the only 'problem' with V1 is that there is no discount (except maybe Ebay) on them. Anyone ever had theirs reconditioned? Mine seems to have lost some of it's distance ability...

 

Since I bought mine in '97, other than a couple of cosmetic changes and firmware updates (which are tweaks more than anything, so I didn't bother), there has been one signficant upgrade. In the same time, there have been a couple of top-of-the-line Escort models that have come out, so the Escort route would be more expensive.

For those of you looking to get rock-bottom prices on Escort models (or any electronic equipment), make sure that you are buying from an authorized dealer. Most of the time, those Ebay bandits are not authorized dealers, and therefore, Escort will not honor the warranty.

---jps

 

very informative thread so far...

my question for u guys is do u recommend any of the front/rear bumper mounted radar detectors? if so...which ones? if not...why not?

i've never owned a radar detector but whenever i've considered it i've leaned toward the front/rear installed types simply because i don't want a bulky (albeit nice looking ) device stuck to the inside of my windshield all the time.

which leads to a final question i guess...is it neccessary to mount radar detectors like the passort and V1 on your windshield or are there more inconspicuous (read: aesthetically pleasing) installation alternatives?

 

i have yet to read any positive advantage that external (bumper) mounted detectors have over windshield mounted ones that justifies their price. I know passport makes the K40 which is remote. i know nothing about it though, sorry.

Also, always mount the detector centered on your windshield. The closer you mount it to the dash the more you place the dettector in a possible radar shadow and decrease the RADAR effective detectablility, unless you have a vette or some other very low profile car. The closer you mount toward the roof the larger (and i mean larger) chance you are likely to NOT detect a lazer signal.

 

thnx for the info farsyde. i'll take your advice into consideration if i decide to go the windshield mounted route. which i'll end up doing if bumper mounted detectors: a) are noticeably less effective and/or b) their prices don't justify my aesthetic goals. (ie...paying $100 more for the same tech. just to keep it off my windshield.)

anybody else have any thoughts on bumper mounted radar detectors?

 

K40 did horrible at radartest.com. They weren't impressed at all.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

it might have already been said.. but liek Mike Valentine says "once you live with the arrows, you never go back"

 

Don't forget to give people a chance to reply.

There are remote radar detectors (those that are mounted on the "bumpers") that are pretty effective. An advantage is obviously a stealth install (which is convenient, and keeps it out of the view of both thieves and police).

As far as the "arrows", I've found them to be a very effective tool, which is hard to replace. Depending on the seup, having two antennaes on the remote setup can be close to the Valentine setup, but is not a replacement.

The one thing you have to consider between a windshield mounted radar detector and a grille mounted detector is reception. With an open road in front of you, the higher mounted detector will have a slight advantage in over-the-hill situations. If you have a similarly sized vehicle in front of you, some radar will normally pass through the windshield of the vehicle in front, and a windshield mounted detector has a better chance of detecting it(but things like metallic tint, bodies, etc. will hurt that). If you are in an RX8 behind an SUV, then the windshield mounted detector will be completely blocked by the SUV body, but radar will pass under the vehicle, and a grille mounted detector will have a chance at it.

So basically, it's a "wash" as far as reception. I've had a couple of remote detectors, and I always consider such a setup first. It's worth the extra cost to me, personally.

Without going into it, a windshield mounted laser detector is useless, and a license plate mounted version isn't much better (unless you combine it with a laser jammer, which is illegal in more and more locations).

---jps

 

i just need the radar detection of an F-18 and the ability to fire something back at the cops!!! :D

Maybe i'll look into an oil slick system so when the cops get nice and close, whaaaam!!!!

 

Reminds me of the nintendo game Spy Hunter

 

will do and i'm glad u did reply...your insight was definitely helpful.

as long as remote detectors are on par with windshield mounted ones when it comes to reliability/features it looks like i'll be going with one of them.

 

Yeah, but I don't think the RX-8 will turn into a boat when you drive off the end of a pier, nor do I recommend testing that hypothesis!

 

Very excellent point going to the store to buy a V1

 

Very excellent point going to the store to buy a V1

 

Hey, wait, you can't buy them in stores!

Oh well, he'll be back in a while.

 

This page of marketing from the V1 site is 100% true. . . https://store.valentine1.com/demo/demo3.asp

Once you learn to read the V1, and learn the area you drive in's radar signature, you will be thankful for the V1's Aarows.

Most Walgreen's automatic doors are now K band... which drove me nuts for a while, since there is one on the major cross streets where I live. I figured out it was the pharmacy when I pulled up to park and the V1 pointed straigt to the door... a few weeks after I discovered this, the V1 beeped the normal K warning pointed to Walgreens, then it also pointed ahead to a pair of bike cops.

So, my orig statement about free upgrades was true, if you have them done within a year of purchase... which I did.. I don't think I could get an upgrade free now...

 

Not at any stores or via any of those discount places by phone or online or mail. Anyway - mine is about 5 years old +/- ; the V1 website says he doesn't recommend upgrading mine - but - for $229 I basically get an 'instant upgrade' which looks like a replacement of my unit. I think the amazing thing is that they still cost exactly $400 ( or is it 399?). At any rate, the bogey counter can make a huge difference when in an area with a lot of misc. activitiy - usually store doors. Or the Cincinnati airport - my laser warning always went off driving past there...

 

Just wanted to point out that the Escort 8500 also has an advanced display mode which shows the number and strength of multiple bogeys on multiple bands. I agree it's a great thing to have - only last week I got an alert as I passed the local Eckerd (which always triggers a K-band alert), but I noticed that the display showed two signals, and sure enough, there was Officer Donut a little further down the street.

 

in front of the airport???? I can't think of anything that runs on the 904nm wavelength other than police speed detection devices. Either a cop was using lazer on you, you encountered a stray beam, or it's a false alarm. I'll have to check the FCC frequency allocations to see if anything elese sharesd the laser band.

 

I've had my cheapo Uniden detector set off in lazer mode when I pass the Louisville airport, which is right next to I-65.

This has happened several times there as I travel that route.

 

New Chevy TrailBlazers's 3rd break lights trigger my V1's Laser Detector. Damn them! I wonder if there is a fix from Val. for this?

Edit: Never mind, says right here on their site http://valentine1.com/lab/Previously7.asp

Red neon is occasionally used for the CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Lamp) on new cars. We know of these models: GM Trailblazer and Envoy, the Lincoln Mk VIII and the latest BMW 3-series convertible.

 

i thought it was HCMD (High Center Mounted Display)? or am i using an old term?

 

Perhaps someone near Cincy can try it out sometime - On I-70 - near the airport's control tower,I think it was, in the exact same spot every time, it'd go off about every 4 - 8 seconds, but only a 2 - 3 times as I remember it. I have no clue about frequencies and so forth, but it'd go crazy for about 1 second then nothing until the next short blast!

 

Don't forget, folks, that there are many light sources out there that will emit light in the traffic laser frequency. White light especially covers a wide range of frequencies, including laser, and it will sometimes be just strong enough to set off a laser detector (this is why laser guns have a very difficult time getting a reading on a headlight that is on).

In other words, something doesn't have to specifically emit a certain frequency to set of a laser detector. It could be something that emits a wide range of frequencies.

---jps

 

Happens alot with cheapo detectors



while laser systems DO use a diode to emit the 904nm pulse laser pulse, it is invisible and the diodes used in cars are visual and dont include the spectra of "laser band." Man i'd never buy a V1 if this really is true. Its by far the biggest flaw i've seen in detectors since the late X-band. Any engineers here feel free to get technical or fill me in on the details.