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

**twopu** · 02-03-2006, 02:25 PM

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** · 02-03-2006, 02:40 PM

The X50 gets my vote. :up 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** · 02-03-2006, 02:43 PM

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

**PelTTing** · 02-03-2006, 02:59 PM

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.** · 02-03-2006, 03:02 PM

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** · 02-03-2006, 03:11 PM

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

**twopu** · 02-03-2006, 03:36 PM

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.

**imported_DARKSTI** · 02-03-2006, 04:16 PM

V1 Ftw....

**RTexasF** · 02-03-2006, 05:22 PM

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.

**JustinR32** · 02-03-2006, 07:05 PM

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** · 02-03-2006, 07:19 PM

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. :lol

I`m getting a V1 next.

**tom p.** · 02-03-2006, 07:35 PM

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.

**Tuan209** · 02-03-2006, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by tom p.

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.

Its probably the same as the new BEL STI as Bel and Escort have merged. The RX65 and X50 are pretty similar.