I am looking for a good radar detector. Who makes the best and where can I get it online?

 

Boy, this topic is going to get hot... always does.

There are 2 main factions... the Valentine 1 side and the Escort 8500 side.

I am on the side of the Valentine 1. To me, it's the best unit out there. It can keep track up to 9 different (or is it 8?) signals at the same time, and, tell you if they are at the front, rear or side. It also has a front and rear sensor, versus just a forward only on most other units. available only from their website, www.valentine1.com, and it ain't cheep - $399.00. If you drive a lot, it's worth it and customer service is great. I have had mine for 6 years. Love it.

My V1 story: back in the late 90s, I was crusing down I-95 in South Carolina. My V1 went nutso, picking up a huge speed trap in the median strip. Of course, I slowed, cleared the trap... about 1/2 mile past, my detector was still picking up the rear noise, and it was fading, but then it picked up another strong forward signal - SCHP had ANOTHER trap ~1 mile down the road! A regular detector would never have been able to delineate all the different signals.

The Escort Passport 8500 seems to have a slight edge in sensativity, but, without a rear facing antenna, or directional abililties. I have no experience with this unit, so I cannot speak about it's usage. I think these are available from many different retail outlets.

There is a site that some will refer to, www.radartest.com, this dude worries me... his logic defies reason, and I don't believe he is entirely honest.

 

Attention all units we have a 6 alarm fire on corvette forum ave all units respond
this is gunna get good

Anyway, I have had Escorts since the days of Cincinatti Microwave (many years ago) and love them. Just got the new x50 from a supporting vendor revextreme for around $250 ??

I looked into the V1 and was nearly there but it is like a Chevy vs Ford, drive Chevys all your life and might be tempted by a Ford but just can't do it. Besides I would rather save the $100+ for other stuff.

I think there is no wrong choice between the 2 of them

 

Oh, an interesting aside... Mike Valentine, the brain behind the V1, is also the original brain behind Escort.

 

V1 seems to be the best....if you have the money....
otherwise i have the cobra....happy with it....saving money for the
V1 though.....

 

The V1 is still the best and has been since 1992.

People with the X50 will tell you that "Arrows" are useless and they just slow down regardless of where the radar is coming from. It is great that the X50 told you when to slow down but the V1 will tell you when you can SPEED UP which is better information.

The X50 beats the V1 because it isn't as wide as the V1, priced lower, beats the V1 in KA band by a few tenths of a mile from the front, and it comes in blue if you count that as beating the V1.

Some people say the Valentine falses too much but I believe that is because it has 2 antennas and better range so it picks up more signals than others. Radar Roy, a retired cop, has a website and he rates the X50 a 10 out of 10 on filtering and the V1 a 9 out of 10. Check out this link if you are interested:

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/product-tests/3.asp

The V1 wins because it is Magnesium not Plastic, Flat Black not Shiny Silver, 2 antennas not 1, not as long as the X50, not as high as the X50, weighs less than the X50, better in X and K band radar range, detects laser from 1/4 mile away when the car in front of it is shot, Rear radar detection that beats the X50 by 2-3 miles in all radar bands according to SML test done in 2000 sometime, detects 9 bogies of any type of radar and the X50 detects 8 (4 X, 2 K, 2 KA) at the same time, Full POP protection with no falsing unlike the X50 according to their own website (that is why the default setting leaves it OFF), comes with the visor mount and direct-wire kit but with the X50 it will cost you extra, Real Concealed display you can put anywhere with useful information compared to the X50 "DUMB CORD" with no information, full upgradeability without having to buy a new model and relearn the features and sell your other one, and Better reputation for 12 years with better resale value.

Some people say Escort and Bel are better but VALENTINE ONE has never filed for bankruptcy and Escort filed for bankruptcy in 1997 and tried to make a comeback but got whipped by the V1 in every test. Bel radar failed so miserably against the VALENTINE ONE that they filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and were quickly bought up by Escort merging the #2 and #3 radar detector makers to try and compete with the V1

Carl Fors who runs SML claims the X50 is the "top dog" but this is what he said about the 8500 in the 2003 SML test, "When officers were told to quick trigger (approximately one second) their radar guns against the Escort 8500, it did not see, nor report, the use of Stalker’s ATR, Stalker Basic, Kustom Directional Golden Eagle, Kustom Talon, and Kustom Falcon. The 8500 did not see any MPH POP transmissions."

 

I'm a V1 guy myself and at one time own three of them (one got stolen )

The above is true, Doug was the head engineer at Escort (when they ruled) and went off to do his own thing. The same story happened with PPI. Their head engineer started up his own company and their amps rock. For those who don't know, that company is Xtant.

I'm seriously concidering the 8500 since they have a model with blue LEDs and that would match my car perfectly. Don't think I can live without my arrows though and the higher sensitivity of the V1 though.
The V1 is only $70 dollars more and worth it.

 

Radarking - if I am not mistaken, didn't Uniden/Cobra buy out the left-overs of Escort (re: Cincinnati Microwave) as part of the bankruptcy transaction?

 

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/200...iz_escort.html

This is the site with the bankruptcy info. on Escort and Beltronics radar

 

hm. interesting read. thanks!

 

Another vote for V1.

 

Well, Valentine 1 it is. Should be receiving it in a couple of days.