This thing goes off too much
Written: Aug 02 '02 (Updated Jul 29 '03)
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Pros: It definately detects Radar signals.
Cons: It detects too many radar signals
The Bottom Line: The concept of Radar detection is a nice thought! It just does not work, nor can it work as we would like.
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| thetaxiguy's Full Review: BEL Express 906 Radar/Laser Detector |
This detector belongs to a friend of mine. He bought it and could not stand all of the false alarms so he tossed it in the glove box for eternity. I dont know a whole lot about radar detection. I have read all I can on the internet about the subject because I was in the market to buy one. As soon as my friend heard I was looking for one he advised aginst it and told me how annoying the false alarms were. He tossed me the Bel 906 and told me to "try before you buy".
I, of course, said "fine. I can tolerate a few false alarms to save a ticket or two." Spoken like a true idiot!!! I had no idea what he meant until I experienced it for myself.
My Experience:
I leave the parking garage at work. I have the detector on the "City" setting. First thing out of the garage, All of the leds kick on then off, on then off. I guess this is the signal for "take caution there is road work ahead" Well first of all there is road work no where around. This thing continues to give off false "road work alerts" and "k" band alerts until I finally make my way to the highway. Once on the highway things calm down a bit. I'm running along fine gaining a bit more respect for the thing when it goes off. "Oh this is a real one" I tell myself. It's on K band and the signal strength meter is gaining by the second. I get up to 4 lights (thats the max) but there is no cop in site. IT stays at 4 lights then 3, 2 and its gone. WHAT THE HECK!!! I though surly I busted a speed trap. Oh well, lets just pick the ol speed back up and get a move on. Runing about 90 mph and ..BOOM there it goes we have X band coming through at 2 lights and gaining. Now 3 lights.... AND poof its gone. NO more radar signal. Once again it was a false alarm and a waste of my brake pads.
Needles to say the rest of the 17 mile drive home was very similar. I would say 9 to 10 total false alarms Never once seeing a cop.
Then next day I was headed to work. It seems everything I passed set this thing off. as I approached my exit I saw a cop car that had someone pulled over. I saw the lights way up ahead and thought this will be the perfect chance to see what kind of range this thing has. As I approached my dissapointment grew. The detector was not going off at all. I told my self that he must have shut the radar off when he made the stop. Right as my truck was even with the cop car the stupid detector went off. So you could say the warning range was 12 feet. Yeah thats gonna save a ticket!!!
I want to believe more than anyone that this thing works. The concept of a "radar detector" is great. They just dont work!!! Or I should say that they do work but this day and age there is too much technology out there cloging up the air waves for them to be effective. There is "radar" coming out of microwave ovens, automatic doors, and a million other things. You just cant get away from it. Its a great concept it really is. However, I will end up spending more on worn out brake pads then I ever will on tickets if I keep having faith in this thing.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
thetaxiguy
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Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 2 members
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