only in the sense that I have a short wire that comes out of the top of the cab to the detector, rather than have a wire strung across the dash... its just neater and cleaner and it makes you more stealthy..

 

My vote is for the valentine one,

 

Like I said, the 8500(SRX) and V1 are really close in detection capabilities... that is a fact. V1 owners will defend the pride of their "unit" 'till the end.

They're both great, both can be hardwired, and both (if you have a newer V1) can be software-upgraded for new radar detection code.

You basically pay $85-100 (depending on how you shop around) more for a V1 to get the directional signal...otherwise one is no better then the other, they're just a different shape and beep differently.

Daniel

 

Valentine 1's are great detectors where you can have them legally. Up here they are illegal and they are like a brick on your windshield. With microelectronics getting smaller and smaller, I'd hope that they will update the design of that detector at some point. Cripes, how old is that box? Time to spend a little money Mike Valentine.

I need something that is more concealed. I'll probably will go with a K-40 setup.

Paul G.

 

I am one of those who will defend the V1 to the death. No other detector I've owned compares to it. The fact that Mike Valentine used to work for Passport and left the company to make his own because Passport started using cheap parts to save cost, tells you what quality he puts into the V1. It's also nice that you never have to buy another unit, you can send your V1 in for updates when new stuff comes out.

As for the laser stuff, laser is aimed like a rifle. It's pinpoint accurate. That means that if your detector picks up a laser signal, the officer is targeting your specific vehicle. All you can do at that point is slow down and hope the officer respects that.

As for laser jammers, REAL jammers are against the federal FCC law. It's not against the law to have a device that "detect"s rader/laser (except certian state laws), but it is against the law to use a device that "transmitts" a jamming signal.

 

My V1 paid for it self in the first week I think- definetly month. Just watch out for "instant on". That will get you. I got popped doin 90 in a 70 ( 3am I-95) ( V1 worked- as soon as he turned it on it went off) But in a light traffic- daily driving you will pick cops up miles ahead.

 

I don't own a passport or a V1. Without having a jammer of some sort, they are right, with laser you're just kindof screwed anyways. With instant on radar you can get screwed too. The way I look at it, regardless of which direction it's coming from, I let off the gas pedal. If it gets above a 1 on my scale, i slow to a reasonable speed like 5-7mph over the limit until I can see the cop directly or it goes off the scale. Mine has saved me dozens of times, but not with instant-on situations, but the cops that just sit there with radar on are easy to pic up regardless of the detector.

I have a Bel 985, and sometimes I think it's too sensitive, but for where I live, 99% of the police use K band, so it doesnt really matter anyways. I completely disabled X, and I mostly disregard Ka band. When the laser goes off, I can usually look up and see the little red dot in the cop car (not the laser but the aiming reticle has a red dot in it) in that case it's way too late anyways.

I guess it has yet to be proven to me, but I don't buy into the hype these other two units get. Unless you're running jammers, there's only so much you can do with instant on and laser.

DON'T SPEED.

 

this advice on disabling X and watching the other two is great advice.. only very old and underfunded police depts still use X..

 

I picked up a V1 a few weeks ago and it really is THAT good. Following Nozebleedspeed from Miami last weekend, the V1 picked up signals before his, and he uses 2 detectors (he's a crazy speeder lol).

 

And I'd imagine you could have a nice court case about radar interference since every single block the X band is going off. Just about everything uses that now I swear. So outdated that all the automatic doors use it.

Walgreens stores use pretty decently strong K band though on their doors. It always pisses me off since there's like, a walgreens on every corner up here.

 

so how much is the V-1? Has anyone with one recieved a ticket since they bought it? other than a laser ticket that is...

 

The V1 goes for $400 and is only available through Valentine industries. Check a Car and Driver for the address online or 1-800 #.

Yes I have gotten a ticket. At 3 am I was heading back from Boca Raton to Orlando cruising at 90 with no one in front or behind for miles. Vero Beach area i was popped for 19 over. nice guy wrote it for 9 over. If there would have been traffic i would have been safe. Sometimes if they are running Intant on miles ahead you can pick it up too. Just have to know what to watch for. V1 will go way up in strength- then off. Way up then off... SLOW DOWN THEN.

Its really quite impressive.

 

I have to get something, I can only take that damn driving school class 1 more time in my life...Im only 21

 

You know instead of returning your 8500 to Best Buy you could have just bought some resistor plugs. Mine did the same thing. I exchanged it twice and it didnt help. I was running non-resistor plugs at the time and that was what caused it. Went back to the NGK's and it never happened again.

 

Which NGK?
I have TR-8's and mine would false alarm?