Which one Valentine 1, Bel RX 65, and Escort X50?

twopu · 02-03-06, 11:25

I'm stuck between the same 3: Valentine 1, Bel RX 65, and Escort X50. When it comes down to it they are all great and will do the job. So I guess I'm just looking for the best bang for the buck. I really don't want to spend the extra money for the V1, but I know you die hard V1 fans love the arrows. My feeling is once it beeps I'm going to slow down and start observing my surroundings (ex. braking tail lights). I don't know what bands cops use in South Jersey so if you know that will help in my decision making. I want one with the least amount of false alarms and best detection for my area. I've read all the reviews online and they keep going back and forth among the 3. Your personal experience would be helpful in my decision making.
Thanks

PelTTing · 02-03-06, 11:40

The X50 gets my vote.

After my wife was popped three times in as many months I researched online and went with the X50. The only thing that bothers me so far is the school buses in my area emit a signal in the K band and I work close to the bus yard. Of course that's not the detectors fault.

twopu · 02-03-06, 11:43

Did you spend the extra money for the blue leds? Also, do you get a lot false alarms in highway mode?

PelTTing · 02-03-06, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by twopu

Did you spend the extra money for the blue leds? Also, do you get a lot false alarms in highway mode?

1. No, the lighting in my car is red.
2. I usually leave it in auto mode. When I'm on the hwy I get no false alarms.

tom p. · 02-03-06, 12:02

The police in Joy-zee use all bands including X. The X50 is better if you're doing a lot of in-town driving. The V1 is superior on laser if that is an immediate concern. The V1's arrows are priceless once you've lived with them. The X50, purchased new on eBay, is a superb value.

I'd have a very tough time saying one is better than the other - - both have unique attributes.

YMMV

(FWIW, we are told a new X50 replacement will be introduced this month.)

ZaneO · 02-03-06, 12:11

http://www.guysoflidar.com/shootout05/radartesting.html

twopu · 02-03-06, 12:36

Where did you hear that they were coming out with a newer model? I'd like to read up on what they plan on adding.

DARKSTI · 02-03-06, 01:16

V1 Ftw....

RTexasF · 02-03-06, 02:22

I have the Bel RX-65 and I'm extremely pleased with it. I'm NOT going to rant & rave that it's the best, blah, blah, blah. I can say that it is an excellent unit (by my standards) and, with a little research, can be had for considerably less money than the other two. I especially like the voice feature, it is extremely clear and doesn't sound like robocop.

Mosca · 02-03-06, 04:05

I had a TOL BEL and I didn't care for it; I didn't like the mount and I felt that it was TOO sensitive. It would pick up radar signals from parallel- and cross-highways. I stopped using it over a year ago.

My dad & my wife pitched in and got me a V1 for Christmas, with the remote display, and WOW. Once you've seen the arrows and numbers, it's all over. I have the display mounted low on the dash, by the radio at the bottom of the instrument stack.

Case in point: I was driving on the cross-valley Monday night, going a bit over the flow of traffic, maybe 70-75. I know where all the building alarms are, but as I passed a familiar one (indicated by a side arrow), instead of 1 bogey the V1 showed 2; one to the side and one behind me. I slowed down, passed the factory, and the side bogey went away, but the rear one got stronger and stronger, and finally it was full strength and screaming; I looked in my rear view and there was an unmarked car tracking me. By then I was about 5 mph over, but I was also on a regular commute where cars were flying past. I guess he had me culled out and was waiting for me to speed up to the rest of traffic, which was going about 15 over (70 in a 55). He tracked me for about 2 miles at 60, and then he finally pulled off to wait for another target. If I'd have had the BEL I would have never registered the second bogey hiding in the signal of the first, and I wouldn't have slowed down. And I wouldn't have known that the full strength signal was tracking me from behind.

I wasn't a V1 believer before. But I am now. Having had both it and the BEL, I much prefer the V1. The BEL was actually a nuisance; the V1 is a sentinel.

A V1 will never be obsolete, btw; each unit from the very first one is fully upgradeable to the most recent specs.

Tom

White95Max · 02-03-06, 04:19

I have a Passport 8500 (not the X50 version) and I loved it for about two years. Recently (last 6 months or so) it has been giving me false laser signals. The worst part is that I always have the volume at MAX. When that laser alert goes off, it really puts me in a bad mood. I know that it's just another false alarm, and that annoying, piercing sound is just awful. I wouldn't mind it one bit if it were a real signal, but I know for sure that I don't pick up 4, 5, 6, or more laser signals in one day, driving to and from a small city. I've gotten laser signals in my parking lot, on roads of all types, in my parents' driveway (in a small neighborhood away from any major roads), and it frequently goes off when I floor the gas pedal. And come on, my car doesn't do all that much when you floor it.

I'm getting a V1 next.

tom p. · 02-03-06, 04:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by twopu

Where did you hear that they were coming out with a newer model? I'd like to read up on what they plan on adding.

I've only seen the filing with the FCC and the proposed release date. I can assure you they protect all info...there's nothing to be seen at this time.