The Best Radar Dector?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
The Valentine One is still #1.
The latest radar/laser detector and laser jammer results are out.
Radar/laser detectors:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html
Laser Jammers:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...mmer-test.html
Spreadsheet of the radar/laser detector results:
http://home.comcast.net/~ccaeric6/GOL_averages_MB5.htm
Radar/laser detectors:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html
Laser Jammers:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...mmer-test.html
Spreadsheet of the radar/laser detector results:
http://home.comcast.net/~ccaeric6/GOL_averages_MB5.htm
Last edited by Brentvino169; Mar 27, 2007 at 01:24 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis IN
Valantine 1 period. The arrows are invaluable. They work as advertised and are a great tool.
I used to have a non arrow detector. My neck was swinging all day long lookng for the cops every time I got an alert. It sucked. Many times I would never see the cop and would have to slow down for long periods of time. It took away from the enjoyment of the drive. With the arrows on the valentine one, I see the cops alot more often and cuts down on my neck swinging time alot.
I have not gotten a single ticket in over 5 years of ownership. This thing works.
>
I used to have a non arrow detector. My neck was swinging all day long lookng for the cops every time I got an alert. It sucked. Many times I would never see the cop and would have to slow down for long periods of time. It took away from the enjoyment of the drive. With the arrows on the valentine one, I see the cops alot more often and cuts down on my neck swinging time alot.
I have not gotten a single ticket in over 5 years of ownership. This thing works.
>
Last edited by Boeingman; Mar 27, 2007 at 02:04 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
From: Bossier city, Louisiana
The latest radar/laser detector and laser jammer results are out.
Radar/laser detectors:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html
Laser Jammers:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...mmer-test.html
Spreadsheet of the radar/laser detector results:
http://home.comcast.net/~ccaeric6/GOL_averages_MB5.htm
Radar/laser detectors:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html
Laser Jammers:
http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...mmer-test.html
Spreadsheet of the radar/laser detector results:
http://home.comcast.net/~ccaeric6/GOL_averages_MB5.htm
When I'm ready to upgrade to their latest version, Valentine will upgrade it for around $100! Will Bell or Passport do that? Figure that into the pricing and it comes out different. After all, it's high-tech equipment that will be obsolete soon, so you need to plan on it's replacement when you purchase it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 181
Likes: 3
From: Cocoa Beach Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
No, it isn't all the same...
If you know the cop was shooting from behind, you know to watch your mirrors and often times can see him lurking in traffic behind you, waiting for you to speed up again. The bogey counter and arrows give you what pilots call "situational awareness". I can tell you that a number of times, knowing that there was more than one cop in the area and that the one that just passed (with radar emitting) going the other way wasn't necessarily the only one microwaving has saved my tail. Once you use a V1 and appreciate it, you won't go back to anything else.
There is one place where I get a false alarm all the time, but only one bogey. The other day there was a cop sitting in the same lot, shooting radar. He knew that the door opener would hide his emitter. The V1 said 2 bogeys where it usually said one. Slowed down and the guy who passed me (with a radar detector on his dash) got nailed...
Not to say it is infalible, but since the V1, no tickets at all and lots and lots and lots of "saves".
If you know the cop was shooting from behind, you know to watch your mirrors and often times can see him lurking in traffic behind you, waiting for you to speed up again. The bogey counter and arrows give you what pilots call "situational awareness". I can tell you that a number of times, knowing that there was more than one cop in the area and that the one that just passed (with radar emitting) going the other way wasn't necessarily the only one microwaving has saved my tail. Once you use a V1 and appreciate it, you won't go back to anything else.
There is one place where I get a false alarm all the time, but only one bogey. The other day there was a cop sitting in the same lot, shooting radar. He knew that the door opener would hide his emitter. The V1 said 2 bogeys where it usually said one. Slowed down and the guy who passed me (with a radar detector on his dash) got nailed...
Not to say it is infalible, but since the V1, no tickets at all and lots and lots and lots of "saves".
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: houston tx
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
I have a Valentine and my brother has an Escort. We picked up identical Z06s at the dealer and drove directly 800 miles to Bowling Green to the Corvette Museum. In those 800 miles my Valentine consistently (as in 100% of the time) picked up the radar before the Escort. Sometimes it picked up the signal so much sooner that I had time to call my brother's mobile and warn him. Additionally because of the directional signals and the count I could tell when we were being tailed or if there were more than one.
For me practical experience tells it all. Pay the extra and get the Valentine.
For me practical experience tells it all. Pay the extra and get the Valentine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Valentine. Knowing where the radar is coming from is almost as important as knowing it's there at all. Many of the top detectors do extremely well. So close, it's almost a preference more than anything.
BUT:
Want a real world "value"? Check new prices, then check ebay for what they sell for used. It's a cold hard reality check for lots of people who didn't buy a Valentine.
BUT:
Want a real world "value"? Check new prices, then check ebay for what they sell for used. It's a cold hard reality check for lots of people who didn't buy a Valentine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 932
Likes: 0
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
I found a web site that does independent testing of all radar detectors. The tester is a retired traffic officer and provides experienced non biased information. The site is www.radarroy.com. I found if very helpful.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
So, I buy the first generation Valentine 1... 499.99 in caveman dollars... a generation later I remember I still have the dry rotted yellow cardboard box it was shipped in... go to the webpage, type in the serial # ('cause I had only the earliest of detection technology) and I find out if I send the old unit back... they'll send me a brand new one... price? $229.00...done.
Plus, in 30+ years of driving... no speeding tickets... and I seem to recall a pleasant jaunt in 3 digits for over an hour just last weekend...
Pay the extra 50 bucks... save your **** at the drive-thru... enjoy your car at the speeds you desire... V1's like my kids... always there on payday...
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
I found a web site that does independent testing of all radar detectors. The tester is a retired traffic officer and provides experienced non biased information. The site is www.radarroy.com. I found if very helpful.
No one is unbiased... but it's a pretty good read. Thx.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
VASCAR: Vehicle Average Speed Computer And Recorder. The officer has two controls, one which records distance using the patrol cars odometer and another which measures your time in the distance the officer has recorded. A simple calculation results in your average speed between two points. This is done manually so to detect VASCAR you would have to be in the patrol car with the officer.
Last edited by dndrsn; Mar 29, 2007 at 06:50 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,822
Likes: 2
From: San Clemente CA
Nothing like the ever-present RD bench-racing thread. One thing I find interesting however, people who dis' the V1 usually never owned one or used it for any length of time. Those that do and get used to the bogey counter and arrows are generally users for life. Count me in.
BTW, my dad gave me his first-gen V1 from circa 1994 a few years ago. Installed it in my '04 Z when I first got it and it's saved my butt more than a few times, but it's getting long-in-the-tooth. Went to the website and did the upgrade. $279 for a brand new unit that now includes Laser and the latest Ka bands. That's what I call a customer-centric business ethic!
BTW, my dad gave me his first-gen V1 from circa 1994 a few years ago. Installed it in my '04 Z when I first got it and it's saved my butt more than a few times, but it's getting long-in-the-tooth. Went to the website and did the upgrade. $279 for a brand new unit that now includes Laser and the latest Ka bands. That's what I call a customer-centric business ethic!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
From: Bossier city, Louisiana
I just checked mine at the valentine site. Mine is over 2 years old and doesn't have the "pop" radar detection. All they want is $75 to upgrade mine to a state-of-the art one!
Call Passport with your 2+ year old one and ask if they will exchange it for their current model for $75. When your tired of their laughing, go buy a Valentine.
Call Passport with your 2+ year old one and ask if they will exchange it for their current model for $75. When your tired of their laughing, go buy a Valentine.