$415

[Perfectlap]

ok when you first get it, don't stare at it every time it goes off.
When you have a real threat it will make a certain sound that is almost always the Five-O. Sounds something like this:

beep........beep.........beep.......beep...beep!be ep!!beep!!beep!!beep!!

After a while you learn how to listen to a V1.
The only problem is that the headlights from Inifinti Wagons always show up as Lazer.

p.s.
I think the V1 has probably warned me of a sneaky cop hiding behind a bush oh maybe a few dozen times. Its driving fast without a peep from the V1 that makes you enjoy the drive.

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

After a while you learn how to listen to a V1.

Can you listen to the arrows?

[Perfectlap]

Well as the V1 gets louder you look at the arrows.

but you have to be careful. One time I had a passenger who was yap yap yaping away and I completely ignored the V1 even though it was screaming.
Sure enough the five-O comes out from a supermarket parking lot and chases me down. The cop was my age so he only gave me ticket for something other than speeding but one that still required a court visit. He said he wouldn't show up so that the ticket would be thrown out.

But the V1 did its job. I was just being stupid.

[Hops]

I have a V1 and a Bel RX65. They both work well. The V1 is the best detector you can buy for highway use due to the sensitivity, the arrows, and the bogey counter. Unless you can turn off x band where you live (which is most of the country) and sometimes filter k it can drive you nuts driving in commercial areas of cities. The RX65 and Escort models are much better at filtering off axis signals, which helps make them more city friendly but can compromise always finding the cop.

I have driven a many, many miles with radar detectors since 1989. Just drove 10,625 miles around the US last summer. No tickets since 1992, but let me explain why. You have to view the radar detector as a source of information but you cannot let your guard down at all. Between instant-on, laser, and shooting you blind from behind (like an overpass or entrance ramp), there are still plenty of chances to get caught.

The four keys, IMO, to not getting tickets are 1) watching far ahead and in your mirrors at all times (if you react immediately and slow down when seeing the cop, it almost seems as if you get credit for being attentive), 2) watching for disruptions in traffic that signal clocking activities (brake lights, clustering of cars, people diving out of the fast lane), 3) making it hard for them to single you out (keeping traffic between you and the cop), and being aware of (slowing down a bit for) hiding spots where they can ambush you from front or back.

So, yeah, doing all these things is a lot of work. Sometimes it's better to just go with traffic and stick to 5-7 over the limit. But, on our trip last summer we probably averaged more like 12-15 over, especially in the western states. Our CB alerted us to a few traps, my eyes picked up a few, and the detector picked up a few. Had I relied solely on the detector we may have gotten nabbed a few times. But, the detector probably saved us a few times as well, the cases where it finds the threat before your eyes pick it up. There was a very well hidden local sheriff (SUV) in a little town in Wyoming that would have been awfully tough to pick out. He was on the opposite side of the road parked under a low shade tree, naturally right after the limit dropped from 55 to 25. Even with the detector going bananas it took me some effort to locate him. A pick-up was passing me right at that moment and got nailed.

[blueillusion97]

looks like i made a right choise getting V1. Hopefully i will learn V1's beeping language quickly. When ever i drive im always on a lookout, but my rear plastic window is getting yellowish and hard to see through, that made me miss a cop 2 times from the back, lucky me they had more important business to take care of.

[RandallNeighbour]

First thing to do is get back on the V1 web site and download the instructions on how to completely turn off X band, which is where I found a LOT of false alarms were coming from.

[Can your new overpriced detector without arrows do that, Jeph?]

The only police departments still using X band are located in Ohio and you're in SoCal.

When I drive in SoCal with my V1, I find that they're shooting K, Ka, and most alarmingly, Laser (most dangerous and surprising if you are not in heavy traffic).

Of course, you're rarely not in heavy traffic in SoCal, so I guess that's kind of a non-issue

[70Sixter]

Hops has some good tactics I use in conjunction with my RX-65. I can only add that I also try to keep a "rabbit" out well in front of me. He'll trigger any instant-on radars.

Then I drive from one pack of cars past the next pack being really careful if I don't have somebody out in front.

You have to watch your mirrors for vehicles closing faster that you are going. Could just be somebody using the same tactic. Mebbe not. I slow either way until I get confirmation.

About X-band. Last week my RX-65 alerted on X-band. Was a deputy sheriff in the median. I slowed and watched his tactics. Apparently knowing he was broadcasting halfway to S Carolina he'd let a few cars pass in the opposite lane. Then he'd blast the traffic. He got one as I watched. Then he was going the opposite direction as I returned from my errand. I don't believe there is an instant-on X-band, so not sure how he did it. Maybe the silent periods were the radar warming up?

I never worry about weak X-band because it is usually an automatic door opener or burglar alarm. If it starts to get stronger there is plenty of time to slow down. Strong (all red lites on and beeeepbeeeeep etc) X-band has always been radar. Always.

Based on my observations, small towns and deputies still seem to use X-band. That said, small towns are places I NEVER speed. Tickets are a revenue source they cherish.

One other observation. When I've been hit by instant-on I've usually heard a faint beep followed in seconds by blaaaaap. So I brake hard for weak K or Ka unless my rabbit is way out in front.

One more....pick-up trucks and SUVs (as someone mentioned) are killers. I saw two unmarked p/u trucks in South Carolina making a fortune working I-95 near GA border.

[Jeph]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

[Can your new overpriced detector without arrows do that, Jeph?]

Oh Randall, why do you want to start this war. You can't win! And YES, my aptly priced detector can do that.

There is only ONE THING the the Valentine 1 can do that the 8500 & 9500 can't... and that's POINT (to false alarms). There are loads of things the Escort can do that the V1 can't.

[RaDaRkInG]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

After a while you learn how to listen to a V1.
The only problem is that the headlights from Inifinti Wagons always show up as Lazer.

It's not the headlights of the Infiniti that is making your V1 alert to laser.

http://valentine1.com/lab/Previously7.asp

Laser False Alarms

Why am I getting laser alarms when I follow some cars?
- J.J., Michigan


Red neon is occasionally used for the CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Lamp) on new cars. We know of these models: GM Trailblazer and Envoy, the Lincoln Mk VIII and the latest BMW 3-series convertible.

These lights use a neon-plasma light source. The red lens allows red visible light to pass, and also invisible energy near infrared. The source is powered by a pulsating voltage on a frequency that happens to be similar to the repetition rate of legitimate laser-gun pulse trains. In other words, the CHMSLs have an invisible energy leakage that’s nearly identical to the beam used by traffic laser. If we suppress the interference, we’re likely to damage laser sensitivity.

Another source of alarms: a few new cars have cruise controls that use laser to measure distance to the car ahead. This feature is available on the Lexus LS430, Infiniti FX35 and FX45. This, of course, is real laser, not a false alarm.