tlsmith1999

If you like the idea of Trapster, have a V1 and iPhone you should check out RadarActive. http://radaractive.com/. I have only read up on it some as I do not own an iPhone, but it sounds pretty cool.

bronto

Yeah, now this is what I thought a GPS-enabled radar detector would be doing. With the system blown 87 describes, his detector only uses data collected by his own unit. Which is great for regularly used routes but useless on road trips, where I would primarily use it.

And it appears that RadarActive data can be used by any RadarActive user on an iPhone, even if they don't have a V1.

blown 87

You also do a merge with the Escort data base every time you do a update, which comes weekly, so every marked location in mine will be in yours the first time you do a update, plus all the other users.

That is a lot of locations, something i doubt that RadarActive or Trapster can come close to matching.

I forgot about that part.

Speedtoys

At what point does all of this trust in the data, remove just plain being aware?

Its gotta cross at some point, which then makes the fact that you have TONS of data, useless.


Cops move around..and the system has to trust that others take the time to download new data on an extremely regular basis, doesnt it? IMHO, PITA to add that to the nightly nerd-schedule after dinner.

FREAKINHEAT

I'm not going to trust a strangers brake lights to tell me if a cop is ahead. Its a good tool but not always the best resource.

I purchased a Escort 9500i and it paid itself on its first road trip. I say go Escort just b/c it has the gps to get rid of some of those false alarms. I believe the top of the line is 9500ix and it outperformed the V1 in some test done online.

Speedtoys

That -is- interesting...

Speedtoys

You'd be hard pressed to find a motorist that WONT tap the brakes the moment they see a cop sitting at the side of the road under any conditions.


Instant-on is the largest threat to any RD setup..brake lights where they dont belong..is just a data point. Ignore it if you wish.

FREAKINHEAT

I hear ya, but the Escort will detect the radar signal over a hill where you don't see a others brake lights.

Thus the theory of following the brake lights=fail. Its a tool but I'd rather go with technology.

I'm on the road alot and used to live by the Escort. They put a GPS tracker in my company car, so no more speeding for me.

Speedtoys

Like I said, assuming there is one.

Id rather go with observation, backed up by technology. I have to trust me, before I can trust anything else. That keeps -me- in better practice, I think.

---
There is that..since you are representing them.

RKD in OKC

Last road trip I made, cruzing alone doing my polite fast thing. Felt like slowing down a bit and within a couple miles passed a couple of patrols working the highway, no radar. The force was strong with them.

blown 87

There is no human doing anything but connecting to the internet.
I love you guys that put down something you know nothing about and have never used.

Who said you can not run a RD and be aware?

As far as adding to your time, I do mine maybe once every other month, it is cumulative, what in the world makes you think you have to do it every night or that you are trading your god given senses over to a machine?

S4ordie

It is my plan to have realtime GPS and information communication with Escort at all times. It is my nature.... One must assimilate with technology or perish.

blown 87

I just want to do what I can to keep my drivers license.

AO

I called Valentine1 yesterday to see if they had any upgrades planned to their current offering (i.e. GPS tracking, etc.) They said they did not. Hmmmm.... Might be time to make the switch.

auzivision

Hard to believe that the V1 was created in 1992. Mike Valentine is one of the inventors of the original Escort detector, the only truly good superheterodyne detector in the mid-1980's. One thing led to another, he left his partner and Cincinnati Microwave and resurfaced a few years later as Valentine Research.

The time he spent in hiding was not wasted. Since day 1 the V1 has been a marvel in design and detection. It has continuously been better at finding and locating radar than any of its competitors through the 90’s and into the 21st century.

The fact they have ignored progressing into GPS territory, makes me think they are just milking what they have until their patent wears out. I’m totally guessing on that. They either missed the boat on GPS (possibly patented by Escort/Bel) or chose not to compete in that market.

After reading up on the functionality GPS technology adds, makes me thing Valentine won’t be around say 5 years from now if they don’t step to the plate soon. I’ve never ever thought a radar detector could be useful in or around town, but it appears that the days of only being reliable on the open roads is over.

Now if they could just combine the best detecting system with directional arrows and GPS… that would be the bomb.