Vin,

We've got X-Band cops up here still, just to note.

I run a hardwired Escort 8500:




Daniel

 

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

 

Here is something that happened to me that is proof positive why the V1 Radar LOCATOR is far better than the Escort, or any other.

On my way home I pass a hospital about 100 yards off the highway I exit. Each time I do this the V1 false’s. However it does have it’s trusted "boogie" counter that typically displays 1-2 as I pass-- pointing to the front and right. Once you get use to this you can easily ignore the false alarms in familiar areas.

However, this time I was getting 2-3 and an arrow to the left (blinking to show the worst threat). I made sure I was doing exactly the speed limit, and sure as dung, when I was passing the hospital I saw Mr. Police Office sitting in a driveway on the left, set back in the shadows being a sneaky little *****.

So I continue on my way, ticket free and pass the hospital. 200 yards down the road, and Just when I was starting to think about getting back into it, I notice that the V1 is still showing 3 boogies and the arrow is now blinking to the front. I continue being Joe Careful and round the corner (about 25 degrees). The boogie counter suddenly drops to 0 (hospital and police behind me) and seven seconds later I SUDDENLY get zapped again from the front. Of course I drive on by the Mr. Police Officer II.

There is NO doubt that without the V1, specifically, I would of went home that night with a ticket from the two cops (about 3/4-to-1 mile apart) that were obviously working together, and know that the hospital gives false signals.

I have been popped once in the three years I have had it. MyBad as I was the only one on the road and knew I shouldn't be doing this and was pushing my luck. Other than that, the V1 has got me out of dozen of tickets.

First mod to any new vehicle I owe. Install the V1! Worth every single penny and then some!
/tg

 

It's been 11 mounths, but when I lived FL, some of the places that still use X are: Port Charlotee, Arcadia, Lakeland, Bartow, and many others. They are getting rid of them and moving forward to 1995, but they are still out there!

I'll email my FHP buddy and see what he has to say.

/tg

 

Thanks Dan for the heads up. I still always got my get out of jail for free card if i get pulled over. Because if they wanna pull you over they will if they were shooting radar or not. But then i just pull out my cousin's Family member bergen county PBA Card and im good hehe. Most of the county cops know my truck now anyway. Have showed lots of them with my cousin at their headquarters .

 

I have to agree, the V1 is hands down the best and worth every penny I paid for it. In fact, I just bought a second one and another remote display for my wife's SCrew!!!

 

If you want the best money can buy, you want a Valentine!

Andy G

 

Thats interesting. Florida Administrative Code sets forth approved bands of traffic radar. K, Ka, and Laser (as of 2001) and the only approved ones. X-Band's certification was pulled in the early 90's. Tickets written on X-band guns are invalid in Florida. (If you want the code, I will have to do some serious looking, I don't even remember which section it was in, but made note of it atthe time as handy info to know.)

FHP uses both K and Ka bands in different troops around the state. To the best of my knowledge, they do not have Laser units yet.

Local PD's are just starting to migrate to laser, but laser is very finicky and laser speed checkpoints are very obvious most of the time. Plus the fact that they must 'aim' it like a firearm is conspicuous al hell.

Give me a Ka gun any day on the street over a Laser unit.


That will 100% gaurentee you a citation in this area. Cops do not take kindly to the 'so-and-so is so-and-so' routine here. If you are a cop, then thats one thing, but the more cop stickers you put on the window, the better chance you have to get a ticket. I - and most of my friends - cannot stand these stickers and cards.

Just so you don't bash me as a ticket lover, I have received my fair share of tickets all over the place too and I write 3 warnings for every ticket and speeding almost always gets a 10 mph reduction on the ticket, or whatever gets the violation down to less than $150. Even people who pull the pba card crap. You have to REALLY **** me off to get a cite at full speed.

 

Thanks for the update on the X band I didnt think it was around anymore.... but troopers in my area Manatee/Sarasota counties do use laser..I got a ticket 91/70 about a year ago and my V1 never went off..trooper was up on the overpass where I-275 and I-75 cross, shooting laser at the rear of vehicles and radioing ahead to 2 waiting troopers..I guess since my V1 is as high up as possible in the front that the roof and tailgate blocked the signal..o well I now pay a little more attention as I get to overpasses..Anyone know if the laser jammer thing that goes around your license plate works???thanks

Chris

 

If you read the tests between the V1 and the Passport 8500 they are pritty close.

The V1 wins some catagories, while the 8500 wins others. The differances are pritty minor, so I would say that either one would be a good choice.

I used to have a V1 in my last vehical, I have the 8500 in my L. While I like the passport better the V1 is awesome too. I gave my father my V1 since he drives to fast and needed a good detector.

 

Well i dont give them the PBA card and say well do you know who this is im his cousin now be gone and dont give me a ticket thats just dumb. I hand them my PBA card with my licsense and reg and then they usually ask me who that is. Im not an @ss to them and anyone that is is just plain stupid. I got pulled over once for having no front plate on my other car. The cop was a county cop same as my cousin. I didnt say anything to him about who my cousin was until after he started writing the ticket. Then when i asked him if he knew him he said why didnt you tell me. Hes like i cant stop writing a ticket once i start but hes like if you want to we can go to court and get this taken care of. I just payed the ticket was only 40 bucks the court fees would have been the same. So they do honor them here especially ones that say family memeber on them. But if a cops gonna give you ticket hes gonna give you one. And 9 times out of 10 if he pulled you over for speeding and you give him a pba card he will give you ticket for a non moving violation which i would rather have no points .

 

LOL, I am the exact opposite...I had a V1 and Passport 8500. I sold my passpost on E-Bay because I liked the V1 ALOT better...now I'm buying a second V1!!!

 

Check out these sites and choose for yourself. I went with the Escort 8500 and have been happy with it. I'll soon be adding the Shifter ZR3.

http://radartest.com/
http://www.speedzones.com/

 

So, from what I read... it is definitely worth the 400$ for the V1? Ive gotten 1 speeding ticket, and hope not to get another!

-Mike

 

Just an FYI for anyone that might be in the market for a radar detector.....There has been a recent FCC ruling lobbied by the VSAT organization. A lot or Radar detectors due not meet new FCC limits of oscilation....Doesn't mean anything really...there is nothing functionally wrong with these units.

But there are a lot of companies trying to liquadate product at 1/2 off, buy one get one free, etc... The deadline from the FCC is 10/27 so look for prices to start dropping even more closer to the deadline.

Keep in mind that higher-end units will probably not be affected and are already FCC compliant but a lot of units are not: (ie)

Whistler

Cobra
RadioShack
Uniden
(All made by SK Global - BG Tech)

I know that these are not Valentines or Escorts....but they make great gifts! And at prices as low at $19.99 etc...it's hard to pass up!