I had a bel radar for awhile, it was one of the upper end ones when I purchased it for around $200 a couple years ago. It has served me very well and I was really impressed with its range.

The sound on it stopped working, and rather than getting it fixed, ($75), I ended up getting a really good deal on a Escort Solo S2 for about $120, it was used a couple months, but it had pretty decent reviews online, so I went ahead and got it.

After just 2 weeks of using it, its range is DEF less than my previous bel, and Im pretty dissapointed in the Escort... so its going on eBay tonight...

Now im in the market for a radar detector, debating between another Bel, probably the 995, the Escort x50 and the Valentine One. Is the extra money for the valentine really worth it compared to the Escort?

Is there any local place where I can go pick up a valentine?

[Edited on January 3, 2008 at 12:14 AM. Reason : asd]

1/3/2008 12:04:16 AM

valentine > everything

buy new, as used cost just as much.

/thread

1/3/2008 12:08:48 AM

^ agreed


but if you don't want spend that much, at least get a Passport 8500 or better.

1/3/2008 12:24:20 AM

yeah, i probably would have gotten the x50 for sure, but after this bad experience with the solo s2, im not really sold on Escort as a company...

I literally saw the cop up ahead on the side of the road chillin on 64, then as i got closer, i figured his radar was off, then slowly my s2 started to go off, the range was mediocre at best...

1/3/2008 12:29:21 AM

I've had an escort passport 8500 x50 for over a year now, and if you're going to consider valentine even I would prefer it over the passport. Only reason I didnt was because it was just outta my price range. At the time everyone rated the passport at or very close to valentine so I just figured they'd both work just as good as the other. On that note, if I had to choose one today, it'd be between the valentine and the escort 9500. Definitely dont let the cheapo ruin your views of the escorts, there was probably a reason it was so cheap. You pay for what you get.

[Edited on January 3, 2008 at 1:06 AM. Reason : .]

1/3/2008 12:58:37 AM

Quote :

"Definitely dont let the cheapo ruin your views of the escorts."

The X50 is $308.99 at best buy, the Solo S2 was $329.99... Hence why I questioned the Escorts, its not like $330 for a radar is cheap...

Quote :

"At the time everyone rated the passport at or very close to valentine so I just figured they'd both work just as good as the other."

Thats kind of what Im hearing now, and from reading radar threads on tww over the years, I dont really care for the GPS capabilities of the 9500, and I really don't want to spend that much currently.

1/3/2008 1:09:17 AM

Yeah, this talk got me interested in upgrading to the 9500, but the GPS features are pretty much useless to me, not worth it. I've never even heard of the solo s2 before though so I thought the price was pretty low like a cobra or whistler. In all the tests and reviews I looked at it was always against the bel sti, passport, and valentine 1.

1/3/2008 1:26:13 AM

yeah, i think im going to get the valentine...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiSaa-7I0-s

can't believe there are video's comparing the 2...

1/3/2008 1:42:54 AM

do virginia cops and dc cops use spectre III to detect radar detectors?

1/3/2008 2:39:09 AM

I wouldnt doubt it. Driving through there at night though I never got pulled even though I passed and was passed by close to a dozen sheriff, trooper, and police cars. I didnt realize until after I had gone through DC and virginia twice they had the technology to do so. But I knew it was illegal so I always just turned up the volume and taped a small cover over the lighted section when I did it.

1/3/2008 3:21:41 AM

how do they detect radar detectors? I didn't think detectors emitted any signals.


wikipedia to the rescue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector_detector

[Edited on January 3, 2008 at 3:26 AM. Reason : .]

1/3/2008 3:24:39 AM

Quote :

"radar-detector-detector-detector"

1/3/2008 7:55:38 AM

arent the v1s supposedly not detectable

1/3/2008 11:16:22 AM

^
yes, but i thought they were all that way.

1/3/2008 11:41:08 AM

just get a V1 and be done with it

1/3/2008 11:42:55 AM

Quote :

"radar-detector-detector-detector"

inspector!

1/3/2008 12:52:08 PM

purchased a V1 online this morning from the company...

do you guys have any idea how much V1 updates cost?

1/3/2008 2:47:43 PM

Quote :

"arent the v1s supposedly not detectable"

vg-2 can't pick them up, but Spectre III can...

the only radar that doesn't get picked up by Spectre III is the Bel STi... but hopefully that'll change with the next update of the V1's...

1/3/2008 2:54:36 PM

^^

it's on their website.

$99plus any extra parts?

1/3/2008 3:04:54 PM

thanks for all the help guys

its pretty sad, but ive been watching valentine 1 videos on youtube... I can't wait until I get mine now

1/4/2008 12:32:22 AM

i skimmed pieces of an article today about a new record for driving across America being set. 2, drivers, an M5, a spotter aircraft to watch for cops and speed traps, and $20,000 worth of police-foiling gadgetry onboard.

the RADAR detector they used?

Valentine 1.

i brought the magazine home...i'll read it later and post the details.

1/4/2008 2:25:43 AM

We tested Derrick's (azaka here) Escort top of the line model, along w/my V1 in my M3. The V1 consistently picked up radar at least half a mile before the Escort, and picked up weak signals when the Escort was silent.

After having my license suspended several times, I started using a V1 about 18 months ago. I've had one speeding ticket since, during the week that I was w/out my detector... It won't keep you away from tickets by itself, but if you're smart about using it, certainly helps. I should note though, the GPS based learning on the Escort's quite valuable, and a V1 can be far more annoying. Like I said, you just have to be smart about how you're going to use it. You can't rely on it, but don't get used to ignoring it either.
Ahmet

1/4/2008 2:42:00 AM

I got 3 tickets w/ my V1.

i sold it and for some reason i don't feel the need to speed anymore. amazing

1/4/2008 11:20:17 AM

got the v1 in today

hopefully ill have better luck than dannydigtl

[Edited on January 4, 2008 at 11:35 AM. Reason : asf]

1/4/2008 11:35:01 AM

in short, its great on highways when cops leave their radars on. but i wouldnt speed in cities where they almost all use POP these days.

all three of my tickets were for like 10-14 over in Cary getting hit w/ POP.

1/4/2008 11:49:58 AM

you prob mean instant-on, not POP.

and yeah, you are basically invincible with V1 if they aren't using instant-on.

I've had a couple tickets with mine...but i've gotten out of a whole ton more.

1/5/2008 12:34:30 AM

don't you really feel like a faggot with all that shit


I don't drive the speed limit but I'm "reasonable"

but I get to where I need to be without worrying about all that shit


It's cheaper to pay a lawyer than buy this crap btw

OMG I GOT A NEW CAR GEEK TOY I WON'T GET ANY TICKETS NOW

just drive half ass decent and don't worry about it

1/5/2008 5:55:16 AM

Quote :

"i skimmed pieces of an article today about a new record for driving across America being set. 2, drivers, an M5, a spotter aircraft to watch for cops and speed traps, and $20,000 worth of police-foiling gadgetry onboard. the RADAR detector they used? Valentine 1. i brought the magazine home...i'll read it later and post the details."

this was already in a thread here

1/5/2008 12:08:54 PM

Quote :

"It's cheaper to pay a lawyer than buy this crap btw"

Not by a long shot, I've probably spent just about $10k in lawyers fees in the last 9 years. One good lawyer to get you out of something other than a 9-14 over (which is usually around $200-250) will cost upwards of $350. The V1 is much cheaper, and that's not even looking at insurance. Radar detectors are tools, not meant to be relied on, just extra help.
PS: I don't think teens should be allowed to drive. That's certainly how I felt about it when I first got my license. Amazing that I didn't have any accidents and more teens don't die in traffic related "incidents".
Ahmet

1/5/2008 12:23:04 PM

if you spend a thousand dollars a year in lawyer fees youre a fucking dumbass, dude.

1/5/2008 4:46:54 PM

Before I discovered good lawyers, at one point my insurance was up to $1200/6 months. Now it's at $380/6 months. I was an idiot to drive the way I did, I most certainly don't think the lawyers fees were wasted. It's worth it if you want to keep your license, not to mention cheaper than paying increased insurance if you like having full coverage...
Ahmet

1/5/2008 6:20:48 PM

Quote :

"It's cheaper to pay a lawyer than buy this crap btw "

hahahaha

wrong

1/6/2008 7:46:25 PM

So Ive been using my V1 in my Audi A4 and it has worked beautifully.

I came across an issue when I used it in my parent's 07 Audi Q7. The V1 constantly had K band behind me and it would keep changing the intensity. It stayed like this from Cary all the way to durham and then all the way back a couple hours later, so its not like there was a cop behind me that whole time.

The only thing that I can think of is that the Q7 has the Audi Assist option, which will alert you if there is a car in your blind spot. Im guessing that it uses some kind of radar signal to light-up the side view mirrors when a car is in your blind spot and that same signal set off the V1.

Another thing, when I held the V1 in my hand and it was pointing towards the spedometer, it would go off saying that there is a laser alert.

Good thing my car doesn't have all that fancy shit, so it works perfectly...
just sharing my observations...

[Edited on January 7, 2008 at 9:54 AM. Reason : sp]

1/7/2008 9:53:33 AM

LED rear brake lights will also set it off. Trailblazers do it pretty bad

1/7/2008 10:38:38 AM

the V1 is now hardwired in place...

1/7/2008 2:02:45 PM

The lawyer I got in greensboro that picked through the mail( of the 50 I got when I got the ticket) cost 120 bucks. I still had to pay the ticket and he got it reduced to an equipment problem, somehow. Well worth the money to get out of going since I live in Va.

1/7/2008 4:22:31 PM

Any lawyer could have gotten that done. You could have by yourself most likely also.

1/7/2008 5:22:03 PM

I say i see a cop camping out w/ radar on 50% of the time i came down Capital Blvd late evening right after the wake forest road merge. they are always chillin the parking lot of one of those businesses.

Honestly i do not see how a ban on radar detectors has not been found unconstitutional. I can understand jammers b.c you are actively broadcasting on a FCC regulated frequency but how the fuck can it be illegal to detect/pickup other people transmitting RF radiation which is all radar is.

1/7/2008 5:30:22 PM

Everything I've read (mind you, I've not read anything for a couple of months) has pretty much said that Valentine's POP performance is abysmal compared to the Bel Driver STi.

I know the STi is supposed to be invisible to Spectre. I'm seriously considering buying one, as the only evidence I've read of the V1's superior performance has been purely anecdotal. I've read several places that the V1's software is in bad need of updating. Has this been rectified? What are owners' takes on this?

By the way, I would never consider buying a cordless detector such as the Solo 2. I think that a good dual superheterodyne receiver is gonna suck too much power, regardless of the scale of integration, and there's no way you can make a good small cordless with a suitable battery life without compromising receiver sensitivity and range.

How do radar detector detectors work? They pick up on the detector's oscillator or intermediate frequency (what the detector (and all superhet receivers) generates to mix with and modulate incoming signals). I think that a lot of the STi's performance in this arena comes from its metal shielding.

1/7/2008 5:46:25 PM

i dont know about the software inside the unit but the v1 user interface , display, and alerts are horribly outdated.

I guess having the LEDs be a different color for the various frequencys would be a nice start. Trying to decipher what tone is which while your radio is loud to combat cabin noise is a pain in the ass and you cant see the labels in the dark.

you will get about 10 responses below this post praising its simple and easy to use interface but the reality is its very cryptic .

Is it easy to use? Sure

Does it belong on a 400$ radar detector? Good luck proving that point

1/8/2008 8:34:38 AM

^ I have to agree with you. Sometimes I mix the K band warning light with the Ka when driving at night. That part annoys me. Getting use to the tones take time, but aren't that difficult IMO.

1/8/2008 12:47:52 PM

Quote :

"I guess having the LEDs be a different color for the various frequencys would be a nice start. "

agreed, but as a workaround you can modify the external displays for the V1 or buy the ones on ebay which are already modified.

for the display in general though, i love the arrows. its hard to beat those.


on a slightly related topic, is there a listing or something that shows what radar/laser technologies are used in each state/county/city? Anyone know off hand about what NC/Wake/Raleigh uses? Do you guys get hit with instant on much?

1/9/2008 1:42:21 PM

yeah, i want to know if they use Spectre III in VA... anybody know where I could find this info?

1/9/2008 3:00:05 PM

Raleigh PD is consistently Ka band, and I've been hit with Laser maybe 3 times total in a year, all in the coliseum parking deck, so I assume false alarm. In wake county I get POP maybe once a month, usually a false alarm or I just cant find the guy. In Raleigh, I usually dont worry about speeding because theres so many intersections and lights. On 40/85 I get K's a lot from the highway patrol. And theres about 6 overpasses from here to Burlington with speed monitor equipment (used by DOT) that trips my X band pretty strong for a few seconds. Theres more than that, almost one per overpass, but only about 6 are powerful, or aimed enough to set mine off.

1/9/2008 5:04:20 PM

ive never been hit with laser while using a radar detector, however, I mostly see Ka and K being used by cops.

Drove by 2 cary cops on Maynard, both using K band...
Saw Ka on Cary Parkway earlier today...

1/12/2008 12:30:29 AM

state troopers still use X band, btw. so don't disable that

1/12/2008 11:42:08 AM

Airport Blvd always blows up my X-Band

1/13/2008 6:02:48 PM

I've had a Valentine for 4 years... my wife has had the 8500 for 3 years.

me - no tickets and a fast driver.

her - 2 tickets and a slower drive.

I drive both cars and have no doubts the Valentine is a MUCH better detector.

1/17/2008 12:11:57 PM

I got a Valentine 1 for Christmas this year. Thus far its worked well. Generally i dont speed all that much regardless, but I absolutely dont speed if that thing even makes a peep. If I do speed its generally for short bursts (ie hammer it off the line and ease up to cruising speed or to pass some jackass doing 10 under).

In the last month its busted several police who had a pretty good hiding place.

1/17/2008 7:59:35 PM

it saved me 3 times on my trip to philly this past week...

Already payed itself off...

1/17/2008 9:08:02 PM