Beltronics Pro RX65
Manufacturer: Beltronics Part number: Pro RX65
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Beltronics Pro RX65 works well for novice to advanced users, giving long distance warning about radar monitoring. Although we had some interface issues, the device works very well overall.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 "Your customer service is the best I have ever encountered' |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
 | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Beltronics Pro RX65 price range: $299.97 - $299.99
- Reviewed by: Wayne Cunningham
- Reviewed on: 05/06/2008
- Released on: 03/01/2007
The good: The Beltronics Pro RX65 offers a nice set of programmable features and its tested performance ranks with the best.
The bad: The LED warnings look rough, although they are informative. The volume button isn't particularly convenient.
The bottom line: The Beltronics Pro RX65 works well for novice to advanced users, giving long distance warning about radar monitoring. Although we had some interface issues, the device works very well overall.
Among the higher-priced echelon of radar detectors, the Beltronics Pro RX65 includes solid features and easy user programming, along with demonstrated threat detection. Its interface choices range from a simple warning to a highly technical frequency display. While its simple three button interface is easy to use, its volume control leaves something to be desired.
Design
Like your typical radar detector, the Beltronics Pro RX65 is a small box that clamps to your windshield. We like how the clamp, with two suction cups, slides and locks into the top of the detector, offering a slight amount of adjustment. And with portable GPS and satellite radio devices becoming more common, windshield-clamped devices don't attract the attention they used to.
The RX65 has a red LED information display on one end, which isn't particularly attractive, and a black plate on the other, for receiving radar signals. It also has a small pod on top that faces toward the back of the car, for detecting radar from behind.
Buttons across the top include power, brightness, and sensitivity. The brightness and sensitivity buttons do double duty as programming buttons when you enter the settings mode. We like this setup, as it is easy to use and keeps buttons on the device to a minimum.
A long volume button runs across the driver-facing end. While changing the sensitivity or brightness only requires a quick touch of their buttons to adjust the settings, you need to hold down the volume button as it runs down, and then back up. Holding down this button is inconvenient if you are driving, as you need to grip the RX65 with two fingers while it runs through the different volume settings. This button also serves as a quick mute button when the radar detector is beeping. A button on the 12-volt power adaptor, labeled mute, repeats the functionality of the volume button.
Features
The RX65's default setting uses its simple display, showing the radar or laser band detected and a set of bars indicating the strength. It also sounds off with a series of beeps and a voice telling you the band detected. After about five beeps, the sound mutes automatically. The display and voice will inform you if the radar is K, Ka, or X band, or by saying Laser if it has detected laser.
The device defaults to a mode called Autoscan, where it adjusts its sensitivity dynamically based on the signals it receives. You can push the sensitivity button, labeled City, to cycle through Autoscan, City, and Highway modes. City mode reduces sensitivity to X band radar, as that band is most likely to get false alerts. In programming mode, which you enter by holding down the City and Brightness buttons, you can lower the X-band sensitivity of City mode, or have it not detect X-band at all, if you drive through areas prone to false alerts.
Where the RX65 gets interesting is its capability to break down different radar guns monitoring your car. In programming mode, you can change it from its simple display to Threat display, which shows if there are different radar bands detected and their relative strengths. To get even more down and dirty, the RX65 has a Tech display, which shows the strongest radar band and its frequency. While this display is cool, we're not sure of its actual utility.
The programming settings also let you turn the voice notification off, disable specific radar band detection, and change the start-up sequence to a fast mode. The standard start-up sequence flashes the display between all its detection messages while sounding off with many annoying beeps. The start-up sequence will probably be the major catalyst for most people to try out the programming mode.
The RX65 also has the capability to receive Safety Warning System messages, although it is turned off by default. SWS messages are sent through radar, and let you know of incidents like roadwork ahead, weather-related problems, and emergency vehicles. Beltronics turns off this feature by default because SWS isn't in wide use.
Performance
Although our performance testing was experiential, Radarbusters.com published the results of a battery of tests comparing several radar detectors, including the Beltronics Pro RX65. In K, Ka, and X band tests, the RX65 ranked with the other top radar detectors, consistently seeing radar at over four miles distance in these five mile range tests.
Although the RX65 is supposed to intelligently filter out false alerts, we received many low level X-band warnings while driving through urban areas. These types of X band signals are often transmitted by burglar alarm motion detectors. These signals were reduced substantially be putting the RX65 into City mode.
On the freeway, we received alerts of K-band monitoring that ranged from a weak signal that immediately dropped out, to a quickly rising signal, moving up to full strength. We only actually saw one police car while the RX65 alert sounded, but that doesn't mean they weren't around.
The RX65 gave us its most abrupt warning as we drove through mountains on a winding, four lane highway. The detector was completely silent until we came around a corner into an open area with turn-outs on either side. At this point the RX65 sounded off with a full-strength K-band warning. The mountains around this wide spot obviously shielded the radar signal, so the RX65 couldn't give us a better advance warning. (And if you were wondering, no, we didn't get a ticket, as we were traveling at the same speed as the moderate amount of traffic around us.)
In sum
Although we weren't crazy about the volume button, it was made up for with the easy programming functionality, cleverly giving dual uses to some buttons. The display isn't pretty, but it works. We were more impressed by the features of the RX65, with its different monitoring displays and variety of programmable settings. As for effectiveness, it does well in comparison tests by other reviewers under controlled circumstances. Our own tests showed a number of false alerts and one instance where we had no warning before a full strength alert. Of course, that incident was a mountain situation where no detector could have provided a warning. We like the peace of mind offered when the RX65 isn't showing any radar monitoring.
User reviews
-
-
Almost perfect
by i_am_still_wade on July 11, 2006
Pros: Awesome detection range
Cons: Not quite invisable to radar detector dectors
Summary: Lets get one thing out of the way right now, nobody makes a better radar detector than Bel. I've detected cops over 1 mile away with this, in fact, ...
Summary: Lets get one thing out of the way right now, nobody makes a better radar detector than Bel. I've detected cops over 1 mile away with this, in fact, if the police keeps his radar on, I've had around a 2 mile detection.
It is full of toys. You can switch between signal strength to the frequency being used. If the highway patrol just reads cars as they pass, known as POP, it makes a very loud noise.
For the anal retentive states that ban radar detectors, like Virginia, it provides VG-2 protections, dark displays, and a handy mute switch on the power adapter. Bel does have a radar detector that is immune to all detection, but they wouldn't sell it to me because I wasn't a trucker.
I have gotten some false laser positives. Other than that, this is the radar detector you want.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Stay away!
by mkogan on October 2, 2006
Pros: Nice specs
Cons: unreliable, lousy customer service
Summary: I personally know of two detectors that stopped working, one of them is mine. Things do fail, I accept it. I just feel that the manufacturer should be responsible for ...
Summary: I personally know of two detectors that stopped working, one of them is mine. Things do fail, I accept it. I just feel that the manufacturer should be responsible for it's product when they promise to do it (one year after purchase).
The unit was manufactured in December 2005 (date is stamped at the bottom), it broke down in September 2005.
I called Beltronics Customer support, was told that I can send it for the warranty repair, I did not have to send the receipt (I gave the information from the sticker on the bottom over the phone).
Couple weeks later I received a letter "...Because the warranty for your product has expired...".
I call Beltronics (800-737-9393) again. Now I am being told (many times in a row) something like this: "We do not do any warranty repair without the proof of purchase".
I tried to reason that
a. The unit is obviously less than one year old and it is (supposed to be)under the warranty for one year after purchase.
b. I was told by another Beltronics customer representative that I did not need to send the receipt along with the unit.
c. This is not a good way to conduct business - happy customer should be worth more than $59.95
The person on the other end of the line kept telling me "We do not do any warranty repair without the proof of purchase". It was really annoying, I felt I was talking to a robot.
So I (or whoever would be in my shoes) have to either part with $59.95 or get broken unit back and... keep obeying speed limit.
I see it as the (not very honest) way for Beltronics to make money - how many people keep the receipts for every purchase??
Another issue with this detector.
When the sun is low and facing (blinding) you, the RX65 laser alert will give continuous falce alarms. Something I could live with but still annoying.6 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Excellent detector overall, with a few flaws
by bikerdude22 on August 20, 2008
Pros: Solid build quality, useful features, easy programming, good range, good false alert filtering, voice alerts, Ku band (for European drivers)
Cons: Volume could be louder, no rear-facing radar antenna or arrows, mode does not automatically switch to multi-threat display upon multiple radar encounters, not immune to all RDDs
Summary: Overall, this is an excellent radar detector. It looks great in my windshield (I drive a '98 Honda Civic with a hardwire kit), and the suction cups work well. It ...
Summary: Overall, this is an excellent radar detector. It looks great in my windshield (I drive a '98 Honda Civic with a hardwire kit), and the suction cups work well. It has three modes: City, Autoscan, and Highway. I mainly use Autoscan and Highway. The false alert filtering is so good that I rarely use City mode. It is easy to program and to turn off certain bands. There are also four brightness settings, which make it easy to adjust according to light conditions. The detection range is excellent, especially in Upstate New York, where the police are too stupid to use instant-on and I can detect them from a mile away.
Now for the negatives. With wind noise at highway speeds and the radio on, it is sometimes hard to hear, even at full volume. I wish that the speaker was just a little bit louder. There are also no arrows or rearward-facing radar antennae, such as in the Valentine One. During highway cruising, this leaves me guessing whether the cop is ahead of me or behind. I usually just slow down and wait to see if I pass him or if he passes me, and then speed back up again once I identify the threat and see that it is safe. Another thing that I do not understand is the multi-threat display. When multi-threat display is activated, it shows the band and signal strength of each threat, simultaneously. This is very useful when there are two or more police radar threats in the area or when there is one real threat and one false alert (from an automatic door opener, for example). This works even better than the V1 "Bogey Counter," because it shows the signal strength of each individual threat, instead of just flashing the number of threats and the signal strength of the strongest one. In most situations, when there is only one threat to pay attention to, the normal display is much easier to read with signal strength bars, much like a cell phone battery meter. It would be ideal if the normal mode could be used at all times, and the detector could automatically switch to multi-threat display upon encountering multiple threats. Instead, the detector remains locked in one mode, and does not change unless it is programmed. This means that if normal mode is activated (this is what what most drivers want), it stays in normal mode and only displays one threat at a time, ignoring the other, even when there are two or more simultaneous threats. This leaves the driver with an annoying decision to make : leave the detector in multi-threat display mode and have less easy-to-read warnings, or leave it in normal mode and not know when there is more than one threat to be aware of.
All in all, this is a great detector. I have never used a Valentine One, but from what I have read and researched, this is the better detector for most drivers, due to the better ergonomics, ease of use, cheaper price, voice alerts, and reduced false alarms. Don't hook up this Beltronics (or any other detector) to your windshield and expect to be exempt from speeding tickets. Rather, learn how radar detectors work and how to use them, and understand their weaknesses and blind spots. LIDAR (police laser) is becoming more and more widely used, and laser jammers are essential for anyone seeking adequate protection from speed traps. Although radar detectors can detect laser, they are useless as a form of protection. Radar can be detected long before the officer can read your speed, but by the time your detector alerts you of laser, the officer already has your speed. As far as radar detection goes, the Rx65 does an excellent job and I highly recommend it. If you are a trucker or if you live in Virginia, Washington DC, or Canada, remember to get the Bel STi, because the Rx65 is not immune to all RDDs (radar detector detectors).2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Paid for itself in one road trip
by pmignini on April 4, 2008
Pros: Sensitivity accuracy, 360 degree, simple
Cons: none I could find
Summary: Purchased this just prior to a 2600 mile road trip across the southwest. While I am no expert, I compare the function with the RX65 to a prior Bel that ...
Summary: Purchased this just prior to a 2600 mile road trip across the southwest. While I am no expert, I compare the function with the RX65 to a prior Bel that I thought worked well but was in need of an update.
I found this unit caught every visible, and some invisible, speed trap along our route. I also liked the significant advance warning in most scenarios - over a mile in many cases, giving us plenty of time to slow down. The red display was easy to read, and the voice announcements were a welcome feature. I easily spotted a half dozen speed traps I would've missed on my own, including the "fricken lasers."
All in all, the RX65 did exactly what I needed it to do, and I am glad to have it.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Best Radar Detector I have seen
by colson8217 on March 20, 2006
Pros: Easy setup, Long consistent detection, Smart cord great, traveling case
Cons: Nothing so far
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
unreliable
by rvidair on June 3, 2007
Pros: good range on k band and ka
Cons: unreliable, too many false alarms
Summary: Broke down after a year and they would not honor 1 yr warranty. Cost $75 to repair. Will not buy another one. Good range on K and KA bands as ...
Summary: Broke down after a year and they would not honor 1 yr warranty. Cost $75 to repair. Will not buy another one. Good range on K and KA bands as advertised, but more false signals than advertised, especially on K band.
2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Yamaha R6 equiped with Beltronics RX65 The Review
by toiletdonkey on September 26, 2009
Pros: My BRX65 detected the POLICE from the mount on my R6 about 2 miles away, this was not on a straight road it was actually detecting the radar while still on an incline up hill. The police was set up over that hill and up another. Worth every penny.
Cons: Not water proof :(
Summary: If you ride a motorcycle don't waste your money on the little cheap detectors made for bikes. So they are water proof? So what! Range is important especially when ...
Summary: If you ride a motorcycle don't waste your money on the little cheap detectors made for bikes. So they are water proof? So what! Range is important especially when you are flying it 147 MPH. If you get the right set up you can have it all. My set up for the Yamaha R6 is as follows: Techmount 13mm Steering Stem Mount about 69.00$, Beltronics Direct Wire Cord about 10.00$, Velcro whatever brand you like, I don't know the name but I found a clear waterproofing case that looks like cheap clear plastic made for the escort series detectors the BRX65 fits perfectly in there, and there is room for your H.A.R.D module about 26.00$, H.A.R.D heads up LED display, and transmitter about 156.00$. All of this will help you avoid those Tickets. Which one? If you are like me you are probably reading this with the hope to understand if you should get the infamous Beltronics STI Driver, or the Beltronics RX65? Here's the difference...If Radar Detectors are not illegal in your state/country buy the RX65 and save yourself some cash. Radar Roy from Radarbusters did select the Beltronics RX65 as his Top Choice. The Bottom Line Buy It! If you can't afford it try the Vector 995 my friend swears by it. I swear by the RX65
-
So crazy good it makes me laugh
by DrifterA6 on September 3, 2009
Pros: The RX65 is highly reliable and has given me peace of mind with over 20,000 highway miles usage and multiple saves!
Cons: There is nothing I don't like about the RX65
Summary: I don't use a radar detector so I can speed, I use the RX65 as a "Rookie Detector." Yes, those pesky newbe "hot dog" highway patrolmen who are out ...
Summary: I don't use a radar detector so I can speed, I use the RX65 as a "Rookie Detector." Yes, those pesky newbe "hot dog" highway patrolmen who are out to save the world from motorists going 5 MPH over the posted limit on a wide open stretch of desert highway in very light traffic. (Especially while driving through small, backwater dots on the map where the cops have nothing better to do than write decent, responsible folks petty citations.)
Having said that, I can tell you that the Belltronics RX 65 is the real deal! I don't even care about the display feature in fact, I keep ithe display turned off. All I want from my RX65 is an audible warning that something is generating a Radar signal somewhere in proximity. When driving solo cross country, I wedge the RX 65 between the top of the front passenger seat and the bottom of the head rest. I use my rear power plug to supply power. In this position, the unit is next to my right ear and my windshield is clear -- and the unit is not visible to inquiring minds.
The unit's detection range is nothing short of spectacular! On the long open stretches, I can often get 2-3 minutes advance warning at 75 MPH (and to me, that's just crazy!). So naturally, when the alert sounds, my foot comes off the gas and I simply wait until I see the source of the Radar.
My favorite feature is that the first few seconds of the audible alert is at full volume and then the unit automatically converts to low volume while it continues its detection. This is especially helpful when you have the unit just inches from your right ear.
After a bit of use, you'll learn to understand what to expect from the RX65. You'll know when the Radar source is behind you or approaching from the oposite direction. You be able to gauge the approach rate of the Radar source and most importantly, you know that when the RX65 sounds off, it's usually a cop out there somewhere so slow down!
Occassionally while driving through twisty hill country, I'll get a very short duration alert and then slience -- sort of a blip. I've learned over the years that this is often a stray or skip Radar wave which has bounced around a couple of hills and dales. And sho-nuff, a mile or two down the road, there's old smokey. You get the picture.
I couldn't be more pleased with my RX65 and for my money, it's easily the best value going in the serious radar detector universe. It has paid for itself about a dozen times over. One final word to the wise: Even with a good radar detector, you still need to watch your rear view mirror. They don't always have their radar units on.
Drive carefully and responsibly. -
Didn't save my butt at all. dismal dismal dismal
by xfactortype1 on August 29, 2009
Pros: none i can think of
Cons: I got pulled over with k band on a straight-away. only doing 60 in 50mph contry road. I didnt hae time to react. okay well after the officer had his lights on. 300 bucks plus 100 for ticket = no thanks beltronics. nice paperweight though
Summary: if you dont want a speeding ticket then dont speed. complete wate of money. getting pulled over with a radar detector just really annoys cops and makes them wants to ...
Summary: if you dont want a speeding ticket then dont speed. complete wate of money. getting pulled over with a radar detector just really annoys cops and makes them wants to write you a bigger ticket.
-
keeps me out of trouble
by dvdyhs on June 22, 2009
Pros: It works. Very consistent warnings. Easy to use.
Cons: The power cord has a telephone-type clip that breaks off. The windshield suction cups are a bit unreliable. It wouls be nice to have the volume go a little higher ( to 11?) so I wouldn't have to turn down the music as much.
Summary: I've had this unit for over 4 years and have driven some 150K highway miles. While it does pick-up some interference it is wonderful at picking up the low ...
Summary: I've had this unit for over 4 years and have driven some 150K highway miles. While it does pick-up some interference it is wonderful at picking up the low power instant-on RADAR that the PA stare police use. I have always received enough warning to be able to lose the 20-25 MPH required to be legal. It also gives ample warning for the moving RADAR that the NJ state cops use.
My experience is that the system will report some "false" signals and gives alerts that are not related to speed traps. However, when one has used the system for a bit it is easy to determinine whether the signals come from police radar because of the signals patterns. I love the unit and hate driving without it. This is my third detector over a period of 18 years.
Manufacturer info
- Beltronics
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Beltronics products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.beltronics.com/
- Address:
2422 Dunwin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1J9
