Radar Detectors: Significant differences
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
I have not seen it come up yet but I believe the "Bogey" counter on the Escort gives more info than the "Bogey" counter on the V1. On the V1 I believe ( and Im sure Ill be corrected if Im wrong) only has a Numeral display telling you how many signals its recieving, The Escort tells you How many in each band and has a bar to tell you wich signals are stronger and wich ones are getting weaker. I can even have mine display the exact frequency on each band.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '11,'13
I have had them all and in my opinion the v1 is the best thing going. It never let me down yet and I go and come a lot. I would beg to differ with anyone t hat says it came up "wanting" in any back to back test conducted straight up and honestly.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: LA Cali
Originally Posted by RockyL32
I have not seen it come up yet but I believe the "Bogey" counter on the Escort gives more info than the "Bogey" counter on the V1. On the V1 I believe ( and Im sure Ill be corrected if Im wrong) only has a Numeral display telling you how many signals its recieving, The Escort tells you How many in each band and has a bar to tell you wich signals are stronger and wich ones are getting weaker. I can even have mine display the exact frequency on each band.
With a Valentine One, it can show you how many sources of radar up to 9 sources no matter what band. It also points an arrow at the source of the radar showing the band as you approach the source, to the side when you are next to it, and then points an arrow at the source after you pass it. If you happen to get 2 hits of radar at one time, it will flash an arrow at the worst threat while flashing lights indicating which band of radar is the worst threat.
Originally Posted by Ikester
After further research, the Escort 8500 X50 has outgunned the V1 with back to back testing also with other leading radar detectors.
you can pick one up brand new on ebay for 280 shipped!
I tested it with a friends' model and we got a good 1/4 mile warning before we saw the cop. Now thats quality! Very very little to zero false alarms.
you can pick one up brand new on ebay for 280 shipped!
I tested it with a friends' model and we got a good 1/4 mile warning before we saw the cop. Now thats quality! Very very little to zero false alarms.
You can get the X50 on Ebay for $280 but that doesn't include a warranty so if it breaks, you are screwed. Nobody who sells Escort or Bel radar detectors on Ebay is an authorized seller.
http://www.escortradar.com/radar-detector-faq.htm#q7
If you purchase an Escort product from an authorized reseller, the Escort warranty will be honored only if you can provide us with a copy of the original invoice. We cannot honor any third party invoices that you may receive from an individual, auction, internet site or other unauthorized reseller.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
I guess it depends where you are. Here in bustling Boise, ID the police cruisers run either X or LIDAR, while the two wheel LEOs run Ka. I have never had a problem with quick recognition of the meter bars or freq numbers.
Do you have a copy or can you point us towards a recent test including V1? Valentine (untill recently apparently) refuses to put the V1 in natonal tests because of "bias" results.
Do you have a copy or can you point us towards a recent test including V1? Valentine (untill recently apparently) refuses to put the V1 in natonal tests because of "bias" results.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,410
Likes: 0
From: Boulder CO.
I have owned few detectors in my lifetime. All of them make their claims/sales pitch, all of them have failed to deliver what they say they do.
I have not tried the V1 I know it has a tradition of being a great detector, and at the top of the list when it comes down to the best of the best. I just don't see myself spending that kind of money for a detector.
Enter the Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector. Finally a detector that delivers what it says. It has always given me plenty time to react. It also picks up laser. That's the best thing it has that really made me say wow! It picked up a laser from a motorcycle cop on the side of the road with about four cars ahead of me, and close to each other.
I don't know if I can ask more out of a detector. It really works great. This detector definitely is among the elite, and best of best in my opinion.
Goose
I have not tried the V1 I know it has a tradition of being a great detector, and at the top of the list when it comes down to the best of the best. I just don't see myself spending that kind of money for a detector.
Enter the Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector. Finally a detector that delivers what it says. It has always given me plenty time to react. It also picks up laser. That's the best thing it has that really made me say wow! It picked up a laser from a motorcycle cop on the side of the road with about four cars ahead of me, and close to each other.
I don't know if I can ask more out of a detector. It really works great. This detector definitely is among the elite, and best of best in my opinion.
Goose
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 5
From: Fredericksburg VA
I just bought an X50 off Ebay New in the shrinkwrap box (Blue display) for $259+ shipping of $22. I've used it for two weeks now and love it. I especially like the remote display on the power plug BUILT IN at NO additional cost.
That said, I just read an article while at the grocery store last night where 5 units were compared and apparently there's a new bad boy in town I was not aware of and would have bought, since I live in Virginia... The Beltronics RX65 is a bad little unit. I don't know if all Beltronics Units have this feature or not, but I could certainly use VG-2 detector-detector technology here in Virginia and would have bought this unit over the X50 and may sell mine and BUY the RX65!
Looking also at their Sti-Driver model which is a higher end unit and also about $150 more, but apparently the best detector out ther right now!
Mike
That said, I just read an article while at the grocery store last night where 5 units were compared and apparently there's a new bad boy in town I was not aware of and would have bought, since I live in Virginia... The Beltronics RX65 is a bad little unit. I don't know if all Beltronics Units have this feature or not, but I could certainly use VG-2 detector-detector technology here in Virginia and would have bought this unit over the X50 and may sell mine and BUY the RX65!
Looking also at their Sti-Driver model which is a higher end unit and also about $150 more, but apparently the best detector out ther right now!
Mike
Last edited by Mikelly; Apr 16, 2006 at 07:27 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: LA Cali
Originally Posted by RockyL32
I guess it depends where you are. Here in bustling Boise, ID the police cruisers run either X or LIDAR, while the two wheel LEOs run Ka. I have never had a problem with quick recognition of the meter bars or freq numbers.
Do you have a copy or can you point us towards a recent test including V1? Valentine (untill recently apparently) refuses to put the V1 in natonal tests because of "bias" results.
Do you have a copy or can you point us towards a recent test including V1? Valentine (untill recently apparently) refuses to put the V1 in natonal tests because of "bias" results.
http://guysoflidar.com/radar-detecto...adar-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/radar-detecto...-rdd-test.html
http://motortrend.com/features/consu...r_buyersguide/
"This year, the measurement of the radar and laser detection abilities of each of the over $200 units gives the Valentine One ($400) a small edge over the competing BEL Vector 995 ($260) and Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($300 with red display or $340 with a blue display) units."
V1 is the best in laser detection:
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...213&highlight=
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
V1 has the best rear radar detection because it is the only detector with 2 antennas to locate radar:
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...214&highlight=
V1 is the least detectable detector by RDD's or Radar Detector Detectors in states where radar detectors are illegal. The Spectre III is the most used RDD in the world and it can only pick up the Valentine One if it is 166 feet or closer which is better than the X50 which can be detected 954 feet away.
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...383&highlight=
The Valentine One which accounts for only .6% of radar detector sales wins every poll when it comes to being the favorite detector. The X50 doesn't even get an approval rating as high as George Bush's worst rating.
http://www.radardetector.net/The-Ult.......-5523t.php
Which of the "Big 3" is really the best overall - in your opinion?
V-1
64% [ 45 ]
RX-65
12% [ 9 ]
X50
20% [ 14 ]
Other (state which and why)
2% [ 2 ]
Total Votes : 70
Here is a poll on a BMW M3 Forum:
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...ight=valentine
What kind of Radar Detector do you have?
Valentine 1 144 people
64.86%
Escort 8500 52 people
23.42%
K40 5 people
2.25%
Other 21 people
9.46%
TOTAL VOTES 222 PEOPLE
Here is a poll on a LOTUS ELISE Forum:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...ight=valentine
What do you think is the best Radar Detector?
Bel Pro RX65 2
1.92%
Escort 8500 X50 18
17.31%
Valentine One 78
75.00%
Cobra Pro 9780 0
0%
Whistler Pro 73 0
0%
Escort Solo S2 5
4.81%
Whistler 1788 1
.96%
PNI Silver B. 0
0%
Voters: 104
Here is a poll on another site:
http://www.socaleuro.com/forum/showt...ight=valentine
Best Radar Detector?
Escort Passport 8
11.59%
Valentine One 47
68.12%
Cobra 4
5.80%
Beltronics 5
7.25%
Uniden 0
0%
Other 5
7.25%
Voters: 69 people
Here are the results from the Corvette Forum:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...=valentine+one
Which Radar Detector do you have...
Valentine V-1 122
44.36%
Bel RX65 16
5.82%
Escort 8500 99
36.00%
Whistler Pro 73 2
0.73%
Other 36
13.09%
Voters: 275
Here are the results from the Acura Forum:
http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76772
Which Radar Detector Do you Guys Suggest up to $400
Valentine 1 136
59.13%
Escort 8500 78
33.91%
Beltronics 904 3
1.30%
Other 13
5.65%
Voters: 230
Here are the results from a VW Forum:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2444300
Valentine V1 (65%, 81 votes)
Escort 8500 (28%, 35 votes)
Escort Solo S2 (4%, 5 votes)
Whistler (1%, 2 votes)
(123 total votes)
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...ghlight=#42353
Radar Roy from Radarbusters.com said this about the Valentine One, "Just spoke with Carl Fors from SML, his website will be going online tonight with the 2005 results. He has declared the V895, 8500 and the Valentine One as the top performers. Motortrend, who was also at the test, will be declaring the Valentine One as the top detector based upon its detection of laser.
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...=4696&start=90
Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."
Here is a link and video of the V1 alerting to radar quicker than the X50 and sometimes the X50 didn't alert to the radar at all. They are quick pulling the radar gun's trigger and the X50 is filtering it out and the V1 is picking it up every time.
http://www.radardetector.net/V1-vs.-...otout-865t.php
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
V1 wins in POP detection:
http://media.putfile.com/JammerTestscom_tests_V1X50_POP
V1 wins because it detects a certain laser gun in stealth mode while the X50 remains silent:
http://media.putfile.com/JammerTests...nd_X50_stealth
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The Belltronics 995 is the best, just as good as the v1 and less expensive..BTW---IKESTER...instead of merely testing one, you should finally break down and BUY one.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 120,798
Likes: 11
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by pewter99
What someone needs to do is strap a few of these bad boys in their car and go for a drive...a long drive and see what happens when and record the info. and did even better last year in the mountains of W Va where they are illegal 
The X50 was installed for the trip back south. It went off twice. Both times there were cops hiding on the sides of the road. My wife has the V1 in her C3. I have the X50 in my 00 coupe.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
Sorry Radarking according to the latest test on the list of tests you posted says Escort wins overall also stating that without laser countermeasures the V1 gives a false sence of security. Now I know that this test is probably "biased" for one reason or another but the fact that the V1 holds a .8% of the market share is the only pole that counts. Now if Valentine would bring his detector into Todays technology and put in a way to jam Laser I would update my thoughts on his product. Till then when your V1 Laser alert comes on the only thing those arrows will do is let you know where the cop who IS giving you a ticket came from
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 13
From: Laguna Woods, CA
Originally Posted by pewter99
BTW..WTH does this have to do with C5 Tech??
Did I flaunt a Furm rule? In the future, where should a thread like this be posted? Seemed to me it had to do with the technical aspects of an accessory used with C5s...
Sorry if I was out of line here,Garibaldi
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 2
From: Bergen County NJ
Originally Posted by RockyL32
Sorry Radarking according to the latest test on the list of tests you posted says Escort wins overall also stating that without laser countermeasures the V1 gives a false sence of security. Now I know that this test is probably "biased" for one reason or another but the fact that the V1 holds a .8% of the market share is the only pole that counts. Now if Valentine would bring his detector into Todays technology and put in a way to jam Laser I would update my thoughts on his product. Till then when your V1 Laser alert comes on the only thing those arrows will do is let you know where the cop who IS giving you a ticket came from
Maybe what you mean is that V1 should make a jammer to complement their detector like Escort and Bel do? But I'm not aware of any radar/laser detectors that also jam laser - so to say that Valentine should bring his technology up to date and put in a way to jam laser is confusing two different products.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 111
From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
Originally Posted by SMR 67
What are you saying - that V1 should make a laser jammer? None of the radar/laser detectors being discussed in this thread jam laser - they detect laser. V1's laser detection is as good or better than the others. What you're talking about is laser jamming, like a Blinder or one of the jammers made by Escort (ZR3) or Bel (905).
Maybe what you mean is that V1 should make a jammer to complement their detector like Escort and Bel do? But I'm not aware of any radar/laser detectors that also jam laser - so to say that Valentine should bring his technology up to date and put in a way to jam laser is confusing two different products.
Maybe what you mean is that V1 should make a jammer to complement their detector like Escort and Bel do? But I'm not aware of any radar/laser detectors that also jam laser - so to say that Valentine should bring his technology up to date and put in a way to jam laser is confusing two different products.
Happy Easter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: LA Cali
Originally Posted by RockyL32
This thread is on the significant differences beetween radar detectors The V1 is one of the only detectors in this price range that does not offer a direct plug in for this feature (laser jam or shift whatever othe brands are calling theirs) for example Escort 8500 has a direct plug in for their "laser shifters" the two work together so does Bell so does K40 This puts the V1 well behinde the curve for modern radar laser detectors.
Happy Easter
Happy Easter
How is the V1 behind the curve when the X50's laser detection is so bad that you need the optional ZR3 laser shifter just to detect laser. According to the 2005 Motor Trend test, "its primary shortcomings in laser detection are addressed when matched up with the available ZR3 laser shifter." The only problem is that it will cost you between $450-$500 to purchase the optional ZR3 laser shifter or the Bel LaserPro 905. The K40 Calibre in the latest testing video failed to jam a single laser gun on the market and it will cost you almost $2000.
Escort and Bel are behind the curve, look at the latest laser testing:
The V1 just kills them.
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/
http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...213&highlight=
Notice in this video below how the X50 doesn't even alert to a certain laser gun in stealth mode while the V1 alerts 100% of the time.
http://media.putfile.com/JammerTests...nd_X50_stealth
Last edited by RaDaRkInG; Apr 17, 2006 at 02:24 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: Kelso WA
I have a V1 that I got for free! It does give a lot of false alarms but you can set it so that all you have to do is push the volume button and it will be as quiet as you want it to be. I have been in numerous situations where I would have been toast if not for the detector. On the open road with a cop coming towards me with radar on, I get at least a one mile warning. From behind, it seems more like a half mile. If they are stationary on the side of the road, you should be looking for them anyway, but as long as there are cars ahead of me, I still get plenty of warning. If you are driving solo, you need to be aware that you have to keep your eyes open and look for natural spots for them to set up. I can't tell you how many times I've spotted them before they spotted me, with and without the detector. I love my V1 as much as I love my 'Vette. It's a real money saver for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 6,516
Likes: 4,840
From: One Hour From Boston!
Escort is running a deal from now until June 30. Buy an X50 or SOLO2 and get $50 off when you send them your old detector, and they'll throw in a Smartcord ($29.95 value) for FREE! You need to call them to get this deal. 1-888-8ESCORT. Having said this, I'm still going to buy me a new V1. 
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
V1 since '92. Upgraded every 12-18 mos to stay current. Louder alert, better visibility, bogey count & location.
I'm thinking of installing a blinder too, but don't care whether it's built into my R-Detector interface.
I'm also installing an alarm system that doesn't interface with car systems (lites, starter kill, etc.). I want things that are going to do IT'S job, not everyone elses...
Rick
I'm thinking of installing a blinder too, but don't care whether it's built into my R-Detector interface.
I'm also installing an alarm system that doesn't interface with car systems (lites, starter kill, etc.). I want things that are going to do IT'S job, not everyone elses...
Rick