How to Purchase a Radar Detector

Figure out your budget so that you will get a detector you can afford. There are many varieties of radar detectors with a lot of bells and whistles, with prices ranging from roughly $80 to more than $350.

Decide if you want to install the detector or whether you want a professional installer to do it. This will help determine what kind of store you buy the unit from. Specialty car audio shops have technicians on hand who can install the units for you. If you buy from a store like Kmart, you will probably have to install the unit yourself.

Consider brand-name devices. Leading manufacturers of radar detectors include Cobra, Uniden, Whistler and Bel-Tronics.

Choose a unit that can sense wideband. The unit should be able to pick up the entire Ka band as well as K, X and laser.

Note the unit's sensitivity. Manufacturers sometimes publish lab-test results. Look for at least 110 dB.

Think about getting a unit with memory. This will avoid the need to keep resetting the adjustments every time you start up.

Look carefully at the display. Make sure you can see it even in bright sunlight.

Select a unit that has an adjustable volume. Consider getting a unit with a "Mute" function. If there is a police car cruising behind you, you can silence the detector so it won't drive you batty.