How does Bel 980 Radar Detector Compare?

[nipper]

I'm still trying to decide on an RD!

I have read that the Bel 980 is really good, but will it give me enough warning with the latest devices the LEOs are using?

Note, I will use this device primarily on interstates and major highways traveling between Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma panhandle, New Mexico, and Arizona and I don't expect to run into much laser on the highways I will be traveling.

[wilnevrbbiased]

The Bel 980 is a very good rd.

[RadarReviews_Net]

The bel 980 is my back up unit to the valentine one. I love using it and it still holds up very well to all the cops in the area. I primarily drive in the Houston/San Antonio/Dallas area. I even used it on a trip from Houston to Branson, MO one time. On almost every alert I got more then a mile notice to slow down of the approaching cops...keep in mind about instant on radar....no radar can meet up to that if you dont have a rabbit in front of you....what I mean....my rule I always use.....have someone at least within a mile to a 1.5 miles in front of you that is speeding or a target that a cop would hit....that way if the cop is using instant on that my radar detector would detect him.... for a bel 980 I would say you are safe up to 1.5 miles of that...for a valentine one....2.5 miles or less..even though I have received alerts for the valentine one over 3.5 miles here and there. Also some cops just leave their radar gun constantly on....that would be nice if ALL of them did that....but not all.

The bel 980's weak point...LASER...like most all radar detectors. It does a poor job at detecting it and will not detect it unless the cop is shooting your vehicle...that is the only drawback I have seen for this radar....then again you can buy one for 75.00 on ebay....vs. a 400.00 valentine one radar detector....so by far I would say that it's your best bang for your buck radar detector that I have ever used.