What should I know about radar and laser detectors?

As long as there are speed laws in the world, there will be those who break them. And as long as law enforcement organizations use technology to detect speeders, speeders will use technology to escape detection. A discussion of radar detectors has the potential to become very emotional among Ferrari owners. Multiple brands exist on the market, and each have their fans among Ferrari owners. If you don't happen to agree with the information in this FAQ, then you've probably already made up your mind about radar detection technology and don't need to read this FAQ anyway.

The general (and the term "general" is used very loosely) consensus among Ferrari owners is that radar detectors are a positive thing. Some drivers prefer not to use them, while some drivers insist upon them. If you're among those who want one, then you're probably wondering what most other Ferrari owners use. Based on the feedback on the Ferrari Internet Email List, it seems that most Ferrari owners who use radar detectors employ one of the following brands: Valentine One, or K40. If you're interested in radar jamming technology, please visit the Radar and Laser Jammers FAQ.

Rather than argue the benefits of one detector over the other, this FAQ will present a marketing blurb that comes directly from each detector's manufacturer, along with a link to their Web site:

Valentine One
Web Site: http://www.valentine1.com/

Official Company Blurb: Military strategists agree that successful defense begins with good intelligence about the enemy. Valentine One has a patented warning system relying on both forward- and rearward-facing antennas; it goes beyond Ordinary Detectors by telling you - on every alert - where to look, and how many to look for. Once you have this intelligence report, you can easily decide when to defend, and when you can simply shrug off a non-threatening alarm.

The ONLY Detector with TWO Antennas! Valentine One is the only detector with two antennas -- one front and one rear -- to scan all around your car and precisely locate each radar threat. Ordinary Detectors have a single antenna facing forward: to cover beside and behind your car, they hope radar will take a lucky bounce into the front opening. Valentine One uses front and rear antennas reporting to an onboard computer to analyze and precisely locate every radar threat, either by direct reception from one antenna or triangulation between both antennas.

K40
Web Site: http://www.k40.com/

Official Company Blurb: Total Protection From Radar & Laser! K40 Electronics' incredible custom remote detection systems give you 100% protection from speed traps in front of you and superior coverage from behind. Only K40 systems can give you this protection because we use the largest, most sensitive receiver in the industry, mounted behind the front grill or bumper of your car, where it can capture signals fast and without obstruction. An additional receiver is used with the laser model.

Sonaradar by K40 Electronics is more than just a radar detection system. It's so sensitive it actually becomes a radar locator! Only Sonaradar tells you exactly where to look for police radar. So you'll know whether it's coming from the front, rear or to the side, to help you react accordingly. Sonaradar includes two receivers, one mounted behind the front grill or bumper and one mounted behind or below the rear bumper. An additional receiver is used with the laser model.

Why Ferrari Owners Choose One Over the Other
Rather than entering into a debate over which detector is "better," this FAQ will attempt to explain why certain Ferrari owners choose one brand of the above-mentioned radar detector over the other.

• The K40 seems to cost a bit less than the V1, so cost may be an issue in some instances. This may be because K40 uses a dealer network (and therefore discounts their products for the dealers), while Valentine Research only sells direct.
• The K40 is capable of being installed in a way that hides the sensors in license plate frames and incorporates a small remote information display so that it is difficult to impossible for an officer to notice a detector in the car, so Ferrari owners who do not want a visible detector in their car usually choose it over the V1.
• The V1 detects radar in front of, to the side, and behind your car, while the K40 only has sensors for the the front and back, so some owners choose the V1 because they want a larger detection area.
• The V1 informs you which direction the radar threat is coming from, while the K40 just sounds the alarm.
• Some drivers prefer the K40 models that have a built-in CHP radio scanner that beep when they detect the CHP beacon signal that police cars use to communicate with handheld radios.
• Both companies argue that they produce fewer false alerts, have superior range, and better overall technology than the other. Their respective owners usually argue about the same things.

Which Radar Detector One Is Right For You?
You'll need to decide which detector is right for you, or if you want a detector at all! There is one thing for sure, however: as speeders get better at eluding law enforcement with technology, law enforcement will spend the money to increase their detection technology. And the radar detector companies will surely have a new product to sell to you.

Contributions to this FAQ by: Steve Jenkins, Jeff Littrell