well i think your choice shoud be clear by now. V1 or paint your car with the paint they used on the sr71 blackbird which is undetectable by radar and lazer but i think its still top secret **** but hey if you can get some LOL do that!

 

i love my passport with laser jammer works great. either one is good if you don't mind your friend saying mine tells me where it's coming from lol....

 

Here's a good read: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=9090

 

Check out www.radartest.com

 

Whoa. I feel like I just ebay sniped you. lol

 

I've had the Passport 8500 X50 for two years now. No complaints at all. I buddy with a Cobra has the V1 and it's great too, but I don't see enough in the V1 to make me want to change from the X50.

When I was out driving with him I was actually picking up signals earlier than he was. So even though the V1 will show the direction, I'd rather have the earlier detection so the 8500 is the one for me.

 

I use the RX65 which is identical to the Escort 8500 and I have no complaints withe mine.

Everyone says the V1 is the greatest, but it performs just as well as the Escort 8500/ Beltronics RX65. It does costs a lot more though. I bought mine for around $250.

When I see Ka detected, I slow down regardless of it being in front or behind me.

 

LOL!

 

I'm sorry but I'm going to have to say that this Article is just promotion and propaganda against Valentine 1.

If you notice they grade their chart by a simple visual display which makes it seem like the other 2 radar detectors have more options and thus better.. But if you actually take the time to read what they graded you'd be surprised how stupid some of these categories are.

For example.

Multi-step Dim/Dark Control - This is actually an error. The valentine 1 has an automatic Dim Control. And it's standard.. but it's listed as if it doesn't exist.

Auto Mute - Valentine 1 has 2 seperate volume controls.. Where if you wish you can lower the volume of your acknowledged beeps to whatever decible you wish. And what the hell does auto mute really mean and what does that have to do with being a better radar detector.

Voice Alerts - If you ever owned a radar detector you will agree that the less the radar talks the better. They get really annoying.. but yet in this graph it makes it seem as if having one is better.

Hard-sided carrying case - WTF.. do you really care about this stuff.

Text Display - Does this matter.. It has arrows.. Foward Arrow means he's in front of me.. Back means he's in back.. I rather look at arrows that Text..

SWS Safety Radar Reception - WTF does this mean.
Earphone jack - Valentine does have one.. But it's not listed as one.. it is optional.
User-Selectable Band Defeat WTF does this mean.

Now I will agree that the valentine 1 does not have a jammer.. but if the cop knows his radar's having a jammer is illegal. While having a radar detector is not. He can confiscate a Jammer.. Just and FYI..

Now.. I'm not trying to promote valentine 1.. but I do know when to spot a bull**** propaganda article when i see it. Lets seem some more fair reports.

Note: The valentine 1 did get the best Laser Performance- Which is what we all want.. honestly.. a better laser detector and yet.. although the article started about money was no option.. it definately considered money in this article to evaluate the best.

Just and FYI.. I've had my V1 for 3 years now and no tickets yet. It has paid for itself.. that I assure you. Especially having it shoot a laser to the back of my evo. And For the guy that said "Arrows who needs them" Once you get used to the user friendliness of it.. You'd be surprised why you lived without it. I think it's dumb to hear beeps and have you looking crazily around you not knowing where the cops are. It's supposed to be a radar detector.. telling me where the radar is coming from i think is definately key in my decision to buy one.

And for the guy that said it gave too many false alarms.. it does have L l and A mode. Put it on L mode for Logic mode.. It will ignore alot of weak signals.. I know you simply traded with your friend but that's probably why you didn't get a chance to read the manual to really understand how it worked.

 

radartest.com is a bunch of crap. Besides, too many radar detector owners who have had experiences with multiple detectors, including the V1, will recommend the Valentine at a drop of a hat.

And like I said before, people that complain about the $400 price tag--if you spend $250 for a detector now and in a couple of years, it needs an update with newer technology, you're out another $250. With V1, simply send it in and it's updated to the latest software.

 

V1

 

If I had the money I'd go with the Calibur.

It costs a whackload though, about 1600 but it's the stealthiest and best mounted one. You can get laser diffusers ie jammers, for a few hundred more. I know someone here in MA that is a dealer for them, they are unbelievable.

I have used a V1 before and it was okay, I bought an older model Bell now and it works just as well. I've also seen the 8500, but not used it. If I had a choice I'd go with the Calibur, but if I didn't have the money, I'd go wtih the 8500 or other Bell products. There is waaay too much hype about the V1. I'm not knocking it, but it's not worth every penny that they ask.

 

V1

I did my own test with a friend that has the passport 8500 X50. We drove each of our car, with our radars detectors. We drove down I-5 next to each other with walkie talkies. Ever time, the radars would go off at the same time, basiclly showing that they have the same range. Since they have the same range, the arrows on the V1 really make a difference.
Even my friend amidts that the arrows is a great feature and that he wishes he had them (even though not enough to ditch his 8500 and get a V1).

 

Craig Peterson who runs Radartest.com is a known hater and basher of the Valentine One and he works for Escort and Bel which is the same company.

http://valentine1.com/lab/V1Hater.asp

Here is a little quote about Craig Peterson, "Amidst all the allegations of invalid test methodology and unfairness were suggestions that Peterson showed undue favoritism to the BEL unit because he has consulted for the company."

In the March, 1996, issue, Peterson replied, "Having consulted to every major detector manufacturer, suggestions that BEL received preferential treatment are nonsense."

He's wrong on that point too. He's never been a consultant to Valentine Research, although he's approached us more than once. We declined his advances each time.


http://web.archive.org/web/200110250....com/RAFB.html

What is even more telling is how he goes out of his way to bash the Valentine One in 2001 because it has a rear facing radar antenna to go with its forward facing antenna so you can know which way the cop is. Instead of praising the Valentine One for its 2 antennas that no other radar detector has, he bashes it and talks about the fact that it has too much range.

 

Well I did my own tests today. As I have stated earlier, my brother has the latest beltronics RX65 and I have the latest V1. I borrowed my dads Camry (35 mpg and dual cig plug) to go on a 400 mile trip today. I mounted both detectors beside each other in the middle of the windshield.
Two incidents happened while I was driving on the highway. As I was traveling up an incline, the Bel detects a Ka band with a one bar. From experience, the Ka band going off with a one bar for a second means nothing. But it kept on beeping for a full 2-3 seconds, so I slowed down. I knew something was up. The V1 hasn’t gone off yet. As soon as the road has become leveled, the V1 went off on the Ka band and instantly hit 4-5 dots, and so did the Bel. When I looked for a cop, a state trooper was traveling on the other side of the higway.
The second incident was while I was in the city, still on the highway. The highway was curving to the left about a ¼ mile ahead. All of a sudden, the Bel alerts me with a Ka band with a one bar. The V1 is silent. As I am entering the curve, the V1 is alive and also alerts me a Ka with 3 bars. Then both of the indicators get progressively quicker, until they peg the indicator. There was a cop on the left shoulder, as soon as the curve ends.

There were also a lot of construction bogeys along the way. They give out a K or Ka signal, and there where tons of them along the way. It was a perfect way to see the differences between both detectors.

The following where my observations
1) The beltronics CLEARLY alerts the driver before the V1
2) Without filtering the X band on the V1, the detector will go off all day
3) The detection on the V1 from the rear is stronger
4) The Bel had false alarms about 10-20% more than the V1, during my trip
5) After the radar is detected, the V1 gives a better indication of how much closer you are to the radar gun
6) Much more complicated to program the V1
7) Auto mute is a great feature in the Bel. You have to press a button with the V1 for auto mute. I tried to program it in the V1 with no success.
8) The bel has a audible voice saying which band it is. At night with the V1, you can’t see which band it is, unless you memorize the type of alert
9) The V1 has the tilt feature within the bracket
10) Of course with the V1, the bogey count and arrows
11) $240 for the beltrontics with a 3 year warranty VS. $420 for the V1 with a one year warranty

Both radar detectors are EXCELLENT, but there is a significant price difference between the two. For me, the Bel is my choice.