At first, I was skeptical about the performance of a $40 detector, but after a few recent trips driving across country, the Pacific Digital radar detector has proved to me that it can get the job done. Here are some of my thoughts on the product:
Although it does not have brilliant filtering skills for false signals, it can still give you enough X/K/Ka warning for you to slow down and to cheat the cameras or speed traps. The two blue LED’s are great because you can easily see them out of the corner of your eye, you don’t even need to move your neck. This is extremely useful when your radio muffles the audible signals, or when the sun washes out the primary letter warning lights. It’s a not distracting device at all, very safe.
Although it does not have the features of the top of the line detectors (coiled power cord, voice alert, text readout, settings save, compass, etc), it has at its core the most important feature: the essential detection ability to provide enough caution for the driver. This price cannot be beat anywhere.
Thanks to an overwhelmingly comprehensive database, the Pacific Digital detector has the ability to alert you of speed cameras, red light cameras, and common speed traps across North America. The database is frequently updated, and you’re provided with three months of downloadable updates for free.
Performance is on par with my inexpensive Cobra detector, and the alerts are less disruptive. It’s nice to have multiple city modes with the ability to disable X-band entirely. The Pacific Digital Blue LED “periscope” indicators really catch the corner of your eye, but become annoying with prolonged indications, such as when a patrol car is directly in front of you. There is no DIM/Night Mode for some reason, which is odd. The display is understandable and informative, but looks very inexpensive, especially compared to the Cobra in the same price range. The mount is durable, but the suction cups are small and I don’t imagine them to last long. This one does identify other detectors nearby, which increases the false positives. A great value, just don’t expect faultless detection or lots of features.
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