No matter how well Waze alerts you to police speed traps, a clever smartphone app will never outsmart a standalone radar detector. Although these devices have been around for decades, they’re more powerful and better than ever, with new features and tech, all to detect the latest police radar equipment while filtering background noise. Modern radar detectors are smart enough to ignore speed-sensory-related safety assist systems on other vehicles, traffic control devices and even automatic doors.
Radar detectors, as implied by their name, alert you to active speed-detection signals emanated by radar guns designed specifically for that purpose. However, as speed enforcement technology evolves, older radar detection equipment can quickly become obsolete, easily outsmarting older or inexpensive detectors.
To keep police ahead in the game, one of the largest engineering firms for such equipment created MultaRadar, which utilizes frequency modulation to detect speed and is undetectable by older radar detectors (see FAQ). Its use is growing across the U.S. and is nearly undetectable without the newest and best radar detectors.
Since it’s very much a case of getting what you pay for and range and accuracy are major considerations when shopping for radar detectors, we eliminated any new units priced below $300 as they don’t typically perform nearly as well as more expensive units.
Radar detector testers previously revealed that cheap detectors work at short ranges, return too many false alerts, have limited connectivity options and simply don’t perform well. Considering how a speeding ticket can cost well over $300—in addition to running the risk of a potential arrest, suspended license, and insurance penalties resulting from a traffic stop—it’s definitely worth spending more on a radar detector to avoid all of the above.
