ARTICLE CONTENTS
History of radar detectors
The first radar detectors appeared in the US more than 50 years ago. They were simple devices that picked up the X band used by traffic radar at the time; traffic radar later moved to the K and Ka bands. In the 1980s and 1990s, radar detectors for passenger vehicles became more compact and sophisticated. Better technology made it possible to filter unwanted signals and detect radar at a longer range. Later, detectors learned to detect newer types of radar, such as low-power photo enforcement radar, and many added GPS databases of speed and red-light camera locations.
History of GENEVO
The idea for a GENEVO radar detector came around 2009, on frequent business trips across Europe. We used the radar detectors available at the time and kept running into gaps in what they could detect. In spring 2011 a small team of engineers with radar detector experience started developing our own, and in 2012 GENEVO s.r.o. released its first detector, the GENEVO ONE. Since then GENEVO has added GPS camera alerts, custom-installed systems with the radar antenna behind the bumper, and detection of photo enforcement radars such as MultaRadar and Gatso. In 2026 GENEVO America started selling GENEVO radar detectors in the US.
GENEVO in the US and Canada
GENEVO America sells the portable GENEVO MAX online and the custom-installed GENEVO PRO II and PRO II DUO through certified GENEVO dealers in the US and Canada. The GENEVO MAX runs firmware tuned for US conditions. The GPS camera database for the US and Canada is updated every month in cooperation with SCDB.info.
TYPES OF RADAR DETECTORS
Radar detectors come in portable and custom-installed forms. Compare the GENEVO MAX, PRO II and PRO II DUO.
Radar detector
A passive radar detector detects and alerts the driver to the presence of a radar. It receives the microwave signals of traffic radar and does not interfere with speed measurement. Radar detectors are legal in passenger vehicles in most US states (check the rules). They are most often portable and mounted on the windshield, like the GENEVO MAX. You can find out more about how a radar detector works here.
Showcase of built-in radar detectors installations
GENEVO PRO II Radar detector In BMW cars
2. GENEVO PRO II Built-in radar detector in the BMW X7 - The system uses a removable magnetic display that can be taken out in one motion.
3. GENEVO PRO II Built-in radar detector in a BMW 7 Series - The built-in system has a removable control panel with a color OLED display.
For what kind of vehicles are radar detectors suitable?
Almost any! Just check whether your car has a metal-coated windshield, which drastically reduces the range of a portable detector. For such cars, and for powerful, luxury and sports cars, consider a custom-installed system with the radar antenna behind the bumper; a GENEVO dealer will prepare a quote for you.
How does traffic radar measure speed?
Are radar detectors legal?
Radar detectors do not affect the function of traffic radar, and they are legal in passenger vehicles in most states.Radar detectors are not legal in:
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
- Commercial motor vehicles (federal rule, all states)
The details, including Canada, are on our page Radar Detector Laws in the US and Canada.
What is the GPS for in radar detectors?
The valued feature of GENEVO detectors is also a GPS module with a database of fixed speed cameras, red-light cameras and average speed cameras in the US and Canada. Many of these cameras do not use radar that a detector can pick up, which is why an up-to-date database of their locations is so valuable.Depending on the settings, GENEVO alerts you to these cameras 820, 1,150 or 1,480 feet in advance. And where do we get information about their current and planned location for you?
- News
- Social networks and forums
- Users and customers
- Our testers
- SCDB.info, our database partner
- Other situational resources
Radar detector updates
Why is it so important to always have an up-to-date database in your detector?Road radars and cameras change frequently
As mentioned above, we constantly monitor changes on the roads and release a new GPS database for the US and Canada every month.
Increase the performance of your device
We continuously improve the firmware for real-world detection and to filter out false alerts from new vehicles.
You get brand new features
Our care does not end with the purchase of a detector. We regularly add completely new functions, simplifications, or perhaps a sound set to your device.
You can learn how to update GENEVO detectors on the update and support page.
PORTABLE RADAR DETECTORS GENEVO
GENEVO MAX
GENEVO MAX is a portable radar detector with US firmware and a GPS database of fixed speed and red-light cameras for the US and Canada. It detects K and Ka band radar, plus MultaRadar CD/CT and Gatso photo enforcement radar used in parts of Canada and in some US cities. Its false alert filtering is tuned for everyday driving. Firmware and database updates are free for life, with no subscription.Find out more