Radar Detectors

[Frodo]

+1 on the Valentine.

Got mine on eBay--it was maybe a year old, picked it up for somewhere around $250 IIRC. Been happy with it, though it's no panacea*. You still have to be watchful and anticipate where 'bogeys' (their terminology) might be lurking. To some extent, if you're reading it, it's reading you, though there's lots of factors (distance, other traffic, etc.) At a minimum, it tells you when not to keep on blindly accelerating.

I use it a lot, mostly trying to get a feel for where traps are being set up. Most of the time, when it goes off, I'm NOT speeding (my definition of 'speeding' is 10 or more over the posted limit). I do think the arrows are helpful.


*which, on further thought, I should also point out: "None Of Them Are!"

[darkstormvx]

Beltronics STi Driver

Since I'm stuck in VA right now, It was the only way to go. It cant be detected by "radar detector detectors" that state police have in VA, DC and NJ. In the testing I studied before I bought it, the best three were the Passport (9500x i think), Sti Driver, and V1 and they all had about the same range. You can just put mine right beside the thing the police use and their device could not eve tell its there.

450.00 direct (for warranty). No issues with it.

I also love the dark mode; it alarms but the display stays blank. Way better at night. There aren't any V1 arrows, but u can always tell by the speed of the sound where the trap is. Easily learned. In any case, no matter what detector, when K, Ka, or Laser alarms go off u always slow down hard immediately. I am not sure if V1 does laser but i think so. LE uses laser (new technology) in CLEAR weather and It'll get your speed within seconds if you're in the beam.

My detector has saved me probably 10,000 or more. I always use it on highways. I never speed around town. Only ticket I've gotten with it on was because i had the top down and music blasting and i didn't hear it for about 3 secs. Even then, I was able to greatly reduce my speed before the officer got a much lower reading.

Whatever u get, get the best model (aside from custom installed), as you get what you pay for. And don't rely on it, your eyes are much more important. You wont believe how any police are riding right along in traffic along with you pacing ppl with their radar off. Id say only 20% of police I see on a daily basis are using radar/laser!!

[JTP]

I use the Escort 9500iX and it has saved me countless times and highly recommend it. I drive alot and tend to have a very heavy foot so I rely on my detector quite alot. I've used the V1 and I didn't really care about the arrows especially when you're doing 85+ there's no time to look. The Passport is also GPS enabled so it lets you know when red light and speed cameras are coming up. These location files can be regularly updated on their websites also. The only time I was pulled over when I got lasered. It detected the laser but it was aimed directly at me so it was too late, need a jammed for that. 27 over but got off with a warning.

[DFW02S]

Here's a cool way to set it up:
http://radar-mirror.com/index.html

No connection to the website.

[Jaxonalden]

Valentine One , I own two and no matter what car I drive the V1 goes with me. I bought the Blend Mount for all the cars and swap out is a snap. I travel the "Gauntlet", which is I-35 between OKC (Go Thunder!!) and Dallas. Because it's a drug corridor, cops are lurking everywhere and I have all the confidence in the world in my V1. It has saved me countless times. My wife has the other and we feel blind driving without it.

P.S. Yes, the V1 has laser detection and PoP. The dual detectors (front and rear) gives you better situational awareness (thought arrows pointing the way) as to were the threat is. You have the option of a concealed head unit that I have mounted just below my speedo. Different tones will alert you of the different threats as well.