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• Voice Alerts help keep your eyes on the road
• Digital Signal Processing to minimize false alarms
• Lightning fast microprocessor can detect and procedure a signal in less than one second
• Extra deafening tones supply audio you may be able to hear in noisy environments
• High meaning text display

The Vector 995 Detector has superior protection from the most advanced radar detection tools. Its all new microwave receiver delivers the longest possible warning on all radar bands, as well as the new “POP” mode Ka band threat. Vector 995 gives ten times the sensitivity of any imported radar detector and its lightning fast microprocessor can detect and procedure signals in less than a second, for a crucial advantage. High definition text display bright alphanumeric display is observable at any angle light Control with Full black Mode four light levels to decide from, or decide Full black Mode for discreet night travel Exclusive Shadow Technology keeps you unseen by VG2 radar detector detection will include three modern faceplates that complement your car interior Comes completely equipped with owner’s manual, quick release windshield mount, power cord and soft travel case

POP radar, Ka band, Laser. The list of funny sounding technologies intended to nab speeders keeps growing. Luckily, Beltronics has made an efficient, compact, and user friendly radar detector. It is made for people who do not want to fuss with the details, but who do want first class protection from high tech speed traps. By offering K , X , Ka , and Ku band protection plus protection from POP and laser detection the Vector 995 covers all the bases. While testing revealed many restricted problems with false alarms, this minor quibble wasn’t enough to keep us from putting the 995 in the top tier of radar detectors, right up there with the standard setting Escort Passport 8500 X50.

Click the image to get a closer look at the Vector 995′s features.

Design
While it is proper to compare with the Escort 8500 X50, it is particularly relevant here, as Escort and Beltronics, the maker of the Vector 995, newly merged all of their manufacturing and design. Seemingly, many of the interior parts and technology in the 995 are generally the same as those found in the 8500, and as you will see, our testing bears that out.

Mounting the 995 in a car could not be easier. A small suction cup bracket slides into the unit’s release system and easily attaches to the windshield with light pressure. The unit is housed in a tough plastic case that is low profile and compact in fact, it is a good deal sleeker and smaller than the box shaped 8500. The rear of the unit is dominated by a receiver window. There is also an extra laser detector window that faces the passenger compartment, which is intended to detect laser signals emanating from behind the car. Extra goodies include attachable blue, yellow, and red faceplates that allow you to dress up the 995 to match your style, also as a softcase.

Another great attribute of the 995 is its easy control layout. Four buttons on the top of the unit control power, city mode on/off, display light, and volume/mute settings. Two of the buttons also double as selection buttons when the unit is in programming mode. Throughout normal use the red, horizontal LCD display graphs the intensity of the radar and laser signals the unit detects, also as the detector’s sensitivity mode. Power is supplied by an included 12 volt cord, which plugs into a cigarette lighter power socket. Unfortunately, the 995 does not ship with the cool SmartCord that’s included with the Escort 8500. Branded as the SmartPlug on the Beltronics side of things, it features an alert LED, also as a fitted mute button built right into the power plug. Sadly, it is only available as a $30 choice for the 995.

The Vector 995 comes with three attachable faceplates so you may be able to match your vehicle’s interior.

Choose the standard display mode for a graphic representation of radar threats.

.Or use the “Tech Display” to see the exact frequency of incoming signals.

Features
The 995 covers the gauntlet when it comes to protection from speed trap technology. While detection of the radar bands now in use in North America the X, K, and Ka bands is standard for detectors these days, the devil is in the details when it comes to on the road performance. Thankfully, the 995 has many extra mojo fitted that makes it both more responsive to radar signals, And Smart enough to choose out false alarms. The unit includes detection diodes for laser detection, and an add on system that installs on the outside of the car, the LaserPro 905, offers improved laser detection, also as laser jamming potential. Over all this protection, the 995 adds optional sensitivity to the Ku band, which is usually used in Europe.

Also to good multiband radar and laser sensitivity, the 995 is intended to detect the new highway menace, POP radar queue scary music here. POP radar guns, while comparatively rare in police departments, were used to recognize speeding vehicles in heavy traffic that usually confuses other types of radar. They supply little warning as the radar signal idles at a low frequency till it transmits an very short, high frequency burst to “pop” a target. The 995 comes with a greatly sensitive receiving system and a digital signal processor intended to pick up POP signals from a safe distance. POP detection is enabled by default on the 995, unlike on the 8500 a good thing for people who do not want to mess with customization menus. While enabling POP detection can increase the number of false alarms due to the increased sensitivity obliged of the unit, and it is most likely why Escort decided to disable it unless the user wants it, Beltronics has clearly decided the added protection is worth some extra bogus alerts on the 995.

And what about the alerts on the 995? Also to audio tones, the 995 also has digital voice alerts that tell you what kind of danger lies ahead. If you are not into the Knight Rider thing, i.E., a computerized voice in your car, the audio tones do a great job, also. In this mode, a distinctive tone or chirp is assigned to a particular kind of radar threat. The 995′s AutoMute feature automatically lowers the volume level of an alert after a time period, so you may be able to drive without going totally batty to the sound of alerts.

For those who like a bit more control, the 995 may be customized via a pretty straightforward interface. In the programming mode, the LCD acts as a menu system that lets users control display light, auto mute, audio tones, and power on modes. There are settings for disabling detection of selected bands be cautious with this one!. A mode called Tech Display shows the numeric frequency of the radar signal being received.

For those living in states that prohibit use of a radar detector, the 995 does include VG 2 radar detector detector protection, which is intended to both alert the driver and shut down the unit’s oscillator.

On the Road
False alarms are one of the big annoyances of radar detector use. In our tests, the 8500 was pretty good at minimizing false alarms from home garage door systems, also as from home and commercial security systems that usually operate on X band radar. While false alarms were somewhat more common with the 995 than with the 8500, the error rate was satisfactory, and it’s probably caused by the 995′s default activation of POP radar sensitivity.

The 995′s city sensitivity setting decreases sensitivity to X band resources, while the highway setting doesn’t. With this unit, though, you will quickly find that neither setting is needed. Instead, we found the unit’s powerful AutoSelect mode the most correct, as it dynamically filtered all types of radar signals and typically identified which resources were a rightful threat. With that kind of simplicity fitted, we were comfy just firing up the 995 and forgetting about it, till we really needed it.

Pros

• Performance about equivalent to the Escort 8500 X50
• Just turn it on and go. AutoSelect feature automatically filters highway and city false alarms.
• Pop radar detection enabled by default
• High caliber, multi band sensitivity puts this one in the top tier of detectors

Cons

• No included SmartCord
• Slightly more false alarms when calculated against Escort 8500 X50

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 2:58 pm and is filed under Car electronics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.