We just got a radar detector review from a customer and Danny wanted me to share it with all of you. Here at Buy Radar Detectors, we actually like to know what our customers think about all of the radar detector and protection products available. In our effort to help people find the best solution to their needs, we like to learn about everything we can. So if you have a review and would like to send it our way, please do! I can not promise it will show up here on our radar detector blog, but you never know!
So thanks to Nhan V. Nguyen of Santa Rosa, California, a Traffic Radar/Laser Countermeasures Enthusiast, for a great review of the Whistler XTR-695. I hope the rest of you like it as much as we did!
Our most appreciations: Accurate reading laser LSID with laser pps false alert lock-out feature. Accurate reading Ka RSID. LCD display with different colors assigned for different alerts and background colors. User friendly and most easy setup within seconds. Ka detection range is far superior than most RDs available on the market within the same price range. Laser detection is much better than most RDs within the same price range.
Our most frustrations: LCD display works well when driving in early evening without direct sunlight or throughout the night otherwise it's unreadable during the daytime with direct sunlight regardless mounting positions on windshield. Excessive Ka false alerts in grossly RF polluted areas. Slot holding bracket does not fit tight causing the unit bounced off and makes it harder to read the display even at night.
What we hope for: Tighter slot holding bracket like the Pro78SE. A new recessed LCD display window with much better contras and brightness. Better Ka guard filter to minimize Ka false alerts in grossly RF polluted areas.
Our suggestions to XTR-695 owners:
1. Turn Off POP reception and select filter mode to reduce Ka false alerts when you're in a highly RF polluted area.
2. Turn Off X, K and Safety radar if you know for sure your local LEOs only use Ka band radar guns. Somehow by doing this, it'd also help to reduce Ka false alerts based on our own experience.
3. XTR-695 will provide much better laser detection if it's low mounted on the windshield or if it is possible, dash mount it on driver side with unobstructed view so you can see its LCD display easier.
4. The use of Veil G-4 for headlights, fog lights, chrome plated grills, license plate or plate cover (if it is illegal to use plate cover in your home state, the use On Track Laser Shield is highly recommended) in combination of XTR-695 is a must. This option is the most affordable traffic laser countermeasures if you can't afford active laser jammer such as blinder extreme or the likes...!
Results from our own testing for XTR-695:
Excellent KaRSID alert on Ka radar guns with 33.8GHz, 34.3GHz and 34.7GHz and almost as good as our reference V1.
Excellent laserLSID alert within a distance approx. 2,500ft with accurate pps reading displayed if the unit is low mounted on the windshield or dash mounted.
A few of our random radar and laser encounters:
Incident #1: Driving through interstate 5 between San Joaquin county and Kern county both north bound and south bound, this area is known as "intense 34.7GHz Ka enforcement", XTR-695 alerted KaRSID 34.7GHz with distance approx. 1.5mile ahead.
Incident #2: Laser speedtrap on north bound Hwy101 between Marin county and Sonoma county, this area is also know to most local commuters as "deadly random laser ambush". XTR-695 alerted LaserLSID100pps from distance approx. 2,000ft or less for the 1st strike and the 2nd strike at approx. 1,700ft. At that point, we knew that lidar operator did not get our speed reading from the 1st strike and thanks to Veil G-4, On Track Laser Shield, we survived that laser ambush.
Incident #3: XTR-695 alerted KaRSID 34.3GHz constant-on from at least 1 mile behind our car. Finally motorcycle CHP officer passed us. We decided to follow him with a distance approx. 1 1/2mile, the alert continued on and finally stopped as the CHP officer disappeared on the freeway and the estimated distance was somewhere about 2.5miles.
Well, what else can anyone could ask for from a $189 radar/laser detector?
This is worth it! program which features intellicord controls real voice alerts - selectable patented pop mode detection exclusive low profile periscopes total band protection - selectable360° maxx coverage 3 city modes/highway mode high gain lens stay alert dim modes quiet/auto quiet modes alert priority setting saver vehicle battery saver
Very detailed instruction.