| A radar detector is a special device used in an | | | | you were to buy from a retail store such as |
| automobile bydrivers in determining if their speed is | | | | Wal-Mart, you would likely have to install the detector |
| being monitored bylocal law enforcement officials. | | | | on yourown whereas going to a store that specializes |
| The term "radar detector"actually comes from earlier | | | | in radardetectors, car stereos, and car alarms would |
| speed-detection technologies thatused radio waves, | | | | offer you aprofessional installation. |
| which were bounced off moving vehicles with | | | | Brand Name and Band |
| adevice whereby police could determine if a person's | | | | Although you might pay a little more for a brand |
| speed waswhat it should be. | | | | name, chancesare you will end up with a more reliable |
| This old technology used a Doppler type radio wave | | | | radar detector. Forinstance, some of the better |
| frequency andwhile it worked, it was not nearly as | | | | brands currently on the marketinclude Whistler, |
| effective as whatofficials use today. The radar | | | | Uniden, Cobra, and Bel-Tronics. Additionally,try to |
| detectors on the market now havebeen designed to | | | | choose a detector that has the ability of |
| meet the more innovative equipment used byofficials. | | | | sensingwideband. In this case, the unit should be |
| Therefore, radar detectors now use | | | | capable of pickingup the entire Ka band, along with K, |
| severalwavelength bands, making them far more | | | | X, and laser bands. |
| sensitive. Whenconsidering a radar detector, you | | | | Sensitivity and Memory |
| should think about the topfive thing factors. | | | | The best radar detector would have good sensitivity. |
| Budget | | | | In otherwords, you want a unit with a minimum of |
| Because the technology of radar detectors has | | | | 110 db so if lawenforcement officials are far away or |
| advanced over theyears, they have also increased in | | | | behind a bridge, the unitwould still notify you. Then, |
| price. Keep price in mindwhen making your decision in | | | | even though it might cost you alittle more, consider a |
| that you could purchase aninexpensive model for | | | | unit with memory, which means you willnot have to |
| around $80 but it will likely not be aspowerful, reliable, | | | | constantly reset adjustments each time you turn |
| or include all the bells and whistles youwould get with | | | | theunit on. |
| a $400 model. Therefore, start by determiningthe | | | | Display and Volume |
| amount of money you want to spend and then begin | | | | Finally, you want a radar detector that has a good |
| yourshopping. | | | | display. Inaddition to brightness at night, you also |
| Installation | | | | need to see thedisplay when in bright sunlight, a |
| Depending on the model of radar detector you go | | | | common problem with manyradar detectors. Then, |
| with, some canbe mounted quick and easy on a | | | | an adjustable volume is a great feature. |
| dashboard while other models mustbe installed by a | | | | In fact, try to find a radar detector with a mute |
| professional. Knowing the type ofinstallation you want | | | | option. Thebenefit here is that if you have a cruiser |
| - self- or professionally installed willhelp you decide on | | | | behind you in normaltraffic, you can silence the |
| the store from which you would buy. Forinstance, if | | | | detector so it is not constantlygoing off. |