Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

Best Buy Ratings and Reviews

Customer Reviews for Whistler Radar Detector with Digital Compass - Black

Whistler Radar Detector with Digital Compass - Black

Model: PRO-78 SE
SKU: 9391455
UPC: 052303404535
Detect radar signal easily with this high-performance detector that features a 360° Total Protection range. The blue text display makes it easy to read incoming signals.
Average Customer Rating:
3.333 out of 5
3.3
 out of 
5
(3 Reviews) 3
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Snapshot 3 reviews
5 stars
1
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
67% of customers would recommend this product to a friend 
(
2 out of 3
)
Customer Reviews for Whistler Radar Detector with Digital Compass - Black
Review 1 for Whistler Radar Detector with Digital Compass - Black

Good bang for your buck

Customer Rating
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Posted by: LidarCrazy
from Lowell MA
on 08/19/2010
Value for Price
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Accuracy
3.0 out of 5
3.0
Features
4.0 out of 5
4.0
What's great about it: Price, Radar capabilites
What's not so great: False alarms, limited laser protection
First off, the v1 produces alot of false alarms and has been outperformed by several radar detectors, read some actual confirmed radar tests. Any mid price ranged radar detector will produce alot of false alarms but the 78SE works well otherwise. The 9500xi is the best out there if you got the money but that propably still wont protect you from police lidar.
http://radartest.com/index.asp
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
7out of 9found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Whistler Radar Detector with Digital Compass - Black

Wonderful value for the price

Customer Rating
5.0 out of 5
5.0
Posted by: stalkervision
from NY
on 07/07/2010
What's great about it: value and very sensitive radar reception
What's not so great: blue display is a bit hard to read in dorect sunlight /red is better
The Whistler Pro 78 se is a wonderful value for the price. Very high levels of radar reception on all police bands. It can run with the most expensive detectors and is almost half the cost. It also has some excellent features to adjust the detector the way that you like.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+8points
8out of 8found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Whistler Radar Detector with Digital Compass - Black

Save your money--find something better!!

Customer Rating
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Posted by: APos
from Chicago, IL
on 11/07/2009
Value for Price
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Ease of Use
4.0 out of 5
4.0
Accuracy
1.0 out of 5
1.0
Features
4.0 out of 5
4.0
What's great about it: A lot of nice menu features in theory
What's not so great: These don't matter if it doesn't do its main job well
I bought into the hype and some early favorable 'professional' reviews on this product (and am now convinced the website that posted it was probably paid by Whistler to hype up the release) and purchased it back in late June. I could have easily gotten a similar quality product for much less...or better yet, spent more and got a better, more reliable unit. Convinced that it wasn't working as advertised, I purchased a V1, the 'King' of radar detectors, and compared them in my car side by side. First off, the 78SE gives TONS of false alarms. Often it would go off when the v1 wasn't making a peep. Sometimes, it would go crazy when I was out in the middle of a road surrounded by corn fields! Is this because it is more sensitive? I think not. I had tested them on some speed signs set up in my area, and the V1 would go off a 1/4 mile or more before the Whistler made a detection. A 1/4 mile in the world of radar is an eternity--the difference between getting a ticket and not. By the time the 78SE starting making weak little burps warning you to start being on the lookout, the V1 was already going off at full blast. The v1 would also detect the speed radar when it was up and over a hill--presumably from the minute signature bouncing off different objects alongside the road. Again, not a peep was heard from the 78SE.
I am not saying I expect the 78SE to be as good as a $400 V1. I do, however, expect the performance to be enough to serve its purpose, which is warning you of radar before the cop has your speed. This detector simply won't do that, which makes owning it more or less pointless IMO. The numerous false alerts make you on guard when you don't need to be, and eventually you will simply ignore all the warnings--even the legitimate ones. When the real threats arise, it is doubtful you will know before the cop has your speed--MAYBE it will provide a small benefit in the most optimal conditions (a flat road going perfectly straight)...but how often is that the case? Save your hard earned $$ for a detector that will work...or if your dead set on spending less than $200, do more research and see if you can find something better or at least cheaper!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+16points
35out of 54found this review helpful.