Hey Guys, looking into getting a new radar detector, most of the threads I've read through feature high praise for the Escort 8500 and the newer 8500 x50. These threads are a little old so I was wondering if any of you have some recent opinions in radar detectors etc.

Thanks guys!

 

Your post belongs in audio/electronics. If you use the search function you will find that the majority favors the Valentine V1 detector. The V1 has two receivers, forward and backward facing and can tell you if the radar or laser source is ahead, beside, or behind you and tells you how many radar sources there are. The first thing you do if your detector goes off is wonder where the police car is. No other detector tells you this. If you pass a police radar trap and then figure your detector is alerting on the trap you passed and speed up, you might find out that there was another trap ahead and you get caught. The V1 will show a forward arrow coming up on the trap, side arrow as you pass it, and a rear arrow as you go by. But the stronger trap just ahead, the V1 will show you 2 sources and the stronger one is ahead alerting you to the second trap. No other detector will allow you to know that another radar gun is ahead of the one you just passed.

 

You want to pickup a V1.

End of story.

Do a search for this (check to search through archives) and you will find a TON of info on what works and what doesnt.

The top rated one is the V1, and seems to be the favorite as well amongst owners.

 

Latest radar/laser detector test:

http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html

Spreadsheet of the radar/laser detector test results:

http://home.comcast.net/~ccaeric6/GOL_averages_MB5.htm

 

Also, the V1 is continually improved and you can have your current V1 updated. If you owned the first V1 shipped, that model can't be updated, BUT, Valentine will allow you to upgrade by allowing you $130 for your detector and selling you a new detector for $279. Try that with any other detector!

 

Does it even matter? I mean, once you detect them, aren't they measuring your speed? And what about laser?

 

Excellent, thanks for the info and I apologize about the location of the post, still a noob around here.

The idea with Radar detector (at least for me) is to pick up radar which is being run within my proximity. My thinking is officers are using radar on everyone so if I can pick up the radio with my dectector before they focus on me...I win.

 

I got my first detector before I got my lisence. They have saved me many times plus I just like to know when I am being radared to. There are times when you detect them and they have already got you, yes. But not always! For example, most of the time I let a faster car pass me then tail him a ways back. This is my rabbit and they will get radared or lasered first, my detector will see this and warn me.

 

Honestly from my experience I think they're pretty useless. Some of them are so bad they might as well be "ticket detectors".

 

You wouldn't have experienced that if you wouldn't have bought the cheapest assed radar detector you could find!

 

Once you find out how radar works, you'll understand how you can pick up radar signals long before they can get a read on you; reflected signals, weak signals (too weak to get back to the transmitter), etc.

Laser is much tougher to beat than radar. About the only thing you can hope for is catching a stray beam meant for someone else.

The Escort units are top notch, but....
I love my V-1. My two sons each love their V-1's.

Mine has saved me on at least two occaisons, without question.

Larry
code5coupe

__________
Often wrong, never in doubt....

 

Oh, I think I have a pretty good clue how radar works. I spent 4 years working on Tartar and Talos missle systems for Uncle Sam.
I'm not well versed on the stuff used by the police, but I do know the concepts. I know it can be pulsed, or continuous, or a combination.
I also know that when we went CW on a target, it was toast. I know it's not exactly the same for a car, but it's not all that different either.

 

I have beltronics and I have detected CHP 10 miles out (desert area). So far, it has detected all CHP on the way.

I got caught with a laser gun once and it was explained to me how the "laser beam" works. For that one, we are all screwed unless the cop hits your detector.....before you get to him (thats the good thing about radar, they are on 95% of the time).

 

if you want to pay an extra $200 for arrows, get the Valentine 1. Otherwise, a Beltronics Vector 955 or 965 should be quite sufficient.

 

I was wondering what in the hell that was all about while I was out shopping today!!!

 

Thats why I think detectors are useless. The only time I ever really speed at all is on the highway and all of the Ohio troopers use the laser.

 

Why would anyone do that If they can just buy a brand new one for $200? I'm not sure how much it costs to get your V1 updated with new firmware, components, etc... but it seems rather silly to me. I, for one, am not emotionally attached to my radar detector. It doesn't matter to me If I throw away my old one and just buy a new one. Besides, radar detectors don't suddenly become obsolete. I've only ever had 2 radar detectors. I purchased a Bel in '98 I think. There was nothing wrong with it, it detected everything just fine, laser, x, etc... , and I think I used it until about '04. Then I decided I wanted another one, but this time with more features, such as the LED text, voice, etc... so I bought the Bel Vector, and I believe it was around $179 or $189.



The arrows are a neat feature, but paying another $200 for them is completely ridiculous. The V1 is not the end all be all of radar detectors. It advertises a gimmick, but I'll admit it is a gimmick that actually works as advertised. However, I think I'll save my $200 that I'd would've paid for the arrows and use that money to buy a brand new detector in a few years.




I guess it depends on where you live. Here in TX, I don't encounter to many LEO's using laser.

 

nope. That is why you have to use it as a TOOL to drive SMART... not as "its going to save my butt if it goes off"

Remember, they only pickup signals floating around. So if there are people in front of you (say you are on the interstate) and it goes off, you know someone up ahead is clocking, and it's picking up the signal of them clocking other people. So... you slow down.

If you are the ONLY one on the road, and you get hit directly by one of those buggers hiding in the trees... well, that's your own fault. You didn't use it as it should be used.

As for laser, it works very well also.

I was in the front of a pack (stupid me) and speeding along the interstate. I got nailed twice with laser. As soon as it went off, my foot was on the brake. They supposedly have to get a fixed reading on your for 1 second (or something like that) for it to lock in the speed. If you are VERY alert and have a VERY quick reaction time, you can hit the brakes fast enough for it not to lock on. I was able to do this both times. THe cop just pointed at me and shook his finger at me in both cases.

so yes...the V1 works EXTREMELY well... BUT... only if you use it as an EXTRA tool to HELP you when you are driving.

That is the #1 reason people badmouth radar detectors, is that they do not use them as they were intended and it's their own fault for getting caught.

------------

Even if you DON'T own a V1, go download the manual and read the stuff in it about how it all works. It can be applied to any detector. It shows you how to properly use them, what all the signals are, angles, particles, etc, etc. VERY cool read. I actually read it aloud to my wife on a road trip once, and she found it very interesting as well.

 

I think the arrows are a great feature. Maybe not entirely necessary, but it's nice when the detector goes to know whether the signal is front, back or to the side. Generally, to the side you don't have to worry about, but I like to know if the police car is coming from up from behind or is in front of me.

The other feature that is nice is the bogie counter. There are a few areas I frequently travel that have zones that set the radar off so I've learned to ignore the sound. If the bogie counter is "2" I know there is another threat out there, has saved me a ticket a few times.

If the $200 additional cost isn't a big hardship for you, I highly recommend the V1.

 

Here's the way I see it I have a V1 it's the best.Is it pricey yes, but it has saved me enough I think it's paid for itself. Oh the people that say the arrows aren't worth it I don't think have ever owned a V1.