After following similar post about wether to use detector
or not, I'm wanting one. Which one and why it ?
I think I want a portable one so I can use it in rentals.
Please let me know which you prefer and why

 

I have had the passport for years, suction cups and removal is easy and placement into another car is simple. I cannot comment on the new passport Max or the smart cable that is used with social media.

As a side thought, have you tried/considered "Trapster" it is a free (IIRC) downloadable app, and works based upon others (social media) reporting in. I wish I would have thought about it when I went to Canada recently, as you cannot have a "working" radar detector in your vehicle, the gendarme have "detector" detectors. While I did not get any tickets, I would have liked to see if it worked.
just my .02

 

I too am interested.

 

I only ever bought one and it seems to be doing OK for me. Apart from it telling me that a train was approaching across Costco's car park a couple of times haha. Mine is the Cobra and I have it wired so it comes on with the ignition switch. By your right foot there is a panel that comes away and inside is a 4 pin connector half of which comes live as the ignition switches on. The other half is live all the time. I have mine connected to that half of the 4 pin connector which only comes live when the ignition is turned on. That is because I forgot to plug it into the cig lighter one day and was way over the speed limit on that drive. Didn't realize it until I got back into the garage that I didn't have the detector switched on. That can't happen again. I can touch screen for commands to the Cobra. ie:- City or Highway cover. K. KA etc of which I don't really know whats what. Any warning what so ever and my foot comes of the accelerator in a heart beat. Some or most states don't allow you to have them stuck onto the wind screen so I have mine on the dash looking forward and also towards the rear window. I don't know if it picks up all around or not. I get pop alerts now and then (That alert being the most important one) but can't see the cop car. One day I did and he was hiding behind a church sign the little devil. lol. But I am satisfied with mine but can guarantee that there are far better than mine on the market as mine was not very expensive. I still have all my wits about me and don't toe it just because I have a detector on board.

 

Got $400+, get a Valentine or top end Passport or BEL (same company) If you want to spend less, BEL's are the best. my $150 BEL V155 gets the same signals, but I pick them up 1-2 miles away, while the top ones pick them up 2.5 or so....not worth it to me. What is nice, is some have memory, can remember false alerts, warn on speed cameras, etc. Radar Roy's site is a good place to learn....

Stay away from the crap blister pack Cobra's etc in Target, Cosco, etc...

 

I've been using a Valentine since 98. It got replaced once as it wasn't working right after a VA cop got his hands on it, but otherwise it's solid. My wife's is from 99, never been upgraded, and still works like a charm (though it gets a lot more bogus laser signals than mine).

I get great distance with it (best was about 3-4 miles). It uses standard phone cord so it's easy to make a custom cord or fix a broken one. In VA (or at least in NoVA) only the State ponies up for the expensive detector that can pick up the V1 (but even then they have to be pretty close), the locals get a cheaper model that can't see it (no idea if DC cops bother or not). The things are solid (taken a few bad drops and keep on working). Comes with all the stuff to be portable to cars that you haven't hardwired it into. It's also easy to move the hardwiring to another car (the power supply in my 958 is on it's 5th car and is older than either of our units).

Back shortly after I got my original one a co-worker got the top end Passport of the time. We slapped both in a car and went out. The V1 picked up signals sooner and found more of them. The arrows and hit counter was a step ahead too. I have no idea how the changes in the last 15 years have them stacking up though.

If I suddenly needed to replace my unit I'd probably look at the competitors, but I expect I'd get another V1. It doesn't have a lot of the flashy stuff, but I don't find I need it and the V1 has a long history of doing exactly what it's supposed to.

 

V1

 

I've had a V1 since around 2000. It's definitely paid for itself several times over. I like that it will detect multiple radars and identify in which direction they are.

 

wait they make something other then Valentine?? If some of you are old enoguh.. which sure you are, Valentine offer to pay any ticket you got if you own a Valentine when they first came out... early 90's..They don do that anymore but its a statement on how well there product worked.. plus.. much like i feel about clutches and trans.. they only offer one item V1.. not 17.. stages 3,4,5 9600.. ect

 

Beltronics RX65 with SmartCord Live. Awesome detection, voice prompts, and the smart cord live uses bluetooth to download speed camera, red light camera, and speed trap info via your phone's data plan. Put the detector display in "advanced" mode and it can track multiple sources for each band - like V1, except it doesn't indicate whether the threat is ahead or behind.

The detector plus a hardwire installation and a good rear view mirror mount is a great setup. In CA, a detector isn't illegal, but having one suction-cupped to your windshield is.

 

+996 plus it's been software updateable for awhile now so you don't have to worry about it going obsolete or having to get a new version.

Edit: plus Valentine offers seamless integration if you get their rear view mirror option(pretty cool imo).
http://www.radar-mirror.com/Store_V1_Mirrors.html

 

That's true to a point, but some of the features over the years have needed new hardware. That said (at least when I had to replace mine) Mike has a very good upgrade/repair policy so it is usually far less than having to buy a new one and then you are left with a new one at that point.

 

I have had the passport 8500 x50 for over 5 years now. Has been working flawless and has saved me from over a dozen tickets. Works best on highways as most cops don't even use radar on city streets and the ones that do most of the time you already know the hiding spots around town.

 

This.
I've had mine since 2005, love it!

 

Escort 9500ix. It has built in GPS and remembers where false signals are so they dont show up the next time you are there. It is completely silent (except when a real signal shows up). It also has a database of fixed trap/red light locations. Wont save you from Laser though. You need a Laser Interceptor or Blinder for that.