From the little research i made i found out that the Valentine One Radar Detector V1.8 is the best out there now. But my question is, can the police detect that you have a radar installed.... i tried to read on specs of this detector but i can't get an answer.... can anyone help ? Thanks !!

edit : Also i wanted to get opinions on what is the best radar detector out there ! Maybe i missed some !


Modified by rz514 at 8:20 PM 12/12/2006

 

Valentine One is definantly the best on the market... and As far as I know its undetectable by police . Only way they'll be able to tell if youre using a radar detector is if you attach it to your windshield and leave it in plain sight.

Honestly I'd spend the extra money and buy a nice radar detector if you REALLY want one... the cheaper ones are junk.

BTW, there was a thread just like this one in the computing/tech forum last week... question maybe better suited for a non-vehicle specific tech forum

 

you'ld be surprised the technology cops have, at least here in florida.

 

I dont know about other states, but in texas radar DETECTORS are not illegal, radar JAMMERS however are.

 

i've got the V1 and its wonderful...saved me MANY times! I highly recommend it...you should see how far away it can pick up cops

 

Its kind of bulky tho something i dont want sitting on my dashboard i am prob getting this 1 http://www.escortradar.com/solo.htm its wireless so i can mount it anywhere without a ugly cord hanging.

 

The V1's have smaller displays that you can mount in other places or intergrate into the cluster... this way you can mount the big bulky unit out of the way

 

Hmmmm i didnt know that i will check the V1 website and see what they are working with those arrows are a big plus 2.

 

The V1 rules over all detectors. If you cheap out and get something less, your just wasting your $$$.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by liketofry &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The V1 rules over all detectors. If you cheap out and get something less, your just wasting your $$$. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Quoted for TRUTH!

My V1 has saved my *** COUNTLESS times. Paid for itself 10 fold!

 

I am sold thanks guys !

 

I agree. I have the V1 and concealed display. I also have it hardwired into my car so there are no dangly cords at all.

I think I'm going to turn off the X band. my friend has done that and I dont' think police use X band anymore.. they're just those annoying sliding doors/etc.

any advice?

 

V1 is what I've been using since 1996. It is detectable, but the equipment is very specialized and not in use in the USA (not in a version that is able to detect a V1 before you're within a couple hundred feet). This, however, may have changed and VA and CT may now have the equipment; Kanada has had this for a while. I believe an Australian company, Spectre, makes these detector dectectors.

http://www.radarbusters.com/su...d.asp

 

Does the V1 actually tell you when theres a cop before the cop can actually read your speed? Otherwise the thing is pretty much useless

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by modifyORdie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does the V1 actually tell you when theres a cop before the cop can actually read your speed? Otherwise the thing is pretty much useless</TD></TR></TABLE>

Most of the time.

 

Radar detectors are very effective at least 95% of the time. The only time when they aren't as useful is against cops equipped with Laser radar guns. In this instance the radar detector notifies you shortly after getting hit.

But I think the laser guns are much more expensive than the others as I've only been clocked by them once or twice in 10+ years of driving.

 

Just popping in to check out some stuff for my dad (HR 06 Si) and I saw this thread. I've used many different radar detectors from Escort, and of course the V1. My best friend loves his V1, and I have a couple other friends with them as well. I always had escort detectors growing up, I'm pretty sure my family has had at least one of every model since they came out (no joke), Cincinatti Microwave called my dad when the X50 came out in blue to see if he wanted to trade up for it.

Anyway, last winter I tested my then-new X50 against my friend's V1 (about 2 years old). They were very close, it was usually imperceptible which would pick up first. The V1 picked up a lot more false alarms (X coming as K at distance), but with POP turned on the X50 is about the same with that, just with more annoying noise. I keep X turned off on all my detectors, it's pretty much useless (even according to the X50 owner's manual). At distance X can come across as K, which I noticed years ago when I used all bands, I would get K blips far away and then when I got close to whatever the source was it would go to X, this is most likely the source of false alarms.

Although I use the X50 in my CRX, before I had my car I lived with my friend, and just about daily drove his car with the V1. I know V1 owners say they can't live without the arrows, I understand that, you do get addicted to knowing where the signal is. I liked that a lot, and I also liked the size and style of the V1 (retro!) because it's less conspicuous and doesn't look like it's worth much to theives if you do leave it in the car. There are a few things I don't like about it. First off, it's far too quiet. You just can't use it effectively in a loud car, or with a loud stereo on. My CRX is very loud, and my friend's car is a 71 Datsun 240Z with a 280ZX turbo motor, not really luxury/cruising cars, but definitely something you want to have a radar detector in. I also didn't like the bright display at night, but that's not a problem with the concealed display unit. I don't like people behind me (like police) seeing the detector.

Like I said before, I have grown up with the Escort detectors, and I will continue to buy them. The X50 is much louder and more irritating than the V1, so you don't miss an alert. It has dim settings as well, and a dark mode at night. The concealed display unit is very small and easy to integrate into many cars (in my experience so far). I also like the display. The V1 will beep and tell you how many signals it's picking up, but the X50 will show them individually, with the intensity of each next to it (one of the display options). Though it does have a smaller profile, I don't particularly like the shape/size of the X50. My car has 650/550 springs (and it's a CRX ~2000 lbs), so it's pretty harsh, and when I hit the occasional large bump in the winter when it's cold, it's fallen right off the windshield. I think it's just so long and it's putting a lot of torque on the suction cup thing. Also, in contrast to the V1, the X50 looks like it wants to be stolen.

Also, last I checked, the X50 was considerably cheaper.

 

X50 FTW! (before concealed display unit):

 

I have a V1 and mine's close to being hardwired. I have mine mounted at the top of the windshield (the higher, the better) under my window visor. The wire is tucked neatly up into the headliner and then run down the A pillar, under the dash, and fed through a small hole I drilled in my console so I can use the cigarette lighter adapter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by modifyORdie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does the V1 actually tell you when theres a cop before the cop can actually read your speed? Otherwise the thing is pretty much useless</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, it shows the intensity of the radar signal and the arrows flash in whichever direction is strongest, so you kno if it's in front of or behind you.

 

Also to interject here I don't think concealed display units are necessary unless you're in a jurisdiction that forbids radar detectors (VA or DC). From my experience cops have taken it easier on me when pulled over with a radar detector than without one. This may sound strange but most cops really don't care if you were trying to detect them by the time they have you pulled over and won't hold it against you by that point.

Sure some might, but I'm guessing its a very small number. I think most are just doing their jobs and understand that speeders are just trying to do theirs, too.

 

I also get annoyed by people following me when they know I have a radar detector. I have told or indicated to people I have it when I'm speeding along a long trip with someone, but for the most part I prefer not to be the first one over the hill or around the corner that might be hiding a speed trap.

Here's a pic from my old CRX with the X50 hard wired (to the auxillary ignition power in the fusebox):

 

where can i find the v1?

 

http://www.valentineone.com

...or eBay I'm sure

 

this this the best? http://www.autoanything.com/ra....aspx or is this any good http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...il.do