Radar Detectors....ie Valentine One

bigboyhf · 02-07-02, 07:26

I have been thinking about getting a second radar detector. I already have the Escort 8500 and it works great. I was going to buy the Valentine One to test it out, but I have two issues with it:

1.. I have metallic tint on the rear windshield which according to V1 tech support will totally eliminate rear laser detection (no biggie since that is a rare event) but will "distort" rear radar detection as well, i.e. significantly diminish the distance of detection.

2.. The Escort has an Auto setting which automatically mutes signals after a few seconds. The lighted display continues to monitor the threat but I don't have to listen to that annoying beeping sound very long, especially when it is a false alert. The V 1 does not have this feature. You actually have to press the mute button to mute the sound. Their automute is really a filter which waits until the signal is strong enough to even give an alert. That amounts reducing its effectiveness altogether.

How can I justify spending the extra $100 for the V1 when the very features that are supposed to make it superior to the Escort actually compromise its use....?

H

Guess My Name · 02-07-02, 07:38

I dunno....

If you have the spare cash then what the heck???

Your rear tint will effect any radar detector.

The mute button is not that bad....I actually prefer it but thats me.

Good Luck!!

gmblack3 · 02-07-02, 07:59

You can have my V1, when you pry it from my cold dead hands!

Directional arrows!!

bigboyhf · 02-07-02, 09:35

But the directional arrows won't work if you have metallic tinted windows. I can usually get a pretty good idea of which way the radar source is coming from by the pattern of the alert. I guess if I didn't have the windows tinted I would be more inclined to give the V1 a shot.

H

Guess My Name · 02-07-02, 10:18

It will still work Big but the sensitivity will be reduced a bit and since the rear window is so far away and large it might not have that big of an effect.

Oh buy one and if you do not like it I will take it off your hands for a reduced price

gmblack3 · 02-07-02, 10:37

I have tinted windows on all of out cars. Never have a problem picking up the cops from behind in plenty of time. Not sure if they are metallic tinted windows. You always have the 30 day return policy.

Dont forget to read this link about side by side testing:

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/DoItYourself.asp

geekysteve · 02-07-02, 11:41

My BMW has metallic tint on its windows - no problem for my V1...and as for the mute - I like pressing the button because it forces me to acknowledge the signal. On my older Passport, when it would auto mute there were many times that I'd forget it was going off, and then I'd see a cop a little bit down the road.

Plus, you can adjust the mute volume on your V1 which is very handy (and easy - dual ring knob).

Example of V1's ability:

I was driving to Dallas to pick up our newest dog, and this guy in an Infinity Q45 (the new ones look like d@mn Hyundai's) goes roaring past me. He has a radar detector (I could see the green light), and I had my V1. Whenever I get a signal, I check my odometer (speed and mileage), because I like to see how sensitive my V1 is (even after 4 years and 1 update).

So, we're driving - he's up in front of me a bit, and my detector starts going off. Mileage was xxx4.2 (I just look at the last 2 #'s). I put on my brakes, slow from about 85 to 70 (speed limit is 65) and cruise along. Signal is sporadic - like there's an instant on cop up ahead, using KA. It's getting stronger and more consistent - xxx5.3, 5.6, 5.8, 6.0, 6.2 and there he is, just on the backside of a little crest in the road. The Inifinity guy hit his brakes at around 5.8 (I was waiting for him to get caught), and lowe and behold, he get's pulled over.

So, I stop for gas about 100 miles later, and who pulls into the station but the Q45 guy. He gets out and starts pumping gas right across from me. He's complaining to his buddy about the ticket, and I said - "I saw you go past me, didn't your detector catch the signal?" He says, "I heard it, and next thing I knew I was pulled over!" I said, "What detector do you have?" He says, "It's a brand new Passport." I said, "Probably need a V1!" He said, "No doubt- I'm sending this piece of sh*t back!"

Luckily, he was a good sport, but still...my v1 has saved me everytime since I bought it in 1997...

bigboyhf · 02-07-02, 12:54

Just to be fair, the older Passport was not as sensitive as the newer 8500. I have been picking up the instant on traps over a mile down the road which is plenty of time to respond. Most of the highway patrol guys do not use instant on and are easier to track. It's around town that the motorcycle cops use the instant on guns. Less time to react, but given the lower speed and excellent distance of pickup, the Escort has proven itself as extremely effective. 99% of the radar traps are located ahead of traffic flow, so rear detection is almost a non-issue and Escort will pick them up also (maybe not as soon as the V1).

I am going to give the V1 a shot to see if the directional arrows make any difference. They have a 30 day money back policy so I can always send it back and get another Escort. I'm going to get the remote unit so it will be easier to reach over to mute. I am just concerned about the false alarms around town that will make it very annoying. I do most of my driving local... The auto mute on the Escort is excellent for city driving, since it still has full sensitivity going, but will drop the sound down after a few seconds. With the V1 I will have to hit mute or listen to the chirping until I am past the source. I won't ever use city mode, because especially with the V1, the sensitivity to instant on Ka is reduced to an ineffective level according to Car and Driver.

I was also reading about the new "Pop" radar guns that can't be detected by ANY radar detectors. V1 says they are not accurate, but then they show that they are within 1 or 2 mph of the actual speed. Thats sounds accurate enough to get a ticket since they usually only ticket you if your speed is at least 5 to 10 mph over the limit depending on city or highway.... Ouch!

H

geekysteve · 02-07-02, 04:11

Quote:

Originally posted by bigboyhf
I won't ever use city mode, because especially with the V1, the sensitivity to instant on Ka is reduced to an ineffective level according to Car and Driver.

Afraid that you'll be very upset with the V1 in "All Bogey" mode when driving around the city. I always set mine to "Full Logic" when in a busy city and then reset it to "All" for highway driving. Again, I don't like to drive slow - and this method has kept me ticket free since 1997.

Guess My Name · 02-07-02, 04:42

I leave my V1 on highway all the time....I just hit mute...it is not that big a deal to me since it is not that far away...Plus I kinda like the brapppppppppp sound.

I notice I can upgrade to the new one but I am now deciding on buying new one and handing the old one off to the GF....????

Short Cut · 02-07-02, 08:40

First off the V1 is the only detector to even have a rear facing antenna. I use one with a steel louvered headache rack behind the rear window and it still works. Heck even with a large enclosed trailer behind me it still works just not as good. The V1 is very well thought out and it gives me the info I need and use on a daily basis. Perhaps it takes some a few flight hours to really get used to the arrows, different beeps and bogey counter but after the break in time you learn how to read what it is telling you. They even use a slimmer case on the new V1s.

gmblack3 · 02-07-02, 10:15

You can also program the V1 to turn off the X band.

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

I have done it, I still use it in city mode all the time. My daily drive to work is 7 miles sideroads and 23 miles of highway. no problems picking up the radar very early.