Need a Good Radar Detector

[94GTLaserRC]

...but want to keep it under $300. Help me out here.. Havent bought one in years...dont even know what properties to look for.


DISCLAIMER: I do NOT speed.. This is in case Im not paying attention and "trickle" over the posted speed limit!

Thanks
RC

 

[Chythar]

Can't help much with your price limit. I use the Valentine One - best detector IMO, and its bogey counter (signal counter) and directional arrows have saved me from three tickets that I am aware of. Problem is, it's $400.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Can't help much with your price limit. I use the Valentine One - best detector IMO, and its bogey counter (signal counter) and directional arrows have saved me from three tickets that I am aware of. Problem is, it's $400.

got a link with the specific model?

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

https://www.cobra.com/detail/xrs-99...-camera-detector-with-touchscreen-display.cfm

Hey Rob, this is the one I use, you can get it cheaper on amazon. Its awesome and I love it. Never had a problem

 

[revhead347]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valentine-One-V...932?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c2f6d5f4

Better to get a used Valentine One, then waste your money on anything else. Once you've used a Valentine One, you'll wonder why you ever bothered with anything else.

Kurt

 

[MysteryMachine]

RC love the disclamer lol. I was gonna say damn dude got that new stang and out romping on it and don't wanna get busted already

 

[Chythar]

got a link with the specific model?

There's only one model; the only difference is the firmware updates. Each Valentine One can be updated to the latest version - you don't have to buy another one. A used one on eBay is not a bad idea, but if the price gets close to $400 you might as well buy it new.

You can only buy them new from their web site: Valentine One radar and laser detectors

 

[94GTLaserRC]

What makes that V1 any better than the others?

I read about the Escort 9500 series..they detect red light cameras, have false alarm memory..just wondering what makes the V1 so much $$

RC

 

[MysteryMachine]

There was new ones on ebay fyi. I don't know anything on this topic so I'll shut up now

 

[srtthis]

valentine one...

 

[revhead347]

What makes that V1 any better than the others?

I read about the Escort 9500 series..they detect red light cameras, have false alarm memory..just wondering what makes the V1 so much $$

RC

Several things. Mike Valentine designed the original Escort, and then started his own company to make the perfect radar detector. The V1 has the obvious advantages, it has a direction pointer, and a counter, so you know where the radar is coming from, when it has passed you, and how many there are. Once you've had that, you realize how invaluable it is. There are other advantages too. The V1 has an unbelievably larger range than it's competitors. It picks up radar over 4 miles down the road. That means if there is a cop down the road using instant own radar, chances are you're going to know. In 4 miles, more than likely he's going to try and tag someone else. It has a rear range of 4 miles as well. Most other radar detectors have a rear range of a couple hundred yards, some as low as 35 feet. That means you're going to have a 4 mile warning on a cop coming up behind you. It's also more sensitive with it's liadar detection. Liadar is a bitch, and all radar detectors are worthless when it comes to liadar. With the V1, you might actually have a chance though. For some reason it has enough range on the liadar to pick up the laser tagging people up the road.

Kurt

 

[fiveohwblow]

Best site with seemingly no bias here. Trust me, do your research here.

RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most respected authority.

 

[revhead347]

Best site with seemingly no bias here. Trust me, do your research here.

RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most respected authority.

Actually, the guy who runs those radar tests has a hard on against Mike Valentine. He is a private guy who relies on radar detector manufacturers to hire him to conduct tests. Mike Valentine refused to hire him, so he constantly bad mouths the V1. You'll notice that he says the Bel and the Escort have the same range as the V1. The reality is that he only tested forward detection on a 2 mile range. He never tested the full range of the V1.

Kurt

 

[fiveohwblow]

Actually, the guy who runs those radar tests has a hard on against Mike Valentine. He is a private guy who relies on radar detector manufacturers to hire him to conduct tests. Mike Valentine refused to hire him, so he constantly bad mouths the V1. You'll notice that he says the Bel and the Escort have the same range as the V1. The reality is that he only tested forward detection on a 2 mile range. He never tested the full range of the V1.

Kurt

Doesnt he set up the tests and conduct them with multiple other people present though? At least thats what I remember seeing. Bottom line, humans all have bias, but the facts have to be out there and I like seeing tests set up and ran with facts reported.

Also to give credentials, Bel (Beltronics) are in the business of manufacturing another product... you guessed it, the radar guns themselves. Gives them an upperhand at the process. I am in the need of a new one as well as my x50 died on me after 4 years so I am researching this as well.

 

[revhead347]

Doesnt he set up the tests and conduct them with multiple other people present though? At least thats what I remember seeing. Bottom line, humans all have bias, but the facts have to be out there and I like seeing tests set up and ran with facts reported.

Also to give credentials, Bel (Beltronics) are in the business of manufacturing another product... you guessed it, the radar guns themselves. Gives them an upperhand at the process. I am in the need of a new one as well as my x50 died on me after 4 years so I am researching this as well.

Yeah, but he manipulates the tests to favor one brand over another. The mile test is a perfect example. He tested the Escort vs the V1 on the same 2 mile stretch, and determined that they had the same range. That test is invalid, because the test stretch isn't long enough to show the total range. Mike Valentine whales on radartest.com pretty hard on his website. He illustrated one where radartest.com had said that the V1 was the heaviest and largest out of the test group. The Escort was actually larger and heavier. Valentine illustrated how innacurate those tests are. If you can't get weight and size right, how accurate do you think the rest of the tests are? I mean, that's a ruler and gram scale test.

As for Beltronics, I kind of swing the other way. If they make the radar guns for law enforcement, that's a conflict of interest for the radar detector market.

Kurt

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I dont think the "directional" thingy is worth that much. Ive read a lot on the Escort 8500 and the 9500 ix, that has the GPS locator. I think Im gonna go with one of those..they both have update capabilities. The V1 looks kinda bulky in the window to me.

THanks for the replies...I wish you all would get a new 5.0 so you could join my forum. The replies are good and quick over here.

RC

 

[Chythar]

I dont think the "directional" thingy is worth that much. Ive read a lot on the Escort 8500 and the 9500 ix, that has the GPS locator. I think Im gonna go with one of those..they both have update capabilities. The V1 looks kinda bulky in the window to me.

THanks for the replies...I wish you all would get a new 5.0 so you could join my forum. The replies are good and quick over here.

RC

You'd be surprised how the directional arrows and bogey counter helps. With one signal, it's just a neat toy. But when there are two signals, it tells you which direction each signal is coming from. For example, cops like to hide in spots where a radar signal already is, such as an automatic door opener in a local mall. All other detectors will simply BEEP, and you cruise on by knowing that the detector always goes off in that area. But officer friendly is hiding there, and gives you a nice ticket. With the V1, you'd know there was a new radar signal there and been more cautious.

The arrows help when the cops set up a decoy - two or more cops in a stretch, and the last one is the one with the radar. Your detector goes BEEP, and you think it's the first cop. Even if you get lucky and let the next cop go by, the one with the radar gets you. The directional arrows would have told you the signal was still behind you when the two decoy cops passed by.

No radar detector can save you from all tickets. They don't substitute for common sense and using your head. But I know the extra info has saved me from three tickets so far, thus paying for the detector already.

Take a read through the V1's "Moments" archive. These are tales of how a V1 has saved some one from a speeding ticket. Even if none of the tales are real, they're great for giving you scenarios where the V1 would give you more info than another detector.

Valentine One Moments Archive

You are welcome to purchase any detector you wish, I'm just giving you my opinion and personal experience.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I get what you mean and how that works...but in my area, Ive never seen the cops use "tricks" to catch people. They basically just set up on the side or around a curve or something. As far as the "other" sources giving false readings but cops may be there, the Escort has a learning function which allows it to store and learn duplicate signals from doors, security systems, etc, and stores them. It will not give a false alarm on subsequent passes by. If a cop is hiding out there, it will register as a "new" signal and beep. I also like the GPS feature of the 9500 that allows it to display the speed youre going when it beeps. It also protects against the red light cameras and stationary radars...it knows where they are located.

Bottom line, they are about the same price...I was looking to spend under $250, but I like the expensive ones features of downloading updates..which is on either one of these. I wont make this a "which is better" argument, I just like the features and display of the 9500. I found a seller on Ebay (Top rated) that has them for $439..

Thanks for all the input.
RC

 

[VibrantRedGT]

I also have a Valentine 1, got if for $399 of their website. You can get it flashed when new technology is released which is why I bought it. It saves me every day.

 

[94GTLaserRC]

I also have a Valentine 1, got if for $399 of their website. You can get it flashed when new technology is released which is why I bought it. It saves me every day.

HEY JOE!
WELCOME BACK!

I just bought the 9500ix. I wont Dis V1, but I just liked what I read on the reviews and the vids on YouTube about it... I like the GPS and the Red Light warnings. You can also download updates to this.

Hope all is well!
RC