So... I bought a new Whistler XTR-695

[ChrisZRX]

Read some nice reviews on it, supposed to be as good as the Escort 8500 X50.  And it's on sale at Amazon for $73.  Even has an earphone jack.

The ticket I got a few weeks back in WV started me thinking about it, then the local butthole cop who just gave me a $110 ticket for a tail light that was out in my Toyota Corolla sealed the deal.  

'Uck fem.

[Justin]

That's a great price, might be time to upgrade my old Belltronics. From the vids and reviews, it appears this whistler has super ka band reception.

[Cablebandit]

Too bad only the State Police in PA are allowed to use radar. It's not going to help one bit when you come flying into a hick town on a state highway.

[Justin]

Too bad only the State Police in PA are allowed to use radar. It's not going to help one bit when you come flying into a hick town on a state highway.

So what do the Hick town cops use? They can't afford laser guns  

[Cablebandit]

A stopwatch and their eagle eye.  

[ChrisZRX]

It's not going to help one bit when you come flying into a hick town on a state highway.

Per chance should we ever ride together, I'm going to pass you.  

That said, I tested it in the cage coming to work today with the earbuds.  A nice warning comes in with beeps and a female voice.

It picked up a K band (State Police), Ka band from a speed monitor to tell you how fast you're going before you enter a road work area.  Warning in plenty of time.

Now to test it on the way home listening to XM radio and the RD.

[ChrisZRX]

I hated the 2.5 mm output jack, so I installed a 3.5 mm output jack and a toggle switch to turn off the external speaker.  

Works like a charm.  

[Justin]

I hated the 2.5 mm output jack, so I installed a 3.5 mm output jack and a toggle switch to turn off the external speaker.  

Works like a charm.  

Is there anyway to turn off the voice on the unit, so you just get the chirps? I'm thinking of getting one, but I use peizo speaker in the helmet cause it's loud. But I don't think voices would work well with it  

[ChrisZRX]

I don't think so.

But the voice is a nice sounding female voice.  

[Justin]

I don't think so.

But the voice is a nice sounding female voice.  

 Which would probably not sound so nice through Piezo speaker  

[ChrisZRX]

Ah, you can turn the voice off and just listen to beeps.

[dietDrThunder]

I have one, and ya you cna customize the alerts to be voice/no voice. Another nice bike feature is the top mounted LEDs. I have my display on green, and have all radar alerts make the LCD screen turn blue to match the LED's. Makes for nice attention-getting.

One note...the SE model has upgraded K band detection...enough so that it's noticeable.

[Justin]

I have one, and ya you cna customize the alerts to be voice/no voice.

With voice off I assume it just chirps?

[iXXion]

I have a question.

When it alarms, does it alert first and then give voice ID?

My old Escort used to start with voice..... "kay-AY alert"  then give the chirps, which was great.  
My new Escort beeps frantically and then gives me the voice.

I don't get enough radar hits out here in the sticks to memorize the beeps for each band, and there are areas where I would only be concerned about kA band, or X band.  The voice first is more desirable for my application.

[bomber]

I have a question.

When it alarms, does it alert first and then give voice ID?

My old Escort used to start with voice..... "kay-AY alert"  then give the chirps, which was great.  
My new Escort beeps frantically and then gives me the voice.

I don't get enough radar hits out here in the sticks to memorize the beeps for each band, and there are areas where I would only be concerned about kA band, or X band.  The voice first is more desirable for my application.

Are your actions different depending on the kind of speed detecting equipment painting you?

[Bounce]

Mine are dependent on which direction the ping is coming from.

Oops. I'm sorry. The Whistler and the Escort don't have directional indicators...

[Justin]

Are your actions different depending on the kind of speed detecting equipment painting you?

For me, I use audible alerts in the helmet, so i can quickly tell the band. Around here I pretty much ignore X, and grab lot's brake for k and ka.

[iXXion]

Are your actions different depending on the kind of speed detecting equipment painting you?

Not exactly.  My actions are different depending on the signal my radar hears (or sees), and where I am geographically.  I'm near three different states, each having a different set of radar guidelines.

There's no X-band radar used in PA, but state police use X-band in NJ, and its also used by the native american enforcement teams that patrol reservation roads in NY.  PA state police use kA band on the interstates, and the radar guns mounted on the highway signs are K-band, although more and more are being converted to kA.  Local police in NY use K-band, not kA, and state police use kA and LIDAR.  Newer retail constructions are a source of K-band signal.

Radar detector is just a tool, like a dial indicator.  What you do with the information defines the result.

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And as far as the "directional" comment goes, its a great idea until the detector starts reading bounced signal.  Again, its just a tool.