I am setting up a poll because I am stumped and have been reading for the last couple of days on which is better and I still cannot decide so please help. I have done multiple searches but get alot of mixed information. I love the idea of the arrows but I like the idea of the better or newest technology of the 8500 x50 but would like everyones help in what their opinion is . Thanks

 

I have had a Valentine for many years, it has performed beyond my needs. It would seem to me that it would take a major increase in technology (like future instant on detection-lol) to overcome the benefits the arrows provide. I don't just hear a sqauk box telling me there may be police radar around. I see where they may be so I can react accordingly, like when they are behind me in some traffic. I know I can make a break for it before they catch up to me and slow me down. Instead of slowing down for miles wondering where they are then having to watch them tailgrab me and run my plates because I'm in a red hot-rod car. Sometimes the arrows let you know they were sitting under the bridge you just went over so you don't axiously set the cruise control thinking they may be just around the next bend.

I'm 34 and have been driving since I was 16. In the first twelve years of my driving I recieved over 20 citations, some with cheap detectors. Since I bought the Valentine about 6 years ago I have only recieved two or three and I still drive the same. Actually I've better learned when to not drive fast and catch an instant on all by my lonesome so lately I get none. At least now I can take defensive driving since they are so few and far between.

 

I got the V1 for much the same reason I got a Mac instead of a PC. Partly for show-and-tell value, and partly because it is a great product.

I usually ride with the logic off, so all radar detected is alerted. My only complaint about the V1 is that under the "All" setting, it is TOO GOOD. Cheaper radar detectors emit radar on the X and K bands (if I remember correctly). It's a real pisser to be cruising down the interstate and it blips at you because some dick has a cheap radar detector (one guy today was emitting almost full strength K band). But, it's not really V1's fault. It just does it's job REALLY well.

Read the V1 site. It's got a ton of helpful info and Valentine knows his stuff. Then go read some reviews / tests. V1, AFAIK, comes out on top every time.

Basically, I'm totally happy with my V1.

 

Bottom line, it boils down to whether you want more information or less information on what is around you.

The V1 is 2-dimensional (strength, location) the 8500 - 1 dimensional (strength). The V1 costs more, the 8500 less. Their detection performance, electronically speaking, is pretty even.

The V1 has two detectors, the 8500 just one. Choose your weapon.

 

could you explain more about the v1 having 2 detector?

 

V1= the best

 

It has one in the front of the unit and one in the back. It's how it determines which arrows to light up. Plus it offers some from-behind protection, if a cop was puling up behind you with radar on. But to get that to work properly, it has to be mounted by the rear-view mirror. You can't set it on your dash, according to instructions, and expect it to work properly.

 

sorry but i have a bell 910 and i have not gotten a ticket in over 3 years. i paid $125 for it so until it lets me down their is no reason for me too change .my friend has a v1 and he loves the arrows ,like i told him if it aintbroke dont fix it

 

Damn straight! If it works, and you're happy..WTH! Part of all this debate on detectors here and elsewhere likely comes from the way people differ in how they buy things. That is (saw this on a documentary while ago):

1st type, goes out shopping, finds something/is sold something, and as long as it works OK to their knowledge, they are happy!
These are the Happy Purchasers!

2nd type, goes out shopping, must see, review, and ideally test (or read a test of) each and every item of its type on the market. At the end of this arduous process, they may buy something and be relatively happy, but they never stop looking for something better, no matter what the time/cost involved. These are the Never Quite Satisfied Purchasers!

HPs sleep well at night, NQSPs don't always, HPs don't need the best or the most expensive of smthg to be happy for a long time. NQSPs always do.

NQSPs more than likely will want to pick out their own coffin, just to make sure it has the right feature set.... HPs figure their relatives will take what's avaialable at the time heehee :D

Now Damn, where was that coffin web site anyway....

 

Bel 985 for $225


great detector

 

i got the 910 because the 985 had a feature onit i did not need,but both are great for the $

 

I started a thread called "new detector", and still happily recommend the cordless 8500, or S2 solo. Just my $.02.

 

Thanks everyone for your input! I bit the bullet and ordered the V1 yesterday and got it Today. I currently have the 8500 now for the Mazda 6 and the Valentine 1 for the 8. I bought it because I am always wondering when the alarm goes off where they are etc. Thanks again for everyones help.

 

Just a recap! I LOVE the V1!! I could not be any happier! Great detector!

 

I have been reading all over shopping too and I am finding that the Bel RX65 is outscoring the Valentine and even the escort X50 in many tests. The Valentine 1 according to radartest.com did not even recognize BEEIII pop radar at all.

 

I have written much about this topic in many many posts so I won't recap. Instead I will put my 2cents in on what I'm installing. After extensive research and a very important deciding element I am purchasing the RX75 Plus, by Beltronics. Besides having the RX as part of its name , it is has the newest technologies and surpasses the Escort 8500 and the V1 in detection capabilities. You could get the one that is a stand alone detector but I am choosing the RX75 because I will be installing it stealth...into the dash...the reason...I live in minnesota...Radar Detectors are legal here but Laser Jammers are not (well the legal reasoning is soft but you cannot mess around). So stealth install...out of cabin=no probable cause to search vehicle in trunk or under the hood...

Let me make it clear...there really is NO difference between all of these models we are speaking of...just money (well POP guns too but they are RARE)...there is no way in hell a cop is going to nab you from over 2 miles and definitely no way he is going to do it from you backside so don't worry everyone. Get a decent detector (over $125) and be smart and you'll be safe...

oh don't forget the laser jammer/shifter the laser guns are gettting cheaper and cheaper so they are showing up on many more roads, people get cocky with their detector...then a laser hits them and they are f_cked...and embarassed.

Good luck everyone and be safe (while your pushing triple digits: )

 

In talking about the laser issue, you almost gave the reason why one would want 2 mile range in detecting radar. You want to detect that radar before YOU are the target. If traffic is light, or if the trooper is only "pinging" certain targets, you will need to detect those "pings" from a good distance.

One needs to be careful that with some radar detector companies, more expensive detectors simply have more features (which have little to nothing to do with the detector's actual detecting capabilities). But normally, more expensive detectors have better processing capabilities, and so they can sense weaker signals, and eliminate many more false alerts.

There are certainly ways for a trooper to track your speed with radar from behind you.

---jps

 

I think I was grossly misunderstood in my post...whoever responded chose to cut and paste into their post and respond to them like they knew what the heck they were talking about...I am trying to help everyone here...I love this car and I believe we all should be able to drive it without getting treated like criminals as soon as we are seen on the roads (I have been eyed by cops over 4 times now and I have only had the thing for a week!)

Laser is very different then radar...the reply posting mixes the two together...be careful about that.

Ability to detect laser is USELESS, period. As soon as you are detecting laser the cop/trooper is simply making the decision whether to pull you over or not. The only way to combat this is a laser jammer/shifter (same thing) that sends out incredible amounts of light that distrups the reflection of the gun's light back to the receiver to compute distance divided by time=speed...and they work very well (such as Escort ZR3 or Blinder M-series).

When it comes to radar detection...I want to make it clear that there is no way in hell someone is going to acquire your speed from 2 miles BEHIND you...doing so is DANGEROUS for the trooper/cop as they will then have to drive WAY above the speed limit to catch up to you...this is against most protocol for acquisition of most moving violaters (officials will only speed for long distances after those who are suspected or commited of HENIOUS crimes...murder, terror, etc.---especially after new laws were implemented to reduce high speed chases as the risks of a chase severly outweigh the benefits).

So those of you who don't want to shell out hundreds for a detector or want a jammer but cant afford both...by a relatively inexpensive detector ($125-$200 MSRP) and get a good jammer...you'll be almost fully covered (but don't forget VASCAR timing systems, Airplane/helicopter distance tracking, shadowing, and photosystems)

good luck everyone!

 

The guy who created radartest.com seems to really have it in for Mike Valentine, and his claims seem to contradict credible test results, such as those from Car & Driver. I would take radartest.com with a huge grain of salt.