spittingcobra

Do you use a Radar Detector to save you from the fuzz? If so which one? How reliable is it? Recommendations welcomed Tell me of an encounter where it helped.

USMC_DS1

I have the Escort Redline. Saved me again yesterday as I was driving home through the neighborhood. 30mph limit. Just when I was starting to feel safe when my Redline lit up. LEO was waiting around a long swiping bend. Merc in front wasn't so well equipped and took the hit. I started slowing down about two blocks away. I'm always impressed by the long range capability of the Redline even around a bend. My wife has the Escort 9500ix which is better for city driving. BTW, I've been driving an "arrest me red" C2S for two years now w/o incident... knock on wood. I think you'll find that most here use either a Valentine or an Escort. GL.

sixgun95

I have the Escort 9500ic. Had for 3 weeks, time will tell. I do like the laser shifters!!

Mike in CA

There are probably dozens of threads on this subject, so if you want more info than you would ever need do a search on radar detectors. Short answer from me; Valentine V1....the directional arrows make it more useful and it's saved me many times.

theporscheguy

The situational awareness of my Valentine One has warned me on numerous occasions. I would not go on a long drive without it.

MessyMarvin

I have the Escort 9500, I use it on long trips. I probably should use it more often, but I do not. I think it performs great.

rotesAuto

I have a 'squirt in my P and V1's in my Benzes...........they're both good and do their job,
it's a must, goodluck

Mojo31

All the coppers around here use lasers -virtually no radar. How do you guys deal with that?

aviography

Look up "Blinder" or "Laser Intercepter", laser is too narrow and too quick, it's too late by the time the laser detection of your radar/laser detector goes off, you've already been clocked.

The laser countermeasures will confuse the reading on the LIDAR police uses for a short period of time so it won't read your speed, in the mean time you slow down to the speed limit, turn off the laser countermeasure so your speed can now be read by the LIDAR, some units will automatically turn off the laser emission by itself after a few seconds.

USMC_DS1

The last time I checked Laser Intercepter were illegal in TX. Anyone know if this has changed?

Marine Blue

I just picked up a V1 and here are my observations:

Pro's
- location arrows and bogey count are helpful and yes they did come in handy at least twice already (owned for 4 weeks now)
- the range is excellent, certainly plenty of time to detect most Ka instant on as long as you have the auto mode selected, range does get reduced with the logic mode and full logic is useless

Con's
- way to many false alarms and no way to really "teach" it to shut up
- along with the first comment, with so many false alarms you don't take the detector as seriously (boy who cry's wolf situation)
- a little bulky/cumbersome to remove from the windshield when in a parking lot.

Overall I agree with others, having one is a big help and will put the odds in your favor as long as you are good about paying attention to your surroundings. The detector saved me from at least 3 tickets on a recent drive from MA to KS. There was one instance where I was above the speed limit with a car following me at the same speed. The detector caught a brief half strength Ka for two seconds and it disappeared (instant on) so I slowed immediately. The car behind me just blew past and I told my wife "watch this guy's going to get a ticket". Sure enough after a mile of driving I saw the officer in the distance and sure enough the car was being pulled over.

It also reduces the stress of driving at high speeds. I'm still wondering if the 9500ix would have been a better investment to reduce the false alarms. Each have their benefits.

Mike in CA

I haven't had the kind of issues with advanced logic mode that you've had; I get good advanced warning from legitimate sources and it seems to cut down on false alarms.

Anyway, there is a way to selectively program your V1. For example, you can turn off certain radar frequencies if you know police aren't using a particular band in your area (which should reduce false alarms), or increase the sensiitivity of Ka band alone, along with a bunch of other things. Instructions are here:

http://www.valentine1.com/Lab/techreport3.asp

MessyMarvin

That is why I chose the Escort, it detects false alarms, has a GPS capability that turns it off after going through it several times. If I kept getting false alarms it would drive me nuts, I would shut it off.

A2b

+1 on V1. Paid for itself many times over. Mine is 10yo and saves me weekly. It's my 2nd one, my original '95 model got confiscated by the OPP (bastids).

They are upgradable, although I have yet to send it in. I rarely get false alarms as there are different levels of detection.

Yep laser is a challenge, althought on busier roads it will usually pick up the instant on from the cars 1/2-1mi ahead of you. The bigger problem is proliferation of laser cruise control coming from the Volvos, Infinitis, etc.

larrytrk

New Audis, Bmw's, and Benzes are constantly throwing codes on my
X50 9500xi from their rears. It's a real pain!!