Radar detector Whistler 118ST Ru: tested on the road


    No matter how you relate to the existence of radar detectors, they are allowed for use in Russia. Today, there are dozens of brands on the market that offer several thousand models. Prices for these auto gadgets start at 650 rubles and reach space 30 thousand.

    And they really work. Naturally, this is not a panacea for all the surprises on the road, but unlike the popular CDs under the windshield, they really do their job.

    The Whistler brand is considered one of the best in terms of price-quality ratio among radar detectors. That is why we could not deprive ourselves of the pleasure of trying out the youngest model in the line - the budget 118ST Ru. The average price for this gadget is 1,900 rubles, “Ru” in the name means adapting the device to the radars common in Russia (and, of course, the instructions translated into “great and mighty”, plus Russian inscriptions on the box), and “ST” - the ability to detect radiation of type "Strelka" radars.



    Specifications
    Operating ranges: K, Ka, Ku, X; "Strelka" radar detection
    Laser radiation detector: 800-1100 nm
    Laser detector viewing angle: 360 °
    Modes: Track / City 1, 2, 3
    Alert type: audio / visual
    Display type: LED
    Current consumption: 250 mA


    Options
    In the blister pack, in addition to the radar detector, you will find a bracket for mounting on the windshield (on a suction cup or Velcro), a car adapter and instructions.




    Let's go back to our “Shooters”. Just a couple of years ago, these radars emptied purses of lovers of supersonic speeds with impunity - at that time the only means of dealing with Strelka was the database with their GPS coordinates. But if this focus worked with stationary radars, then everything was nothing for the mobile versions of Strelka.

    Today, there are many radar detectors that see Strelka, and 118ST is one of them. We spent several hours on Moscow roads, we were irradiated by Amats, Binars, Golden Eagles, Arenas, Sparks, Radis, Chris, the notorious “Strelka” and even “Robot” - Whistler recognizes all of them at a distance of one and a half kilometers to 600-700 meters .



    We tested the capabilities of 118ST in several ways at once - using the Radarinfo.ru online resource, the AntiRadar and Smart Drive mobile apps, as well as tags on Yandex.Maps. It didn't work out - Whistler worked like a clock (well - almost like a clock).







    All radars detected by the gadget were recorded in databases. But as practice shows, using them to quickly track recently installed or mobile radars is almost impossible. And almost all motorists (and we are no exception) are faced with such a trick. Draw your own conclusions: a smartphone or navigator even with the freshest links to radars in this case will definitely not help you.

    One of the important parameters of a modern radar detector is sensitivity (or noise immunity), otherwise - the gadget's ability to distinguish important signals from useless ones - simple models will respond, literally, to everything from sensors on store doors to radar detectors and parking sensors in other cars .



    In this regard, Whistler showed average results. That, however, was not a surprise for us: firstly, it is a budget model, and secondly, all radar detectors even in third-party “urban” modes detect third-party emissions (118ST Ru, by the way, has three of them). With no exceptions. That is why experienced motorists often turn on radar detectors only outside the city. Or develop resistance to constant buzzing gadget.

    Whistler 118ST Ru has an interesting opportunity - the manufacturer promises 360-degree radiation detection. And it really works. But our view is, rather, an informative function, rather than a warning one - it is unlikely that something will give you knowledge that you were "shot" from somewhere behind.

    Yes, a few words about the appearance of the gadget - nothing supernatural, everything is simple and quite elegant. There is a wheel for turning on and adjusting the volume, three hardware buttons - a menu plus a quiet mode (MENU / QUIET), indicator brightness (DARK) and a choice of city modes (CITY). Instead of an LCD indicator here is a set of LEDs. In our opinion, this is not a minus, but rather a plus - at a speed of two hundred there is no time to read small labels on an alphanumeric display.







    Despite the minimum buttons, there is something to configure here - lovers of customization and personification will find something to do for an evening or two.



    The sound of this radar detector may seem harsh to someone, but it stands out against the background of city noises and even peppy music from the car radio.

    On the box with "Whistler" there is a note - "Detects US and Russian laser radars." We figured out Russia, about the States - we take a word. However, knowing the set of operating ranges of the gadget, you can take it with you on a trip to "Europe" - after all, the velvet season on the nose. But! Be on the alert! In many European countries, radar detectors are prohibited, their use or even presence in the car is punishable by a considerable fine, and the device itself may be seized. These gadgets are allowed in the UK, Iceland, Romania, as well as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Ukraine.



    In general, the situation with radar detectors is similar to an arms race: as soon as something new appears in the arsenal of valiant traffic police officers, somewhere underground, Chinese secret laboratories begin to come up with an electronic antidote. And vice versa. It is gratifying that the developers of radar detectors under the Whistler brand are following fashion trends in the police radar market. and the model 118ST Ru - recognizes much of what hits us with invisible rays on the roads of Russia.

    Subscribe to the Geek to the Future YouTube channel , join our groups on social networks and do not forget - no one has canceled the rules of the road.

    PS By the way, if you have a desire to test Whistler radar detectors in action, take part in a jointGeek to the Future contest and Avtoden company : until September 20, we will play three gadgets - 268Ru, 138Ru and 118ST Ru. Good luck

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