I just donated $25 to you man. Your knowledge is priceless. I've never donated to a youtuber before, but mainly becauseI have never felt the need to do so. The amount of detail you give on every aspect on this somewhat confusing topic for people is amazing. Thanks and happy thanksgiving!
Thank you so much James! I really appreciate it and yeah, it's literally people like you that make it possible for me to continue doing what I do. Happy Thanksgiving! :)
In the last two weeks, I ran into C/O X band in Louisiana (Natchitoches & Ruston). I was able to visually verify both. Multiple hits in Natchitoches. Detected with the R7.
I run a uniden R1 in Georgia. I do a lot of traveling, ran all 3 bands for the first month to get a feel for it. Never once got a K-band hit from a patrol car, only speed signs, a few X-bands here and there, all KA-Band. Turned X and K off except KA- band in highway mode. Picking up KA about 12 miles out in the country and around 2 to 5 miles in the city this way, laser is on of course and for that I also run an ALP, been hauling ass everywhere this way. Between these 2 devices and Waze I'm feeling pretty good until a plane gets me or I'm being paced.....
Right on. Still, there are still places you will see K band. PA is loaded with it. Biggest problem is that the state is also loaded with the speed signs you mentioned.
I can confirm what you mentioned. Here in AL, Ka is the primary radar. 98% of the time it's what I get. I've only ever witnessed a cop use K once, while driving through a tiny old town. The car was older, so it wasn't surprising.
I have a friend who is a Sheriff Deputy in Texas. His county uses pop K band; on his gun he pulls the trigger and the speed is instantly registered. They train how long the gun needs to be on hold so it’s not detected until a fast mover is visually seen, and then clocked with the gun. After riding with him a few times, I decided to just keep it within 10 mph of the speed limit while blending with traffic. He only pulls over vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph or more. You would be surprised to know that most of these people do not use a radar detector. Very interesting stuff. Drive safely, have fun! 👍
TDCtactical Same here in Kentucky, along the southern half of I75. In my experience, everyone other than KSP is running K Band about 90% of the time. At least that is what my R3 tells me.
Hi Vortex, Vulcan here. I can assure you we have K band here in Northern Cali. I was driving to Half Moon Bay and encountered 2 sheriffs running K band within 3 miles of each other. This was about a year ago. In addition, Walnut Creek PD run almost exclusively K band. This is frequent on city streets. This is just the few that I know, I am sure K band is also used elsewhere in NorCal...
Good to know! I've heard a lot of people adamant that they've never seen it, but if you have, you should mention it in the forums! Can you post about it here? www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=55072
Certainly, thank you! I also have some interesting videos which can help people driving through national parks. They are sneaky those National Park Rangers, I will post info on RDF. Drove through Yosemite last year and saw 6 different rangers running 34.7 over the space of 2 hours (45 miles). Luckily all C/O and Redline came through as most were off axis.
Great information, glad I watched this video probably just saved myself from getting a ticket. I live in MI on the border of OH and I am in OH at least 3 times a week, I keep my X band turned off all the time not knowing OH still actively runs X band. I will definitely be turning X band on when I cross back over into OH again.
Defiance County, Ohio, on US 24 runs X band. I confirmed a hit for several miles and came upon a marked Sheriff department SUV with a Rabbit on the side.
In upstate New York I've never seen anything other than Ka used - among troopers, sheriffs departments and local PDs. I just turned off X and K on my Escort 9500ix.
I drove delaware to Niagara falls so i went up the NE extension to Syracuse then I-90 west to NF. I hit K-band twice from state troopers. The rampup was different on both alerts and different than the fullout kband alert with BSM so I'm glad I had K-band turned on but the BSM alerts are definitely annoying. In Delaware I've run into K band two times in 4 years but have had 10000 falses so 6 months ago i decided to roll the dice and turned off k band. The detector is so quiet that i have to check to see if it is running. Completely new driving experience.
I’m in upstate New York, every time I approach a red light in around the Albany area, it picks up X band. It was getting rather annoying to be honest, so I shut x band off. Thank you so much for this information about how X band is not used in New York!
Agreed on Florida, state troopers all run Ka band and even my local sheriff and Police only use Ka band. For local driving I only run with Ka and Laser on even though I have never seen anyone around here with laser guns but since it doesn't false much, no reason to turn it off.
@@trevormirshak8297 I meant the LIDAR units. PL3 and stuff like that is being phased out. I know the state police completely phased out K band and they also trashed any super wide KA band units because they couldn’t be certified anymore.
CONFIRMING only KA band in northern CALIFORNIA all the way to LA(commute a lot to LA from SF) "34.7"-87%, "35.5"-12.9%(based on mine encounters around 100 times in one year. Turned of X and K band about 2 month after i purchased the detector) even "33.8"-0.1%(only encountered once, in Sausalito CA, confirmed by following the signal and as it got really strong i spotted a park ranger pulling up to panda express)
Akmal Maksumov i got a 33.8 yesterday up here in santa barbara but i didnt see no chp or moto chp who usually run 33.8 , false alert with KA GUARD OFF possibly on the v1c
Unfortunately, I think that what everyone really needs to worry about is Laser! I did not notice any annotations about which states use Laser, but I know the FHP uses it in Florida. Not sure if local police departments in Florida use it or not. But as we all know, Laser Detectors basically just tell you hat you have already been clocked, so unless you have a laser jammer, you are SOL, right?
Your videos are awesome. I currently live in Northern California however, I travel frequently to Southern California for work and personal leisure. I was thinking about purchasing the Redline or the Max360, but wanted your opinion on this. I have never owned a detector before but your videos have helped me to narrow down what I may be looking for. Thanks!
The Redline will be an utter beast out there. You can run it on just Ka band and cut down on virtually all the false alerts which will be fantastic. amzn.to/1zTi7r3 The Max360 won't have quite the range, but it will give you plenty in most situations. What it lacks in that department it adds in giving you arrows to help you locate the source, plus alerting you to redlight cameras which are quite expensive out there. This is what most people would lean towards. amzn.to/1Mcei56 Something else to be aware of is that laser is used heavily in CA and a radar detector won't help against that. To deal with laser you'll want to pair your RD with a good set of laser jammers. In that area, the AntiLaser Priority is the one to get: www.vortexradar.com/2016/02/antilaser-priority-review-the-best-laser-jammers-on-the-market/ Finally download the app Waze onto your phone and you'll have one killer setup to help keep you protected. 👍
Is the RDFGS in maintenance or did it get taken down? The web page is blank. I tried multiple browsers and devices, all aren't showing a map. Trying to look up what laser guns are used in an area to see if my friend needs ALPs or could possibly get by with LIs
Looks like it's down at the moment for some server upgrades. www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=55967&page=11&highlight=rdfgs If you're buying new, I'd really advise against LI's. They're no longer being updated and while they'll work against older guns, you'll really want something that offers more protection down the line.
Yeah I was suggesting that to my friend but I don't think they would go for a $750+ setup. I figure if they only see old stuff like PLIII or whatever, an LI would be a lot better than nothing.
It's definitely better than nothing. Make sure they factor in the cost of installation, reinstallation once they realize they need to upgrade systems, the possibility of needing to cut holes in the grill or inside their cabin and finding that the new system they need doesn't match the holes they may have had to cut before, and so on. A lower price is more appealing, no doubt about it, but make sure they consider the whole picture. Then they can make an educated decision either way, but at least they'll have all the info. :)
Pickens County Williamston county and the lower counties like Sumter Close to Myrtle Beach A small town called Central Iva,Tiger-Town confirmation they all have cars that run K-Band in South Carolina!!All State Troops run KA- that I know of run I/O and it's just about all the time 347.00.
I think the RDFGS should be cleared and restarded inorder to help keep information accurate and up to date, it says wheatland, CA (which is norcal) uses k band and citrus heights which is also norcal i can not confirm k band is in use there but i think that information may be outdated and it may apply in alot of other places also
I have traveled VA extensively on a motorcycle, and the only police radar I have ever experienced is KA band, 99% anyway. On rare occasions I used to pickup a laser here and there but it's been awhile, although I do ride in remote spots. I was just thinking yesterday that I should turn off K band. Like the guy below, I'll gladly make a donation for the service you provide. Where do i do this?
Did you ever re-test the Whistler CR=85? I have been running this unit since they first came out throughout the state of Indiana & admit off axis is weak but it has served & saved me well. The speaker did finally go out but Whistler replaced it out of warranty for $15.00 I have been using radar detectors since escort released their very first one & have used a multitude of various brands in the past.
The areas here in Southern California in the High Desert are not listed, and I am not familiar enough with the system to know how to pass any information on, but I will update as I acquire the information. Victorville, Adelanto, Helendale are not listed, but cops are everywhere here. Radar is a regular thing, which is why I updated to the Uniden R3. I keep hearing the R3 has a longer range than many other detectors, but what is that actual range? I would like to know so I have an idea. Thank you.
Hi I love your videos and am an avid subscriber to your channel. I recently upgraded from an old "15" band cobra radar detector to my Uniden R7 with now updated firmware. What do you advise when I see a false K? Do I hit the mute, because then when mute is on I believe it mutes ALL other alerts? I thought I had it all figured out by double pressing the mute button to store a false k band, is this the right way to do it? Also do you think that an Escort 360CI with escort live (which I am subscribed to) would be better at KA and K 24.168 which my local PD uses? I use waze in conjunction with escort live which is always behind waze as far as alerts/being useful. Do you think I am missing out with not having a GPS detector with a cloud interface? Thanks, I reallly appreciate your videos and feedback. Keep it up you are a natural. -Alex
So there's different sources of false alerts and different tools to help you filter them out, depending on the type of false alert. Doublepressing to lock out, for example, is used for stationary false alerts like speed signs and door openers, not moving falses like blindspot falses or legitimate police officer alerts. Please see this video for more information: ruclips.net/video/tkiRZ2WUtQA/видео.html
Hi. I have been using an Escort 9500ix for a couple of years now and it has been working great, however I recently relocated to Southern California for several months and wanted something a bit more trustworthy. I read several articles about the new Uniden R3, and then I ran across your reviews and decided to take the plunge. I didn't know about your links to sellers or I would have purchased so you could have gotten the commission, but next time for sure as I have other items I want to purchase. Anyway I did receive the new R3 in only two days and am setting it up now. I wanted to see what the police are using here, but the RDGS doesn't seem to be working right now. Is there another option for getting this information so I know what is accurately being used in my area? I have a lot to learn so will donate as I am able. Thanks for the great info.
+Howie Rayburn Congrats on the purchase! Yeah if you used the links I shared in the video description then it would support me. Donating directly helps too. As for the RDFGS, it's down for website updates now. However, SoCal is super easy. Just shut off X and K and run it in Ka only. Laser is used actively so you'll want laser jammers too. As for the RD though, Ka only, Ka Narrow, and Ka Filter Off will work out well.
Vortex.if I shut off X band and K band does the detector work better. I already have X off. I have only came across one sheriff with K band in Vermillion South Dakota. Everything else is KA. I have the R3
Heyy great stuff. On RDF and especially here. Where are some good places to look up settings for specific locations. Specifically southern California. LA area and surrounding counties. I don't know whether to leave on VG-2/Spectre RDD or not. I know it's not illegal to have a RD here, but Google is not helping in whether they actually use it. Helped someone set up her new RD with a very low budget but new looking RD with pop off, x off, K on, Ka on, LASER on, VG-2 off, TSR off. She isn't very bright so I set it up with intentions of letting her be warned but with a good balance of having an okay experience as well.. I know I was once hit with LASER but I slowed down, it was enough for a ticket but before the second hit I slowed down dramatically and then saw the moto cop. He let me go/no stop, whew. So that's why I let her LASER be on. Did I do right? Thanks. :)
Check out the RDFGS for local information. Spectre immunity isn't necessary in CA since RDs are legal and they don't use RDDs there. Yeah laser on can help and sometimes you may get lucky like that, but it's not something you'd want to count on, especially in places like CA where laser is used frequently.
I bought the max 360 yesterday but live in Cali... was this a bad idea? Should I return it? I didn't mine the price but obviously don't wanna waste money
King Tes I bought mine a few days ago and I don't think you should get rid of it without knowing it's capabilities. Play around with it and get familiar with the 360. Your going to like it more when you know how to work it.
Hi there, just donated to you. I bought an Escort based on your videos. I have a question. The only thing I'm concerned with is a Highway patrol officer that has radar detection as part of his radar gun so he knows you have the detector. If the detector works then in theory he (or she) shouldn't have to pull you over because I'm going the speed limit. Still, is this something I should be concerned with? Thanks! (and/or anyone else that can respond to this.)
Vortex Radar, I am wanting to purchase a radar detector for my new vehicle. I live n AZ and would like to ask you if you have any feedback on AZ or your recommendation on what detector to purchase. It seems tome after watching several of your videos that the Uniden R3 seems to receive the highest ratings. Thank you for an informative video. Blue skies, Jg
Congrats! It's very accurate. This video was not released all that long ago and things don't change much. For any updates though, check out the link in the video description.
I live in California. And after watching the majority of your videos plus the research your provide. I am currently stuck between two radar detectors to purchase. Either the Cobra DSP-9200 BT or the Uniden DFR6?! I was wondering how the DFR6 is with "blind spot" assist filtering!? I would greatly appreciate the info! And also what is your input on what I should purchase !?
As stated in your video, that Colorado map is a bit misleading and there is no simplified explanation on the website. 80% of the population lives in the Denver metro area which doesn't use K. The K reports are mountain towns and the southern part of the state with old equipment. So it looks like K band is in use in Colorado, but it's not really unless you drive around the state.
Hello, thinking of buying the beltronics rx65, live in Iowa, any throughts, am 64, yrs old, don't really speed that much, just like to know where they r, thank you for any advice, Donnie
Ooh, avoid buying an old, discontinued detector with decent performance, but lacking the false alert filtering that you'll need for today's roads. Something like a Uniden DFR6 or DFR7 would be a much better buy today. www.vortexradar.com/best-radar-detectors/
Benji Nguyen im here two. There have been a few k cops but its them dam sensors on the cars that set it off. just use tsr too be safe. x off for sure though lol.
Im also from minnesota, turned off x ages ago haha, im almost at the point where i rarely ever see k being used for detecting anymore it mostly just comes from other cars and signs and stuff. Its seems like there is only KA when there its an actual threat
The only place where I've encountered K was the North Shore. Even if you're going to some of the rural places in southern MN it's all KA. If you go to Wisconsin, though, you better make sure that K band is on!
I've had a few radar detectors over the last 4 years, here in colorado, I've never once had a single alert for k-band that was confirmed to be a cop. Its always 34.7 or 35.5 ka. If they still use k-band, theyre obviously phasing it out lol
I don't think las vegas is K band. I've had multiple close calls this week and its been all KA Band. Nevada highway patrol, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, LV Metro undercovers and Las Vegas Metro motorcycle cops all have been using KA Band. All the K alerts I get is from store doors and car BSMs. Did anyone specify where the K band is in nevada? Thanks
@@VortexRadar Thank you for the reply! Your video is very informative and helpful. I bought the Uniden DFR7 after watching your review. I found it was discontinued after the purchase but the essential functions seem remained the same according to your comparison video.
If anyone in the South Carolina area has a uniden r3 can you tell me what’s best to run for it. Just got it and have gotten nothing but false alerts and have gone passed multiple cops with no radar being detected
Pretty sure they use X in Oklahoma. I asked at a truck stop as I was driving through as I passed several LEO without detection that weren't using LIDAR.
Did you get a normal rampup and everything? Did you happen to see a big honkin' antenna in/on their vehicle? X band falses are common while legit X band is pretty rare, so it's good to be sure. :)
I didn't get anything at all. That is why I inquired when I stopped for gas. They were like for sure they are using X band because most people have it turned off. I do get awesome ramp ups with my Magnum. I really don't mind the K band annoyances, I just switch back to my passport on auto when in the city.
Are you sure they simply didn't have their radar guns turned off? That's FAR more common and is typically the reason that your radar detector won't get an alert. Again, X band is super rare and phased out across almost the entire country and while almost anything is technically possible, unless you can confirm they have X band, it's generally recommended to go with the more likely scenario.
I'm sure that is always a possibility. I trust the truckers they do a lot of miles through that state. What I have noticed though is an definite increase in cops using lidar by bouncing it off their side mirror even though this isn't a legitimate use of it they don't care. So It is possible I guess that they were using laser and just parked parallel with traffic.
Let me revise my previous comment...I do see that Laser is addressed on the RDF Geographical Survey. Wow...49 out of 50 states do you (LIDAR) laser spped measuring devices. I just did not see that survey on your video. Thanks, and please comment if you can add anything to the survey, or if you have any thoughts on laser detection in general.
Is there anything wrong with buying a radar detector off someone and is there a way to test to see if they work fine. I found a escort passport max for 150 is it a good deal?
That should be alright. You can always drive up to a grocery store with an automatic door opener and see if it alerts to K band. You can then triple press the mute button to teach it that's a false alert and ensure it locks out the alert normally. Stuff like that.
"make a simplified explanation for every state" it would be better to make it for every county and do the color coordinated map thing. if you are in a country using it or one over, you might wnat ot be careful, but it seems unlikely for lots of travel things. another map option would be to color road corridor changes. so if highway patrol do something, sherif do another, and police do a third thing, you capture the three thigns without having to convolve the map with department names. you would only need street/road/highway names.
Good video, and good info to know. My question is about if I should upgrade my radar/laser detector. I currently have the Passport 9500IX Radar/Laser Detector. Would it be worth it to upgrade to a newer Passport? I live in Illinois, and near the state line of Indiana (Northwest Indiana). I also take road trips out West. I find that X band comes on as false alarms. Also with X band, could that be emitted from store burglar alarms? I have not fully read up on bands that much. Thanks in advance.
An update will definitely give you better performance and filtering. If you're a fan of the autolockouts, take a look at the Max2 amzn.to/1PsOgPl which is a more modern version of the same thing. (There's the iX which is the successor to the 9500ix, but the Max2 offers all the same features plus better performance and filtering for less money. Go figure.) If you want the arrows, Max360. amzn.to/1Mcei56 As for X band, yeah definitely. Lots of door openers use X band and so you'll want your detector to learn and lock those out for you.
Radar still is hit and miss in Cali, last I was told from a family member (CHP officer) was they still time and pace cars between points rather than radar all the time.
About a year driving 50-75 miles daily between Reno and Carson City and haven't encountered anything but KA and Laser. And Laser was only once or twice. It's 99% KA, never seen any K or X.
Yeah I’ve heard some reports about it being used in the Bay Area since this video was released back in 2016. Things may change over time. :) If you have some local specific info, you can always share it on the forums so we can all stay up to date.
@@VortexRadar I am sorry sir, I did go over to the forums, and the latest interactive map, and it does have the correct information. I only said something because I had my portable detector set to ignore K band, and got nailed in Lassen County...
Radar detectors honestly still worth it on their own or is it a waste? What percentage of cops are running lidar instead of radar? Would putting the money towards a laser jammer/detector be more effective?
I get more saves from my radar detector than my laser jammers, but for many people it's the other way around. Realistically you need both for a complete kit because radar and laser are in use all over the country nowadays.
Vortex Radar i picked it up 2 years ago with my redline he was using it as instant on and after i saw it the first time he must have gotten the guy he pulled over because he left it on during the stop and i passed them. Happened on i 85
Vortex Radar certified or not they might still be writing tickets anyway... Ill be sure to argue that case if it ever happens to me. Its the perfect weapon if you think about it they know most people are filtering out x so as long as they don't know to challenge the officer for using it the officer gets a ticket.
I'm honestly not totally sure. Things do slowly change over time and I don't have a way of verifying everything personally. The RDFGS is no longer editable and updatable so the information will slowly go out of date. Much of it still may be totally accurate, but there's not a good way of knowing for sure short of maybe asking on the forums and getting feedback from other drivers in your area.
This list covers radar only, not laser. You're definitely right that laser is in use there too. Here's some additional info for NJ regarding both radar and laser. :) www.rdforum.org/wiki/index.php?title=RDF_Geographical_Survey_-_New_Jersey
I just donated $25 to you man. Your knowledge is priceless. I've never donated to a youtuber before, but mainly becauseI have never felt the need to do so. The amount of detail you give on every aspect on this somewhat confusing topic for people is amazing. Thanks and happy thanksgiving!
Thank you so much James! I really appreciate it and yeah, it's literally people like you that make it possible for me to continue doing what I do. Happy Thanksgiving! :)
I thought California was a blue state
I think it's brown now, after all the public feces that needs to be cleaned up.
SF and LA are why we're a blue state. Having Northern CA as red is actually pretty accurate haha.
I bought property in Otisburg. Keeping my fingers crossed that it pays off.
Lmao
It is a blue state and thats the biggest thing wrong with the state Lol
one of best youtube videos i've ever watched. Every second is full of useful info and no pointless babbling. Super job dude thanks so much!
In the last two weeks, I ran into C/O X band in Louisiana (Natchitoches & Ruston). I was able to visually verify both. Multiple hits in Natchitoches. Detected with the R7.
All hail the radar genius! Thanks for all the info! very helpful indeed
I run a uniden R1 in Georgia. I do a lot of traveling, ran all 3 bands for the first month to get a feel for it. Never once got a K-band hit from a patrol car, only speed signs, a few X-bands here and there, all KA-Band. Turned X and K off except KA- band in highway mode. Picking up KA about 12 miles out in the country and around 2 to 5 miles in the city this way, laser is on of course and for that I also run an ALP, been hauling ass everywhere this way. Between these 2 devices and Waze I'm feeling pretty good until a plane gets me or I'm being paced.....
Right on. Still, there are still places you will see K band. PA is loaded with it. Biggest problem is that the state is also loaded with the speed signs you mentioned.
I can confirm what you mentioned. Here in AL, Ka is the primary radar. 98% of the time it's what I get. I've only ever witnessed a cop use K once, while driving through a tiny old town. The car was older, so it wasn't surprising.
Oops. RUclips auto played the next video while I was typing. Lol. This was meant for the latest video about states band usage.
I have a friend who is a Sheriff Deputy in Texas. His county uses pop K band; on his gun he pulls the trigger and the speed is instantly registered. They train how long the gun needs to be on hold so it’s not detected until a fast mover is visually seen, and then clocked with the gun. After riding with him a few times, I decided to just keep it within 10 mph of the speed limit while blending with traffic. He only pulls over vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 20 mph or more. You would be surprised to know that most of these people do not use a radar detector. Very interesting stuff. Drive safely, have fun! 👍
Nevermind. I just saw your notes and Addendums. Thanks.
You've helped THIS novice very well. Thank you.
X Band IS in use in Tennessee. I have not seen any State Troopers running it lately but there are a number of county and city officers using x band.
+TDCtactical Thanks for the heads up!
TDCtactical
where is this location? I wanted to know if it is more centralized in west, central, or east TN
TDCtactical Same here in Kentucky, along the southern half of I75. In my experience, everyone other than KSP is running K Band about 90% of the time. At least that is what my R3 tells me.
Kentucky uses X band in radar emitters mounted on Construction barrier barrels in the Construction zones.
In NC. I've only encountered Ka in vehicals and k on the roadside stand alone units. Been using a beltronics 9500 for over ten years.
Hi Vortex, Vulcan here. I can assure you we have K band here in Northern Cali. I was driving to Half Moon Bay and encountered 2 sheriffs running K band within 3 miles of each other. This was about a year ago. In addition, Walnut Creek PD run almost exclusively K band. This is frequent on city streets. This is just the few that I know, I am sure K band is also used elsewhere in NorCal...
Good to know! I've heard a lot of people adamant that they've never seen it, but if you have, you should mention it in the forums! Can you post about it here? www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=55072
Certainly, thank you! I also have some interesting videos which can help people driving through national parks. They are sneaky those National Park Rangers, I will post info on RDF. Drove through Yosemite last year and saw 6 different rangers running 34.7 over the space of 2 hours (45 miles). Luckily all C/O and Redline came through as most were off axis.
Great information, glad I watched this video probably just saved myself from getting a ticket. I live in MI on the border of OH and I am in OH at least 3 times a week, I keep my X band turned off all the time not knowing OH still actively runs X band. I will definitely be turning X band on when I cross back over into OH again.
Defiance County, Ohio, on US 24 runs X band. I confirmed a hit for several miles and came upon a marked Sheriff department SUV with a Rabbit on the side.
In upstate New York I've never seen anything other than Ka used - among troopers, sheriffs departments and local PDs. I just turned off X and K on my Escort 9500ix.
Its pointless having K on bc of the numerous false alerts
I drove delaware to Niagara falls so i went up the NE extension to Syracuse then I-90 west to NF. I hit K-band twice from state troopers. The rampup was different on both alerts and different than the fullout kband alert with BSM so I'm glad I had K-band turned on but the BSM alerts are definitely annoying. In Delaware I've run into K band two times in 4 years but have had 10000 falses so 6 months ago i decided to roll the dice and turned off k band. The detector is so quiet that i have to check to see if it is running. Completely new driving experience.
I’m in upstate New York, every time I approach a red light in around the Albany area, it picks up X band. It was getting rather annoying to be honest, so I shut x band off. Thank you so much for this information about how X band is not used in New York!
Thank you so much for the video. Very informative, overall great video and extremely helpful!
I know here in Dallas County in TX. I run into K Band mostly by DFW airport.
Agreed on Florida, state troopers all run Ka band and even my local sheriff and Police only use Ka band. For local driving I only run with Ka and Laser on even though I have never seen anyone around here with laser guns but since it doesn't false much, no reason to turn it off.
What do u mean when u say not fully rdd immune?
The Eureka!!! video I needed. Thanks!
IL uses Stalker Lidar XLR most of the time, all those other ones are being phased out and not repaired.
I’m in Il. Still see lots of KA and K are they phasing that out?
@@trevormirshak8297 I meant the LIDAR units. PL3 and stuff like that is being phased out. I know the state police completely phased out K band and they also trashed any super wide KA band units because they couldn’t be certified anymore.
CONFIRMING only KA band in northern CALIFORNIA all the way to LA(commute a lot to LA from SF) "34.7"-87%, "35.5"-12.9%(based on mine encounters around 100 times in one year. Turned of X and K band about 2 month after i purchased the detector) even "33.8"-0.1%(only encountered once, in Sausalito CA, confirmed by following the signal and as it got really strong i spotted a park ranger pulling up to panda express)
Akmal Maksumov i got a 33.8 yesterday up here in santa barbara but i didnt see no chp or moto chp who usually run 33.8 , false alert with KA GUARD OFF possibly on the v1c
Akmal, can I ask which one you use? I'm Trying to choose DFR6 or R3
Thanks!
Any R3 users, running 1.36 or higher, in Northern VA want to share your settings experiences? Thank you. DS
In Chicago suburubs I recommend having X band on. The county sherrifs here actually use it
Unfortunately, I think that what everyone really needs to worry about is Laser!
I did not notice any annotations about which states use Laser, but I know the FHP uses it in Florida.
Not sure if local police departments in Florida use it or not.
But as we all know, Laser Detectors basically just tell you hat you have already been clocked, so unless you have a laser jammer, you are SOL, right?
Your videos are awesome. I currently live in Northern California however, I travel frequently to Southern California for work and personal leisure. I was thinking about purchasing the Redline or the Max360, but wanted your opinion on this. I have never owned a detector before but your videos have helped me to narrow down what I may be looking for. Thanks!
The Redline will be an utter beast out there. You can run it on just Ka band and cut down on virtually all the false alerts which will be fantastic. amzn.to/1zTi7r3
The Max360 won't have quite the range, but it will give you plenty in most situations. What it lacks in that department it adds in giving you arrows to help you locate the source, plus alerting you to redlight cameras which are quite expensive out there. This is what most people would lean towards. amzn.to/1Mcei56
Something else to be aware of is that laser is used heavily in CA and a radar detector won't help against that. To deal with laser you'll want to pair your RD with a good set of laser jammers. In that area, the AntiLaser Priority is the one to get: www.vortexradar.com/2016/02/antilaser-priority-review-the-best-laser-jammers-on-the-market/
Finally download the app Waze onto your phone and you'll have one killer setup to help keep you protected. 👍
Is the RDFGS in maintenance or did it get taken down? The web page is blank. I tried multiple browsers and devices, all aren't showing a map. Trying to look up what laser guns are used in an area to see if my friend needs ALPs or could possibly get by with LIs
Looks like it's down at the moment for some server upgrades. www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=55967&page=11&highlight=rdfgs If you're buying new, I'd really advise against LI's. They're no longer being updated and while they'll work against older guns, you'll really want something that offers more protection down the line.
Yeah I was suggesting that to my friend but I don't think they would go for a $750+ setup. I figure if they only see old stuff like PLIII or whatever, an LI would be a lot better than nothing.
It's definitely better than nothing. Make sure they factor in the cost of installation, reinstallation once they realize they need to upgrade systems, the possibility of needing to cut holes in the grill or inside their cabin and finding that the new system they need doesn't match the holes they may have had to cut before, and so on. A lower price is more appealing, no doubt about it, but make sure they consider the whole picture. Then they can make an educated decision either way, but at least they'll have all the info. :)
Thanks for the advice
Pickens County Williamston county and the lower counties like Sumter Close to Myrtle Beach A small town called Central Iva,Tiger-Town confirmation they all have cars that run K-Band in South Carolina!!All State Troops run KA- that I know of run I/O and it's just about all the time 347.00.
I think the RDFGS should be cleared and restarded inorder to help keep information accurate and up to date, it says wheatland, CA (which is norcal) uses k band and citrus heights which is also norcal i can not confirm k band is in use there but i think that information may be outdated and it may apply in alot of other places also
Ohio also uses artificial turf. They cover the car with it staking the rear to the ground so they can pull out of nowhere!
no way, what????
@@noahfrancisco4402 it seems that way🤣🤣🤣
I have traveled VA extensively on a motorcycle, and the only police radar I have ever experienced is KA band, 99% anyway. On rare occasions I used to pickup a laser here and there but it's been awhile, although I do ride in remote spots. I was just thinking yesterday that I should turn off K band. Like the guy below, I'll gladly make a donation for the service you provide. Where do i do this?
We need an updated video on this
Did you ever re-test the Whistler CR=85? I have been running this unit since they first came out throughout the state of Indiana & admit off axis is weak but it has served & saved me well. The speaker did finally go out but Whistler replaced it out of warranty for $15.00 I have been using radar detectors since escort released their very first one & have used a multitude of various brands in the past.
The areas here in Southern California in the High Desert are not listed, and I am not familiar enough with the system to know how to pass any information on, but I will update as I acquire the information. Victorville, Adelanto, Helendale are not listed, but cops are everywhere here. Radar is a regular thing, which is why I updated to the Uniden R3.
I keep hearing the R3 has a longer range than many other detectors, but what is that actual range? I would like to know so I have an idea. Thank you.
Hello , is this still accurate for Northern California?
Hi I love your videos and am an avid subscriber to your channel. I recently upgraded from an old "15" band cobra radar detector to my Uniden R7 with now updated firmware. What do you advise when I see a false K? Do I hit the mute, because then when mute is on I believe it mutes ALL other alerts? I thought I had it all figured out by double pressing the mute button to store a false k band, is this the right way to do it? Also do you think that an Escort 360CI with escort live (which I am subscribed to) would be better at KA and K 24.168 which my local PD uses? I use waze in conjunction with escort live which is always behind waze as far as alerts/being useful. Do you think I am missing out with not having a GPS detector with a cloud interface? Thanks, I reallly appreciate your videos and feedback. Keep it up you are a natural. -Alex
So there's different sources of false alerts and different tools to help you filter them out, depending on the type of false alert. Doublepressing to lock out, for example, is used for stationary false alerts like speed signs and door openers, not moving falses like blindspot falses or legitimate police officer alerts. Please see this video for more information: ruclips.net/video/tkiRZ2WUtQA/видео.html
Hey vortex you probably have answered this many times but does KA segmentation increase performance on the uniden r3? Thank you for your help.
I personally never run KA Segmentation on my R3. If you started using it, how was the performance? Thanks.
Hi. I have been using an Escort 9500ix for a couple of years now and it has been working great, however I recently relocated to Southern California for several months and wanted something a bit more trustworthy. I read several articles about the new Uniden R3, and then I ran across your reviews and decided to take the plunge.
I didn't know about your links to sellers or I would have purchased so you could have gotten the commission, but next time for sure as I have other items I want to purchase. Anyway I did receive the new R3 in only two days and am setting it up now. I wanted to see what the police are using here, but the RDGS doesn't seem to be working right now. Is there another option for getting this information so I know what is accurately being used in my area?
I have a lot to learn so will donate as I am able. Thanks for the great info.
+Howie Rayburn Congrats on the purchase! Yeah if you used the links I shared in the video description then it would support me. Donating directly helps too.
As for the RDFGS, it's down for website updates now. However, SoCal is super easy. Just shut off X and K and run it in Ka only. Laser is used actively so you'll want laser jammers too. As for the RD though, Ka only, Ka Narrow, and Ka Filter Off will work out well.
We only use POP in one place in NY (Palisades Interstate Parkway, Orange County)
What band is all the car accident avoidance radar now? Is it K? E.g. all the automatic braking, accident avoidance, etc.
osp stictly uses Ka band. Same as Lane, douglas and coos county sheriff in Oregon
I still get hit with X in Minnesota mostly KA though. Also got Lasered the other day for the first time since buying my Cobra…
Vortex.if I shut off X band and K band does the detector work better. I already have X off. I have only came across one sheriff with K band in Vermillion South Dakota. Everything else is KA. I have the R3
Heyy great stuff. On RDF and especially here. Where are some good places to look up settings for specific locations. Specifically southern California. LA area and surrounding counties. I don't know whether to leave on VG-2/Spectre RDD or not. I know it's not illegal to have a RD here, but Google is not helping in whether they actually use it. Helped someone set up her new RD with a very low budget but new looking RD with pop off, x off, K on, Ka on, LASER on, VG-2 off, TSR off. She isn't very bright so I set it up with intentions of letting her be warned but with a good balance of having an okay experience as well.. I know I was once hit with LASER but I slowed down, it was enough for a ticket but before the second hit I slowed down dramatically and then saw the moto cop. He let me go/no stop, whew. So that's why I let her LASER be on. Did I do right? Thanks. :)
Check out the RDFGS for local information. Spectre immunity isn't necessary in CA since RDs are legal and they don't use RDDs there. Yeah laser on can help and sometimes you may get lucky like that, but it's not something you'd want to count on, especially in places like CA where laser is used frequently.
Is there an update on this info for 2022 by chance? I live in nj, and X-band only ever seems to be stationary radar like storefronts and speed signs
Best radar detector for under 200$ in Florida THANKS !
You should create an update to this video.
I bought the max 360 yesterday but live in Cali... was this a bad idea? Should I return it? I didn't mine the price but obviously don't wanna waste money
King Tes I bought mine a few days ago and I don't think you should get rid of it without knowing it's capabilities. Play around with it and get familiar with the 360. Your going to like it more when you know how to work it.
Hi there, just donated to you. I bought an Escort based on your videos. I have a question. The only thing I'm concerned with is a Highway patrol officer that has radar detection as part of his radar gun so he knows you have the detector. If the detector works then in theory he (or she) shouldn't have to pull you over because I'm going the speed limit. Still, is this something I should be concerned with? Thanks! (and/or anyone else that can respond to this.)
Radar detector detectors? There are a few places that use them, but not much in the US. You can check out my videos on RDDs to learn more. :)
Vortex Radar, I am wanting to purchase a radar detector for my new vehicle. I live n AZ and would like to ask you if you have any feedback on AZ or your recommendation on what detector to purchase. It seems tome after watching several of your videos that the Uniden R3 seems to receive the highest ratings. Thank you for an informative video. Blue skies, Jg
My top picks are all here: www.vortexradar.com/best-radar-detectors/
Did they ever re upload this??
Just moved to neveda and all I have is ka band and ka filter on...uniden r3
just got a radar detector and about to set it up. how accurate/updated is the map you displayed in the beginning?
Congrats! It's very accurate. This video was not released all that long ago and things don't change much. For any updates though, check out the link in the video description.
I live in California. And after watching the majority of your videos plus the research your provide. I am currently stuck between two radar detectors to purchase. Either the Cobra DSP-9200 BT or the Uniden DFR6?!
I was wondering how the DFR6 is with "blind spot" assist filtering!? I would greatly appreciate the info! And also what is your input on what I should purchase !?
+XRsSayntX DFR6. One of the best BSM filters around. :) I tested that Cobra and was very unimpressed.
Vortex Radar DFR6 best radar detector for California would you say !? Appreciate the info !
POP Ka is still in use in Indiana, mostly in Northern Indiana.
How do you know? POP falses on your radar detector are super super common and I haven't seen it confirmed in use anywhere in the country.
Not surprised they use all bands in the DMV area.
As stated in your video, that Colorado map is a bit misleading and there is no simplified explanation on the website. 80% of the population lives in the Denver metro area which doesn't use K. The K reports are mountain towns and the southern part of the state with old equipment. So it looks like K band is in use in Colorado, but it's not really unless you drive around the state.
How can we update the sheet?
Mine is a decade old information?
You are awesome!!!
What do you recommend in IL
I live in rural area Wauconda IL but drive all over into Chicago and surrounding suburbs?
If you need a little help choosing a radar detector, take a look at my RD Buyer's Guide here: www.vortexradar.com/buy-a-radar-detector/
I'm so confused with all the info you provide so much good information I'm confused
+Juan Perez confused about what
Hello there! If you don't know maybe you can point me in the right direction.
What do you recommend in Oklahoma??
Thanks in advance!
Luckily in OK there are no exceptions to the rules so see here: www.vortexradar.com/best-radar-detectors/
Would the R3 be the best choice for a motorcycle in Michigan?
has this map been updated at all?
Maybe we can do a star in the "very rare" areas that have the x or k in those states
Hello, thinking of buying the beltronics rx65, live in Iowa, any throughts, am 64, yrs old, don't really speed that much, just like to know where they r, thank you for any advice, Donnie
Ooh, avoid buying an old, discontinued detector with decent performance, but lacking the false alert filtering that you'll need for today's roads. Something like a Uniden DFR6 or DFR7 would be a much better buy today. www.vortexradar.com/best-radar-detectors/
I am in MN. I've turned K band off after I got the redline for two weeks. All I see was ka 34.7
Benji Nguyen im here two. There have been a few k cops but its them dam sensors on the cars that set it off. just use tsr too be safe. x off for sure though lol.
Im also from minnesota, turned off x ages ago haha, im almost at the point where i rarely ever see k being used for detecting anymore it mostly just comes from other cars and signs and stuff. Its seems like there is only KA when there its an actual threat
The only place where I've encountered K was the North Shore. Even if you're going to some of the rural places in southern MN it's all KA. If you go to Wisconsin, though, you better make sure that K band is on!
Benji Nguyen never had K from anything but what I believe to be false alarms over the past few years (MN escort 8500)
CJ Betcher thanks for the insight! Never would have guessed that for WI
I've had a few radar detectors over the last 4 years, here in colorado, I've never once had a single alert for k-band that was confirmed to be a cop. Its always 34.7 or 35.5 ka. If they still use k-band, theyre obviously phasing it out lol
TheAutoBond so you actually recommend don't use K Band?
i have k band off in co but i rarely drive in small towns
Stoney Days I leave it ON because I drive everywhere. But I do not found any cop running K Band so far.
I am in MN, running the R3 and I have not had a laser alert, Ka for all the real threats.
I have the R3, do u have k and x off for MN?
I don't think las vegas is K band. I've had multiple close calls this week and its been all KA Band. Nevada highway patrol, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, LV Metro undercovers and Las Vegas Metro motorcycle cops all have been using KA Band. All the K alerts I get is from store doors and car BSMs. Did anyone specify where the K band is in nevada? Thanks
I was just curious, by the color of your car im guessing your sitting in a S2000. Am i right?
Close! It's the other car I was considering. :) I've got a Miata.
Any suggestions for radar in Southern California , mid tier not super expensive
"the RDFGS is going to continue to be maintained over time."
well that didn't age well.
Sure didn’t, lol
is Filtering mainly on k band? Then for north cal it'is useless.
Just wondering. What is the cons to keep all the bands on all the time in the radar detectors? Does it affect performance?
Mostly just unnecessary false alerts.
@@VortexRadar Thank you for the reply! Your video is very informative and helpful. I bought the Uniden DFR7 after watching your review. I found it was discontinued after the purchase but the essential functions seem remained the same according to your comparison video.
What reader would you suggest for pa ?
If anyone in the South Carolina area has a uniden r3 can you tell me what’s best to run for it. Just got it and have gotten nothing but false alerts and have gone passed multiple cops with no radar being detected
Pretty sure they use X in Oklahoma. I asked at a truck stop as I was driving through as I passed several LEO without detection that weren't using LIDAR.
Did you get a normal rampup and everything? Did you happen to see a big honkin' antenna in/on their vehicle? X band falses are common while legit X band is pretty rare, so it's good to be sure. :)
I didn't get anything at all. That is why I inquired when I stopped for gas. They were like for sure they are using X band because most people have it turned off. I do get awesome ramp ups with my Magnum. I really don't mind the K band annoyances, I just switch back to my passport on auto when in the city.
Are you sure they simply didn't have their radar guns turned off? That's FAR more common and is typically the reason that your radar detector won't get an alert. Again, X band is super rare and phased out across almost the entire country and while almost anything is technically possible, unless you can confirm they have X band, it's generally recommended to go with the more likely scenario.
I'm sure that is always a possibility. I trust the truckers they do a lot of miles through that state. What I have noticed though is an definite increase in cops using lidar by bouncing it off their side mirror even though this isn't a legitimate use of it they don't care. So It is possible I guess that they were using laser and just parked parallel with traffic.
i bought the Escort Passport S55 for $139. is that a bad buy for the money? or should i return it and get DFR5 ? thanks
DFR5
thank you! i really appreciated man
Let me revise my previous comment...I do see that Laser is addressed on the RDF Geographical Survey.
Wow...49 out of 50 states do you (LIDAR) laser spped measuring devices.
I just did not see that survey on your video.
Thanks, and please comment if you can add anything to the survey, or if you have any thoughts on laser detection in general.
I'm not understanding how to get the map open. I'm interested in Oregon.
Do you recommend an independent power supply to use? I would prefer not to plug into my cigarette lighter.
I'd recommend hardwiring. Here's a tutorial: www.vortexradar.com/2016/07/how-to-hardwire-a-radar-detector/
Is there anything wrong with buying a radar detector off someone and is there a way to test to see if they work fine. I found a escort passport max for 150 is it a good deal?
That should be alright. You can always drive up to a grocery store with an automatic door opener and see if it alerts to K band. You can then triple press the mute button to teach it that's a false alert and ensure it locks out the alert normally. Stuff like that.
I live in Mo. I have he to encounter any X band radar traps yet. Finally turned X band off.
LOL.. Did not see this video until just now.... good for newbies for sure.
Thank you for your help! 👍
"make a simplified explanation for every state"
it would be better to make it for every county and do the color coordinated map thing.
if you are in a country using it or one over, you might wnat ot be careful, but it seems unlikely for lots of travel things.
another map option would be to color road corridor changes. so if highway patrol do something, sherif do another, and police do a third thing, you capture the three thigns without having to convolve the map with department names. you would only need street/road/highway names.
Good video, and good info to know. My question is about if I should upgrade my radar/laser detector. I currently have the Passport 9500IX Radar/Laser Detector. Would it be worth it to upgrade to a newer Passport? I live in Illinois, and near the state line of Indiana (Northwest Indiana). I also take road trips out West. I find that X band comes on as false alarms. Also with X band, could that be emitted from store burglar alarms? I have not fully read up on bands that much. Thanks in advance.
An update will definitely give you better performance and filtering. If you're a fan of the autolockouts, take a look at the Max2 amzn.to/1PsOgPl which is a more modern version of the same thing. (There's the iX which is the successor to the 9500ix, but the Max2 offers all the same features plus better performance and filtering for less money. Go figure.) If you want the arrows, Max360. amzn.to/1Mcei56
As for X band, yeah definitely. Lots of door openers use X band and so you'll want your detector to learn and lock those out for you.
Anyone know what bands are being used these days in San Diego, CA? Do the San Diego police even use radar anymore or just laser?
so why when i’m driving does my x band go off if they don’t use it
Because it alerts to more than just police radar. Here you go: ruclips.net/video/cErm_Xi6Xow/видео.html
So jealous of Northern California....
James Huegli i really doubt southern California runs k band ive never come across it
Radar still is hit and miss in Cali, last I was told from a family member (CHP officer) was they still time and pace cars between points rather than radar all the time.
+Dirtworx77 Many techniques are used.
Laser is also used in no. Cal. 😯
About a year driving 50-75 miles daily between Reno and Carson City and haven't encountered anything but KA and Laser. And Laser was only once or twice. It's 99% KA, never seen any K or X.
I think you are wrong on this one.... K band is used in a couple of counties in N Cal.
Yeah I’ve heard some reports about it being used in the Bay Area since this video was released back in 2016. Things may change over time. :) If you have some local specific info, you can always share it on the forums so we can all stay up to date.
@@VortexRadar I am sorry sir, I did go over to the forums, and the latest interactive map, and it does have the correct information.
I only said something because I had my portable detector set to ignore K band, and got nailed in Lassen County...
Yikes! Sorry to hear that.
Hey vortex I have the escort x50, 8500 black edition.. Should I upgrade to the uniden r1-r3??
If you want better range, false alert filtering, more features, and/or undetectability, yes.
Okay thanks man. I live in more of a rural area you think I should just go with the r1 since I'm not gonna need the GPS lockout.
You know your area best and if manually muting your detector when you come across the false alert is a hassle for you or not.
What is the best one for Indiana?
What about Ku band? I have seen some radar detectors with that capability.
Ku band isn't used in the US. There's a few countries overseas where it's used.
I heard K band is used in the bay area of Northern California.
I've seen speed traps in Washington using X band.
Where and how long ago?
Radar detectors honestly still worth it on their own or is it a waste? What percentage of cops are running lidar instead of radar? Would putting the money towards a laser jammer/detector be more effective?
I get more saves from my radar detector than my laser jammers, but for many people it's the other way around. Realistically you need both for a complete kit because radar and laser are in use all over the country nowadays.
Here in nc ive seen highway cops use x band perhaps to catch us off guard i just leave it on full sensitivity to be safe
How long ago was that? X band was decertified in NC in 2014.
www.rdforum.org/index.php?threads/67747/
www.rdforum.org/index.php?threads/52272/
Vortex Radar i picked it up 2 years ago with my redline he was using it as instant on and after i saw it the first time he must have gotten the guy he pulled over because he left it on during the stop and i passed them. Happened on i 85
Vortex Radar certified or not they might still be writing tickets anyway... Ill be sure to argue that case if it ever happens to me.
Its the perfect weapon if you think about it they know most people are filtering out x so as long as they don't know to challenge the officer for using it the officer gets a ticket.
This was early 2016 so definitely long after being decertified
Is this info still current & up to date in 2020 ? Just bought a new escort detector to program
I'm honestly not totally sure. Things do slowly change over time and I don't have a way of verifying everything personally. The RDFGS is no longer editable and updatable so the information will slowly go out of date. Much of it still may be totally accurate, but there's not a good way of knowing for sure short of maybe asking on the forums and getting feedback from other drivers in your area.
Anybody have a list of their settings for Illinois? (Chicagoish)
Is there a reason why lasers are on the list? I live in NJ and I have been shot with several lasers on the highway
This list covers radar only, not laser. You're definitely right that laser is in use there too. Here's some additional info for NJ regarding both radar and laser. :) www.rdforum.org/wiki/index.php?title=RDF_Geographical_Survey_-_New_Jersey
Oh wow. you are the best! Thank you so much!