Change of pace, just installed a new Radar Detector...

Cybercowboy · 10-05-01, 07:20

Valentine 1, pretty cool. Hardwired all the way, with the remote display.

Anybody out there using this one? I'm driving some tomorrow (with the top up in the AM, supposed to be in the 30's!!!) Just a change of pace from detailing for the weekend.

Guess My Name · 10-05-01, 07:25

I have one they are the best. Go see my thread on driving page about radar detectors then go to Valentines website. Very informative stuff

Brad4rdHay · 10-05-01, 07:28

All i know is that my brother got a radar JAMMER for his BMW and when he drives by cops with radar guns they just look at the radar and scrath their heads.

Guess My Name · 10-05-01, 07:30

Watch for them cops on side of road turned sideways aiming the LASER gun at you. THANK god for the VR1. Saved me plenty of times.

Plus not all Jammers work well plus they are illegal because they are transmitting RADAR. Against FCC rules.

Not that I have been caught yet.

Cybercowboy · 10-05-01, 07:31

Also, I've heard they usually don't work. You have to jam the correct frequency...

That's why I bucked up for the Valentine, to make the cops scratch somethin'

CHEVYZ71 · 10-05-01, 09:08

I ordered an el cheapo whistler 1660 radar detector from ubid.com a few weeks ago. Still waiting for the damn thing to get here. Funny thing is I don't even need it as it's a rare occassion I let the cat out of the bag. I just got it cuz I like buttons mostly.
LOLOL

lordkelvin · 10-06-01, 12:29

a friend of mine with a V1 says he knows where every auto-open door is on his commute. now *that* is what i call sensitive! wish i had one, but they're just too expensive, and i haven't figured out how i'd to the hardwiring part.

let us know what you think...

gary

bigboyhf · 10-06-01, 08:26

The new Escort is supposed to be much better at filtering out the door openers without degrading performance. I did a lot of research a few months ago and Escort was slightly below V 1 in performance but far better at filtering. As for Rocky Mountain Radar Jammers....they are supposed to be a black box with a cheap circuit board and an LED light. Supposedly does not work at all! (Phazer) This is supposedly the only legal radar jammer because it is passive, but its a joke. Real jammers work, but are very illegal....

H

bigboyhf · 10-07-01, 06:07

Radar Test: Escort 8500, Valentine 1, Bel 980 and K40

This is a very comprehensive review of top rated radar detectors. If you look around the site, there is some very interesting information on how police radar works and general tips at avoiding tickets.

H

Guess My Name · 10-08-01, 01:01

I dont trust the Mr Peterson too much since he is a consultant to Radar Detector Manufactures. That leads me to believe he may be biased a bit.

I remember another website from Austrailia that was very non biased and very informative. I just forget what it is. Search Radar Dectors it normally comes up first within Google.

I have used many Radar dectors. Original Fuzz Buster, Escort, Passport Original, Bel, Cobra but I love my VR1 the best. I love the mounting options. I love knowing where the radar source is. I love knowing the number of radar sources. I love the LASER dection.

I went down south in Florida once and I borrowed a friends VR1. As I was cruising down I-75 near Gainseville, I kept having the LASER warning go off. I was scared S!@less. Well after a half mile I saw the LASER trap two hills away from where I first picked it up. I was sold that day and bought my own.

I must say though when you pull into a OUTBACK Steak house all those red NEON lights set it off too because they give off the same light. Also when I use the w/s misters while heading into a low sun it goes off as well. The first time scares ya but now I know why.

I would never promote speeding. wink wink!

sunstar · 10-10-01, 10:51

I have V1 and 8500, they are both great detectors.

I personally prefer the 8500 for the following reasons:
[list=1][*]lower price[*]better aesthetics imo[*]available 3 year warranty at minimal price that includes free upgrades[*]less falsing[*]better multiple contact display shows band and strength for each source[/list=1]

Of course the V1 has a few things over the 8500 [list=1][*]Front and rear antennas for X, K and KA (8500 only has front antenna) This in combo with better X reception is one of the reasons for more falsing imo.[*]directional arrows[/list=1]

Cybercowboy · 10-10-01, 11:16

I did the hardwire with the remote display option mounted in the Vette's ashtray slot (just front of the shifter - can be hidden by shutting the door - very clean.) I also have a 7-year-old Escort and my wife has a Bell something or other (it does Laser at least, the old Escort doesn't.)

I can say one thing - it certainly works. You can easily program it to not go off at every X-band bogey it sees. It boots up to A (All-Bogey mode) but can be changed to several other less-annoying settings without losing sensitivity.

One thing I've noticed after driving the Vette a few hundred miles. Cops love to paint you with their instant-on radar - even though you are going the speed limit. Sheez. Knowing the radar's direction is - well - once you have it you wouldn't want to give it up!

Valentine 1 - more expensive than most but worth it, IMHO. Definitely buck up for the remote display option (like $35 or so) and hard wire the unit. You can still move it to another vehicle any time you want by either hard-wiring that vehicle or simply using the adapter and coil cord (left over after hard-wiring.) All necessary hardware comes with the V1, no trips to Rat-Shack for me.