Customer Reviews

Whistler DE1650 Laser/ Radar Detector

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this radar detector a while back (months and months ago) and its worked flawlessly. It has indeed prevented many a speeding ticket, and its always fun to find out where the police are hiding. This model has a lot going for it; the text display is wonderful, it has three settings (bright, dim and dark...dim is best for night) and a battery saver! Here's what I don't like about it...it doesn't remember your last settings when you turn it on and if you mute it, it stays muted from then on...and will not make a sound again unless you unmute or turn it off/on. I would prefer it if it muted for just that one band and automatically started beeping at the next band it picks up. But no one is perfect, I'm happy with the product...pick one up! Helpful tip: make sure you don't put it behind your windshield wiper -- it obviously won't be able to see anything. Enjoy!

When I received my new radar detector, it went to use right away with a cop on the side of the road with a laser gun. The detector worked great by picking up the laser bouncing off the cars ahead of me. The radar works great too, picking up cops plenty of time before they are able to get me. I usually keep my detector in highway mode because in city mode, after the detector beeps once for a minor detection (such as a electronic door at a grocery store) it never goes off again, even if the strength of the detection goes all the way to 9...meaning it is most likely a cop! The radar detector does have a few draw backs though, the suction cups are terrible and I had to go out and buy ones that would stay on my windshield. Also the cord is a little short. The radar detector becomes a little annoying sometimes in the city because it is very sensitive. But all in all, this detector has definetly saved me from one ticket, so it was all worth it. I will definetly have it turned up on my way to florida tommorrow!!

This detector worked very well on our last trip down I-95, caught a few police hiding in the median long before we could have ever spotted them. However, the display is a little dim for sunny days, the cord is too short to mount it over the rear-view without significant stretching, and I've had problems with the suction cups not holding on tight enough for long enough. It's very sensitive, which is a good thing, but sometimes annoying if you're on the interstate, it detects a 4-strong Ka signal for 1 second, then nothing. Where was the cop? That's probably a problem with most detectors, though.

The rear-detection (aka "360") works very well, too.

I do a good deal of interstate travelling and I replaced my broken 950 model (broken spring in the selector button) with this one, and I'd rather have the 950. The 1650 I purchased has trouble detecting X & K bands (not sensitive enough), at best it is inconsistent. Otherwise, Ka and Laser works great but the V2 detection/cloaking is also inconsistent (maybe too sensitive) and seems to go off without any reason (no police around for miles).

This detector works well in any situation. I have found Whistler to be more reliable than any other detector brands. This unit works well in any situation. Quiet in town when it needs to be and it will alert you on the hiway when needed.
The only drawback I see is the display is rather dim in the daylight. It's hard to see even on bright when the sun is out.

And that was enough to return it to the retailer. All I had all week was false alarms, and when this units had it's first real and perfect opportunity to shine...it failed miserably. And I'm not about to have any money tied up in something I can't trust to do the job I bought it to do. On a long approach, on a fairly busy freeway, I drove right past photo radar, parked on the shoulder. I mean, I came within 10 ft of his car...and not a peep out of my Whistler 1650...nothing. Oh, but next grocery store I pass after exiting the freeway, then it starts going crazy! I saw the radar camera's flash in my rear view mirror, so I know it was on and actively monitoring drivers. If I wanted a grocery store detector, I could have brought my wife for free...