Beltronics Vector V995 Radar Detector

by Beltronics

Product Features

• Includes full X, K, SuperWide Ka, and Safety Warning System radar capability as well as front and rear laser detection
• Varactor-tuned receiver provides long-range protection against all radar threats
• New AutoScan mode intelligently reduces unwanted false alarms
• Ultra-bright text-display provides easy to read information from any angle
• Immune to VG-2 radar detector detection, so law enforcement cannot detect its use

› See more product details

Product Description

Amazon.com

Amazon.com Product Description Whether the threat is in North America or abroad, the Beltronics Vector 995 radar detector keeps you driving safely. As the industry leader in technology and innovation, the V995 accurately detects all US radar and laser bands (X, K, Ka) as well as the UK favorite-Ku. All bands are detected at the furthest possible distance including the newest "POP" mode Ka-band threat. With clear voice alerts, you can keep your eyes on the road, not the detector. And when it does alert, the mute button is right in easy reach on the included SmartPlug power cord. No need to leave the detector behind while traveling--we include the hard sided protective carrying case so the detector goes where you go.

The flagship of the Vector series. Click to enlarge.

Includes Smart Plug with easy-access mute/volume button. Click to enlarge.

Easily install with quick-release windshield mount.

Superior Detection
The Vector 995 includes full X, K, SuperWide Ka, Ku and Safety Warning System radar capability, laser detection, patented Mute and AutoMute features, audible and visual band alerts, and all the performance you'd expect from Beltronics.

Digital signal processing (DSP) technology and multiple laser sensors give you long-range performance, and greatly reduce the number of false alarms. On top of that, the Vector 995 is invisible to VG-2 radar detector detectors, keeping you one step ahead. It also features Highway/City sensitivity settings to tailor performance to your needs.

Easy to Use
The rugged Vector 995 gives you control right at your fingertips. Patented Mute and AutoMute technology allows you to quickly silence alerts. Advanced programming lets you customize several features, and all controls are easily accessible on top of the device.

Installation is also a snap: use the quick release Windshield QuickMount to attach it to your vehicle's windshield, and remove it in a snap. Don't want to leave it in your vehicle? No problem, Beltronics includes a travel case to keep it secure while you're on foot.

AutoScan Mode
The V995's AutoScan mode provides long-range warning, with minimum false alarms. In this mode, the V995's internal computer continuously analyzes all incoming signals and intelligently filters out false alarms.

Voice Alerts
The V995 provides digital voice announcements of radar and laser bands detected. If Safety Radar (SWS) is turned on, a safety radar message will also be announced.

Smart Plug Included
Once you are notified to a threat, Beltronics' SmartPlug makes it easy to temporarily silence your radar detector with a handy mute button.

Ultra-Bright LED Display
Don't miss a visual alert with the 995's 280-LED alphanumeric display. Exclusive threat display tracks and displays multiple radar signals, including signal strength. You can also view Safety Warning System (SWS) messages about upcoming hazards, construction and more.

Enjoy three different brightness settings or operate in dark mode if you'd prefer only audio alerts.

Total Tracking Laser
Unlike Radar signals, which are highly reflective, Laser signals have very poor reflective characteristics. Many of today's Laser detectors do not have the high sensitivity necessary to detect Laser within a large "field of view." The Vector 995 incorporates Beltronics' best laser detection, which uses twin laser ports to detect energy far outside the main laser beam--including off-axis signals--providing a 360-degree field of view. The alerts provided by your unit are the same whether signals are received from the front or rear.

How Safety Radar Works
Safety Warning System (SWS) a modified K-band radar signal to alert users of Highway Construction or Maintenance, Highway Hazard Zone Advisories, Weather Related Hazards, Travel Information/Convenience, and Fast/Slow Moving Vehicles. The SWS safety radar system has 64 possible messages (60 currently allocated), all of which can be displayed on your Vector 995.

What's in the Box
Beltronics V995 Vector Radar/laser Detector, carrying case, coiled power cord, quick release windshield mount, owner's manual

Product Description

The Beltronics V995 is the most advanced radar, laser and safety detector ever designed by Beltronics. It includes full X, K, SuperWide Ka, and Safety Warning System radar capability, front and rear laser detection varactor-tuned (VTO) microwave receiver, digital signal processing (DSP) for superior range and reduced false alarms, our patented Mute and AutoMute, audible and visual band alerts, and all the performance you'd expect from Beltronics.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

134 of 134 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ranks with the elite radar detectors in performance January 24, 2007

By Careful Driver

Amazon Verified Purchase

I got the Vector 995 because its performance is at par with the top of the line radar detectors from Bel, Escort, Valentine. Even though I rarely speed above general traffic flow, speed enforcement has picked up a lot and I didn't want to pay back-door taxes.

Its radar detection performance is at par with the best of them - usually just 5% or so less than the best for a given test. But the cost difference is way more than 5%, more like 25%+. Its laser detection is its weakness, but only when compared to the top of the line models. However, the laser detection weakness isn't really critical because laser guns are so fast and accurate that the officer has already clocked your speed before even the detector alerts (even the best one). Don't take my word for it, just go ask your local police officer. Also, the rear facing sensor is quite useless on most detectors - someone in marketing thought it would be cool and all other brands followed. It is also one of the very few detectors which can detect the Ku band, which is rumored to be introduced in the US soon (already there in Europe).

It also falses significantly less than what I've had before. I can't compare with the top 4 because I don't have them. AutoScan works best in city or when in new areas; Highway works best on rural areas or highways. Use AutoScan with care, it filters all bands and can potentially reduce detection range (because it spends some time figuring out if the radar signal pattern is like those from typical sources of falsing). Its Tech mode (showing radar freq) can be used to find out real speed gun threat when a cunning officer hangs out in an area where detectors often false (drugstore, grocery store, etc) - not fool proof though.... One should note that the 'false alerts' are not really false - they ARE actually radar signals in the same band used by police. It's called 'false' because it's not a 'cop' radar signal.

POP mode, while a nice feature, usually trigger a lot of falsing on most detectors - because of leaky/crappy detectors like the Cobras. I've enabled POP for the last 3 weeks and have run it in AutoScan and City modes - no difference in falsing. Even the top 4 detectors today can't beat this. Also, the review/description is wrong - POP is disabled by default on the 995 also (maybe Bel changed it after the review).

The Vector 995 is the only one in the Vector series that can have its firmware upgraded by Beltronics - useful if they have some bug fixes and/or they have an update that does better detection.

It also has a few less features than the top 4, but I didn't care for those. Its got all the essential features one really needs for its intended use and does them extremely well. Its stellar performance makes it an awesome deal for a $225 price. I got mine on a special sale at Amazon for even less :). However, like any radar detector (even the best ones), this radar detector is NOT a cop detector - so drive sensibly.

Even when the 995 is having a bad day, it is waaaaay better than the most expensive Cobra/Whistler radar detectors.

Like any product, it has quirks:
1. 3.5mm jack volume - it's just too loud even at one click above minimum (I use it when spouse/kids are sleeping on a long drive)
2. Buttons for visor clip - if you get the visor clip, the buttons are not easy to reach

And last but most important, please drive carefully. Lives are more important than seconds/minutes saved by excessive speeding and rash driving.

Bonus tips:
a. Tutorial mode - manual doesn't mention it, but I stumbled on it. Press the Dark and Mute buttons down and then the Power button to turn the unit on. Voila - tutorial mode!! Power button press exits this mode.
b. Audio/Voice alerts - learn to identify the bands with your ears, the range based on audio beep frequency, it helps keep your eyes focused where they need to be - on the road. I've turned Voice off after a couple of months, and rarely need to look at it (except in Tech mode).
c. Ebay/Unauthorized dealers - Beltronics honors warranty from authorized dealers only. Amazon itself is authorized (may change in future), Amazon's sellers are not. Ebay is not, most stuff there are refurbs or rejects and hence the low low prices. You've been informed, use common sense. Read more ›

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Well... no tickets so far! April 14, 2005

By D. Hunter

If this is your first Radar Detector, it takes a little getting used to. I've had my Beltronics 995 for about a year or so now. It's been quite useful. It will NOT save you if you pass a cop and he decides to tag you. I lucked out one night when the cop couldn't find a place to turn around quickly enough when he waited until I was right next to him (going to the other way) when he turned his radar on. Do NOT think any radar detector is an excuse to drive however you feel... you WILL regret it.

Also, banks, gas stations and a lot of other little things will set the Beltronics 995 ablaze with lights and sounds.

If you're in one area, and can learn where the bands are, this radar detector becomes VERY useful. A good example... I got X band in an area where I always got K band... sure enough, there's a cop sitting right there. Also, the voice saying the band is kind of useful, as I don't have to look at it.

The Beltronics 995 offers a wide range of bands it'll detect. The tones can be adjusted to be quiet (they're pretty dang loud off factory settings and'll scare the hell out of you when you get your first tones). You can also mute it when it drives your significant other nuts.

On the whole, I'm pretty happy with it... would I buy another in the future? Probably.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Tier Detector At A Mid-Level Price November 9, 2009

By Nonprophet

Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been using radar detectors for 25+ years. First a cheap Cobra, then a nicer Whistler, another Whistler, and then finally I stepped up to the plate and bought a Beltronics Vector 980 which at the time (9 years ago) was one of the best on the market. During that 25 year period, I have only received ONE speeding ticket, and that was from a motorcycle cop hiding in the driveway of a private residence behind the homeowner's truck reaching around the canopy with his radar gun and doing the "instant on" thing (I guess they were getting desperate for some revenue......lol). Under those circumstances NO radar detector would have saved me as I was the only car on the road......Still, my driving record is totally clean (driver diversion class for that one ticket...), and, while I've spent maybe $700 on radar detectors over the past 25 years, I've saved THOUSANDS of dollars in tickets/fines/court costs and increased car insurance premiums. So, if you're wondering if a radar detector is worth the money, YES, they are!!!

Anyway, after 9 years of faithful service, my 980 is finally starting to die: lot's of false alarms, self-cal and low voltage warnings, etc. After speaking with Beltronics Tech Support (who are located in the U.S. and very helpful!) it became pretty obvious that it was time for a new detector as my 980 is acting like it's on the way out.

Even though I've been very pleased with my Beltronics 980, I did want to read all the relevant reviews to see what detectors are the best bang for the buck these days. Basically, if you want a top-quality radar detector, you have to spend at least $200 and you want to buy from Beltronics or Escort--it's really that simple.... Both companies are currently offering an $80 "Cash for clunkers" rebate where you can send in any old detector (working or not) and get $80 off any of their current models. A pretty good deal, though [...] price without the rebate and free prime shipping on the V995 was still lower......

I thought briefly about making the switch to Escort--I like the smaller profile of the Passport and they are highly rated. But after reading some of the reviews here and at other sites, it seemed like there was a fairly high failure rate of these units after a year or so of use. Given that repairing this type of electronics is almost always cost-prohibitive, I decided to just stick with Beltronics, after all, my 980 lasted for over 9 years!!!

In reading the review sites (just google "best radar detector") it became clear that the Beltronics GX65 is among the top dogs. Its got all the bells and whistles, including GPS. It's also got a $469 price tag.....

I think GPS is a nice feature. It would be nice to add grocery stores and other false alarms along my most-traveled routes to the GPS-enabled RD to keep it silent. It's also nice to be able to plot out and store the locations of the seemingly never ending mine field of photo radar speed cameras. However, for me a GPS-enabled unit didn't make sense.

This V995 costs only $209, $260 less than the GPS-enabled GX65. Yet for less than the $260 difference between these two RD's, you can buy a good Garmin nüvi 765/765T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic that will not only allow you to maintain a database of known red light cameras and speed cameras, but also help you to navigate, avoid traffic jams, find nearby restaurants, gas stations, etc. By utilizing the POI (point of interest) database in the GPS unit, you can customize the POI's in your GPS to include speed traps, red light cameras, speed cameras, etc and then warn you as you are approaching these areas giving you time to check your speed. At the Garmin website are links to a dozen or so POI databases that provide all of this information for free.

The next model in the Beltronics lineup is the RX65 which retails for $339.95 Yet several tests rated the V995 BETTER in radar detection, and it's $150 less.....Yes, the RX65 has a few more bells and whistles, but not nearly enough to justify the much higher price IMHO. It's worth noting that the V995 retails for $295 at the Beltronics website.

So far, I'm very happy with the V995. I've been running the 980 and the 995 together for about 2 weeks now just to test sensitivity of the V995 (my 980 still works very well on detecting actual radar--it's just getting waaaaay too many false alarms). I really like the fact that the V995 comes with the "smart cord," I saw earlier reviews that stated it did not, but mine did. The V995 mounting bracket is simple, yet very strong and effective, and I really like that the V995 locks onto the mounting bracket with a push-button lock on the top of the V995. This means that if you're running some errands and you want to hide or take your RD with you to prevent theft, you can quickly remove it from the bracket without having to remove the bracket from the windshield. Still, if you're in a high crime area it's probably best to remove the bracket from your windshield as crafty thieves will look for RD and GPS suction cup mounts hoping that the owner has just hidden the RD in the glove box or under the seat and then bust out your window just to find out......

I also really like the auto-mute feature on the V995. Essentially, once it pics up a signal it will beep 2-3 times loudly so that you are alerted, and then it will mute the sound but keep the lights flashing so you can track the alert over the next few minutes without the annoying beeping or the need to push the mute button. Another great feature is the autoscan feature (which I now use the most) that allows you to not have to choose between City or Highway mode (for increased/decreased sensitivity) it will autoscan the area you're driving in and switch itself between Hwy and City as needed. So, all the protection without the false-alarms from cell phone towers, motion detectors, and other cheap radar detectors. The end result is a very quiet, yet very sensitive radar detector--and that's what you really want.

My V995 has been great--it even gave me plenty of warning last week for a laser speed trap--though when you hear the "laser alert!" warning you need to slow down NOW! It gives me virtually no false alarms, and it mounts securely to the windshield. It comes with the smart cord, the windshield mount (and Beltronics even included a spare set of suction cups--a nice touch) and a well made zippered case to store everything in. Sure, you could spend more money if you want to, but for $209 for the V995, this is hands down the best radar detector bang-for-your-buck!!! Read more ›

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars BEL Vector 995 great! September 7, 2004

By Jim Whitesell

I've had this for about a week, and it seems to be working very well. The "autoscan" feature is very nice since I seemed to forget to switch between "city" and "highway" with my older units.

The voice prompts are very clear, and the automute keeps the annoying beeps to a comfortable level.

I've had several radar detectors over the years, and this one certainly seems to be the best so far. It is also rated very highly in the amgazine articles I found.