speedtraps lurking about.

Although this limits the actual targeting distances (by design), it also makes it much more difficult to detect the signal regardless of the direction of travel.  When this targeting method is combined with an instant-on, pulsed mode, it makes for extremely difficult detection even with the best radar detector.

Bottom line: be very mindful of your speeds when driving on this interstate -especially when you consider that the fines are doubled in [the state maximum of] 65 mph speed zones in NJ.

Having found a legitimate X-band source, we began an extensive comparison of the best radar detectors traveling both directions, east and west-bound, on the interstate.

In a heads-up comparison, the V1 alerted between 0.5 to two seconds before the RX65 to the radar source.

The surprise came with the Escort 8500 X50 / Valentine and Escort 8500 X50 / RX65 Pro match-ups.

On a westerly approach to the barracks, the V1 alerted a full five seconds prior to the X50 while we were traveling at about 40mph.  We ran this test several additional times to confirm this outcome.

At highway speeds of about 80mph on I-78E the X50 didn’t report the presence of the radar where the V1 did.  On the return trip I-78W (the barracks was on this side of the interstate) the V1 alerted about 0.5 to 1 second before the 8500 X50.

We repeated the test between the RX65 and the V1 and both alerted almost simultaneously when the orientation of the radar detectors was similar.

In an RX65 versus 8500 X50 match-up, the RX65 alerted about nine seconds before the X50 at 65mph.

Just to be as complete as possible, we compared both versions of Valentines v1.7 versus v1.8. The v1.7 consistently alerted about 0.5-two seconds prior to the v1.8 on this X-band radar source.

Having compared all of the radar detectors to a known legitimate X-band radar source, we continued on our planned driving route towards the great state of NY.  Our route took us North on I-287 to the I-87 North (the New York Thruway).  We proceeded to Exit 17 (Newburgh) in the Catskill region as our farthest point traveled today.

On our return on I-87 South the V1 alerted first by about 0.5-1 second to a state trooper’s steady Ka radar unit in-car unit facing our direction as we approached exit 16.

Fortunately, the vehicle I was driving had a thorough VEIL treatment!  I felt reassured that we were able to safely slow down without being ticketed!

I thought we had to drive to Ohio to test the laser function of these radar detectors, but found out the hard way - that despite its inauspicious beginnings in the state legal system, laser is now alive and well in NJ!

I proceeded to the next exit, turned around to go through the laser speed trap again – this time with the 8500 X50 in place of the RX65.  By the time I got back to the trap, the officer had a vehicle already pulled over.  Too  bad, he wasn’t using VEIL!

Another hapless motorist who has not, as yet, heard of Veil.

I should point out that neither the RX65 nor the V1 provided any advanced warning to the laser speedtrap – not surprising given the nature of laser.

We completed the remainder of our return-trip with no subsequent radar/laser encounters.

Miles accumulated today were 500 bringing the total of our test to about 2000 during five full driving days and through five states and having faced all forms of radar / laser bands currently in use today in North America.

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