radar detectors

[550spyder]

who uses them? which ones?

[z12358]

Do a search. There were couple of recent threads on this subject. I believe consensus was that Valentine One is worth paying for.

[Iatros]

I just did a bunch of research on this topic...

the top 3 radar detectors seem to be:

Valentine 1
Escort 8500
and Beltronics rx65

I went with the Bel, and absolutely LOVE it. No complaints at all whatsoever.
It ran me around $250

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by Iatros

the top 3 radar detectors seem to be:

Valentine 1
Escort 8500
and Beltronics rx65

+1 (only I put the Escort 8500 [X50] at the top -I guess it just depends on how bad you prefer arrows -and want a VCR on the dash). These 3 are quite well known for picking up 5-0.

[Rodger]

I've got a V1 and have considered selling it twice on Ebay, as I only get to use it while traveling through Canada during the summer.

Then I come to my senses. It's saved me from many a ticket. I always have plenty of warning, too.

[UroTrash]

V-1 Baby!

[bagwell]

I've had the Solo S2, the X50 and V1.

the solo doesn't compare (its cordless)

the X50 and V1 are close.....each has its advantages...currently running the V1, its my 2nd one....the first one seemed defective, this one is great rangewise.

[Iatros]

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

[djomlas]

i have the escort. got it from my friend for 100 bux.
wow does that thing work
we did a little comparison of our own when he got his V1, and they both were getting signal at about the same time and in most occasions escort was picking up better

[NickCats]

Originally Posted by bagwell

I've had the Solo S2, the X50 and V1.

the solo doesn't compare (its cordless)

the X50 and V1 are close.....each has its advantages...currently running the V1, its my 2nd one....the first one seemed defective, this one is great rangewise.

bagwell,

I have the Solo S2 and I love it !

I agree the V1 is a great radar detector, but I was wondering why do you like the X50 better than the Solo ?

Nick

[Perfectlap]

the big difference between the x50 and the v1 is sensitivity.
You will get allot more alerts with the v1 and most will be false alerts.
But I think that's a positive, not a negative.
After a while you know right away what a real threat sounds like, its hard to confuse. So you learn how to "tune out" the false beeps.

THe other difference from the testing I have seen is that the V1 is the best at picking up lazer from a trailing vehicle. Lazer from a stationary vehicle (cop on the side of the road hiding behind trees) seem to be about even in x50 vs. V1
In other words you've got somewhat of a chance at eluding a state trooper following cars from behind with the V1. This is the hardest type of signal to pick up of all the radar situations and the V1 has come up many times as the only one to succeed at this. I've had two instances where a state trooper was lurking from behind the V1 fired off Lazer and a minute or two later he was speeding after another car.

There are some neat installs of the V1 on Renntech.org
One 911 guy mounted it above his rearview mirror (the best spot) and hardwired it so it fires up on ignition with all wires hidden under the pillars.
Get the attachment display box that keeps the V1 from flashing on the windshield.
Helps to avoid tailgaters looking to mooch off your $400 and keeps the five-O from noticing flashing lights in your cockpit. I've been yelled at by cops several tiems for having a radar detector.

[RandallNeighbour]

There are three reasons I chose my V1:

1) I can program the dang thing to turn OFF X band. It's only used in Ohio if I'm not mistaken, and is the cause of most of my false alarms (Walmart, Kroger, etc.)

2) It is upgradeable. Hopefully, it will be the last radar detector I must buy. I have a drawer full of noisemakers that I've retired and can't get a dime for now, even in a garage sale.

3) The arrows. Just last night, it was very comforting to know it was a cop on the other side of the barricaded tollway with his radar blazing... when I got side arrows then a rear arrow, I punched it back up to my "normal" driving speed. No worries that he's lurking ahead of me.

One gripe though: The V1's laser settings seem to go off randomly or when a newer SUV with LED tail lamps taps their brakes on the freeway. It's frustrating.

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

I can program the dang thing to turn OFF X band. It's only used in Ohio if I'm not mistaken, and is the cause of most of my false alarms (Walmart, Kroger, etc.)

You are right about this being a useful feature, but be careful, I think there is a lot of misinformation out there about where X is used and where it isn't. My experience is that it is more widely used than a lot of people think. A lot of Jersey cops use this, and you can always count on small town cop outfits running older equipment (X band).

I run with my 8500 X50 and slow down every time the thing goes off - it doesn't happen that often, so I just don't worry about false alarms - better safe than sorry + it is always fun to speed back up again later.

[Houston C4S]

Just FYI,

another source of false laser signals for the V1 is the cruise
control systems in the big Nissan and Infiniti tank-like SUVs.

Annoying, but that's why it goes off around those vehicles.

I expect this to increase as more cars use auto-controlling
cruise controls.

Personally, I think cruise controls should be disallowed as
they let drivers pay even less attention to the world around
them than they do anyway. Cell phones, too, for that matter.

Except for me, of course.

[Perfectlap]

actually I think its worse than that, it's the Ifiniti lighting systems. I only seem to get a false positive lazer alert when the FX45 SUV is behind me. once the car goes past the V1 goes silent. I've pulled back in front of it just to test it and sure enough it went off.

[jci-joe]

I see there are a number of radar detectors with remote mounted sensors including the Passport SR7+ and the Calibre K40. Has anyone installed one of these in a Boxster and what is your opinion. Also, if you installed the SR7+, do you know if the laser shifting has worked? At $1,599, it seems pricey unless it truely works.

Since I have not seen too many comments on these, my assumption is that they are not widely used.

[ukchris]

Love my V1!!! And the arrows did actually save me!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by UroTrash

V-1 Baby!

Aparently radar detection is more of a priority than have a clear view of the tach eh Euro?

[SD987]

550, I see you live in Socal as do I, so the number one concern is Ka detection as that's what the CHP and municipalities use out here. It's nice as you can ignore all the other warnings.

There are rumors of laser usage starting in LA County although I haven't encountered it myself (and I'm up there alot). I have run into laser out of state and I'm in the "if you get a real laser warning, it's already too late" camp. One more point I'll add is that with my particular unit mounted low on the windshield I get alot more false-laser warnings from LED tail-lights in the Box than my other cars due (I believe) to the particular curvature of the Boxster's front hood.

That being said, I've been running the V1 for about four years and it has come in handy many-o-time. Ka detection is strong with unique sound warning as well (as with other detectors) and once you've lived with the arrows...

But stealthy it ain't, however, running in a top-down convertible neither are the other ones.

[jci-joe]

UKChris,

I would love to see more pictures of your V1 installation. I like the idea of the mirror lights for the V1. Is the main unit hidden? Did you have it professionally installed or did you do it yourself?

Also, what was involved with the footwell lighting hack? This would be great. I still can't believe a car that cost over $53k only has one interior dome light.

Any more info on the installation would be appreciated.