Question for Valentine 1 users
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 16,106
Likes: 473
Question for Valentine 1 users
While driving past a radar box today (one of those big police-placed, refrigerator-sized contraptions with big letters indicating the speed), my V1 didn't go off. Nothing, zip, zilch, nada. Any ideas?
It works otherwise, going off where appropriate and/or validating a visual (cop with radar). This incident happened twice--once in the a.m., once in eve on same road, same box. Kind of odd.
Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
It works otherwise, going off where appropriate and/or validating a visual (cop with radar). This incident happened twice--once in the a.m., once in eve on same road, same box. Kind of odd.
Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,734
Likes: 0
From: Charleston/Lake Villa IL
Originally Posted by SLO VETTE
While driving past a radar box today (one of those big police-placed, refrigerator-sized contraptions with big letters indicating the speed), my V1 didn't go off. Nothing, zip, zilch, nada. Any ideas?
It works otherwise, going off where appropriate and/or validating a visual (cop with radar). This incident happened twice--once in the a.m., once in eve on same road, same box. Kind of odd.
Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
It works otherwise, going off where appropriate and/or validating a visual (cop with radar). This incident happened twice--once in the a.m., once in eve on same road, same box. Kind of odd.
Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
Someone forgot to turn it on?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
My V-1 lets me know those boxes are there literally for miles....
Did it show your speed? If not I susspect it was not on.
If it did, I would call V-1 and arranged to have you unit fixed.
Did it show your speed? If not I susspect it was not on.
If it did, I would call V-1 and arranged to have you unit fixed.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 490
Likes: 7
From: Slinger WI
I had the same thing happen with my Valentine. I drove home and got my Passport 9500 and it did not go off either. I am thinking that they are using a frequency not normally used and the detectors are not set for.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,624
Likes: 18
From: Dover MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
FWIW, same box, same location, most times the V1 goes crazy on K band, but everyone once in a while it is completely silent even though the sign is working and registering speed.
No frackin' idea, in short.
No frackin' idea, in short.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,287
Likes: 0
From: york pa
Originally Posted by rws.1
My V-1 lets me know those boxes are there literally for miles....
Did it show your speed? If not I susspect it was not on.
If it did, I would call V-1 and arranged to have you unit fixed.
Did it show your speed? If not I susspect it was not on.
If it did, I would call V-1 and arranged to have you unit fixed.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
This is according to Mike Valentine himself at Valentine Research.
The failure to alert to a particular speed sign might have one of
several causes:
1) The speed sign may employ an FM-CW modulation technique to sense the direction of vehicles in its field of view. This feature is used to isolate departing from oncoming traffic. The V1 does not recognize FM-CW modulation as a valid police radar signal and tries to reject it. FM-CW is allowed for license-free "Part 15" devices by the FCC. FM-CW is not allowed for police radar. There are numerous traffic-volume sensors using FM-CW spread all around metropolitan areas these days that detector owners would rather not produce an alert. Otherwise freeway driving (in Cincinnati, at least) would be very annoying. It's a good thing that the V1 rejects FM-CW modulated signals.
2) The speed sign may have drifted out of the police radar band from aging or temperature. "Part 15" devices are somewhat notorious for this behavior. Automatic door sensors and Doppler security sensors are both "Part 15" devices, too. Few automatic door sensors use FM-CW because of the added expense. The speed sign devices can afford the added cost of including the FM-CW modulating hardware.
3) The V1 in question may need for our service department to have a
look at it to make sure it is operating correctly."
The failure to alert to a particular speed sign might have one of
several causes:
1) The speed sign may employ an FM-CW modulation technique to sense the direction of vehicles in its field of view. This feature is used to isolate departing from oncoming traffic. The V1 does not recognize FM-CW modulation as a valid police radar signal and tries to reject it. FM-CW is allowed for license-free "Part 15" devices by the FCC. FM-CW is not allowed for police radar. There are numerous traffic-volume sensors using FM-CW spread all around metropolitan areas these days that detector owners would rather not produce an alert. Otherwise freeway driving (in Cincinnati, at least) would be very annoying. It's a good thing that the V1 rejects FM-CW modulated signals.
2) The speed sign may have drifted out of the police radar band from aging or temperature. "Part 15" devices are somewhat notorious for this behavior. Automatic door sensors and Doppler security sensors are both "Part 15" devices, too. Few automatic door sensors use FM-CW because of the added expense. The speed sign devices can afford the added cost of including the FM-CW modulating hardware.
3) The V1 in question may need for our service department to have a
look at it to make sure it is operating correctly."
Last edited by Brentvino169; Aug 4, 2006 at 11:52 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Have you changed the program to filter out X-band, or are you running the factory default program? One of my geekier (is that a word?) buddies monkeyed around with his V1 and changed the filter through programming to ignore X-band, as it is his contention that none of the police agencies in our area use the X-band anymore for speed enforcement. He's probably right, but I run the factory settings, just like it came out of the box......
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,969
Likes: 534
From: Witness Protection Program Somewhere, USA
2026 Restomod of the Year Finalist
Originally Posted by rws.1
My V-1 lets me know those boxes are there literally for miles....
Did it show your speed? If not I susspect it was not on.
If it did, I would call V-1 and arranged to have you unit fixed.
Did it show your speed? If not I susspect it was not on.
If it did, I would call V-1 and arranged to have you unit fixed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 7,996
Likes: 0
From: McAlester Oklahoma
I just got my new V-1. I bought the stealth monitor but haven't put it in yet. Where is the best place to put the main unit? I have it on my windsheild to the left of my mirror about 8" down. I'm running "L" but am open to suggestions. IM me if yu want.