Advice and thoughts on Radar Detectors-K40...>
10-07-2010 | 09:02 PM
#16
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From: Gualala
I have 4 radar detectors and have for the past 8 years. They are all passports, 8500's & 9500's, and I use them every time I drive out of the driveway!! They have saved my *** more then I can count. Just my 2 cents.
10-07-2010 | 09:52 PM
#17
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From: Greater Boston
I have both a V1 and a 9500ci. Here's a summary comparison:
V1 pro's: Superior detection sensitivity to the rear and sides. Directional arrows.
V1 con's: Constant false alarms (as already noted) in city and suburban environments. No laser jammer.
9500ci pro's: Detection range equal to the V1 from the front. GPS enabled lockout of false alarms (as already noted). Totally concealed installation, which rates very highly with me. Laser jammer included.
9500ci con's: High price (including cost of installation if installed by a third party installer) relative to the V1. Sensitivity not as good as the V1 to the sides and rear.
With both running in the car at the same time (the V1 mounted behind the windshield on the dash), both the V1 and 9500ci have virtually identical detection range in the forward direction. They both sound off at almost exactly the same time when something is detected. Occasionally one goes off slightly earlier than the other, but overall there is no significant difference.
Laser jamming capability is something to be taken seriously. Laser detection is nice but practically speaking it's next to useless. By the time the laser alarm goes off, you might as well get ready to pull your car over and wait for the cop. Ask me how I know.
Overall I give the edge to the 9500ci.
V1 pro's: Superior detection sensitivity to the rear and sides. Directional arrows.
V1 con's: Constant false alarms (as already noted) in city and suburban environments. No laser jammer.
9500ci pro's: Detection range equal to the V1 from the front. GPS enabled lockout of false alarms (as already noted). Totally concealed installation, which rates very highly with me. Laser jammer included.
9500ci con's: High price (including cost of installation if installed by a third party installer) relative to the V1. Sensitivity not as good as the V1 to the sides and rear.
With both running in the car at the same time (the V1 mounted behind the windshield on the dash), both the V1 and 9500ci have virtually identical detection range in the forward direction. They both sound off at almost exactly the same time when something is detected. Occasionally one goes off slightly earlier than the other, but overall there is no significant difference.
Laser jamming capability is something to be taken seriously. Laser detection is nice but practically speaking it's next to useless. By the time the laser alarm goes off, you might as well get ready to pull your car over and wait for the cop. Ask me how I know.
Overall I give the edge to the 9500ci.
Last edited by Jake951; 10-07-2010 at 10:09 PM. Reason: fixed typo
10-07-2010 | 10:29 PM
#19
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 442
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I have a hard wired V1 and Blinder laser jammers - very happy with the results. I have encountered laser a few times and did a Uturn so I could run the gauntlet again with no other cars around to determine how long the gun is held on me before a reading can be obtained. Usually, the cop doesn't stop shooting me with laser until I am within a hundred yards or less from him, so the Blinder obviously works.
10-07-2010 | 10:58 PM
#20
Wordsmith
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Owners have strong feelings about their detectors, but you really need to look at your local environment to decide what will give you the best protection. Which is faster, a fully armored HumVee, or a GT3? Well, are we talking Laguna Seca, or off road in Afghanistan?
If most of your driving is in the city, then 90% of the radar signals are "false alarms". Out in purple mountains and fruited plains? Mostly cops. Does your local enforcement use lasers? Do you have speed cameras, red-light cameras, other automated ticket writing devices?
After more than a decade using the Valentine V1, I have switched to Passport 9500ci and 9500ix. I will never again buy a detector that does not have GPS data used for detection. I live in a large city that has ALL forms of radar, laser and automated ticket machines in great numbers. It also has millions of sources of "false alarms", and conventional detectors like the V1 go off constantly (and I mean constantly) so that they end up being ignored.
The Passports record the exact frequency and location of each radar source. If it finds it again and again (same frequency and location) it locks it out. After a few days, it is absolutely silent except for ACTUAL SPEED TRAPS. It also has a downloaded location data base of all red-light and speed cameras, and gives a verbal warning as you approach them. Finally, unlike with radar, it is absolutely legal to jam laser detection. If laser is used locally, you NEED a jammer, or you are toast.
Out in the country, with no false alarms and no laser, sensitivity is key, and I would probably stay with the V1 (a truly great product). In my environment, I need the Passport with laser jamming.
Regional Speed Detection information is HERE.
Other Regional info HERE.
If you already own a V1, you have half of the best system available. The Valentine units give the number of threats detected, and the direction of the strongest threat. This is INCREDIBLY useful in avoiding tickets. All you need now is the remote display for the V1, and a Passport ci or ix. You can set the V1 to be permanently dark and mute. Have the Passport run all detection and laser jamming. When you do hear an alarm from the Passport, a quick glance at the remote display of the V1 will tell you where the threat is. The best of both worlds! I might not buy a V1 just for this purpose, but if you already own one I strongly recommend keeping it in service!
If most of your driving is in the city, then 90% of the radar signals are "false alarms". Out in purple mountains and fruited plains? Mostly cops. Does your local enforcement use lasers? Do you have speed cameras, red-light cameras, other automated ticket writing devices?
After more than a decade using the Valentine V1, I have switched to Passport 9500ci and 9500ix. I will never again buy a detector that does not have GPS data used for detection. I live in a large city that has ALL forms of radar, laser and automated ticket machines in great numbers. It also has millions of sources of "false alarms", and conventional detectors like the V1 go off constantly (and I mean constantly) so that they end up being ignored.
The Passports record the exact frequency and location of each radar source. If it finds it again and again (same frequency and location) it locks it out. After a few days, it is absolutely silent except for ACTUAL SPEED TRAPS. It also has a downloaded location data base of all red-light and speed cameras, and gives a verbal warning as you approach them. Finally, unlike with radar, it is absolutely legal to jam laser detection. If laser is used locally, you NEED a jammer, or you are toast.
Out in the country, with no false alarms and no laser, sensitivity is key, and I would probably stay with the V1 (a truly great product). In my environment, I need the Passport with laser jamming.
Regional Speed Detection information is HERE.
Other Regional info HERE.
If you already own a V1, you have half of the best system available. The Valentine units give the number of threats detected, and the direction of the strongest threat. This is INCREDIBLY useful in avoiding tickets. All you need now is the remote display for the V1, and a Passport ci or ix. You can set the V1 to be permanently dark and mute. Have the Passport run all detection and laser jamming. When you do hear an alarm from the Passport, a quick glance at the remote display of the V1 will tell you where the threat is. The best of both worlds! I might not buy a V1 just for this purpose, but if you already own one I strongly recommend keeping it in service!
With the proliferation of Lidar/laser around northern California, towing and keeping to 55 mph (call it 60) is boring. I think our bureaucrats have written revenue code into the FCC law making "jammers" illegal in California and presumably in other revenue-crippled states, too.
10-08-2010 | 11:48 AM
#21
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From: Greater Boston
A few states have declared laser jamming is illegal. However, transmission of laser light is NOT regulated by FCC, unlike radio waves. There are regulatory agencies, like ANSI and FAA, that are concerned with safety (primarily eye safety) when it comes to use of high power lasers. For example, you cannot shine a laser pointer at an aircraft because of the possibility of distracting or even blinding the pilot or crew. I seriously doubt whether those concerns apply to laser jamming because the power levels are so low and the light is not at visible wavelengths.
10-08-2010 | 01:58 PM
#24
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,262
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From: Southern California
If the same cop stops at the same trap spot, can the Passport somehow realize the source has moved five or ten feet?
With the proliferation of Lidar/laser around northern California, towing and keeping to 55 mph (call it 60) is boring. I think our bureaucrats have written revenue code into the FCC law making "jammers" illegal in California and presumably in other revenue-crippled states, too.
With the proliferation of Lidar/laser around northern California, towing and keeping to 55 mph (call it 60) is boring. I think our bureaucrats have written revenue code into the FCC law making "jammers" illegal in California and presumably in other revenue-crippled states, too.
Positional accuracy is pretty good (lots of things effect GPS user Equipment accuracy), but it isn't trying to resolve 5-10 foot accuracy, so I don't expect it to care about a 5-10 feet difference.
My one annoyance with the 9500ix/ci is that the software hasn't been quite smart enough. If you use the red-light camera warning feature, even if the database is fully up to date, you will be warned about a camera at intersections where there is only one camera - if I'm going east-west and the camera is north-south, I get a warning. It seems to mark a location and expand a circle from that location based on speed, so if you are on the Freeway doing 85, it will warn me of camera-controlled intersections 150-250 feet away. This should be an easy fix in software.
10-08-2010 | 04:25 PM
#25
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Cumming Ga
V1 all the way the arrows can not be beat 
Here is a nifty way to mount it in your car w/ hardwire kit very slick
https://storesense.megawebservers.co...tail.bok?no=71
Here is a nifty way to mount it in your car w/ hardwire kit very slick
https://storesense.megawebservers.co...tail.bok?no=71
10-08-2010 | 08:17 PM
#27
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 954
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From: TX
....My one annoyance with the 9500ix/ci is that the software hasn't been quite smart enough. If you use the red-light camera warning feature, even if the database is fully up to date, you will be warned about a camera at intersections where there is only one camera - if I'm going east-west and the camera is north-south, I get a warning..... This should be an easy fix in software.
10-09-2010 | 10:10 AM
#30
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Left Coast, Florida
Hardwiring is just convenient. It does not affect performance. If you have it wired into a switched 12v power source, it will just turn on and off with the key and there won't be any cords hanging around.
The only true laser jammers are the ones that use laser diodes, not the LED diodes. The only one left on the US market right now is the Laser Interceptor. I've personally tested mine against 7 diff police laser units and it jams the gun each and every time. Best on the market, hands down.
Check out the last GOL test on laser jammers: http://www.guysoflidar.com/july-2008...mmer-test.html
The only true laser jammers are the ones that use laser diodes, not the LED diodes. The only one left on the US market right now is the Laser Interceptor. I've personally tested mine against 7 diff police laser units and it jams the gun each and every time. Best on the market, hands down.
Check out the last GOL test on laser jammers: http://www.guysoflidar.com/july-2008...mmer-test.html