$415

[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.

[Perfectlap]

well it does point to a boat load of false alarms but they aren't ALWAYS false alarms. But regardless, the split second that the arrow points behind you its all moot, I can exhale and go on with my driving.
I guess its a matter of preference do you want to listen to a diminishing beep or do you prefer to see immediate confirmation that a threat (false or real) is safely behind you.

Personally, what sold me on the V1 was that so far unless I'm wrong its still the best at picking up Lazer from a trailing vehicle. At least three times I was warned of a trooper that was a few cars back. One time the trooper followed me for about a mile and then sped into the passing lane and pulled over a poor sap in an M3.
It is EXTREMELY difficult to pickup Lazer from that position.

[Lil bastard]

Don't want to start a , but over many years of driving, I have a clean record and have never owned any detector.

I realize that different areas of the country place greater emphasis on setting Speed Traps, that some people just find a detector reassuring, and for some it's a gottahave item for whatever reason.

Personally, I think they're expensive (despite claims that there is a PayBack, wouldn't have been for me), they give you something else to hide or worry about being stolen, and there are still plenty of people who use them, but get citations nonetheless.

Yea, I may get a speeding ticket some day, but it won't be because the detector didn't warn me, it'll be because I have exceeded the posted limit. I prefer to use my money on more fun mods. But, my motto is always: Your car + Your $$ = Your choice! Good luck with it.

[Perfectlap]

^ you are a lucky man.
In this neck of the woods we are a densely populated lot. On a 30 minute trip to Costco I will pass through six different municipalities with at least three (on my last trip) police cars looking for speeders. On the way home I took the Parkway and counted two Staties looking for sheep. Popping people going as little as 10 miles over the limit has become big business in states like NJ where there are more cars than people. With insurance companies looking to harpoon you for so much as one point on your record, I think you have to be nuts to be driving even 5 miles over the limit without a detector.

[Brucelee]

No detector, no tix in 39 yrs of driving.

Lucky? YOU BET!!!!!!!!


Funny thing is my son always has the lastest valentine and he gets tix pretty regularly.

Go figure.