Best Radar Detector???
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
It's interesting to meet individuals who buy into the hype of a $500 Escort or Bel and pay more for a product that gives you less and increases your chances of paying a cop more. It is a myth that the V1 uses old 1992 technology because Valentine Research has been upgrading the components inside year after year regardless of the exterior appearance.
The V1 has been $399 for a long time and they maintain their value because you can sell a V1 that is 4 years old on eBay for about $360 so you only lose around $40. You want to know why they hold their value so well? Because Bel and Escort have yet to make a detector under $400 or $500 that can detect radar or lidar as well as the V1 while holding its value.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/july-2007/off...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...ws-tests-2009/
Here is an example of what will happen if you own an Escort or Bel detector and a cop is using the quick trigger radar gun method or instant-on radar to capture your speed or to sample the speed of the cars driving in front of you before you are in range. When people talk about how quiet their Escort or Bel is compared to the Valentine One, I want you to know that it is because Escort and Bel filter their alerts so that drivers aren't annoyed but it is at the expense of receiving a ticket.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...00-tested.html
For those of you who don't want to watch the videos, the results:
V1 - detected all K and Ka, missed 0% of Ka and 0% of K band
8500 - detected 4/5 Ka, 6/10 K, missed 20% of Ka band and 40% of K band
9500ix - detected 4/8 Ka, 2/11 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 72% of K band
8500 X50 - detected 3/4 Ka, 1/9 K, missed 25% of Ka band and 89% of K band
STi - detected 3/6 Ka, 1/8 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 87% of K band
The V1 has been $399 for a long time and they maintain their value because you can sell a V1 that is 4 years old on eBay for about $360 so you only lose around $40. You want to know why they hold their value so well? Because Bel and Escort have yet to make a detector under $400 or $500 that can detect radar or lidar as well as the V1 while holding its value.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/july-2007/off...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...ws-tests-2009/
Here is an example of what will happen if you own an Escort or Bel detector and a cop is using the quick trigger radar gun method or instant-on radar to capture your speed or to sample the speed of the cars driving in front of you before you are in range. When people talk about how quiet their Escort or Bel is compared to the Valentine One, I want you to know that it is because Escort and Bel filter their alerts so that drivers aren't annoyed but it is at the expense of receiving a ticket.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...00-tested.html
Uploading a little bit of video. Kind of disappointing, if you ask me. Granted, it's what most of us already knew. Makes me wonder if I should even post the vids, considering it shows a pretty bad weakness (granted, it's now like we didn't already know...)
Either way, it's K (older Roadrunner) and Ka (Stalker ATR) QT testing against the an STI (with RU fix), a V1 (forget which version), an X50 (TSR model, but with it off), a 9500ix, and an Ebay Escort refurb 8500.
Course was around 1200 ft, since that's about as far as both radar guns could detect oncoming traffic on a longer course we tried. After seeing the vids, you can kind of see how you could maybe outbrake I/O, but you have to keep in mind these are older guns. Wish I could get my hands on a DSR.
The Kustom wasn't tested since there doesn't really seem to be a true I/O mode. For some reason, once you press the trigger and get a speed, it'll stay on for a couple seconds to get a tracking history. If you know how to turn this off, that'd be helpful
V1 (3.872)
http://www.blip.tv/file/2560953
STi RU fix
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561034
8500 S7
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561133
8500 X50 TSR model (TSR option off)
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561213
9500ix
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561301
Either way, it's K (older Roadrunner) and Ka (Stalker ATR) QT testing against the an STI (with RU fix), a V1 (forget which version), an X50 (TSR model, but with it off), a 9500ix, and an Ebay Escort refurb 8500.
Course was around 1200 ft, since that's about as far as both radar guns could detect oncoming traffic on a longer course we tried. After seeing the vids, you can kind of see how you could maybe outbrake I/O, but you have to keep in mind these are older guns. Wish I could get my hands on a DSR.
The Kustom wasn't tested since there doesn't really seem to be a true I/O mode. For some reason, once you press the trigger and get a speed, it'll stay on for a couple seconds to get a tracking history. If you know how to turn this off, that'd be helpful
V1 (3.872)
http://www.blip.tv/file/2560953
STi RU fix
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561034
8500 S7
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561133
8500 X50 TSR model (TSR option off)
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561213
9500ix
http://www.blip.tv/file/2561301
For those of you who don't want to watch the videos, the results:
V1 - detected all K and Ka, missed 0% of Ka and 0% of K band
8500 - detected 4/5 Ka, 6/10 K, missed 20% of Ka band and 40% of K band
9500ix - detected 4/8 Ka, 2/11 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 72% of K band
8500 X50 - detected 3/4 Ka, 1/9 K, missed 25% of Ka band and 89% of K band
STi - detected 3/6 Ka, 1/8 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 87% of K band
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
It's interesting to meet individuals who buy into the hype of a $500 Escort or Bel and pay more for a product that gives you less and increases your chances of paying a cop more. It is a myth that the V1 uses old 1992 technology because Valentine Research has been upgrading the components inside year after year regardless of the exterior appearance.
The V1 has been $399 for a long time and they maintain their value because you can sell a V1 that is 4 years old on eBay for about $360 so you only lose around $40. You want to know why they hold their value so well? Because Bel and Escort have yet to make a detector under $400 or $500 that can detect radar or lidar as well as the V1 while holding its value.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/july-2007/off...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...ws-tests-2009/
Here is an example of what will happen if you own an Escort or Bel detector and a cop is using the quick trigger radar gun method or instant-on radar to capture your speed or to sample the speed of the cars driving in front of you before you are in range. When people talk about how quiet their Escort or Bel is compared to the Valentine One, I want you to know that it is because Escort and Bel filter their alerts so that drivers aren't annoyed but it is at the expense of receiving a ticket.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...00-tested.html
For those of you who don't want to watch the videos, the results:
V1 - detected all K and Ka, missed 0% of Ka and 0% of K band
8500 - detected 4/5 Ka, 6/10 K, missed 20% of Ka band and 40% of K band
9500ix - detected 4/8 Ka, 2/11 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 72% of K band
8500 X50 - detected 3/4 Ka, 1/9 K, missed 25% of Ka band and 89% of K band
STi - detected 3/6 Ka, 1/8 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 87% of K band
The V1 has been $399 for a long time and they maintain their value because you can sell a V1 that is 4 years old on eBay for about $360 so you only lose around $40. You want to know why they hold their value so well? Because Bel and Escort have yet to make a detector under $400 or $500 that can detect radar or lidar as well as the V1 while holding its value.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/july-2007/off...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...ws-tests-2009/
Here is an example of what will happen if you own an Escort or Bel detector and a cop is using the quick trigger radar gun method or instant-on radar to capture your speed or to sample the speed of the cars driving in front of you before you are in range. When people talk about how quiet their Escort or Bel is compared to the Valentine One, I want you to know that it is because Escort and Bel filter their alerts so that drivers aren't annoyed but it is at the expense of receiving a ticket.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...00-tested.html
For those of you who don't want to watch the videos, the results:
V1 - detected all K and Ka, missed 0% of Ka and 0% of K band
8500 - detected 4/5 Ka, 6/10 K, missed 20% of Ka band and 40% of K band
9500ix - detected 4/8 Ka, 2/11 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 72% of K band
8500 X50 - detected 3/4 Ka, 1/9 K, missed 25% of Ka band and 89% of K band
STi - detected 3/6 Ka, 1/8 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 87% of K band
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,544
Likes: 4
From: Rockland County New York
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,732
Likes: 21
From: Napa Ca
don't know nothin' bout passport, bel, etc...I just know my V1 has been well worth the $399. Wish I could spend $798 more so all my vehicles would have one instead to transferring the one I have amoung the C5, C6 and DD Nissan.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
I live in VA so a R/D that cant be picked up is very important. I have tried them all over the last 9 years or so and Iif you go through a state like VA where the cops are running spectra they will pick up the V1 all day long no question about it. The Escort and the Rx65 I had been running were both great R/D as well as the V1 that I gave away when spectra came out. I have many friends that are truck drivers and if you do a little research you will find most of your truckers are using BELL OR ESCORT. I ran my RX65 BELL and V1 for about 3 months ((at the same time just for fun)) and I can tell you for a fact that 75% of the time my BELL was talking to me at least 3 sec before my V1 was. I know that might not seem like much but 3 sec is a lot of brake time 
I read a lot of this V1 is the best stuff and I have to say that I have not seen any proof of this with my wifes V1 or mine. Its a great R/D dont get me wrong but its not the best.....look to an STI or Redline if you want the best, in VA I had too because my Rx65 was no longer undetectable. ........Dam I hope all that can be read because Imdrunk as hell 
I read a lot of this V1 is the best stuff and I have to say that I have not seen any proof of this with my wifes V1 or mine. Its a great R/D dont get me wrong but its not the best.....look to an STI or Redline if you want the best, in VA I had too because my Rx65 was no longer undetectable. ........Dam I hope all that can be read because Imdrunk as hell
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
I live in VA so a R/D that cant be picked up is very important. I have tried them all over the last 9 years or so and Iif you go through a state like VA where the cops are running spectra they will pick up the V1 all day long no question about it. The Escort and the Rx65 I had been running were both great R/D as well as the V1 that I gave away when spectra came out. I have many friends that are truck drivers and if you do a little research you will find most of your truckers are using BELL OR ESCORT. I ran my RX65 BELL and V1 for about 3 months ((at the same time just for fun)) and I can tell you for a fact that 75% of the time my BELL was talking to me at least 3 sec before my V1 was. I know that might not seem like much but 3 sec is a lot of brake time I read a lot of this V1 is the best stuff and I have to say that I have not seen any proof of this with my wifes V1 or mine. Its a great R/D dont get me wrong but its not the best.....look to an STI or Redline if you want the best, in VA I had too because my Rx65 was no longer undetectable. ........Dam I hope all that can be read because Imdrunk as hell
I read a lot of this V1 is the best stuff and I have to say that I have not seen any proof of this with my wifes V1 or mine. Its a great R/D dont get me wrong but its not the best.....look to an STI or Redline if you want the best, in VA I had too because my Rx65 was no longer undetectable. ........Dam I hope all that can be read because Imdrunk as hell I too own both the V1, and the RX65. The RX65 in my experience took MUCH, MUCH longer to detect what the V1 would have detected quite a ways away from whatever actual threat I encountered. In one instance, had I been speeding it would have actually cost me a speeding ticket as it registered the Ka band so late.
I still use the RX65 on my motorcycle, but have learned not to depend on it as much as I used to.
Perhaps it has something to do with different programming versions of our radars at the times.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
You should do some more reading on laser jammers. They are only illegal in Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois and Washington DC.
Modern jammers do not give the cop a false reading, or an error code. They simply give him nothing. The proper use for a laser jammer is to alert you, give you a few seconds to slow down, and then you disable it (via a killswitch) so that the cop can get a reading on you but by now you're only doing 5-10 over the limit.
There is no fool proof system, but increasing your knowledge on the subjects is what saves you from tickets.
I run a V1 combined with Blinder M25 laser jammers. I know exactly what local cops are running and know what to lookout for. I don't get mad when my V1 "falses" a K band alert because I know the chances of that being a police gun are next to nothing, and I have the mute button easily located so I can quickly stop it from chirping.
The V1 sensitivity has saved me many times and the arrows are simply invaluable. I know when my radar was being triggered by a cop driving in the opposite direction, hiding in the bushes behind me, or is way down the road which no other detector gives me.
And if your local enforcement runs laser, then a radar detector won't give you anything other than a "you now have a ticket" alert.
If I money was no option I would go with a hardwired Valentine 1 and Laser Interceptor jammers.
Modern jammers do not give the cop a false reading, or an error code. They simply give him nothing. The proper use for a laser jammer is to alert you, give you a few seconds to slow down, and then you disable it (via a killswitch) so that the cop can get a reading on you but by now you're only doing 5-10 over the limit.
There is no fool proof system, but increasing your knowledge on the subjects is what saves you from tickets.
I run a V1 combined with Blinder M25 laser jammers. I know exactly what local cops are running and know what to lookout for. I don't get mad when my V1 "falses" a K band alert because I know the chances of that being a police gun are next to nothing, and I have the mute button easily located so I can quickly stop it from chirping.
The V1 sensitivity has saved me many times and the arrows are simply invaluable. I know when my radar was being triggered by a cop driving in the opposite direction, hiding in the bushes behind me, or is way down the road which no other detector gives me.
And if your local enforcement runs laser, then a radar detector won't give you anything other than a "you now have a ticket" alert.
If I money was no option I would go with a hardwired Valentine 1 and Laser Interceptor jammers.
I am a dealer for Blinder (M series jammers). They just released the newer units which I will be offering soon.
V1 for the best radar detector!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Ypsilanti, Michigan
I have not received a speeding ticket since 1986. That is when a purchased an Escort brand (if I'm not mistaken Cincinnati microwave) detector. I say go with the passport detector, the Escort brand has worked flawlessly for me for 23 years.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
Remember that Mike Valentine, the creator of the Valentine One, and his father started Cincinnati Microwave which created the original #1 rated Escort that only detected X and K band. Right after Mike and his father left the company to start Valentine Research, CM went bankrupt.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
I live in VA so a R/D that cant be picked up is very important. I have tried them all over the last 9 years or so and Iif you go through a state like VA where the cops are running spectra they will pick up the V1 all day long no question about it. The Escort and the Rx65 I had been running were both great R/D as well as the V1 that I gave away when spectra came out. I have many friends that are truck drivers and if you do a little research you will find most of your truckers are using BELL OR ESCORT. I ran my RX65 BELL and V1 for about 3 months ((at the same time just for fun)) and I can tell you for a fact that 75% of the time my BELL was talking to me at least 3 sec before my V1 was. I know that might not seem like much but 3 sec is a lot of brake time I read a lot of this V1 is the best stuff and I have to say that I have not seen any proof of this with my wifes V1 or mine. Its a great R/D dont get me wrong but its not the best.....look to an STI or Redline if you want the best, in VA I had too because my Rx65 was no longer undetectable. ........Dam I hope all that can be read because Imdrunk as hell
I read a lot of this V1 is the best stuff and I have to say that I have not seen any proof of this with my wifes V1 or mine. Its a great R/D dont get me wrong but its not the best.....look to an STI or Redline if you want the best, in VA I had too because my Rx65 was no longer undetectable. ........Dam I hope all that can be read because Imdrunk as hell The Bel RX-65 is an alright detector but it is not even in the same ballpark as the Valentine One.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
All of that testing you did running the V1 at the same time with your Bel RX-65 is not valid because detectors intefere with each other which could make one detector alert way before another or cause one to not alert at all.
Read about it here:
http://guysoflidar.com/twodetectors.html
http://valentine1.com/lab/DoItYourself.asp
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=Brentvino169;1571471241]The only detectors immune to the Spectre IV RDD radar detector detector are the Bel STi, Escort 9500ci, the discontinued Bel STi-R, and the not yet released Escort Redline.
The Bel RX-65 is an alright detector but it is not even in the same ballpark as the Valentine One.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
All of that testing you did running the V1 at the same time with your Bel RX-65 is not valid because detectors intefere with each other which could make one detector alert way before another or cause one to not alert at all.
Read about it here:
http://guysoflidar.com/twodetectors.html
http://valentine1.com/lab/DoItYourself.asp[/QUOTE
That might be true but I did it for fun anyway but there are a lot of guys that run both and have been for a long tim (see www.radardetector.net/forums)......... I had to go with the STI anyway because here In VA the RX65, V1, ect.. ect.. ect.. are all junk now. They will pop your azz in a sec and never take the smile off there face while writing you the ticket.
The Bel RX-65 is an alright detector but it is not even in the same ballpark as the Valentine One.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
All of that testing you did running the V1 at the same time with your Bel RX-65 is not valid because detectors intefere with each other which could make one detector alert way before another or cause one to not alert at all.
Read about it here:
http://guysoflidar.com/twodetectors.html
http://valentine1.com/lab/DoItYourself.asp[/QUOTE
That might be true but I did it for fun anyway but there are a lot of guys that run both and have been for a long tim (see www.radardetector.net/forums)......... I had to go with the STI anyway because here In VA the RX65, V1, ect.. ect.. ect.. are all junk now. They will pop your azz in a sec and never take the smile off there face while writing you the ticket.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 16
From: Katy Tx
of course zero to 5 over can still be fun.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 353
Likes: 2
From: Edmonton Alberta
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,336
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
The Escort 9500ix is the BEST all around detector as it auto learns and blocks out false alarms via GPS. It also is preloaded with all the camera and speed trap databases and is upgradeable.
The Redline is ULTRA Sensitive and meant for highway only driving as it will be constantly be going off around the city.
Both the Bell and Valentine are not even in the same league from a technology standpoint and would not be a fair comparison. You would want to compare them to the Escort 8500......
Now if you really want the ultimate and are willing to pay for it, checkout the Escort 9500CI, this is what I want for my car....
See ya,
Jim
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 23,336
Likes: 379
From: Marietta Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06-'07, '13, '15
It's interesting to meet individuals who buy into the hype of a $500 Escort or Bel and pay more for a product that gives you less and increases your chances of paying a cop more. It is a myth that the V1 uses old 1992 technology because Valentine Research has been upgrading the components inside year after year regardless of the exterior appearance.
The V1 has been $399 for a long time and they maintain their value because you can sell a V1 that is 4 years old on eBay for about $360 so you only lose around $40. You want to know why they hold their value so well? Because Bel and Escort have yet to make a detector under $400 or $500 that can detect radar or lidar as well as the V1 while holding its value.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/july-2007/off...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...ws-tests-2009/
Here is an example of what will happen if you own an Escort or Bel detector and a cop is using the quick trigger radar gun method or instant-on radar to capture your speed or to sample the speed of the cars driving in front of you before you are in range. When people talk about how quiet their Escort or Bel is compared to the Valentine One, I want you to know that it is because Escort and Bel filter their alerts so that drivers aren't annoyed but it is at the expense of receiving a ticket.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...00-tested.html
For those of you who don't want to watch the videos, the results:
V1 - detected all K and Ka, missed 0% of Ka and 0% of K band
8500 - detected 4/5 Ka, 6/10 K, missed 20% of Ka band and 40% of K band
9500ix - detected 4/8 Ka, 2/11 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 72% of K band
8500 X50 - detected 3/4 Ka, 1/9 K, missed 25% of Ka band and 89% of K band
STi - detected 3/6 Ka, 1/8 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 87% of K band
The V1 has been $399 for a long time and they maintain their value because you can sell a V1 that is 4 years old on eBay for about $360 so you only lose around $40. You want to know why they hold their value so well? Because Bel and Escort have yet to make a detector under $400 or $500 that can detect radar or lidar as well as the V1 while holding its value.
http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html
http://guysoflidar.com/july-2007/off...ctor-test.html
http://www.laserveil.com/laser/detec...ws-tests-2009/
Here is an example of what will happen if you own an Escort or Bel detector and a cop is using the quick trigger radar gun method or instant-on radar to capture your speed or to sample the speed of the cars driving in front of you before you are in range. When people talk about how quiet their Escort or Bel is compared to the Valentine One, I want you to know that it is because Escort and Bel filter their alerts so that drivers aren't annoyed but it is at the expense of receiving a ticket.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...00-tested.html
For those of you who don't want to watch the videos, the results:
V1 - detected all K and Ka, missed 0% of Ka and 0% of K band
8500 - detected 4/5 Ka, 6/10 K, missed 20% of Ka band and 40% of K band
9500ix - detected 4/8 Ka, 2/11 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 72% of K band
8500 X50 - detected 3/4 Ka, 1/9 K, missed 25% of Ka band and 89% of K band
STi - detected 3/6 Ka, 1/8 K, missed 50% of Ka band and 87% of K band
I am sure this guy means well.....but take a look at his profile/previous posts....
All he EVER posts about the entire time he has been a member of the forum is how wonderful the V1 is. He used to always jump into my threads to evangelize the Valentine .
I would take his V1 hype with a grain of salt..trust me, he is a Valentine employee posing as a Corvette enthusiasts just to avoid paying supporting vendor fees . Give me a break, been on the forum for years and he does not have a SINGLE post other than chiming in with threads like this on how wonderful the Valentine is. Come on Man, you have to be the biggest Mike Valentine groupie in the world with a Corvette OR are just to cheap to be a supporting vendor, which one is it?
Like I said before, the V1 is a good detector (2 years ago) but compared to the 9500IX it does not even come close. I bought a V1 (sold it a month later to a Forum member) just to see how it compared to what I was offering. THE V1 IS NOT EVEN IN THE SAME LEAGUE!
Look at his profile and you will understand what I am talking about....
Jim
