Det. Mickylaren

I was just given a new radar detector as a gift: Beltronics Vector 940...looks pretty impressive, MUCH better than my previous one (which has since broken...it just decided to stop working).

I know it's no V1, but has anyone used this or heard anything about it? From the website and the features list, it looks pretty impressive. What do you all think?

Also, it has brief instructions about mounting. I have heard that the best place to mount is high up. It's currently right below the rearview mirror...how's that?

Thanks...gotta update my sig. It's on the to-do list.

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/56235/radar3.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/56235/radar2.jpg">

t0mt0m

i got it for 180, a great deal considering it was worth 300something, well beltronic's has alot of patents in the radar dector industry and other companies use there patents

the higher up it is, the better chance it has of catching stray radar bands, again u have to know how to use it, its only a tool to help you avoid speeding tickets

Det. Mickylaren

What would you recommend i do? You said, "you have to know how to use it." What exactly do you mean? Where can I learn how to use it? I thought you just plug it in and read the warnings.

Also, how effective and useful is this Safety Warning system thing?

t0mt0m

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/product-tests/default.asp

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/radar-detector.htm

CadenceX

I've owned 3 Vector Bels, all have broke...I'm goin V1 next!

t0mt0m

if you just leave it on ur dash in direct sunlight they kills the life of it, there heat resistant, not totaly heat proff, the v1 will have the same problems if u treat it horribely

Det. Mickylaren

I plan on leaving it on the windshield for the most part...unless it is a very hot day and the car will be in the sun for a long time. Then I think I'll put it in the glovebox (at least it's out of the direct sunlight).

Det. Mickylaren

JEEZ....290 views and only two responded? come on guys! :-)

KenK in TX

I installed the 975R in when I got the A4, and had been using its predecessor (615R, I think) for 5+ years in my last car.

(see my pic poster for install pics)

Cap`n Crunch

I chose the 960 after considerable research. I chose the bel for its sensitivity across X,K, and KA bands. A few AZ to NorCal trips proved it to be invaluable. About 95% of hwy ptrl and city police Ive encountered were using the KA band. I have never been lasered. IHMO the ka band performance is the most important. I could get warnings on I-5 ( very strait) from radar emitting CHP's long before i could see them close enough top tell they were cops as well as CHP's hidden around the bends coming down the Grapevine with more than enough warning to slow. I am not exactly sure what the feature differences are between the 940 and 960, perhaps a little more sensitivity. Auto mute is nice to have when you are moving along in the same direction as a radar emitting patrol car. Along with city/hwy modes an auto sensitivy mode is nice as well. Night time dimming is a must. One nice feature of the bel is the voice that speaks the band it is sensing. If you hear it say "KA-BAND" in a voice that sounds like James Earl Jones =), you dont even need to look at the display, just go strait for the brake, because there IS a cop somewhere. I recently purchased a passport 8500 and found it to be on par with bel. The pros of the Passort are less false alarms (although the bel had very few), the display has an ~30 degree angle toward the driver, the power cord has LED's indicating alarm, its a little classier looking than the bel, which I think looks kind of goofy, a tech mode which actually displays the frequency being used, more sensitive in rear detection and a really nice carrying case. I will say that I did prefer the mounting brackets on the bel more than the passport. The high end world seems to be dominated the Valentine V1 unit, and most people on this board crow about it, but I have never used one. I do see how the multi bogi tracking and direction indicators could be helpful. I understand that the V1 falses quite a bit however. As for mounting I have always mounted mine mid windshield, I will be doing a hardwire though. Anyway congrats on the bel, your leaps and bounds above that circuit city "Cobra" brand junk.