Doing a shootout with the Spectre Elite is a quick and easy way to find out how far away it can detect different radar detectors. However, I’ve found that those results don’t necessarily translate into what you’ll experience in real life. It’s a difficult worst case scenario test, but when an officer is driving past you or you’re driving past him, your results may be different. Because of this, I’ve run a number of different detectors in a variety of different situations against the Spectre and the results are very interesting. Let’s run through the list of some detectors so you can see what an officer would see in practice if you were running one of these detectors:
Escort Passport Max2
The Max2 is definitely detectable by the Spectre Elite. It alerts from both directions and it’s pretty easy to determine which vehicle has the RD mounted inside of it.
In fact, and I’m not exactly sure why this is, I was getting even longer detection distances in this round of testing than I did previously in the maximum range testing. Very interesting…
Escort Passport Max360
The Max360 is actually even more detectable than the Max2. It maxed out our test course (no pun intended) when driving towards the front of the vehicle and was more detectable than the Max2 from behind, which is no surprise given its added rear horn.
Valentine One
The V1 was also detectable both from the front and from the rear, but less so than the Max2 or Max360. This was with a V1 v3.8945.
Purchase a Valentine One here.
Uniden R3
Here’s the super popular Uniden R3. I’ve tested 3 R series Unidens now. This is with a beta R3, but my production R1 and R3’s were comparable. The R1 was just like this, the R3 gave an extra foot of detection range or so, but otherwise the results in this video are what you’ll see with production detectors too.
Cobra DSP9200BT
The Cobra DSP9200BT is surprisingly effective against the Spectre Elite. Most of the time, with the exception of a few select situations, it is completely undetectable.
On a different note, the DSP9200BT is actually really good at locating the Spectre as well. For whatever reason, it alerts to 34.7 when it detects the Spectre up ahead or from behind, almost like there was a weak Stalker radar gun sitting next to the Spectre.
Purchase a Cobra DSP9200BT here.
Radenso Pro SE
The Radenso Pro is almost completely stealth to the Spectre as well. It can be detected when you’re nose to nose with it, or if the officer is in an adjacent lane, off at a 45 degree angle, so at very close range the Spectre can pick up the RPSE, but just when driving past, the RPSE won’t trigger the RDD.
Purchase a Radenso Pro SE here.
Radenso HD+
Here’s a look at the remote version of the RPSE, the Radenso HD+.
Purchase the Radenso HD+ here.
Radenso XP
The Radenso XP is even more stealthy than its more sensitive brother. Like the RPSE, it’s undetectable when the Spectre is driving by. Additionally, if the Spectre is sitting in traffic off at a 45 degree angle, it can’t pick up the XP. If the officer is fully nose to nose, the Spectre will finally be able to pick up the XP. However, that’s not a realworld situation most of the time.
Rocky Mountain Radar Judge
Here’s a look at the Rocky Mountain Radar Judge tested against both the VG-2 and the Spectre Elite. They claim RDD immunity, but as usual with RMR, it’s false advertising.
Don’t purchase anything by RMR. 😉
Stinger VIP
Here’s a look at a detector that actually is RDD immune, the Stinger VIP.
Purchase a Stinger VIP here. (Use coupon code “VortexRadar” to save 10%.)
Net Radar
Next let’s take a look at the Net Radar. It is somewhat detectable at close range.
We were having some discussion as to whether or not the results with my Net Radar are in line with the norm. Here’s a follow-up test with 3 different Net Radar antennas.
Escort Redline
Next, here’s a look at a fully stealth radar detector, the Escort Redline. This detector won’t trigger the Spectre in an officer’s car no matter what he does.
Purchase an Escort Redline here.
Escort Redline EX
Finally, here’s a quick test with the new Redline EX.
Purchase an Escort Redline EX here.
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Uniden R9
1 comments
Bottom line, if you’re not going to drive in VA, Wash DC or eastern Canada don’t worry about Spectre. I have never seen it used in the USA other than VA or Canada. The Spectre costs $1500+ that money can be better spent on other things.