Originally posted by Grodzman
Most widely used band is Ka, that's their normal radar. Now they have X band but they dont use it much, and are using it less and less. X band is the "laser" detector. The problem with detecting it is the fact that the laser turns off when you let go of the trigger, so in order to catch X band on your detector other people in front of you have to get tagged, and you'll hear small X band signals coming from your detector. If you pass a cop and he is tailing you, or is tagging ONLY you, then you're screwed since the radar will let you know, but only after you've already been tagged.
So, the idea is, if you wanna be safe, then travel near traffic. If the road is empty and you're doing 120 while the cop is using a laser, not a normal radar Ka band system, which is highly unlikely, you'll be screwed.
Good news though, only 1/10 police cars that are equipped with ANY kind of detector have laser X-band detectors. Not only that, but mostly only state cops have them as is.
Go to www.radartest.com for more info on all that good stuff.
Grodzman, I don't think X band is the same as Laser. Don't quote me on this but I believe they operate on different frequencies and Laser has the shortest wave length of them all, hence it's harder to detect unless it's pointed at you and since it operates as instant-on. The fact that laser as well as other bands used as instant-on is almost impossible to detect until you're tagged makes radar detectors unless in those cases. You have to use a lot of common sense while speeding even with a radar detector since it's you that reads the warnings (if any) and eases off the gas pedal. Around here, many cops have lasers and most are just your normal patrol cars. It's just how much your area is willing to spend to capitalize on speeding.
Thanks for the info MG1, I'll look into that.