Valentine One Obsolete?

[MANIACura]

Couldn't find anything recent on the latest wave of portable radar detectors so I decided to ask for opinions here. I'm more interested in a detector that I can move between vehicles. Please keep responses to your personal experience and try to keep emotions out of this. I will personally hunt down and kill the first person to tell me to use search.:wink:

I was getting ready to purchase a Valentine One. The V1 usually receives rave reviews and the arrows seems like a great advantage since knowing where the police are is a pretty huge part of the game. I have had a BEL850STi for years and it has kept me ticket free but with the recent influx of photo radar (especially here in Arizona) it may be time to upgrade. My main complaint with the BEL is false alerts. I have read some threads where people claim that they are not false alerts if there is a legitimat signal such as an automatic door opener or an intrusion alarm but I disagree. I didn't buy a detector to inform me of the location of door openers, I bought it to protect me from police radar. If there is an alert and there is no police radar, IT IS A FALSE ALERT. There is nothing more annoying than reacting to false alerts all day long (except actually getting a ticket).

Just for the heck of it I decided to read some reviews on the internet. Found a site that had some useful reviews but they really hammered the V1 for false alarms and it didn't provide any better protection. Here is a link of the test between the V1 and the Passport 9500ix. It has some pretty eye opening results as far as false alerts.

http://radartest.com/article_2.asp?articleid=100578

I am really interested in a few specific radar detectors especially the ones with GPS which allow you to mark the locations of photo radar traps even if they are not transmitting. The 9500ix even allows you to download databases with the locations of all known photo radar from the internet.

Does anyone have experience with the following detectors:
1 - Valentine One
2 - Escort Passport 9500i or 9500ix
3 - Beltronics Pro GX65

Do you really think the Escorts and Beltronics can match the V1 in perfromance? It's hard to know which websites are really unbiased and not receiving any incentive to steer you toward a certain product.

One last question - If you want to mount the detector up on the visor behind the roof line can a GPS detector still lock on to the satellites or do they have to be out in the open on the dash?

 

[scorp965]

Re: Valentine One Becoming Obsolete?

It largely depends on your area, but at least here in SoCal, there is very little use of radar, most highway patrol and local sheriff activity has switched to LIDAR/laser, which makes these type of windshield-mountable detectors useless. There is some CHP use of Ka band, so it still helps to have some kind of detector, but the 'writing is on the wall', as it were, with regard to the direction of law enforcement.

When you travel to different states, often the story is different, I know in Arizona, Nevada, etc., there is heavy use of radar, so a detector would have some use there.

I have personal experience with the Passport 8500, Valentine V1 1.8/pop, and Beltronics RX75+ - the V1 is better than the passport, and I was happy with it, but had an issue when I installed a navpod in my car, with the V1 mounted between the headrests - it would get false detections off of the touchscreen, and became useless as a result. I installed the RX75+ after reading several positive reviews, it is not a mobile unit, it is installed in the bumpers, but offers radar detection, and laser jamming, all within a single unit, and won't suffer from the same issue as my V1.

As far as detection is concerned... the Passport 8500 detected items at far ranges, but suffered from many false detections. The Valentine 1 had far less false detections, at nearly the same range, and the arrows provided a degree of benefit... I say a degree, because if you're speeding, and the unit goes off, usually you slow down before checking to see what direction the detection is coming from. I could see this feature being more useful on a deserted road, or a lengthy highway free from other signal interference, where detections would be several miles away, but perhaps not so useful in my location. The Beltronics RX75 has about the same range as the V1, but it detects less false positives - it goes off less than the V1, but goes off every time it's important, it also looks cleaner when installed into the car, but it's a full integration unit, not a portable one.

I think as long as you get a solid brand-name detector, you will be fine. I was never interested in the 9500, because the actual radar-detector unit seems about the same, and the GPS portion seems like a gimmick designed for gadget-conscious people. The V1 has good reviews, but the 'new' version, the 1.8/POP, has been out for two years now - I am sure there is some degree of innovation that *should* have taken place. Beltronics, I was unsure of, but their RX75+ seems to be a solid unit - I am pleased with its performance on my nsx, but I don't know if the ability to produce a quality integrated detector translates into the ability to produce a quality mobile unit.

 

[GoSpeedGo]

I have owned both the Valentine One and the previous Escort 8500 series. I could tell no difference in their ability to find radar. I have to completely agree with this article on the number of false alarms the Valentine One gives. I even received false alarms for the laser. You really start to become numb to it going off. I sent it back to Valentine One twice to have them take a look at it. No change. The arrows can be nice on the open road but in the city they are nearly useless. I suppose from the radar signal bouncing off the surroundings. I have owned Escorts since the 80's and really wanted to like the Valentine One as the owner came from Escort originally. I do think for a while the Valentine One was top shelf but I feel like they were replaced with the last version of the Escort for the reasons I stated above. The new GPS features of the current Escort model make it a easy decision for me.

 

[MANIACura]

Great responses so far. Keep them comming.

Scorp - The RX75+ is the $1000 fixed unit with rear detection correct? It doesn't have GPS does it? As far as GPS being a gimmick, I had my suspicions also but the article says it works flawlessly. Did you read it? I'm interested in what you think because I had already noticed that you abandoned the V1 for the BEL and you had already invested a lot in other systems as well.

GoSpeedGo - I'm leaning that direction also.

 

[scorp965]

Scorp - The RX75+ is the $1000 fixed unit with rear detection correct? It doesn't have GPS does it? As far as GPS being a gimmick, I had my suspicions also but the article says it works flawlessly. Did you read it? I'm interested in what you think because I had already noticed that you abandoned the V1 for the BEL and you had already invested a lot in other systems as well.

This is correct, I purchased mine on ebay around $800, IIRC.

The optimal unit for you will depend on your location, as I mentioned above; for me, we don't have radar-operated speed cameras, there are some red light cameras, but they are rare, and in any case, either of these situations would broadcast a K-band signal easily picked up from a distance.

If there were random speed cameras propped up along the road, that would scare me to a certain degree, but if they're not broadcasting, they're not active, and if they are broadcasting, they should be easy to pickup, even without any kind of GPS functionality. This aspect of a detector, "GPS marking" seems like it would be more of a hassle, than anything. You would see a detection, then have to fumble about with the buttons on the top of the detector to mark the spot, meanwhile the detector is suction-cupped near the visor on your windshield - pressing buttons could make it lose suction, and fall off, and in the end, the benefit is minimal. The one good aspect of GPS is it allows you to ignore typical false signals on your route, the scary aspect of this is police were known, in the past when radar was simple, to hang out near automatic doors, near places where detectors would go off, to mask their own signals. Now, you know Ka is automatically a cop, and K band is nothing to worry about, at least in SoCal.

The reason I keep mentioning region, is your needs will be dramatically different depending on what the police, and highway patrol, use in your area. When I took my last cross country trip, I had detections several miles away that were X-band highway patrol, also K band in Nevada, and there is the scary concept of "speed planes" - in my area, it used to be POP a few years ago, but now its perhaps 80% LIDAR, and the rest Ka - if its not Ka, and its not laser, its a "your speed is xx mph" sign, broadcating K band, or a red light camera, also broadcasting K band. I slow down for laser, I slow down for Ka.

 

[hofffam]

I am a recent V1 buyer. I have had two much older Escort units including a Solo.

I read too about the V1's propensity for all kinds of chirps in town, etc.

I read the tests at Guys of Lidar and other places that didn't sell units. Every radar test site that sells detectors can't be trusted - almost all of them strongly tout Bel and Escort over V1. I concluded that overall - the V1 was probably the best built, most sensitive unit for < $500. It was the only one with two detectors.

Another interesting V1 review: http://www.laserveil.com/valentine/one/.

Now that I have been using it for six months - I think the V1 is fantastic. Yes it chirps on commercial garage doors. But my old units were never sensitive enough to find them.

The arrows ARE meaningful where I drive. The V1 bogey counter also helps in some situations such as approaching a radar-based digital speed limit sign. These are used in Austin to warn you of your speed as you approach a reduced speed zone. Several times a cop with Ka has been sitting in this area. The V1 never fails to read 2 or occasionally 3 when this happens.

The V1 can be programmed to reduce its sensitivity to X band, etc. but I haven't found the need.

 

[PhiAlpha44]

I was in police work for a few years and it showed me that radar detectors are pretty much useless. It's only going to warn you if the guy is sitting on the side with the radar constantly on. And almost nobody does that. They point and pull the trigger. So by the time your radar detector goes off, you've already been hit. Almost nobody sits there with just a constant "on" stream of radar. At this point I think your best bet is to get a laser jammer or just drive the speed limit. I haven't been able to do either yet.

 

[MANIACura]

I was in police work for a few years and it showed me that radar detectors are pretty much useless. It's only going to warn you if the guy is sitting on the side with the radar constantly on. And almost nobody does that. They point and pull the trigger. So by the time your radar detector goes off, you've already been hit. Almost nobody sits there with just a constant "on" stream of radar. At this point I think your best bet is to get a laser jammer or just drive the speed limit. I haven't been able to do either yet.

That's interesting......but not in line with my experience at all. I have lost count of how many times my radar detector has saved me. Usually because they're pointing and pulling the trigger at someone ahead of me.

Off topic comment - Since you've made some contacts in law enforcement, you should get one of your buddies to arrest that deadbeat poser that stole your wheels.

 

[ntgr8td]

ive had a few lower end radars. but i have had my Valentine 1 for a couple years now and love it. simple to use...basic buttons...it doesnt talk back to me and the mute button is simple and within reach instead of button mashing or trying to search around while in traffic. the best bes part about the valentine is when they come out with a newer model...you can send yours in and get it reflashed or programmed for like 40 bucks... valentine said in there book they've used the same case design for years...it might have been since the beginning...correct me if im wrong. so if you want the easiest and fastest to switch between cars that doesnt jam/gps save your money and buy a valentine. they have afe accesories you can get....i got the wired remote so its very concealable and i can still move the valentine brain easy.

hope this helps

bill

 

[Daedalus]

I have 2 V1s. The case may be "designed" the same, but the V1.8 is noticeably smaller than the previous version. As far as "false" alarms, I don't have a problem with them. The way the alerts sound and how and how fast they change tells me right away if it's a false alarm. I usually don't even notice them unless they continue for more than a few seconds. Real alarms sound different and get my attention right away since there are so few of them. Instant on is still a problem, but like PhiAlpha said, nothing will save you from that anyway. You can often catch a whiff of instant-on being used on cars up ahead...you get a strong signal for just a second, and then it disappears. There was only one time I can remember where I was hit directly with instant-on without any warning, and that was out on the I15 in the middle of nowhere (UT or AZ) and on a sweeping curve. I didn't get a ticket...but the guy behind me did.

 

[MANIACura]

Scorp - How does the RX75 Plus act around in the city? Do you get false alarms from the supermarkets and malls?

 

[Swift]

the newest beltronics has GPS to let you know how fast you are really going...just in case the cop tries to BS you.

However in my car that i am building for racing and yet street legal i have opted to install a V1 and for laser jamming i have opted for the Blinder M20 or the newest version. proven to work. you can get both front and rear units.

 

[DocL]

the newest beltronics has GPS to let you know how fast you are really going...just in case the cop tries to BS you.

However in my car that i am building for racing and yet street legal i have opted to install a V1 and for laser jamming i have opted for the Blinder M20 or the newest version. proven to work. you can get both front and rear units.

My current set-up is the V-1 and Bliner M25. I only have front jammer protection because I know the importer of these units and he said that it would be extremely rare to get hit from the rear with laser. Furthermore, with the jammer and V-1, I know that whenever my V-1 picks up a false laser detection that it is indeed false. The jammer gives distinctive audible beep and when the two go off together I know to slam the brakes and turn off the jammer.

 

[davidf]

I was in police work for a few years and it showed me that radar detectors are pretty much useless. It's only going to warn you if the guy is sitting on the side with the radar constantly on. And almost nobody does that. They point and pull the trigger. So by the time your radar detector goes off, you've already been hit. Almost nobody sits there with just a constant "on" stream of radar. At this point I think your best bet is to get a laser jammer or just drive the speed limit. I haven't been able to do either yet.

I agree. One night I was riding with a friend who was working traffic in an unmarked unit and while cruising down I10 a car passed us do around 90ish so we tucked in behind 4/5 car links back and followed for 3 or 4 miles. So when he flipped on the front antenna the guy slammed his brakes having no idea where it was, but it was way too late for him. We changed lanes and exited laughing histerically.:biggrin:

 

[scorp965]

Scorp - How does the RX75 Plus act around in the city? Do you get false alarms from the supermarkets and malls?

No unit is going to be free from these types of false detections, as you mentioned above, they are actual signals - the radar detector is a measuring device, if there is a genuine signal that is being received, and it alerts you to this signal, it can hardly be called a 'false detection'.

The RX75+ seems to go off less in the city than the V1, or the passport 8500. As I mentioned above, it still alerts me to the presence of genuine radar threats, but, as I also mentioned, unless its a Ka signal, or POP, I typically ignore it, simply because other signals (x-band, or k-band) are never used in Southern California.

As for the previous two posts... I have been hit by laser in the rear, the RX75+ has both front and rear blockers, and specifies which direction you have been hit from.

In my area there is a truck bypass on the I-5 freeway, this is a two lane 'mini freeway' that can be used to bypass a degree of traffic on the main 6-lane freeway - CHP loves to stake out this 'bypass' for speeders, and one of their more recent tricks is shooting laser from behind the embankment when first entering the bypass from the freeway, essentially shooting you from behind. Because of the design of the bypass, you can hide an entire squad car, and it would not be visible until you were inline with, or past, the car. Typically, 1 car waits shooting laser at the embankment, and 2 or 3 CHP wait about a mile further up to act as chase cars.

Also, to clarify, the Beltronics RX75+ has front and rear laser blockers, but only front radar detection; there is no rear radar receiver. Because of the nature of radar signals, deflection will usually provide 360 degree warning regardless of the position of the radar receiver, but this aspect of the system is worth noting.

 

[Flexer]

I have used almost every detector mentioned above. Mainly because I found many false radar detector test sites. It wasn't until later I found un-biased results and notice the V1 CLEANING UP all of them.

So I bit the bullet and got a V1. I will never go back. I used to get many false signals because I didn't know the V1 could be configured and modified. Infact most people don't. Cops don't use x band in Utah, so I went to the V1 site and turned it off on my V1. Now I NEVER get false alarms. When it goes off its a cop, or someone with a jamer. Yup, thats right, some jamer's give off laser and radar but the v1 is quick to show the J symbol so I know it was a false alarm.

I'll never use another detector.

 

[Radar Expert]

Hello NSX owners,

Let me first announce that I am from Escort Radar, the manufacturer of Escort and Beltronics detectors. Moderators, I am not here to shamelessly advertise our products, only to authoritatively answer a few loose ends about our products that were mentioned here:

1) the 9500i model uses GPS to block out false radar alerts which has to be done manually by pressing the mute button three times on either the unit or by using the mute button located on the lighter end of the SmartCord power cord. This is usually in a very easy to reach location (depends where your cig lighter is). Alternatively you can use the remote mute button if using the shift+link feature with our laser shifter ZR3 or ZR4 (aka laser jammers).

2) the 9500ix incorporates GPS and the continually updated and verified "Trinity" database of red light cameras, speed cameras, and common speed trap locations by showing exact distance to and direction relative to you of the camera/speed trap. The 9500ix also uses advanced AI to automatically lockout false signals, no need to tap the mute button ever (unless you want to, and you still can). It takes on average 3 passes by a false alert before it is auto-locked out and the unit tells you that it has stored a false alert. It will also unlock false locations if the source of the alert is no longer active. Just plug it in and drive, it does the rest.

3) The Beltronics GX65 is sort of a mesh between these although it does use an entirely different architecture (not just different plastic). The GX65 has the Trinity database installed like the 9500ix but does NOT incorporate the auto-learning feature to block falses. You have to manually block them as with the 9500i model. Think of the GX65 as in-between the 9500i and 9500ix feature-wise.

4) Using these near the visor may work with GPS but I do not recommend it. The tint up there WILL greatly reduce laser sensitivity (mute point if you have a laser jammer) and the GPS signals may take longer to acquire. We offer a 30 day money back guarantee on all of our products if you want to see if the GPS works on the visor or not. I place mine behind the rear view mirror so that the display just peaks out underneath it. You can barely see it when inside the car.

Our GPS false alert lockout technology works by sampling the frequency of the alert received, the strength of this signal, and the location. The next time you enter a certain radius of this area the detector will still detect the signal but will not alert to it. If another signal is detected while blocking a false, the unit alerts as normal. Additionally, the display indicates it is actively blocking the blocked signal in case you use false alerts to ensure the detector is still detecting properly.

Another neat feature using GPS is that the radar sensitivity is auto-adjusted when in "Auto" mode on all of these models (in "Highway" mode it is always full sensitivity), when you get to about 55 MPH it ramps up to full sensitivity. Also your actual speed is shown during alerts or can be programmed on all the time, but please dont try to see how it high it registers ;-)

I hope that answers your questions with Escort and Beltronics GPS enabled detectors.

Happy Holidays!
Escort Inc
The Radar and Laser Experts

 

[BATMANs]

The V1 has 1980's in sex appeal.

it uses the same motorola processor that is flash upgrade to the latest radar frequency that u find in the high end bel and escorts.

Arrows to tell u where the cop is at?

big deal...... as if anyone is going to see the rear arrow and speed away.....

Radar goes off, just slow down, regardless of where it's from.

 

[DocL]

The V1 has 1980's in sex appeal.

it uses the same motorola processor that is flash upgrade to the latest radar frequency that u find in the high end bel and escorts.

Arrows to tell u where the cop is at?

big deal...... as if anyone is going to see the rear arrow and speed away.....

Radar goes off, just slow down, regardless of where it's from.

But at least you have an idea of where to look. I know if I'm getting three or four signals with multiple arrows pointing in different directions, most likely it is a false alarm. Now, just the other night I got an alert that were two sources with the arrow pointing straight ahead. This was on a road where I very rarely have seen speed traps. Well wouldn't you know it, up ahead about 3/4 mi there were two cops sitting in the median without any lights on shooting their radar. My ass was saved and and I knew way in advance what to look out for. Can you in all honesty say that another detector would have given you all of that information regardless if was needed or not?

 

[BATMANs]

But at least you have an idea of where to look. I know if I'm getting three or four signals with multiple arrows pointing in different directions, most likely it is a false alarm. Now, just the other night I got an alert that were two sources with the arrow pointing straight ahead. This was on a road where I very rarely have seen speed traps. Well wouldn't you know it, up ahead about 3/4 mi there were two cops sitting in the median without any lights on shooting their radar. My ass was saved and and I knew way in advance what to look out for. Can you in all honesty say that another detector would have given you all of that information regardless if was needed or not?

Cops in my hood are pretty smart.

Here is the game that they play that I've sen many times where the V1's advantages becomes ...... moot at best:

One guy turns on the radar gun. Ur V1 goes off. Later u see him.... pass him..... and think that ur safe and start to got WOT after a mile down.

BAM! His buddies are waiting and snag u with cop eyeballs or instant on, rendering ur V1 useless or any detectors for that matter.

There are other variations where cop are in different parts or there are a cluster of them zapping from different directions where u just slow done.

Bel's GPS detector is better than the aging V1...

 

[scorp965]

But at least you have an idea of where to look. I know if I'm getting three or four signals with multiple arrows pointing in different directions, most likely it is a false alarm. Now, just the other night I got an alert that were two sources with the arrow pointing straight ahead. This was on a road where I very rarely have seen speed traps. Well wouldn't you know it, up ahead about 3/4 mi there were two cops sitting in the median without any lights on shooting their radar. My ass was saved and and I knew way in advance what to look out for. Can you in all honesty say that another detector would have given you all of that information regardless if was needed or not?

With any detector, you would have been warned of this threat; as you get closer to the two cops, the signal strength of the detection intensifies, so you naturally slow down. Then you see the police, and after you pass them, the strength of the detection decreases, so you begin to speed again.

This is with any detector, what advantage did the arrows provide? Would you have continued to speed with a radar detection increasing in intensity? If I have a solid detection, I stop speeding until the detection goes away, or I spot the source of the detection - if there is a full strength detection, why would you speed, regardless of the direction?

If you take that same situation, but give the police LIDAR guns, you would have had no advance warning until you were on top of the police, they would then hit you and you would have a ticket. As they hit your car with the LIDAR gun, your V1 *might* go off, to inform you about the ticket you just received. There is very little chance of an advance warning from laser.

With a laser diffuser unit, its a different story - you have the same lack of warning, but the officer doesn't get a reading when he hits you with the gun, meanwhile, the diffuser warned you of his presence - you slow down, then disable the unit, just as the officer shoots you with the LIDAR gun again; now you're going the speed limit, ticket avoided.

 

[BATMANs]

People develop a false sense of security with Radar detectors.

Cops don't need a radar gun to bust u.

All they need is to tell the judge that they have 14 years of experience and a clean record (the judge probably sees them in court at least once a week) and BAM ur finished.

What needs to be developed is a cop eyeball detector........

 

[Sandman1962]

I have a V1 and I like it a lot.

I live in South Tahoe and travel to Sacramento a fair amount (2 hours away)
as well as to Socal twice a year.

I have been saved at least five times in the last two years... getting a warning and then slowing down and changing to a middle lane. The most memorable was when a big ford truck was on my tail.... I got the radar warning, did my thing, and then a couple minutes later the truck was pulled off to the side by CHP.

I did get tagged just south of Walker.... I was speeding along minding my own business with no traffic.... coming over the crest of a small hill.... and BAM the detector goes crazy and I see a CHP just sitting on the side of the road - He had me. I didnt even have time to respond.... so I just pulled over and waited. I was respectful and he was nice enough to reduce the ticket to 65 ( I was 85 in a 55).

No detector would have helped in this situation. I am now cautious coming over hills.

I do get a lot of false alarms going through town... I just turn it off... who speeds through town anyways?!

Are there better? maybe I really dont know... But I do like the V1 and I do like the arrows.

 

[Energy1]

"Are there better? maybe I really dont know... But I do like the V1 and I do like the arrows."
I agree, I like mine and it has saved me as well, it has paid for itself many times over...

 

[alum04org]

I've been on the brink of purchasing a V1, so all of your thoughts are valuable to me, thank you.
Any known discounts on them, or are they retailed only by V1?