About Radar Detectors

Many people have a “radar detector” installed in their cars. Until about three years ago, our family used a “dashboard-mounted LCD type” device. (↓↓ This isn’t the exact radar detector we had, but it’s something like this, mounted on the right front side of the driver’s seat)

*Image: [Parts Review] Radar Detector Comtec ZERO602V

One day, my husband said, “Isn’t there a better radar detector out there…?” When I asked, “Why? Isn’t the current one okay?” he replied, “No, it’s totally useless (-_-).” When I asked why, here’s what he said:

① Devices mounted on the dashboard make it look cluttered and untidy
② No matter what is displayed on the screen, you don’t actually look at it while driving
③ With radar, by the time you notice, it’s already too late. GPS is definitely better from now on
④ Wiring is a hassle
⑤ I want to remove it near home and only use it on long trips

I see, that makes sense… “Even if the LCD screen shows various info while driving, especially on highways, glancing down is dangerous, and you really don’t have the time to look at it,” I had thought so too.

Cellstar’s GPS Radar Detector

So, after some searching, my husband found this: the Cellstar socket-type GPS receiver from CELLSTAR. It’s available on Amazon for just over 4,000 yen.

セルスター ソケットタイプGPSレシーバー GR-81/B 日本製 3年保証 (ブラックメタリック)

created by Rinker

セルスター(CELLSTAR)

• Amazon
• 楽天市場

This easy-to-use socket-type GPS receiver alerts you to speed enforcement cameras and checkpoints with “voice” and “light” notifications.

・Simply plug it into the cigarette lighter socket with one touch
・No wiring needed and compact
・Can be easily transferred between family cars or rental cars
・Includes over 16,000 highly accurate GPS data points, with free updates available anytime

It perfectly solves the issues my husband disliked: “dashboard clutter, not looking at the screen while driving, radar alerts coming too late, wiring hassle, and wanting to remove it near home and only use it on long trips.” I couldn’t believe such a product existed… lol

This GPS radar detector announces and lights up starting 1 km ahead, then every 500 m. The LED colors indicate:

[Red]… Speed cameras, red light cameras
[Yellow]… Enforcement points, N system, overload monitoring, ambush areas, speed limit change points
[Green]… Police stations, traffic police, checkpoints

Though honestly, you don’t really look at the colors. (Because looking down while driving is risky lol)

What’s it like installed in the car?

When installed in the Panamera’s center console cigarette lighter socket, it looks like this:

Our family opted for the “Smoker Package (10,000 yen)“ option, which includes ashtrays and cigarette lighters in the front and rear center consoles, so the cigarette lighter socket is conveniently located here.

Installing it here keeps the dashboard neat, doesn’t get in the way while driving, and doesn’t block your view. When using it, it clearly announces things like “Speed enforcement point ahead” and “Beware of ambush area.”

Recently, when my husband went touring in the Boxster, the device announced a “speed enforcement point,” so he drove carefully. Sure enough, a disguised police car came up from behind. (Since my husband wasn’t speeding at all, the undercover car turned back.)

He said, “Because it announces based on GPS data, I can drive cautiously, so I think it’s better than radar. Also, I can remove it near home, so it’s not noisy all the time and very convenient.”

It’s affordable and performs well, so we have this GPS receiver in our Panamera, Boxster, and Golf. I truly recommend it.

セルスター ソケットタイプGPSレシーバー GR-81/B 日本製 3年保証 (ブラックメタリック)

created by Rinker

セルスター(CELLSTAR)

• Amazon
• 楽天市場