Level8Drummer

Hey, where's the cheapest place to buy a Valentine 1?

Tabor

There is only one place to buy a Valentine 1. Valentine 1

I urge you to look into an Escort Passport 8500.

Level8Drummer

Really? How much are they, and what are the advantages? Does it have a directional sensor?

Any other suggestions?

DoubleNutz

I would also urge the Escort, however my weapon of choice is the Escort SR-1
details are at this web siteEscort SR-1 in a 928

jim morehouse

You might check out ebay. I found a number of them for sale there and you can get them cheaper than buying direct..of course, it's buyer beware.

Jim

Tabor

They are $300 instead of $400. It does not have a directional sensor, but it does track multiple radar source. I don't mind since I keep reading that the directional fearure on the Valentine is not very accurate.

As for range, the Valentine is a little better with X, the Escort is a little better with Ka, give a little, take a little.

Level8Drummer

So are there any other good radar detectors to consider? If I bought a lower line than the 8500, would it have the same sensitivity, and less features, or would it it be less sensitive?

Tabor

Level8Drummer:

I would not concider any detectors other than the Valentine 1 and the Escort 8500. They are the only detectors in their "sensitivity class" and the only detectors to track multiple radar sources, with the possible exception of the Escort SR-1. The Escort 7500 will track multiple targets, but is not nearly as sensitive.

-Tabor

Jay Wellwood

I currently have the SR-1 - and absolutely love it.

The range is easily acceptable and the sensitivity is accurate for highway travel with plenty of warning. Dual sensors fornt and rear. Detects X, K, Ka, and Laser - very reliable IMHO. Kinda pricey - but I believe you get what you pay for.

As an example, while travelling thru Tenn to the SITM couple of weekends ago, I figure that SR-1 saved me AT LEAST 5 tickets. In one instance, coming around a sweeping corner got the signal I was being lit up - backed off and leveled speed ~80. Sure enough, just out of the corner, nestled in the trees on the inside was one of Tenn's best lightin everyone up - no problems for me.

This happened several times both to and from SITM. Needless to say I am a very satisifed customer.

DoubleNutz

Escort touts that the sensitivity of its SR-1 is unmatched by any of the other detectors it manufactures. This is in part dure to the fact that there are no obstructions glass, window tint, your buddies "big head, high seats or, just plain old stuff in the hatch area to obstruct its performance. That is why I posted those test results of that Valentine 1 supplied in there study of detection sensitivity reductions through automobile glass. They clearly state that some automobile glass can impact the sensitivity of their device, the Valentine One, by as much as 80%! Porsche glass did not fair very well in the tests either. That was enough information and research by Valentive for me to make a clear decision... The Escort SR-1.

Level8Drummer

Alright. 8500 it is. I can't get one of those permanently mounted radar detectors. A couple of reasons:

1 Right now, I average a new car every 6 months. It's crazy, but things keep changing, and my car needs keep changing as well.

2 I'd like to be able to put it in my friends's cars as well when I ride with them to avoid speeding tickets. I don't always take road trips in my car.

I'd like to have a RD that I can take in and out of different cars and have a mounting suction cup set for each car. Just switch the RD out!

The V1 seems a little bulky.

Level8Drummer

The different types of radar:

X, K, Ka, and Laser,

What's most widely used? Which do you get the most false signals from? Which is "instant-on"? Which do cops have built into their cars for just driving around? In which states are radar detectors illegal? How does a radar jammer work, and does it work well?

That's a lot of questions, but does anybody know?

jim morehouse

I can't do the tech explanation of the various radars but if you do a search on radar detector I think you'll pull up some sites that have tutorial stuff...in fact, the valentine site may have it.

The only state I can vouch for them being illegal is Va. I'm sure there are others

From what I've read, there are NO successful "jammers"..I think it may have something to do w the time to detect a radar signal and then compute/generate an appropriate response...not enough time before the cop gets a reading. I would think a system could be designed to be 'always on' but there may be something in the radar signal that makes that impractical. I've read a couple of reviews (months ago so I forget the details) and the bottom line was they don't work. The one exception may be for laser. There's a product out that Brian Buxton carries and is supposed to work..a 'diffuser' of some kind that mounts on your plate and is supposed to be effective. The other thing I've read though is that if the laser is aimed at a different point on your car, then your toast anyway and that laser tends to be used in 'instant on' mode/shooting at relatively short distances (less warning time). Unlike the cop on the side of the road w the gun always on. So your detector may very well go off, but its too late.

Anybody got any first hand experience w this?

Jim

Level8Drummer

I gotcha. I went to radartest.com, and found out a lot. I'm definately getting a passport 8500 on monday.

Where's the cheapest place to buy one? I've found it for 260 at soundgood.com. Free S+H. Has anybody found it for cheaper?

shaaark89

jim,
i have the laser diffuser from brian. it supposedly detects and jams laser signals. comes packaged as a front license plate housing and is hard wired to the car along with a warning light and piezo speaker. mine has gone off several times and i have not been pulled over so i'm assuming it works. it's made by k40 and they'll pay for your laser ticket if you ever get one. (doesn't help the insurance or jail time, but at least it's something