Its only a matter of time. The only way to avoid a ticket is to know when to speed and when not to. You don't need a birddog to tell you when its cool to speed.

 

I am too lazy to read all the posts... I own a V-1 and here is my recent expereince.

We were coming back from the Texas Hill Country Rendevous with 6 Minis, all with RDs... I was in the back and on two separate occassions my V1 chirped intermitantly (hills) so I let the rest of the cars know via our walkie talkies... I got a resounding, we have nothing.... about a mile or so later I announce a steady signal, still nothing but we slowed down... then we heard from the front car "COP".... it was on the other side of the hwy and no threat, but I was impressed by the V1's warning.... we also had a close call where everyone rd went off and they stomped on the brakes... V1 announced it was behind us... so not necessarily a threat (since it suddenly came on).

Just my $0.02

 

V1 by *FAR*.

 

V1 is by far the best in my opinion... but... as said above, a detector is only one piece of a defense against tickets.... instant on, cops in unmarked cars, etc.. are a huge threat too... In my younger silly days, I sped a lot, and avoided numerous tickets with the V1. I'm sure it paid itself off many times. Also, I got many tickets too, through instant on, bad luck, license suspended, etc...

My experience now, is that you can avoid tickets almost all together if you simply go no more than 10 mph over the speed limit, and someone else will get the ticket, probably someone with a radar detector... If you get pulled over, you have a much better chance of being warned, than if you have a nice honking radar detector on your window.... At least that is my experience in New England...

 

Well put, I feel the same way. I make sure I have a Shield in front of me... someone to take the instant on blast... and far enough ahead where it doesn't look like I am traveling at the same speed... I have received 2 tickets in the last 5 years... both by corrupt Louisiana Cops and there was no possible way to clock me... but I was in a ticket-me-red camaro with out of state tags.... something is wrong with a state where you have to send a cashiers check to the sherif (in his name).... go figure... btw, these were in parishes west of Baton Rouge... not a good place to speed.

 

I have used escort/passport for years but recently bought a valentine and while I think the two are about the same sensitivity wise. I really like the read outs of the valentine (front, side, back). Both come with really complete kits.

valentine is #1 in my books.

 

Okay, I got the Passport 7500 from Best Buy because I was cheap. Unfortunately, so is the 7500... The laser warning goes off constantly, and there's no option in the setup to reduce it's sensitivity or mute or even reduce the volume of the laser alert relative to the radar alerts!


Do the V1 or Passport 8500 allow setting the unit to disregard laser, or to reduce the volume or mute just the laser?

Maybe I have a defective unit? It seems to get triggered by sunsets, LED taillights, and sometimes reflections from my own Xenons!

_Dave_

 

A lesson in economics

Return it and get the real one (IMHO)

 

It's Valentine 1 for me.

I have had it updated twice and I won't drive w/o it.

I bought the V1 when I lived in Florida. I now live in the UK and had it re-programmed for Euro spec which is standard with the new model.

V1 worked in the USA and works like a charm here in Europe.

I drive fast and I will always drive fast if I have the capability to do so safely. My car and my driving skills can compensate for morons which, might I add, are less requently encountered here in Europe.

As far as 'spirited' driving... LOL Nice euphamism for hauling a$$.

 

Here's some general advice: Consider only the high end model of each brand. The lower models are crap and will either not go off with every threat, or will cry wolf so much you will start ignoring it and then you will ignore it when it's real.
The Escort 8500 and the Bel RX65 are excellent detectors.
Then there is the homemade, overengineered, mother of them all the V1.
If your budget only allows $250, you can probably find the Bel for that price online.
But if you are willing to invest $300, well $400 isn't much more, and for that you get a privately-engineered detector, with two horns each larger than any competing detector*, informative arrows, and support for upgrades.

*the horns are what receive the radar signal. It's like a camera lens, the bigger it is, the more light/radio waves come in.

And like has been said, you still need common sense. And a lidar jammer.
I haven't been stopped due to radar a single time in the years since I have been running a detector. But I've been nabbed by laser, and other times by pacing by unmarked cars. No detector can protect you from those.

As for people's speed discussion, it depends very much where you live. Maybe where you are, you have a large choice. Here, I often see the majority of traffic going 90 in a 55. If you were doing even 65 would would be causing road rage and a dangerous road hazard to those veering around you. Cops pick whoever they want to pull over.
And we have even had minis around here ticketed for 5 over. It's not a camaro, but it's still interesting and sticks out.
The best you can do is waste their time and fight it in court. make the question giving out their next one.

 

I have the passport 8500 and absolutely love the thing! I hardly speed and when I do its mostly 10mph over the limit anyway on highways. Its just nice to have something to warn you no matter if your speeding, or following the law.

Garrett

 

I have the Escort Solo. Small, battery powered, handy. I just got back from a trip around Lake Superior, and think the Solo saved me once, maybe twice. Not too many false alarms, and even then it served to slow me down a bit and I can use the reminders. As far as front, back, side, I'm not sure I care. If it goes off, I slow down no matter where the signal originates!

 

I've had great experiences with V-1 as well as passsport over the years however I like the V-1 display the BEST.

 

Guys how could I know which kind of radar the cops use in NY?
I will be getting in the Hway quite a bit once the snow season starts to go snowboarding. Last year I rented a mini to give it a try and guess what?
Got a nice 1oo something dollar ticket for speeding. (that means going at 80 mph)!
So, what kind of radar they have in NY?
thanks

 

I have a passport SR7 with the laser diffusor and it works great....kind of expensive. As far as instant on etc. In Ga they drive around with the radar on and I can't tell you how many times I was glad my passport was working. You still have to use common sense

 

Most of the new detectors - read the entire range of radar used today. My favorite is V-1 but its in the up $ bracket but worth every penny. Th edirectional indicator is fabulous.

 

First off, thanks everyone for your input on the radars. I think it's pretty clear to me that I will get the V1.

 

Alex Roy's top picks:

V1
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/columns/w...ors-141101.php

Blinder M-20
http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/column...ers-152877.php

I'd have to agree, you made a great choice with the V1, you won't regret it.

Dave

 

I used to run a Cobra 9750; retailed for 175 and I got it for 120 cause the guy messed up at CIrcuit City, regular use and I knew exactly what and where to expect false alerts, never had a radar or laser ticket with it (and I had many lasers target me) and it had everything that I have been told was useless, the compass was helpful, and the Saftey strobe thing only worked in certain towns and at short range but it still worked. The power cord broke and the replacement cord caused it to kill all the internals (I suspect too much voltage,smelled real nice). It exceeded the you get what you pay for mentality; that said now that I'm in the market again I'll be saving for a V1 with remote display.

 

Smart move MotorOn!

Here's some fun Sunday morning reading if you like to stay on top of the radar/laser detection wars.

http://www.speedzones.com/

 

where do you mount the V1? at the top of the fornt glass, over the rear view? or on the dash?

 

Because of its Laser detection ability, the V1 should be placed as high as possible, without having any blocked area (rear view mirror, seat head rests, etc.) so that both fore and aft sensors can work.

 

I've got mine mounted just abovve the rear view mirror. It's still got a clear shout out the back. Here's a couple pics and if you need hardwire instructions, I've got some here..

 

Same, exact same.

 

I say the V1 is great, I've used it a bit and been happy with it. I'd say common sense is #1, but personally I enjoy the V1 version of hide and go seek. The radar goes off and you try to see where the cop is hiding. Its mild entertainment on the road, especially a long trip. Overall though I follow the rule, never be the fastest car on the road, and if you are the only one on the road, keep your speed in check. Motor safe!