Radar/Laser Detectors

[G]

Anybody have any good recommendations?

thanks

[buh_buh]

I've heard Valentine 1 is very good.

[G]

It also costs an arm and a leg...and I don't think you can get one here....enlighten me if I am wrong.

[bol]

You have to order the V1 if you want it... there isn't anything better though.

[Fluidic]

V1 rocks!

Except no substitute!!

Peter

[Davan]

I've just got a cheap-o cobra something-er-rather... paid about 250 for it... Has never failed me... Lots of false warnings in the city though. But dead accurate on the highway. :)

[2000impreza]

i use to have a cheap radar dectector too. i think it was a uniden. paid $150 new. sold it for $40 a year later cause it was a pos and didn't work right.

[2UTH DR]

Kenny has the V1. Ask him. He has it in his AMG.

[kenny]

I get next to no false alerts in the city or highway now with my V1 after I reprogrammed it to disable the bands that aren't used (or at least I don't think are used). The only problem is with red neon signs that sets off the laser warning on the V1, but that usually happens when I'm driving in a parking lot by a restaurant, so thats not an issue for me.

I love the V1, but if you want to use it with everything enabled, be prepared to get some false alerts, it is afterall one of the most sensitive radar detectors out there. You just have to learn how to use the "bogey counter", if you drive the same routes daily, and it goes off all the time, just make a note of the number on the display. If you're driving by again the next day and that number is higher than normal, chances are there is a cop hiding in the area. Now in Calgary, most cops use Laser for their speed traps, so the V1 isn't really going to do much except tell you that you just got a ticket.

As for experiences with it in the city:

Just yesterday night, my V1 went off when I was driving on 17th Ave going for Pho. It was Ka band (which is photoradar), even though I was driving at speed limit, I hit the brakes and slowed down... the v1 warning shut off, then a couple seconds later, the v1 went off again, and I again hit the brakes... I was scanning everywhere looking for the cop, and finally saw him in an unmarked unit on the otherside of the street sitting in a parking lot. Another time, I was cruising on the road near Canadian Tire by Northland (no idea what street it is, main street though) and there was a playground zone, the moment I went into it, the V1 went off with a laser warning and I saw the cop right away. If I had been speeding, I would have been nailed with a ticket... but I wasn't cuz I never speed. Haha..

If you're going to buy a radar detector, get a V1 or don't even bother. ok, end of my blabbing.

[D'z Nutz]

How much did the V1 cost you??

[kenny]

I bought it new, so check on www.valentine1.com, I can't remember the price.

[max_boost]

Kenny you have to chill outz dude!! You are on cop alert 24-7, even when your sleeping probably!!! lol j/k

[2000impreza]

what about the higher end bell and passport radar detectors? i heard they worked pretty good.

[Fluidic]

The Bel 980.... here's where I come in!! :)

It's a good unit!! It's bullet proof and works well!!

The range is great and on the highway... well... I'm sold: STUNNING!

My next detector however: a V1!

They are worth the money, just ask Kenny... oh wait... you already did!

Higher-end Bel Radar detectors (890 and up with the digital oscillators) just rock!

Peace

Peter

[Ow3n]

I was looking up radar detectors on the net and came across these tests:
http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html
http://www.radarbusters.com/radar_test.asp

The valentine was great but the Escort 8500 seems to be the best according to these sites. It is alot smaller than the V1 and relatively cheaper.Hope this info helps:thumbsup:

[sexualbanana]

b18 and i share a very old V1, but i think it works great. however i do think the only time i'd ever use it is if i was on the highway

[E36M3]

Don't believe shill sites with fake results like radartest.com. Road and Track / Car and Driver have both done tests, and the V1 is 1000 times better than the competition.

If you buy another radar/laser detector, I think that you are just giving yourself a false sense of security. With the V1, you get a bit of a safety cushion, but have to understand its limitations (esp. with laser).

The best system money can buy is still a custom setup. My friend is running a K40 integrated into his speedo with front/rear external units + radar/laser blocking and it is flawless.. although it did run about $2500.