How to drive without fines - choosing a radar detector

According to traffic police statistics, almost 90% of all traffic violations in Russia in 2020 were recorded by video and photo cameras. Someone may say: “Do not break and there will be no fines,” but situations are different. You are late for a meeting, you need to urgently take someone to the hospital, you simply forgot to turn off the iron at home, you pressed the gas pedal a little, the radar immediately recorded the excess and you received a “letter of happiness”. And every year there are more and more cameras. But even this can be fought. Completely legal means. That's what radar detectors are for.

What is a radar detector and how does it differ from a radar detector

Radar detectors emit their own signal, which suppresses or distorts radiation from radars and cameras. In almost all countries of the world, their use is prohibited, and in the Russian Federation they fall under Article 13.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which threatens a fine of 1500-3000 rubles with confiscation of the device. In addition, the use of anti-radar can be qualified as counteraction to the police in the line of duty.



A radar detector is a passive device that detects the emission of a traffic camera or radar and warns the driver when approaching it. For example, the widespread Arrow detects movement at a distance of 500 meters, and the detector is able to pick up a signal from a kilometer away and determine the approximate distance to the source. In Russia, the use of such devices is not prohibited by law and you can buy them at any car shop.

What should be a good radar detector

Choosing a good device is not difficult, for this you need to consider the following parameters:

• ? Type of fixed signal. Different radars and cameras operate on different frequencies. Therefore, choose a model with X, K and L signal detection.
  
• ? Discovery mode - the best devices work in POP and Instant On.
  
• ? The sensitivity of the device - there should be several modes of operation, this will help reduce the number of false positives.
  
• ? GPS – will improve the accuracy of camera detection.
  

Also pay attention to the brightness of the display and the display of information on it, in bright light with a dim display it is difficult to make out anything. An important role is played by the volume of the alert sound; when driving fast along the highway, you can simply not hear the warning.

There are a lot of offers on the radar detector market - dozens of manufacturers and thousands of items. To help you with your choice, we suggest comparing the 4 most popular models by their characteristics: two budget segments, but with decent quality, and two premium ones.

Compare Silver Stone F1 Monza GS and SHO-ME 520-STR

Silver Stone F1 Monza GS device from a Korean manufacturer, SHO-ME 520-STR from China. Both devices are quite reliable, have approximately the same set of functions and are included in the same price category. The cost of the first is 4500-4900, the second - 3000-4000 rubles.

Equipment

The set of devices includes approximately the same set - detailed instructions, a bracket with suction cups for mounting on the windshield, a power cable from the cigarette lighter, USB for connecting to a PC and the device itself.
Of the differences - the Chinese in the box has an anti-slip mat on the dashboard. Perhaps the equipment of the SHO-ME 520-STR is a little nicer.

Parameters

Both radar detectors have almost the same dimensions and weight, are designed to operate at temperatures from -20 to +70 °C, and have a 12-month warranty. The declared service life of the Korean is 5 years, and the second is 3 years.



Below we compare the main technical characteristics:

• ? ]Receiver type - both devices operate on a superheterodyne frequency converter
  
• ? The viewing angle is also the same and is 360°
  
• ? Operating ranges - K, Ka, X, Ku
  
• ? Support for modes is the same - Ultra-K and POP
  
• ? Protection from police scanners - the Korean has it, the Chinese does not (although this is not so important for Russia)
  
• ? Base of stationary GPS radars. SHO-ME 520-STR does not have it, Silver Stone F1 Monza GS has it updated once a week
  
• ? Both devices are powered by an external power source - through the cigarette lighter
  
• ? The maximum detection range of the radar is 1000 m for the Korean, 1200 m for the Chinese
  

In general, the characteristics of the devices are almost the same. The higher price of Silver Stone is justified by the presence of a GPS module with the ability to download a database of the location of stationary cameras. But SHO-ME 520-STR can detect a mobile traffic police post with a handheld radar from a greater distance.

Functions

The SHO-ME 520-STR can operate in 4 modes:

• ? "City" - sensitivity is reduced to reduce the number of false positives;
  
• ? "Track" - increases the maximum detection distance;
  
• ? "Silent";
  
• ? Dimmed display mode - turns on if there are no radars nearby.
  

Silver Stone has more advanced functionality. In addition to the "Route" and "Silent" modes, there are three levels of sensitivity - "City 1, 2 and 3", as well as "Smart", where the modes "City 1, 2 and 3" are automatically switched.
In order to avoid discharging the battery, the Chinese provide for turning off the device after 6 hours of operation. The Korean does not have such protections.



Both devices have a voice alert function and a volume control. The devices indicate the distance to the fixation device and the speed of the car. It is not easy to say which device is better, each has its own characteristics. For example, a Chinese radar detector is cheaper, Korean ones have slightly more functions. Here the choice is yours.

Comparison of iBOX Pro 900 Smart Signature SE and Fujida Magna

iBOX Pro 900 Smart Signature SE is a signature radar detector with a GPS module manufactured in Taiwan. Fujida Magna is made by manufacturers from South Korea. Both devices belong to the category of premium radar detectors and have advanced functionality. The cost of the first is 9500-10000, the second - 8000-9000 rubles.

Equipment

In the Fujida Magna box, in addition to the device itself, you will find a cigarette lighter power cable, a USB cable for connecting to a PC and updating the database, a bracket with suction cups for the windshield, instructions and two fuses.



The iBOX Pro 900 includes the same set, plus a magnetic dashboard mount, anti-slip mat, flush-mount wire and carrying case. Here iBOX wins and earns a plus in its favor.

Parameters

The devices have approximately the same dimensions and weight, they work stably at temperatures from -30 to +70 °C. The Fujida Magna has a 2-year warranty and a 5-year service life. The iBOX comes with an extended 3 year warranty and the same service as the competitor. The main characteristics of the devices:

• ? Both devices operate in the main frequency bands - X, Ka, Ku and K.
  
• ? The viewing radius of the laser is 360 ° and the beam is captured from 800 to 1100 nm.
  
• ? Both devices have a built-in GPS and GLONASS module with a database of the location of stationary radars. The update is free when connected to a PC.
  
• ? The maximum detection range of fixation means for iBOX Pro is 1500 m, for Fujida Magna it is 3000 m.
  
• ? iBOX Pro has an ADR Ultra module that increases the detection potential of mobile police radars.
  
• ? Fujida Magna has detection protection installed.
  

It turns out that the devices are quite similar. But there is a noticeable difference in the detection range, here the Korean wins. But iBOX has better equipment, and besides, an improved laser module detects even the latest models of traffic police radars in a timely manner.

Functions

iBOX Pro 900 Smart Signature SE has 5 operating modes:

? Quiet City - Minimum Sensitivity

? City is normal

? Track - High Sensitivity

? Turbo - maximum detection sensitivity

? Smart - switches between modes automatically depending on the driving speed

Fujida Magna has only 3 modes - "City", "Route" and "Automatic". But there is a function to manually adjust the detection sensitivity. The Taiwanese manufacturer has added a radar ignoring function to its device. If the speed of your movement does not exceed the set value, the detector does not emit an audible warning about approaching the radar.

Fujida Magna. Photo: youtube.com

So the driver is less distracted from driving. A useful feature that the Korean does not have. Fujida Magna has extended support for modes, in addition to the standard ones, it includes Instant-On. There is a manual shutdown of ranges, except for Ka and Ku. iBOX supports only standard ones and you cannot turn off the range yourself.

In general, all of the listed devices show stable operation on Russian roads. Each of them has its own unique features that facilitate their use or are distinguished by a low price. Choose any - you can't go wrong!