Beltronics Vector 940

Price Paid:  $189.00 from Circuit City

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 940

Summary:
I got hit doing 75 in a 55. After lawyers work and a deal for faulty equipment it all cost me 325.00. I guess the Trooper had a pulse or whatever. I dont know much about bands or lasers and all that stuff. I just know that I didn't get the slow beep that gradually increases. I got a sudden all bars, and the voice said something, and little orange monkies. . .well no monkies, but it just came outta no where. Thing is the cop accused me of intentionally breaking the law. When he saw my 940 he said quote "you got that RADAR detector so you think you can roll like that huh?" He was such a smart ass. He only eased up a little when showed himm my military ID. But I still got the ticket.

Strengths:
Im not experienced enough to compare

Weaknesses:
I got a friggin ticket

Similar Products Used:
This is my first

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $140.00 from Ebay

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Bel Vector 940

Summary:
This detector is the BEST combination of price and performance, in my opinion. I did a lot of research before I chose this model, and in all the tests it performed as well as the top models. Overall, it has probably saved me from 5-6 tickets in about a year.

Strengths:
Incredible range, loud enough to hear over my cranked audio system

Weaknesses:
only thing i would have liked was the ability to tell where bands are coming from (like Valentine One's arrow) but for the price i paid, it's AWESOME!

Similar Products Used:
real old Bel model, old Escort

Price Paid:  $179.00 from Circuit City

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Bel Vector 940

Summary:
First impression right out of the box: wow-this thing is heavy! Of course weight doesn't mean quality, but the external build quality and weight of the 940 makes my two Cobra detectors seem like toys. Since I've had this detector, my impression is that I am detecting Ka at noticeably greater ranges as compared to the Cobras. Also, it only took a few days of use to notice that the 940 falses a lot less too. Overall, the 940 is a much better detector than the Cobra 1010, itself a detector that has a similar list price. I like the ease of use of the 940, but one thing I don't like is that the voice warning for the band being detected is at a constant volume, which is somewhat low. I think the voice warning sound level should be able to be adjusted up and down in keeping with the sound level of the beeping. At least the sound level of the beeping has great adjustment. One thing that I found interesting is that you can mount the 940 upside-down, and than adjust the display to also read upside-down. I strongly recommend that anyone who wants to purchase a detector in the sub-$200 range consider Bel first, and to stay away from Cobras of any price. In the sub-$100 area, look at the Bel 910. In the low-$100's, look at the Bel 930. If you can afford more than $200, then you also have the Escort models to choose from, which have always had great test results. In fact, if you don't want to spend the $300 it takes to buy an Escort Passport 8500, then just stick with Bel....

Strengths:
Very high level of performance for the dollar spent. Great build quality (so far).

Weaknesses:
Doesn't come with a straight cord, and the coiled cord isn't all that long.

Similar Products Used:
Two different Cobras and an old Cincinatti Microwave a long time ago...

Price Paid:  $189.00 from Circuit City

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 BEL Vector 940

Summary:
I tok a long time purchasing a detector. Studied all the tests, especially at speedzones.com. I finaly settled on the BEL Vector because it has the best performance at the lowest price. I drive between 80,000 and 100,000 miles annually. Usually I set my interstate cruise control at 90 mph. I have yet to receive a speeding ticket using the Vector. I can not beging to tell you how many tickets it has saved me in the past two years (about 12-15). It even saved my a$$ last week in New Mexico on I-40. Laser encounter with a State Trooper. 3 cars infront of me at 1/4...1/2 and 3/4 miles. I popped over a hill and my lazer went off. First time ever for me to see lazer. He must have shot the truck a bout 3/4 miles ahead of me because that's how far away he was when I got a visual on him. I was shocked that my Vector picked up laser at that distance. The Vector ROCKS! Of course you can't drive with utter disregard. No Detector is fool proof. And if you drive like a fool you will get zapped. Use your head when driving fast. Always keep your eyes open. I have saved my self 3-4 tickets because I saw the cop BEFORE my detector sounded when he was using "pulse" mode.

Strengths:
Excellent long range coverage. Especially for the inexperienced or lazy cops that drive with their radar on constant. But this unit has very good overhill sensitivity to. It has forewarned me numerous times. Go read the reviews at speedzones.com to see how the Vector stacks up against the much more expensive competition.

Weaknesses:
Falses a little but not frequently. If running in city-x mode it never falses.

Similar Products Used:
BEL, PNI, Radio Shack (what a joke)

Price Paid:  $169.00 from Circuit City

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Bel Vector 940

Summary:
This radar detector has to be the best purchase I have made in a long time. I was doing my research on detectors using various websites ex: speedzones.com, radarbusters.com. I found that Beltronics and Escort are the best detectors out there, along with the Valentine 1 (we've all heard of that) and also a new detector on the market called PNI. Rocky Mountain Radar is the absolute worst out there. It will not detect anything at any distance. A friend of mine had one and got a ticket for speeding on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. Needless to say, after all that B.S., he ended up throwing the thing right out the window of his Mustang as he ventured down toward the shore. Cobra is ok, I mean, you get what you pay for, and Whistler is in the middle class of detectors with fair prices and pretty good detection. It was a toss-up for me between the Whistler DE-1793, the Uniden LRD987, and the Beltronics Vector 940/960. After lots of thinking and comparisons, I decided to go with the Vector 940. It does everything that the 960 does and is software programmable to accept new radar and laser. It has voice and beep detection. The differences between the 960 are that the 960 will actually speak the 64 SWS signals it detects, it shows the frequency signal is numbers along with the band that has been detected, and it has what's called a Tech Mode with a couple of extra features, which honestly, are not worth spending the extra money for. The 940 has everything and more that you need to keep you safe from the "enemies of the streets." The detection range is phenomonal with all bands of radar. This detector gives you plenty of time to adjust your speed when there are pigs out on the prowl. I got hit with laser once on I-95 in Connecticut on my way to Foxwoods. All I have to say: AMAZING! I had enough time to slow down before the cop was even in my line of sight. Sure enough, I passed the cop doing 65 and he was sitting there with his laser gun...hunting. It has more than enough features included with it, but the best one is the ability to upgrade to new modes of detection. You can't go wrong with that. It's based on Digital Broadband Technology which gives it that "edge" on all radar detectors out there. For the price and quality of the unit and on Beltronics as a whole, you can not go wrong with this radar detector. Bel has been in the business for a looooong time and they know what they're doing. Like they say, you get what you pay for, and this is definitely a great detector package at a great price. You can find them at various electronics stores and online, but in stores you'll probably pay an extra 10-15 dollars more than online. If you're like me and want instant gratification, getting it in the store would be the way to go, this way you can just pay for it and start using it. Trust me, I've done my research and I know what's out there on the market. You will definitely not go wrong with a Bel Vector.

Strengths:
Great detection at a long distance, great laser detection, nice features, accurate, user-friendly, programmable,does not cost a million dollars.

Weaknesses:
Nothing at all.

Similar Products Used:
Years ago, I bought Radio Shack's top-of-the-line detector with compass, voice, radar/laser detection, SWS, tutorial. I have to say it served me well for four and a half years, but not as good as my Bel.