- Radar/Laser detector provides 360-degree alerts for radar and laser signals, POP mode alerts, Safety Warning System alerts
- Patented VG-2 cloaking technology makes you invisible to radar detector detectors
- Brilliant numeric icon display indicates power, city mode, radar band identification; with seven-segment signal strength meter
- 3 City Modes and Highway Mode for reducing false alerts; dim/dark mode
- One-year warranty
I will admit up front that I bought this unit based solely on price. That, and the fact I am a long time buyer of Whistler radar detectors. Like another reviewer here, my first experience with a radar detector was a now ancient "fuzz buster" that never really failed on me, but merely became obsolete over time. I took a long break over the years from radar detectors mostly due to the fact that I am older now and hardly ever in that much of a hurry. Unfortunately under the disguise of supposedly only being interested in saving our lives, radar traps and pull overs from rolling radar has increased dramatically over the last few years where I live. Severe financial problems on the state and local level has been holding us in its iron grip here long before it became fashionable nation wide. So now that things have gone from normally flat busted to fiddling with financial collapse, the police in the state have expanded their role as peace makers to that of rolling revenue agents. There was a long time here where friendly warnings where handed out generously for a 40 plus year driver like myself cruising a couple of miles over the speed limit. The police had bigger fish they were after. A true vehicular desperado I was not. Those days of yore have unfortunately vanished in the wake of the towns and states flashing empty pockets all around.
In an effort not to see my own contribution to the problem come at the hands of purportedly "saving my life", I purchased this Whistler 265 model about 6 months ago. I was quite taken aback by the wide range of prices on these units at first. The last time I bought one there was perhaps a $50 price difference between the economy model and a true space age unit. Now it can be as high as $400 or more. Since this 265 was a Whistler that was capable of picking up all the radar technology currently available, and cost about $45, I decided this was the one for me. All I can say from my own experience with this fine unit is I can only imagine what those higher priced models really do, for this 265 seems to perform it all quite nicely. Simply put, its the best $45 I have spent in a very long time. The 265 is easy to install on your windshield with the bracket provided, and a coil style cord plugs into your cigarette lighter, or 12 volt outlet that just about all cars provide these days. (If you prefer to install on your dash or elsewhere, a velcro strip will hold this unit easily). As far as features, the 265 seems to have all one could ask for. This Whistler provides tone alerts, quiet modes, numeric icon displays, alert priority, and even a vehicle battery saver. It also has both visual and audible alerts, and a volume control. As far as actually detecting and warning you of any radar in the area, mine has so far never missed a beat. Although I am not much of a heavy footer that needs as much advanced warning as possible, I would have to say that any warning that does come from the 265 has been in advance enough to save me from being picked up in about 80% of the cases, or more. It is especially capable in picking up stationary radar, which although a lot of advertisements for these devices claim has gone out of style in favor of rolling radar, is still well in vogue here in my neck of the woods. I have picked up signals so far in advance in some of the stationary cases that at times I felt the the detector is picking up something else. Then lo and behold, smokey appears on the side of the road. For rolling radar, the advance warning is a little more random, but still very effective in my opinion. It is omni directional and will pick up a radar signal far off the side of you as easily as it does ahead, or behind you. I love this little unit and feel it is personally the best deal in detectors that there is going on the market presently.
In conclusion, I should mention that I live in a small town. There are no real heavily congested areas, or locales where there is any real city atmosphere. So my detector doesn't really have to work that hard at distinguishing alarms and doors openers from the real McCoy. If you live in a city or any form of heavily congested area with a lot of commerce, it very well may be a good idea to move up to a higher priced, more sensitive model. Personally I feel that the only difference between the high ticket radar detectors and this model is their ability to differentiate between real speed radar, and any other device that uses the same technology. That, and perhaps a little more technology in giving you a shade more warning. For a small town atmosphere like where I live, I honestly feel that the Whistler XTR-265 is all the radar detector you should ever need. Unless you simply love to speed, or the local police seem to have a special fondness for you, why pay more. A good, solid, dependable unit. Highly recommended...
Buy Whistler XTR-265 Radar/Laser Detector (Grey) Now
I replaced an acient Whistler that missed four different cops shooting something on the Interstate on a trip to FL. I then took another trip to FL with the XTR-265 and it showed me every cop plus is better at ignoring auto doors. I picked this unit for the reputation of Whistler from my experience and written reviews. Now that I have a unit that will show me the cops everywhere I can travel without worrying about speed traps. This unit also remembers the last settings so you don't have to change them every time you start your car. BTW: I still have my original Fuzz Buster from the 70's sitting on a shelf as a memento.
Read Best Reviews of Whistler XTR-265 Radar/Laser Detector (Grey) Here
I've been using this Radar Detector since February of 2011. The reason i bought this detector is because i drive 100 miles a day to and from my workplace and it is a very highly traveled area for state and local police. What I've noticed is that this detector is spot on with K, KA and X Bands, while it seems that Airports and Cell Phone towers in some cases put out a high amount of X Band Radar, it can cause some interference with this detector. But it's manageable to clear those alerts using the quiet button.
However, this detector does not register Laser Radars (LIDARS) in my area. I have watched countless Wisconsin state trooper's point their LIDAR at me with no notification from this detector that they in fact are tracking me. I can recall at least 4 times that i know of, where i saw this happen.
With that said, buy this detector for the RADAR detecting, not the Laser detecting. I thought about returning this product, but since you can't do much when your hit by a LIDAR to make it worth the trouble to return it.
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I bought this to use in the wife's vehicle, so I wouldn't have to switch my other detector between vehicles every time I drove hers. I also own an XTR-145, which I bought at a wholesale store, and it is fantastic. It has saved me probably thousands of dollars over the last three years. The XTR-265, though, will alert me to "Laser" several times a day, though that technology isn't currently being used where I live. I saw other comments about it not picking-up radar from police cars, and assumed that the police just didn't have their radar on, but I see what they were talking about now. During the first week of using it, I passed 9 police cars that I know for sure, had their radars active, and pointed right at me, and the XTR-265 never made a sound. I have been using it for a couple of months now, and it does alert, on occasion, but I am getting more automatic door openers than real threats. I am probably going to try to sell the XTR-265.
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This detector is not as sensitive as my Bel 965. But, I think it is a good unit for the price. The indicators are very easily read and it is a solid detector.
This product provides excellent protection. Though the fit is good, it's not quite as exact as I was hoping for. They are overbuilt and solid and will not move around. They have saved my vehicle from numerous outings that would have ruined the upholstery, caught full cups of soda and also the wrath of a 1year old. They will undoubtedly provide just about the best protection you could hope for. My only complaint is that the fit could be just a little better, and that they are a little smashed up when they are fresh out of the box. It will take a while before they return to their proper shape once installed.
