Radar detectors?

[jwade]

buy a passport 9500ix.

[jmatta]

I have a Beltronics RX65 Pro (made by Passport and almost the same circuitry as the 9500ix) which has saved my rear many a time. The POP instant on laser feature is amazing, since it picks it up so quickly (just don't be the ONLY car on the road).
The Ka response is also very impressive, since most depts use this around my area, though laser is becoming increasingly more active.

[gschotland]

Anyone have any thoughts on how the Bel and Passport compare to the Valentine 1? I have a V1 sitting in a closet somewhere...

[mptoledo]

Passport 9500 ix all the way. NO comparison. I have had mine for almost a year, paid slighly less than $500 and its worth every penny. The main advantage over most others is that if you drive by walgreens 3 times it will auto block that gps/band frequency(you can manually do it also, like those speed signs that are meant as a deterent). I have never even had a close call as it gives plenty of distance(unless they aren't radaring) The red light camera warning is pretty nice as I had two of those before I bought this. Oh did I mention blocking out false signals?

When I drive through my town / city, it is quiet. If my radar goes off, then there is a cop. Isn't that how they are suppose to work?

[Jaxonalden]

Valentine One, with-out-a-doubt ( http://www.valentine1.com/ ). They give you 360 degree coverage, the unit is upgradeable to the latest software available and you have options to suite multiple applications.

I have it hard wired with a concealed head unit in my Boxster. I also have my SUV, wife's car and the Sienna hard wired with a Blendmount
( http://www.blendmount.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12 ) under the rear view mirror. They're working on a Porsche mount. Whatever I'm driving it comes with me, all it takes to remove it is as simple as unplugging a phone jack, that's it. Rental car? Visor mount and traditional phone cord to the cigarette lighter.

I can't tell you how secure I feel knowing my V1 is on and sniffing the air for the smell of bacon, and then telling me when it's at.

[RandallNeighbour]

V1 Baby! If you've never used one, you simply cannot comprehend what situational awareness with the arrows provides.

Others might be newer or have GPS, but they're not better without those arrows. Moreover, the V1 has two HUGE advantages over most other detectors:

1. User programmable. I turned off X band and WalMarts don't set it off. No need to use fancy GPS to find false alarms. Most of them are on X band.

2. Upgradeable. The V1 can be sent back to be reprogrammed with the latest software for a moderate amount of money. The other detectors? Sell them for a pittance on eBay and buy the new version.

Let the games begin! (we always have heated debates about this topic once a quarter or so!)

Do search on radar detector for many many threads and posts about why we all think the one we bought is the best and everyone else's choice absolutely sucks.

[JackG]

Passport all the way!! In an unexpected head-to-head comparison of my Passport 8500 and a friend's V1, my 8500 alerted me to oncoming Ka radar way before my friends V1 alerted him in the next lane. He doesn't use his anymore after he got a ticket with it later. Arrows... who cares. Passport goes off, you slow down. Turns back off, G2G. No bling, all business. And it's user programmable.

The newer 9500 with GPS is the deal, hands down. :dance:

[9eighty6]

Another V1 lover here. It simply cannot be beat.

If cost is an issue ask them for a "retuned unit" which gives you the same product
with the same warranty for about $100 less.

A no-brainer.

[Jeph]

It should also be noted that the Passport doesn't just know about red light cameras, but speed cameras as well. Does the V1 point to that?

Ooh, and another thing not mentioned... the Passport doesn't look like an old Sony portable CD player on your dash. Pick up an old copy of Motor Trend from the 90s, you'll see the same beastly looking chunk of plastic known as the Valentine.

If some one fires a gun at me, I'm not too concerned where it's coming from. I just duck. Same goes for those "helpful" arrows. If a detector goes off, slow down. I'm sure it's rewarding to have superfluous directional info, but it's still less important to me than the added benefits of a detector that does more.

[Soetekouw]

I also have the Valantine. Those arrows are great!.

[vath2001]

I went with the Escort 9500ix. The Valentine was temping, but the escort has one major feature no one else offers... GPS.
The unit is learning all the time. Some of the traffic lights have K band to check for vehicles and keep the light green. The unit memorizes the signal and location and if it continues to see the same freq at that location, it will block out the signal.
I can add speed traps and as I get closer, it will pop up and remind me, including the distance.. 1300 ft out.
Sweet!