If you want to mount your radar detector underneath your rear view mirror (RVM), there’s two main options: The higher end BlendMount or the less expensive Radar Mount Mirror Mount. They both do basically the same thing and I was wondering which one is better and what the differences are so I reached out to both manufacturers and they’ve each sent me products to review and it turns out that while both of them will do the job, there’s quite a few differences between the two in practice. Let’s take a closer look.
Radenso has just released their latest detector, the Radenso SP!
Radenso SP Radar Detector
The Radenso SP is a GPS-less version of their popular Radenso XP. It’s essentially the same thing with the same level of performance, but without the GPS chip and related functionality (low speed muting, GPS lockouts, red light camera alerts). It also costs $150 less than the XP and so at $249, it’s a more budget friendly option for people looking for a good detector with excellent false alert filtering abilities.
Update: The Radenso SP has since been discontinued. The XP was more popular and was often considered o one of the best radar detectors and Radenso wanted to simplify their lineup. However, the SP will continue to be updated and supported.
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:
This weekend I tested out a bunch of radar detectors against the Spectre Elite, the latest and greatest version of the Spectre radar detector detector.
Are you looking for an awesome radar detector to help keep you protected from speeding tickets while you’re out driving? Something easy to use? What are the best first radar detectors?
Have you been reading reviews and watching YouTube videos to learn more and yet you’re still not sure which one to buy?
Let’s make this simple. 🙂
In this article we’re going to go over the best 4 choices for your first radar detector, particularly if you’re not interested in becoming a radar detector expert. 🙂
The Radenso Pro SE is available with different color displays. The Radenso Pro is available only with a yellow display, but the Radenso Pro SE is available in Red, Yellow, & Blue. Here’s a look at all 3 display colors side by side so you can see which one looks best to you.
Update: Oct 2017: The Radenso Pro and Radenso Pro SE have been discontinued and are no longer available. They’re still being updated and supported, but they’ve been replaced by the Radenso Pro M which is available with just the red display.
Radenso Pro SE Display Colors
Personally I prefer the red. I think it looks best and I like that red doesn’t impact your night vision as much. It’s one reason why most detectors have a red display. Additionally, my car’s interior is red so it matches it nicely. 🙂
(Note: If purchasing from Amazon, only purchase through Radenso Radar. Scammers sometimes set up fake accounts and pretend to offer RPSE’s at unrealistically low prices.)
If you’d like a yellow or blue RPSE, you can pick those up from Radenso’s website here. (Edit: No longer available.)
If you’d like the yellow Radenso Pro, you can pick one up here.
Normally the DFR7 retails for $299, but if you enter in the coupon code “VortexRadar” then you’ll save 10% and the price of the detector will drop down $30 to just $269 with free shipping.
This week @Dukes and I met up to do some remote radar detector testing. We had at least two of all the top remote RD’s and tested them on 33.8, 34.7, 35.5, and K band. We also used two different courses over three days so it was a LOT of time spent testing. 🙂 It’s a test I’ve been wanting to do for a while now so a big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed equipment and helped make this test happen!
Radar Detectors:
-Stinger VIP 4.0.26 (@Dukes)
-Stinger VIP 4.0.26 (@Vortex, supplied by Stinger HQ)
-Net Radar 1 (@Vortex, supplied by @BestRadarDetectors, hand-soldered preproduction unit)
-Net Radar 2 (@Vortex, supplied by @BestRadarDetectors, production unit)
-Radenso HD+ connected to Bel 975 (@Vortex, supplied by @Hügel66)
-Radenso HD+ (supplied by @inbe2893)
-9500ci (@Dukes, standalone unit)
-STi-R Plus (@mikedotd, standalone unit)
-STi-R O (@Dukes, head plugged into Plus CPU)
Every detector was running the latest public firmware, including the Stinger with the new 4.0.26 that was just released a few days ago. (Great timing!)
Let’s take a look at all the detectors mounted on @Dukes‘ truck which is amazing for remote testing…
Permanent link to this article: https://www.vortexradar.com/2016/12/remote-rd-testing-dec-2016-stinger-vip-net-radar-radenso-hd-9500ci-sti-r-plus-sti-r-o/
What are the best radar detectors of 2016? How do you figure out which radar detector is best? There’s lots of great options that would work well on your windshield so you could read lots of reviews to figure it all out, try out a bunch of detectors yourself, or check out my comprehensive radar detector buyer’s guide. In an effort to make this decision as simple as possible for you, however, let’s take a look at the very best radar detectors available at every price point so that you can decide based on your budget and easily see what you’ll gain by dropping more cash.
Now there are lots of other radar detectors available that aren’t on this list, but these are among the very best. There’s also many cheaper ones than what are on this list, but there’s nothing down there I’d solidly recommend below these price points. The two main issues with the cheaper detectors is that the range is very limited so you won’t get much advanced warning time, plus you’ll get a ton of false alerts and will wind up either wanting to chuck the detector out the window or you’ll ignore it when it really counts… so considering you’re looking to avoid the cost and headache of not only expensive speeding tickets, but also any insurance premium hikes, points, court costs, and lawyer fees that come with the ticket, I’d recommend you avoid the bottom of the barrel cheapy detectors. They’re simply not worth the money.
Additionally, no matter which detector you choose, you’ll also want to run Waze on your phone (free) so you can see where cops are setting up speed traps in real time as well as pick up a set of laser jammers to help protect you from laser. Radar detectors are designed for radar. Laser jammers are designed for laser. I’d recommend you get the AntiLaser Priority as it’s currently the clear winner, without question. If only choosing a radar detector was this simple. 🙂
So anyways, let’s take a look at the different radar detectors, starting from the most affordable and basic entry level radar detectors up to the top performing and most feature-rich detectors.
The Net Radar is a remote radar detector designed to be installed in your grill and plugged into the AntiLaser Priority laser jamming system to offer you a fully integrated radar detecting and laser jamming setup. You can check out my impressions of the Net Radar here. Now there’s actually several different Net Radar antennas you can purchase, depending on your needs.
Front antenna: Primary radar detector everyone will need.
Rear antenna: Optional to give you improved radar detection from behind. A firmware update is coming to add directional information, aka arrows, if you have both a front and rear antenna.
Front MRCD antenna: Optional antenna for those who live in Edmonton, Alberta or around Quebec where the MRCD is in use.
He gives great advise and helps you understand everything
Steve M.
00:14 11 Mar 24
Give me the best advice on buying a radar detector
Wes P.
14:48 02 Nov 22
A great source of information! Consistently updates when new information or products come out. Reviews radar detectors,... laser detectors, laser shifters, dash cams, and more!read more
Tommy W.
21:12 17 Jul 21
1. He’s honest!! 2. He knows what he’s talking about!! 3. He does in depth research!! 4. Only review/testing I... listen to!!read more
Saif K.
01:05 16 Mar 21
This guy will help you save money !!! Excellent accumulated experience, quick and in-depth reviews, and very useful... information overall. Significant personal annual saving on tickets ! I recommend Radar detectors for anyone who got more than two tickets within the last 5 years! and I recommend Vortex Radar as your one stop shop, for all the support you need for Radar Detectors, dashcams, and many other reviews 😀read more
Frank B.
18:45 17 Dec 20
Great reviews, in-depth and very thorough. Would love to see 2 channel dashcam reviews for convertibles with the... rear unit on the front windshield Blackview or Thinkware or any with cloud access. It would help decide which cam has better coverage through rear window. Thanks again for your efforts.read more
Jerry G.
01:08 17 Oct 20
unbiased reviews and will give you the best information possible on tbe products he test.
Steven H.
16:11 25 Jun 20
This guy yes I watch everything he does is the Master on radar detectors and counter measure equipment . He’s saved me... a lot of money on equipment buying and not waisting my money he’s the Man!read more
Tony S.
06:40 19 Jun 20
Exceptional YouTube channel dedicated to radar detectors. Thoughtful discussion - and solid technical conclusions.
Robert K.
17:31 16 Jun 20
What I like most about Vortex Radar is the fact that you give an honest review what's good and not good on all products.
Kyle S.
18:09 19 May 20
The most knowledgeable data based source for radar / laser detectors in addition to countermeasures. Very informative... in giving both manufacture details and real world test results. Check out the YouTube channel it is enjoyable to watch. I personally do not know of any other easily accessible source of information with such a wealth of content on this topic that is assimilated into an easy to understand format. Thank you for all the great content and advice.read more
Pete H.
15:20 25 Apr 20
There’s no one else that puts in the time and information about the radar community than him.
Joe T.
01:17 22 Apr 20
Notting but the FACTS and the 411 on all that you need to know.
Willie B.
01:24 22 Mar 20
Been a fan of radar detectors for over 40 years. Following Vortex radar detailed reviews and side by side comparisons... of the newest detectors allowed me to make a very informed decision on the best value for a windshield detector. Great page to follow.read more
Chris M.
18:59 07 Mar 20
If you're shopping for a Dashcam or Radar Detector, Vortex Radar is the one and only place to do your research! Vortex... does all the testing for you and lays out all the facts!read more
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00:41 03 Mar 20
Knowledgeable about Radar Detectors
Hal Y.
13:18 02 Mar 20
What you always wanted to know about radar detectors but were afraid to ask
Carter J.
17:07 22 Feb 20
Great Information and easy to understand! I wish all tutorials were like these. Great Job!!!!
Eric W.
01:42 28 Jan 20
I've been watching his Radar Detector for years. He really knows his stuff! Please keep up the great work!! ;-)
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18:04 22 Jan 20
Great source of unbiased info.
Glenn L.
14:17 05 Jan 20
Excellent non-biased recommendations.
Chris P.
17:27 22 Dec 19
Nice information to help you with making a choice
Martin L.
12:53 22 Dec 19
he is the go to guy for radar detector knowledge & makes informed videos.
Kat S.
22:24 16 Dec 19
Very helpful with making a decision on which detector to buy. Explains the features very well!
William F.
18:50 14 Dec 19
For up to date non biased information on radar and laser counter measures. He has very good information on dash cams... and storage too. I trust his reviews. Definitely pull good deals together and gives you options.read more
Andy B.
12:54 11 Dec 19
Very good and fair reviews and regular updates on a wide variety of products
Alc A.
23:13 06 Dec 19
There is no better hands on information source on countermeasure devices.
Atwell H.
20:04 06 Dec 19
Comprehensive, unbiased reviews and setup guides.
Ilan M.
08:32 30 Nov 19
very good information and short movies abaout the detecters.
Dennis L.
17:16 08 Nov 19
Wish they all were this good!
Tony L.
15:54 08 Nov 19
Vortex Radar provides a wealth of knowledge on all radar and lidar platforms. Anyone interested in learning more about... the speed countermeasure industry, Vortex is your guy!read more
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14:10 31 Oct 19
Excellent information about "countermeasures" associated with safe driving. Everything is conveyed in simple form, and... to the point. Great production standards, too!read more
Mathew J D.
13:53 29 Aug 19
was a huge help on picking my uniden r3, lots of info on styles of radars for comparisons, to find what radar is best... suited for you and your style if drivingread more
Katheleen C.
08:59 19 Jul 19
I recommend the products and people reading the information on your web site to learn what is out there and available
Stan L.
13:01 13 Jul 19
I really like the idea of having the ability of recording my driving in case of a traffic incident
Bruce T.
15:31 12 Jul 19
Great resource for information on radar detectors and dash cams. Vortex knows his stuff!
Brian Douglas K.
02:34 08 Jul 19
great information and unbiased reviews
Fred S.
23:55 18 Jun 19
The fantastic unbiased reporting of the latest radar capabilities and the ability to Express the technical information.... Thank you all for the great updates and videos.read more
Bought an R7 on your advice and its been a great purchase. Keep up the good work!
Gern B.
07:15 18 May 19
Great advice, great tests, great videos, great attitude, great knowledge of his subject matter.
Fred M.
17:02 14 May 19
Most knowledgeable guy about mobile devices!
Lauren M.
17:42 11 May 19
high quality product, easy to follow instructions
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19:47 02 May 19
Great find when I was looking for a RD. Honest assessments.
Jon V.
18:41 25 Apr 19
The most knowledgeable honest testing and recommendations on earth! Vortex you can trust!
John T.
23:35 23 Apr 19
The most complete and thorough reviewer of radar detectors. Tons of information here.
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15:42 19 Apr 19
I like the share of information and ideas on the use and maintenance of radar detectors and related products.
Lester H.
00:49 01 Apr 19
Great Information and review to help make the best chose for you.
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23:52 31 Mar 19
Great and knowledgeable site!
Chris J.
18:30 18 Mar 19
The man has done his homework
Jonathan W.
16:01 03 Mar 19
I completely trust the information that I get from Vortex. They have been a huge help with equipment training,... installation recommendations & instructions, to helping me compare products to make the best purchase. I cannot say enough good stuff about them.read more
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23:06 22 Jan 19
This guy is a radar guru!
His reviews are fantastic!
Phillip K.
04:03 21 Jan 19
Very knowledgeable and wonderfully detailed videos
Mike L M.
03:17 05 Jan 19
from what I've seen so far, good, fair testing.
David B.
15:56 26 Dec 18
The current GOLD Standard in detection news and reviews. I trust everything he posts!
James M.
14:00 26 Dec 18
This is my go to for radar detector knowledge, I want answers and he has them,
William Wendy Everhart I.
02:17 24 Dec 18
Performance warranted and best reviews online
Rishi S.
21:34 23 Dec 18
Very knowledgeable man with lots of great advice.
I currently own 2 Max 360, 1 Max 360c and lastly my favorite,... Uniden R3. By far, the R3 out performs all the Escort product and is a very reliable product when it comes down to picking up the accurate threat.read more
John Matthew W.
00:25 19 Dec 18
Information is spot on if there’s anyone that knows anything here about Detectors here’s your guy ! I got all my info... from Vortex an have a nice collection thanks so much #Vortexradarread more
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20:46 12 Dec 18
an insane amount of info. best Ever!
Plato Ioannis D.
18:23 09 Dec 18
Expert advice on Dashcams and radar detectors
Chris B.
17:07 09 Dec 18
love checking in to see what this guy has in store for the different reviews. Only resource I know of right now that is... this thorough.read more
David Ket S.
01:22 09 Dec 18
Excellent information for newbies or Pro’s. Love there unbiased reviews of multiple detector types. Look forward to... learning more tips about my favorite detectors!!read more
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16:09 08 Dec 18
Very informative channel for Radar Detectors and Dashcams!
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06:11 08 Dec 18
great content and honest reviews
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01:12 08 Dec 18
Great advice and reviews!
Gary G.
22:44 07 Dec 18
Great website and video content!
John N.
17:42 07 Dec 18
Awesome videos. Love my R3. 😎
Robert D.
15:36 07 Dec 18
Very knowledgeable about the product
Brian St D.
15:13 07 Dec 18
Great informative videos on radar detectors (and related stuff).
Derrick L.
15:00 07 Dec 18
Great information and knowledge or products
Thomas W.
13:18 07 Dec 18
Very informative and unbiased reviews.
Tim S.
07:51 06 Dec 18
It’s a great Radar detector
Les Y.
22:54 05 Dec 18
Great reviews and advice on youtube channel and the forums
Allen W.
22:24 05 Dec 18
I have been watching YouTube videos for a while and have learned a lot of useful information on radar detectors and how... to set them up properly. Thanksread more
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22:07 05 Dec 18
Best and most informative website for all things radar detector on the internet! ...and dash cams!
Ron S.
04:44 04 Dec 18
Very informative and knowledgeable about a variety of radar detector products... Product areas also include laser... jammers and dash cams.. As a technician I recognize good testing methods and appreciate the unbiased reviews of the products featured...read more
VD V.
07:15 28 Nov 18
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Gene E.
15:37 01 Nov 18
Great infomation No bias in his reporting.
Benedict De Leon A.
01:26 28 Sep 18
Great Content and Very Informative videos
Ted D.
23:33 23 Aug 18
real pro can learn a lot
Troy N.
03:46 18 Aug 18
Vortex is one of the most knowledgeable guys in the countermeasure community. His non-biased approach makes it very... easy to trust what he says. If you are looking to buy a radar detector or laser jammer, check out his videos before going anywhere elseread more
Asa E.
23:19 17 Aug 18
Great content and very informative.
Eric C.
16:00 09 Aug 18
simply the best place to get the best information and recommendations, thanks for all your great work
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09:19 07 Aug 18
Outstanding U Tube channel. Very informative and answered a ton of questions I had.
Tim C.
00:22 06 Jul 18
Vortex is awesome. Best instructional and detailed videos ever. Sold me on the Uniden R3, and it was the best choice!... Thank you!read more
Gabriel R.
18:09 29 Jun 18
Great Page I have a V1 and just bought a Uniden R3 & love it to your reviews helped Big time cant wait to post my... reviews on the R3.read more
Παναγιωτης Ν.
15:40 29 Jun 18
Top!
Rick M.
11:18 28 Jun 18
very informitive
Rodz R.
08:05 28 Jun 18
clear explanation on products ,clear how to videos
Erwin Y.
11:34 22 Jun 18
Thanks a lot Mr. Radar expert, really helped out on my purchase of an R3, especially the upcoming support for MRCD... photo radar. Changed my mind from Escort based on your videos and saved a ton of $$$.read more
Marc M.
15:11 19 Jun 18
This guy is the king when it comes to detectors. Incredible knowledge and willing to share what he knows.
Solano H.
16:54 08 Jun 18
The best radar detector expert in the world and a very nice person that I will be honor to meet in my next trip to USA.... Gretings from Brazil.read more
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02:02 03 Jun 18
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21:14 26 May 18
ENTER TO WIN A HIGH TEC BACK , FRONT AND PARK VIEWING CAM!
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02:22 19 May 18
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02:10 16 May 18
Bryon V.
21:46 14 May 18
Questions answered promptly, great informative videos! Has taken over the helm left by Radar Roy!
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16:24 23 Apr 18
Everything you'll need to know about Top Detectors this man has you Covered reliable Information and that's Facts I... really Enjoy His Videos online an on Youtube , many Reviews I've learned alot an really enjoy the Collection I own thanks to Him.read more
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01:01 12 Apr 18
David E.
04:50 01 Apr 18
The go to guy for anything about radar/laser detectors
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06:41 18 Mar 18
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21:25 12 Mar 18
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03:47 12 Mar 18
Ryan B.
23:31 09 Mar 18
He's one of the most informed and definitely the most honest person you'll find when it comes to detectors and... countermeasures in generalread more
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08:23 09 Mar 18
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23:59 16 Feb 18
William R.
21:03 28 Jan 18
I appreciate the extensive time and effort Vortex has devoted to the subject of radar detector technology. His in depth... reviews and analyses of the products currently available has greatly helped me determine what is best for my needs.read more
Sean Mashimarho R.
23:57 02 Jan 18
Awesome guy to work with. Very honest, personable, and has a passion for what he does.
Tom A.
02:19 30 Dec 17
Excellent reviews of all the radar detectors. Great source of knowledge
Chris M.
19:26 14 Dec 17
Best videos to learn about old and new radars. He's always keeping us updated on Radar news, updates, tests, and... reviews.read more
Ty C.
12:57 12 Dec 17
Alway share valuable information. Im still undecided on which radar detector is right for me. Uniden R3 or the Radenso... pro So many choices...lol🤔read more
Bill B.
09:06 12 Dec 17
One should never buy a radar detector without first checking the reviews published by Vortex Radar for the various... products on the market. Absolutely a essential resource for decision making.read more
Jc B.
08:57 12 Dec 17
your videos are very informative and has helped me select the best detector for my needs! thank you!!
Kirk A.
22:16 11 Dec 17
Paul V.
04:47 07 Dec 17
It is always nice to watch Vortex videos. Simple-speak of complex gear, done by a guy who ENJOYS what he sharing. Sorry... to learn of your Miata getting smacked; glad you’re ok. I drive a new Miata and run a Uniden R3. I picked my car, but Vortex picked my R3 after following his research and testing. Best regards sir!read more
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18:38 24 Nov 17
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00:13 15 Nov 17
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15:49 04 Nov 17
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Matthew W.
19:55 07 Oct 17
Thank you so much for the reviews and videos of how to program and setup my R3. I purchased the R3 solely based on your... videos and recommendations. Best review and how to videos ive ever watched. I absolutely love this thing!read more
Brian S.
13:53 05 Sep 17
Great advise on the videos. This helped a lot on narrowing down so many choices.
Steve C.
23:08 27 Aug 17
Terry A.
03:24 19 Aug 17
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19:25 31 Jul 17
Brandon B.
20:14 19 Jun 17
Curt C.
20:45 15 Jun 17
all is reviews are on target i do alot of reviews before i buy something an out of all the utube guys an gals this guy... is far better than anyone out there now with that said i think i deserve a 10% discount thats how it works i give you a good review i get mnie too lol just kidding keep up with the videos thanksread more
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13:00 15 Jun 17
Brett W.
05:41 09 Jun 17
Tom Logan I.
04:57 22 May 17
Great unbiased reviews. I just put myself on the waiting list for the Uniden R3.
Kent Riegl J.
01:17 16 May 17
I THINK...all the information they have on RADAR DETECTORS AND RADAR/LASER JAMMERS IS REALLY CLASSIC AND COOL....
Lutu R.
03:39 11 May 17
Richard A.
20:42 09 May 17
Great unbiased reviews. Very thorough / excellent video quality. Full look at all the features and comparison points.
Donny C.
22:35 14 Apr 17
Love the reviews, tips, and tricks! He has even taken the time to respond to questions concerning setups and... installations! Thanks to his advice I was able to hard-wire my Valentine1 in my MX-5. Awesome guy with awesome content.read more
Anthony F.
15:39 05 Mar 17
Glen B.
00:08 03 Mar 17
Wonderful tutorials and a wealth of knowledge! There is so much information here that will help one in finding answers... to the many questions that arise.read more
Patrick P.
10:39 10 Feb 17
Awesome reviews glad to see some one honest and non bias keep up the good work mate :)
Bart R. D.
03:34 25 Jan 17
Jonathan F.
22:40 28 Dec 16
Awesome information. Reviews are spot on with his competition. More importantly, he is not a salesman.
Joshua S.
06:10 28 Dec 16
Tyler B.
20:10 09 Dec 16
He seems to be a great, honest guy. His reviews seem to be honest, straight forward, and correct.
Natalie B.
13:36 02 Dec 16
D'Arcy R.
00:18 26 Oct 16
Incredible knowledge of radar detectors. Keep up the amazing work!
The Net Radar is a remote radar detector designed to be installed in your grill and plugged into the 
Uniden R9
