817boy

I have the Beltronics 965 radar detector. Which i like but i almost got a couple of tickets cuz the detector didn't give me enough notice. So im thinking of selling it and getting the valentine 1 radar detector, but i have a few questions.

How loud is the valentine 1??? Can i take the valentine off the window slot that holds the suction cups??? How accurate is the valentine??? The beltronics talks to you and tell you weather the radar being detected is K, Ka, X band, or laser alert. Does the valentine do this???

Another thing that the beltronics does is go to a audio mute. for instance if up ahead is a K band radar it will beep loud for 5 secs then keep beeping but at half the volume. Does the valentine do this????

Any cheap websites where i could get a valentine 1 at a decent price??

Sorry for all the question. I appreciate any advice.
here is a vid of the radar i have now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eynnHunpJKw

keyplyr

(recommended reading)

S2K

1. I guess I could bring my SPL meter into the car, but I would suggest that it is loud enough. I can hear it when I am running at highway speeds with my top down.

2. I am not sure exactly what you are asking with regards to the suction cups. However, it can be mounted with suction cups or on the visor, dash, etc. You are not limited to one mounting method.

3. Head to here: http://www.guysoflidar.com You can read their test results. This is one of the best detectors in the world and I think the best in its price range. It is very sensitive, but it can be programmed to your tastes both with an easy to access setting or via programming if you are so inclined.

4. If you go to http://www.valentineone.com you can see how the thing works. It has arrows to tell you from where the radar is coming and yes it tells you what band both in leds and sound.

5. You can mute the V1 with a button. You can program the V1 to do any number of things based on the type of radar detected if you so desire.

6. You can go to EBay for a V1 if you want to deal with that. You can also ask for a refurbished V1 from Valentine for a bit less money. Valentine sells direct so no other legitimate source (that isn't someone selling theirs used) can sell this detector.

silverbullet2007

I'm gonna buy a Valentine soon also. One thing I found out that you may want to consider about the valentine is that I've read that if you buy from anywhere other than valentine direct , they may not honor any warranty costs. Several owners wrote about this fact. So it looks like the cost is gonna be $400. with no deals. Some one did say that valentine has refurbished units at greatly discounted prices with full warranty coverage but not often.

817boy

thats funny guy

sorry im a lil new

vettenut

I live with my Valentine. Upgrades available when released. I use a bracket that mounts it under the rear view mirror and it is powered with a 6 inch power cord to the rear of the mirror. People can not see it from behind me. It works perfectly. Bob in KY.

TCKT B8

It may be funny, but it really gets old answering the same question over and over. Save us all some time - do a search

AORoads

welcome, and just remember one thing: if you drive stupid-fast, even if you have the reflexes of tony, dale or helio. you can't get down fast enuff from 20 or 25 over. plus, from what I've seen the radar guns are getting much, much better than even the tech in my V1. *

so you are warned...if you come back and say, I bought the V1 based on advice here and still got a ticket, no sympathy from me.

*and I have the world's most expensive V1.

carnut08

The V1 is an excellent choice. I'm currently running four of them in different vehicles including a brand new upgrade that arrived today for the C6. I can tell you the newest one is noticeably louder than the others.

As AORoads mentioned above, the V1 will not make you bulletproof. What it will do is give you more detailed situation awareness than its competitors. By that I mean you'll know the band that's being received, including which is the strongest when multiple frequencies are being detected.

You'll know the direction the threat is coming from and you'll know the relative signal strength, which helps you judge the likely distance you are from the threat.

Where you will still be vulnerable is if a leo is using 'instant on' technology and is good with it.

Here in California the CHP has Ka instant on in all patrol vehicles including motorcycles. Their units are capable of transmitting both to the front and to the rear and they can be operated in a steady state (which is easily detected) or in instant on mode. The latter is particularly deadly on curvy mountain roads. I've been nailed twice in other vehicles over the last several years. Both times it was on Hwy 50 near Lake Tahoe. Both times I had just passed a line of slower vehicles and both times the CHP came around the curve in the opposite direction. Both times he must have had his finger on the trigger of his instant on and both times the V1 went off like mad. Both times I nailed the brakes. The second time I asked to see his readout on the radar unit. It displayed exactly the speed I was going when my unit alerted. What that means to me is the technology is unbeatable under circumstances like that.

Laser or 'Lidar' is particularly deadly because of its narrow beam. It's also 'instant on'. That means there's little to no 'scatter' to be detected by the V1 when it's in use. Fortunately, for now at least, laser can't be used from a moving patrol vehicle. The operator must be stationary and he must have a precise aim on your vehicle to obtain a reading. I've seen very few actual lidar traps in use, but the CHP does have a roving band of lidar users and multiple chase cars to ruin an otherwise good day!

Happily, most radar encounters are not instant on. Therefore most of the time you'll have plenty of warning.

I bought a modified V1 remote unit on Ebay that came with a separate microswitch for muting the V1. I mounted the display unit in my instrument bezel and put the microswitch on the back side of the turn indicator stalk:

dgrant3830

I've had a V1 since the late '90s and happy with it all the way. I recently even upgraded it to their latest and greatest. The one time I took a trip without it, I got a ticket. Personally, it seems to work real well and hasn't gotten anything wrong yet.

keyplyr

Sorry, should have been a bit more hospitable to a new member. Welcome to Corvette Forum 817boy

There are several topics here that get beaten to death, over and over again. Radar detectors are one of them. Always best to use the Search utility at the top prior to posting a new thread. The forum archives can be a wealth of information.

AORoads

let me echo and endorse what carnut said, and just say, I can't imagine being without "the arrows." some make fun of them, but it is nice to know where the threat is coming from. I also think the unit is superb.

in traveling thru other areas, however, on long, and cross-country trips, radar and laser is very different from state to state. as stated by carnut (and in a conversation with valentine, they agreed), there are some very good officers who know exactly how to use their equipment, new or old but most likely new. and both time and technology march on whereas your V1 (which is one of the few that can be) may be updated once every two years or so.

as it stands right now, every jurisdiction is in need of money, period. that means to me wherever and whenever the police can pull you over, they most likely will. just be aware of that and try to live within the limitations of the radar detector, no matter which one it is.

LMB-C6

Police are getting smarter and more creative.

V1 is great against radar, but around here laser is getting more and more popular. Used to be only the state police had them, now some of the locals have joined in. Even with the V1, if you are up against laser chances are it will just tell you it's time to pull over and get your performance award.

Fastcar

[QUOTE=keyplyr;1568495361]Sorry, should have been a bit more hospitable to a new member. Welcome to Corvette Forum 817boy

There are several topics here that get beaten to death, over and over again. Radar detectors are one of them. Always best to use the Search utility at the top prior to posting a new thread. The forum archives can be a wealth of information.

I'm pleased to see you apologize to him.

I really don't get the indignation some feel towards those who ask a repeated question. Rather than responding at all just ignore the offending question/post.

Nothing personal, just my .02

Gannet

Yeah, but said "funny" posts really get old after a while too. If someone doesn't want to answer an oft-repeated question, all they have to do is click to the next thread, no need to share their "humor" (and bad manners) with the rest of us.

jpee

You guys who use radar detectors..... have you ever been stopped by a PO... and after seeing your radar detector did his attitude change ?

I mean did he get tougher on you because you were using a Detector?

I'm a retired PO.. was driving my neighbors car, (Porsche Turbo) and was stopped... the car had a radar detector and right away the PO got an attitude, said why would I need a Radar Detector if I didn't plan on speeding?

After showing him my ID and explaining it was NOT my car, & I DON'T have or use one his attitude totally changed, started talking about my Vette, and Deer hunting... for about 15 min.. and I was on my way...

PS He got me doing 97 moh in 65 zone Do you think he had a "Valid Point" re: Why do you have a Radar Detector if you Don't plan on speeding?

My thought are if I was going to use one (which I will never use it) I'd have it hidden behind the grill or out of sight!

JMO

ALVetteFan

I don't have one yet, but I have wondered the same thing.

carnut08

Well, in the first place when you use a detector you are much less likely to be stopped in the first place. I've used one consistently since they passed the silly 55 "NMSL", so I think I speak with some authority.

The short answer to your question is no. My Valentines are always on the passenger visor with the straight cord tucked out of sight inside interior trim pieces. When a LEO leans in from either side that location is out of the line of sight. None have ever appeared to notice it. I've used the V1 remote unit in several vehicles as well. The times I was stopped it was in plain view atop the steering column. Ten years, four stops. Two warnings and two citations....both far enough apart to be elligible for traffic school. No points on my license.

I love my V1!

LMB-C6

I would reply - You have a gun, do you plan on shooting someone?