The Sti Driver was introduced in 2005 by Beltronics as a stealth radar detector. It is designed to be undetectable to police radar detector detectors, RDD, which police use around the world to identify which 
driver has a radar detector in their car. RDD is manufactured by two primary companies, VG and Spectre. The Redline radar detector started selling in 2009. Both products are produced by Beltronics production line, and Escort owns both the Beltronics and Passport products. Beltronics and Escort Radar is produced in Mississauga, Ontario.
VG2 supposedly is/was produced in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The VG-2 Interceptor is a radar detector detector, produced in the mid 1980 time frame. It is designed to detect RF (radio frequency) radar signals from 11.4 to 11.6 Gigahertz (GHz, nominal 11,500,000,000 hertz). This frequency range is the local oscillator (LO) frequency of radar detectors produced back in the day. VG-2 is capable of detecting radar detectors, based on how poorly the RF module was designed, from 0 distance out to 1 mile, perhaps more.VG-2 is prone to false alerts, so a new version was introduced in the mid 2000 time frame, called VG-4.
Some radar detectors are designed to detect VG2, but since all new radar detectors (that are worth anything) are now operating with an LO frequency of 15 GHz, then detecting VG-2 is like running with 3 legs. Sounds good but you can’t run any faster.
VG-4 is produced by Hill Country Research of Fredericksburg, TX; and is designed to detect 15 GHz, the nominal LO frequency of all new radar detectors. VG-4 is useful to detect radar detectors that do not have RDD invisibility, but ineffective at detecting radar detectors with RDD invisibility, such as the STi Driver, Escort Redline and Cobra 9960G, and 9970G. VG-2 and VG-4 is used in Europe, USA and parts of Asia.
There is also a company down in AU, that produces several versions of RDD, called Spectre ii, Spectre iii, spectre iv, spectre iv+, Stalcar (used exclusively in AU and NZ) and OPP Spectre used in Canada. This version of Spectre RDD is the most aggressive RDD on the market. Spectre iii seems to be the most aggressive, although there are versions more recent.
STi Driver was designed with phase inversion, using two radar antennas. Redline uses the same RF platform. When you put both radar detectors side by side, you will see a dual lens in front, supporting X band and K/Ka band radar. There are two radar antennas inside, facing to the front. You will see very similar external design, except the Escort has a front lip, yet the features are nearly identical. Both radar detectors test nearly the same in performance. Neither of these radar detectors include GPS antenna or memory.They both offer a digital, matrix, red LED display. They both have a single bracket release on top center of the radar detector. They both offer the same power on switch at front left. They both offer volume/mute button at front center. They both offer a SENS (sensitivity/program) button at front right.
So, what are the differences between the STi Driver and Escort Redline. The Redline tone alerts are different from STi Driver. The physical design of the enclosure is different. According to Escort Radar, this is a long distance radar detector, and since it is programmed by computers, one might assume it is tuned for more sensitivity than the STi Driver, but that is yet to be verified. The Escort Redline costs $499.95 and provides a nicer carrying case, and includes a coiled power cord, as does the STi Driver. The STi Driver costs $469.95. There are some variations on the display features provided, but other than the physical design layout, minor firmware (display features), there are very few differences between the STi Driver and Escort Redline radar detector.
