To beat red light and speed cameras a GPS-enabled radar detector can be invaluable. Cameras don't move, enabling detectors with GPS to warn when one is approached.
Satellite technology also allows some detectors to remember the frequency and location of nuisance signals like radar-controlled door openers at stores. They file away this information and by comparing signals to a database, can tell the difference between police radar and a Walmart door opener.
But keep in mind that some GPS-enabled detectors are much smarter than others. The Whistler CR93 ($299), for example, also has GPS but it can't lock out nuisance signals. This means it will false-alarm every time a door opener is passed.
GPS-enabled models like the Radenso XP and Uniden DFR7 require users to press a button to lock out a nuisance signal. In contrast, Escorts have AutoLearn that automatically locks out a static signal after passing it a few times.
Automating this task might be a convenience, but it isn't free. The Escort Max 360c is $649 and the Escort Passport iXc is $499. In comparison, both the Radenso XP and Uniden DFR-7 are $299. The Radenso has radar range roughly similar to the Escorts', potentially making it a lower-cost alternative.
GPS allows other strategies for reducing false alarms. Radenso and Uniden models with GPS let the user raise the speed threshold when audible alarms begin, helping to keep them quiet.
Escorts can automatically vary sensitivity based on speed. Radar is no threat when sitting gridlocked in traffic and they dial back sensitivity accordingly. Speed up and sensitivity rises to maximize radar range.
