Top 3 Tips to Make Sure You Choose the Right Radar Detector

By: John Hernandez Click author's name for more of his/her articles

It seems that every year there are more and more choices for radar detectors on the market. Every one claims to be the best at stopping speeding tickets and each claims to be the best at some specific feature. Some claim to detect from the furthest distance while others say they cover the highest number of bands. Even others say their detectors are the most accurate and can even tell the direction and distance of the radar unit.

With so many choices and such a wide range of features, how can you best decide which is the best detector for you? How can you determine if the detector you're interested in will work in your state? Is it even legal in your state? These are important questions to consider and the following three tips will help you make the right choice based on your needs.

1. It covers the bands you need for your state.

Each state uses its own type of radar gun. No matter how new and sophisticated the newest and best radar detector might be, if it doesn't pick up the bands your local police use, it's of no use at you. You'll need to research to find out which bands the state and local law enforcement use: it could be K, Ka, POP3, X, Pop3 Ka, or even Laser.

Once you find out which bands are used in your area, you next should limit your selection to those detectors that cover those bands. Some will pick up multiple bands, but many work best on certain bands, so that can also be a factor.

Of course, if you travel a lot, you'll want a detector that covers the widest number of bands - or possibly even have multiple detectors.

2. Review your selection of radar detectors.

You can easily find multiple reviews of every single model of radar detector. These radar detector reviews are all over the Internet. Once you have an idea of the bands you'll need, you should start looking for the best model you can find for the price you're willing to spend.

While some people are willing to spend $500 or more to get the best detector they can find, others would never consider spending more than $100. Be aware however that as the price drops, so do the number of features and sometimes the number of bands picked up. Also the lower priced models typically don't have the range of the higher priced models.

Many radar detector review sites will have side-by-side comparisons so that you can make sure you're choosing the right detector. Once you've decided on a model, you can then do a price comparison online to make sure you're getting the best deal you can find.

3. Buy your detector and install it.

Often the best selection and best prices can be found online. Of course, when you buy on the Internet, it's up to you to do your research before you buy to make sure the detector you've chosen will be both effective and legal in your area.

While some radar detectors simply require you to plug them into a lighter socket, others require more detailed installation, including hidden wiring running throughout your vehicle. If you need to have more done than you're comfortable doing yourself, you should be able to have this type of work done at any car audio dealer in your area. They are familiar with running wiring and in all likelihood have installed lots of radar detectors.

Of course, you should check your local laws before making a purchase of a radar detector. They are banned in some states and even in some municipalities. You'll want to make sure you're complying with all laws before making an expensive purchase and paying for a wiring job on your car.

Finally remember that a radar detector won't make you invisible nor will it allow you to drive just as fast as you want everywhere you go. In order to avoid a ticket you should obey all traffic laws. If you do this, a radar detector can help you avoid speed traps and sudden changes in the speed limit. They will also serve as a reminder should your speed creep up on you.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

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