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radar detectors

Which radar detector should I buy?
I have been told many times here that Valentine is the best (altho not so 
well made), but--
1. I often drive in jurisdictions where radar detection is illegal. The 
Valentine seems large. 
2. To hide detector, I often keep it on the console between the seats, 
losing sensitvity. It's picked up X & K bands fine, because the police 
where I drive don't worry about hiding their activities because almost no 
one has detectors. I wonder if this is useful for the Ka band that photo 
radar is using here (but by its nature photo radar is working almost 
continuously - alas), and cna I pick up anything from below windsheild 
for laser.
3. However, the police are now using detectors to detect radar detectors, 
so I would like one that is well-shielded.
4. My wife very much wants a battery operated one. It is more expensive, 
but we are not daily drivers, so she/we would like the portability and 
absence of wires.
5. Price is the least of my concerns. Like my bimmers, I want to buy the 
best quality and keep it a long time.

I've narrowed my search to 3 detectors, all wideband + laser:
a. Valentine. Pos: Works best. Neg: Big, wired, not well made.
b. Bell ST245i+ Pos: supposedly works well, small. Neg: wired
c. Escort Solo: Pos: Battery operated. Query -- does it work well?

A couple of sidebars.
My original Escort Passport (2 band) was built like a tank. I still have 
it, but it is obsolete, n'est-ce pas, because it doesn't pick up Ka or laser?
Prices vary widely for Bell. Circuit City & Sound Advice in SE Florida 
were selling it for c$340. Speed & Sound in Brooklyn, NY were asking $240 
- - $35 manuf. rebate + small shipping. (Thanks Chris on the net for 
telling me about these Brooklyn folks.)

My preference ranking now is 1. Solo, 2. Bell, 3. Valentine.  Is this 
sensible?

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Barry Wellman           [email protected]            8-)
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