Beltronics STi Magnum Review

In late November of 2011, Beltronics finally released the all-new improved BEL STi Magnum, replacing the award-winning STi Driver, the first undetectable radar laser detector in the market. Beltronics STi Magnum offers up to 60% increased performance over the previous model STi Driver.

Beltronics STi Magnum cannot be detected by any police RDD (radar-detector-detector), including the old VG2 and the latest Spectre 3, Spectre 4, and Spectre 4+. Use of a radar detector is prohibited in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes, and all Territories. This makes the undetectable Beltronics STi Magnum the no.1 choice for drivers who live in these provinces or plan to travel in Eastern or Atlantic Canada.

With a huge performance boost on radar detection, noticeably in K and Ka police radar bands, we rate the BEL STi Magnum the best overall radar laser detector for use in Canada and the USA.

Beltronics STi Magnum includes the detector, Coiled SmartCord for cigarette lighter, quick-release windshield mount, spare suction cups, and the user manual. We highly recommend the optional accessories such as the Visor Clip, Direct-Wire SmartCord, or the Direct-Wire Cord for a better-hidden and discrete mounting.

Using the latest M3 dual radar antenna platform, the STi Magnum offers the best radar detection that outperforms the RX65, Passport 8500 X50 and 9500ix, and matches the performance of the more expensive Escort Redline. Sensitivity can be configured in Highway mode for maximum range, or AutoScan and Auto No-X mode for balanced alert distance and false signal rejection for city driving. We recommend leaving the STi Magnum in Highway mode for maximum sensitivity for police K and Ka bands.

Like the previous Bel STi Drivers, STi Magnum includes an audio ramp-up update that makes the STi Driver alert in a linear fashion to accurately reflect the radar signal strength. This update allows drivers to rely on the audible alerts without looking at the displayed signal bar graph. This linear ramp-up is not available in any Escort models, including the RedLine, 9500ix, and 9500ci.

Buy Beltronics STi Magnum ($529 CAD) - available from KMPH.ca

Recommended Accessories for the STi Magnum:
Direct-Wire Cord ($29.95) - links to the fuse box or any 12V and a ground
Direct-Wire SmartCord ($39.95) - like the direct-wire cord, with an additional display with LED alerts and mute.
Visor Clip ($9.95) - Sun visor mount to hide the detector better.

Antilaser G9 Laser Jammer Review

Antilaser G9 Laser Jammer Review - for use in Canada and USA

The new Antilaser G9 (AL G9) has now become available in North America.  Designed by the intelligent Croatian engineers, Antilaser has been the leading laser jammer manufacturer since 1998. High power laser diode was first introduced in the sixth generation AL 6.0 and the UK-branded Laser Pro Park, and now the latest 9th generation AL G9 RX offers the best laser jamming performance, wide angle laser detection, high build quality and long term reliability, making it the best laser jammer we have tested in 2011.

Antilaser G9 Dual on our test vehicle

Antilaser G9 comes with 4 models - Single, Dual, Triple, and Quad, giving buyers a choice depending on their need to properly protect their vehicle. Single head covers the front of a smaller car, while Dual model is recommended for a large sedan, SUV, and trucks. Triple and Quad models are meant for those who want the best front and rear laser protection, although rear laser targeting is considered a rare strategy used by the police.

Like many other similar products on the market, Antilaser G9 is a functional parking sensor for legal use in Canada and USA. Laser Interference Detection (LID) feature offers user selectable 4-seconds or 8-seconds auto-shutdown once police laser beam is detected and jamming sequence activated. This prevents users from jamming laser guns longer than necessary, and avoids unwanted hassles and police suspicion.

G9 Sensor Head

AL G9 offers the smallest sensor head dimension on the market. This allows easier mounting in tight grills without much space. G9's sensor is significantly narrower than Blinder, Escort ZR4, and Laser Interceptor heads, and slightly shorter than Laser Pro Park sensors. Alloy casing offers strong and rigid protection of the internal laser diodes and circuit boards. It weighs lighter than previous AL6 and Laser Pro Park which uses steel, yet offers more durable enclosure compared to Blinder, ZR4 and LI that uses plastic casing.

High power transmitting laser diode gives Antilaser G9 a solid performance against all laser guns used in Canada and the US. The most popular LIDAR includes LTI Ultralyte, Truspeed, Kustom Pro Laser III and Pro Lite, Stalker LZ1, and Laser Atlanta.

Most popular LIDAR guns used in North America

We are extremely impressed with the performance and build quality offered by the latest Antilaser G9. To sum up our review, the G9 features:

• High power jamming performance with wide angle detection
• Covers all laser guns in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia
• Smallest sensor head on the market
• Control box connects up to 4 sensor heads
• LID Auto-Shutdown - prevents unintentional jam-to-gun and police hassle
• Parking sensor for legal use in area that outlaws radar and laser detectors
• Best build quality - alloy casing, detachable heat-shrink cable connector, and optional sensor cable extension for real mounting.
• Optional Cheetah Wireless Kit for cars and Cheetah Vizalert for motorcycle
• Updatable via swapping memo card
• 2-year factory warranty

Buy Antilaser G9 - available from KMPH Canada

Beltronics STi-R Plus - Now available in Canada

Beltronics STi-R Plus Review - Canada and USA version

The highly anticipated Beltronics STi-R Plus remote radar laser detector has finally been released in Canada! We were very excited to be among the first in North America to review the latest product from Beltronics - what many countermeasure enthusiasts claim to be the best of the best radar detector on the market.

The BEL STi-R Plus we received is the North American version, preloaded with safety camera database (red-light cameras, speed cameras, and speed trap locations) covering both Canada and the USA. TSR (traffic signal rejection) is also an exclusive feature not found in the European or Australian models.

Beltronics STi-R Plus is a remote radar laser system, meaning that the radar laser receiver is mounted in the front grill for concealed install. It includes an interface box, front radar/laser receiver display module, control module, speaker, GPS antenna, and all necessary mounting accessories and documentation.

Beltronics STi-R Plus features:

• Longest range radar detection with M3 Dual Antenna
• Total Shield - 100% undetectable to Spectre RDD
• GPS AlertLock - stores and lock out false alerts
• AutoLock - intelligent automatic AlertLock
• Safety Camera Database for Canada and USA
• Ka Band Segment Filtering and RDR option - improves response against Instant-On and Quick-Trigger radar
• Exclusive TSR (traffic signal rejection) - avoid K-band alerts from US highway traffic drones
• Updatable via Beltronics Detector Tool

Comparable system to the STiR Plus is the Escort Passport 9500ci from the sibling company. Notable difference is that 9500ci includes the not-so-impressive ZR4 laser jammer, while the STi-R Plus gives users a choice to choose a better laser jammer such as the powerful Antilaser G9. STi-R Plus comes with a red display as opposed to 9500ci's blue display. 

STi-R Plus and Passport 9500ci shares the same dual-antenna radar receiver, therefore detection range is expected to be similar. Ka band segmentation gives STiR Plus a slight edge on detecting Instant-On, Quick-trigger, and vertically polarized RedFlex photo radar.

STi-R Plus and Escort 9500ci are both loaded with the same North America Defender database for red-light and speed cameras. GPS AlertLock and AutoLock from Beltronics are equivalent to TrueLock and AutoLearn from Escort, both designed to eliminate false alerts from automatic doors.



Overall we are very impressed with the new product from Beltronics. Bel STiR Plus is definitely the best radar detector money can buy in 2011.


Buy Beltronics STi-R Plus - available from KMPH Canada

Laser Pro Park Jammer Review

Laser Pro Park (LPP) is one of the best performing laser jammer we have tested. Manufactured and sold by KMPH LTD UK, Laser Pro Park uses high quality electronic components and rigid casing for its jammer sensor heads.

Laser Pro Park uses an extremely sensitive receiving photo-diode for detecting laser beams from police laser speed guns, even when the car is targeted at wide angles. LPP also uses a single powerful laser diode for firing infrared signals back to the laser gun and prevent a speed reading. "Diode" jammer is more powerful and effective than conventional "LED" jammers such as Blinder and Escort Shifter.

Laser Pro Park also works as a parking assist: it beeps when the sensor head sees cars or walls at close range. It makes the product legal to own and use in US and Canada.

Laser Pro Park sensor heads are the smallest we have seen in the market. They are only 4.5cm wide and 1.5cm thick, making them almost invisible when mounted on a black grill of a car.

Laser Pro Park comes with two models - single-head system or dual-head system. 1-head LPP offers enough coverage for a medium sized sedan, while 2-head LPP provides better coverage on a large sized SUV or truck.

Laser Pro Park include the following components:

• Laser sensor (jammer) head (1 or 2)
• Mounting Bracket
• CPU Junction Box
• Wire Harness with power switch, buzzer, LED, and mute button
• "Parking Sensor" user manual with no mention of jamming capability

Special Note: we have had some inquiries regarding the UK manufacturer of Laser Pro Park prior to writing this laser jammer review. Many readers have read misleading and untrue information posted on one laser jammer tests website which promotes a poorly manufactured Laser Star.

We have confirmed that Laser Pro Park manufacturer KMPH LTD (UK) is financially healthy with steady growth in sales. With a strong R&D team and world-wide distribution channels, we do not foresee such a company to go under.

Laser Pro Park Single-head System:

• Includes 1 sensor head
  
• Effective against all laser guns in Canada and USA, including the latest LTI TruSpeed
• Parking Assist function - parking sensor for legal use
• Panic Mode - disables jamming function
• Optional Cheetah Wiressl Kit available
• Priced at $499

Laser Pro Park Dual-head System:

• Includes 2 sensor heads
• All features from a single-head system
• Better coverage for larger SUV or truck
• Optional Cheetah Wireless Kit available
• Priced at $799

Buy Laser Pro Park - available from KMPH.ca

Demonstration Video:









Laser Pro Park vs. the latest TruSpeed laser gun:

Valentine 1 Radar Detector for Canada

Valentine 1 is a radar laser detector designed by Mr. Mike Valentine, the founder of Valentine Research - one of the leading manufacturers for radar detectors. Valentine 1, knowns as "V1", is well-known for its extreme sensitivity and directional arrow displays.

Dispite its reputation on performance and reliability, here's the questions:

Is Valentine 1 suitable for drivers in Canada?

Unfortunately, for many Canadians, the Valentine 1 is NOT the one. We will explain why.

There are only three provinces in Canada that permit legal use of a radar detector - British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Radar detectors are illegal in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and PEI.

Police in these eastern provinces use Spectre radar detector detectors (RDD) to catch drivers using a radar detector. Valentine 1 can be detected, unfortunately. Drivers who get caught using a radar detector will not only lose their detector, but also face hefty fines.




So for our fellow Canadian drivers - if you plan to use a radar detector in prohibited provinces, you must select one of our "undetectable radar detectors".

• Beltronics STi Driver
• Escort RedLine
• Beltronics STi-R Plus Remote
• Escort Passport 9500ci
  

Find out more about undetectable radar detectors on KMPH.ca.

Escort Passport 9500ci Review

Escort Passport 9500ci 

Are you in the market looking for the best concealed radar laser detector for your car?

Living in or when traveling through a province where radar detectors are banned has always been difficult, with a windshield mounted radar detector, even when it is undetectable. The Escort Passport 9500ci provides complete stealth, having an undetectable remote radar receiver and laser shifters. This avoids attention from cops looking for windshield suction cups commonly used for most radar detectors on the market.

Passport 9500ci Features:

• 100% undetectable to police Spectre radar detector detector (RDD), making them the best radar detectors for use in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, where radar detectors are banned.
• Longest detection range using M3 Dual-Antenna design
• ZR4 Laser Shifters for laser jamming
  
• GPS red-light and speed camera database
  
• True-Lock and Auto-Learn for locking out false X and K-band alerts from automatic doors
• 3-year free camera database and firmware updates

What we like about the Escort Passport 9500ci:

• Incredible range - this system has the best range compared to all radar detectors on the market. Even if you plan to drive in BC, Alberta, or Saskatchewan where radar detectors are legal to use, this will change your driving experience having the best system that sniff out sneaky cops running radar traps.
• Quietest radar detector - with the fantastic GPS features - True-Lock and Auto-Learn, the 9500ci will learn and remembers locations with false K-band alerts emit by automatic doors, intelligently and automatically. This feature is not found in any other long range detectors including the Escort RedLine or the Beltronics STi Driver.
• All In One - 9500ci is fully packaged. Not only does it detect radar, it also provides Laser Shifter for laser jamming, as well as warnings to red-light cameras and speed cameras.

 What can be improved:

• ZR4 Laser Shifter - While providing adequate laser protection in real-world scenarios, we found that the Shifter heads are rather big and noticeable. There are also better performing laser jammers such as the Antilaser G9, using more advanced and powerful laser diodes.

Buy Escort Passport 9500ci in Canada - available from KMPH.ca

New Blinder M27 M47 Software Update

The latest software update for Blinder M27 X-TREME and M47 X-TREME laser jammers adds two new fixes for Canada/US version 2.6 (release date: Sept 28, 2009):

• Sun Interfering filter (SIF) optimized
• New filter added - Preventing alert to Infinity DCA system (distance control assist)
  

Infiniti's laser based distance control on most FX and M models has been triggering false alerts on most laser jammers today. False alerts such as strong IR from sunlight and Infiniti vehicles can be a hazzard for drivers as they think they are being targeted by a real police laser gun. We are pleased to see a laser jammer manufacturer release a fix for IR interference issues.

Download latest Blinder M27 M47 software update.

Blinder M27 and M47 laser jammers are available for purchase at KMPH.ca

Blinder M27 X-TREME: $499 (CAD)
Blinder M47 X-TREME: $799 (CAD)