Performance On Q.; Selectable Freqs. (if not used in area);Arrows a plus;if in logic or programed unit will start low into high volume alert; Multiple signal pickup.

Price is high= performance; autodim- at night vehicle lights brightens unit when not needed

Standard price=$400 through Company unless Ebayed. Excellent X band (1.25), K band (1.5), and Ka band (1.3) best so far. Compared to all portable detectors That claim 360 degrees, this is the only detector that give you superior range hands down. Check out my site, for any last reviews I have done.

Similar Products Used:

Bel-980, Whistler-1580, Uniden-2300, Cobra-6500

"Full" coverage , its the elitest detector/locator for civilian use :)
Picked up a hand held radar (K-Band) 1km away , Speed Camera roughly 400m away (K,Ka-Bands) Havn't seen a laser to test yet

My apline car stereo remote sets it off on the laser band (infa red)
My Mates GMH (general motors - Holden) VL commodore horn sets it off on laser band aswell ,,,, Very strange !!!!! email maxell86@hotmail.com if u have answers to that !!!

I would recommend it for sure, apperently it works better here is Oz then
USA.
"Slow down where ever you are , speed kills"

Similar Products Used:

BEL = GHEY

Directional Arrows, Bogey Counter, Magnesium casing (I hate it when cheap detectors emit radar signals!), Great windshield mount! Oh, and the hundreds of dollars in speeding tickets and thousands of dollars in insurance premium increases I *DIDN'T* have to pay!

I'm tempted to say price, but after using the V1, I wouldn't think twice about paying up to $1,000 for it! All the bases were covered when designing this detector -- it truly shows no weakness.

$400 from www.ValentineOne.com - they do not sell to independent retailers for a special distributers price, so expect to pay the full boat unless you buy it off ebay.

Everything about this radar detector is exceptional. I'll try to mention some things not mentioned below.

1.) The windshield mount serves as a pristine example of this radar detector's excellence. Sometimes, you'll pass cars and see their detectors hanging down at an angle - flopping around at every bump in the road. The v1 has 11 or so notches on the mount to position it so that it conforms to YOUR windshield! What's even cooler though it's quick release mechanism that I have used several times. Even with a radar detector (even with a v1), you're going to encounter those times where an instant-on radar catches you by surprise and scares the piss out of you. After the full-alert pulse (and slamming on your brakes) you spot the cop in the median about 100 yards ahead. **Knowing that getting caught speeding with a radar-detector is an instant speeding ticket** (as opposed to getting off with a warning), you'd simply grab the quick release mechanism and pull your detector down in time to pass the cop - detector-free.

*Note: I have NEVER been pulled over while using my ValentineOne*

2.) When deciding which radar detector to buy, I asked many sales people (both internet and retail) one question: "Which one beeps first?" When you get right down to it, nothing else really matters (though I wouldn't be able to drive without the directional locaters). Most people recommended the high-end detector in their store. Some were honest and said that there was no difference in the one that talks to you and the one that doesn't. And one salesguy (whom I am forever grateful) wrote me an email saying "blah blah and blah models are good top-of-the line choices, short of the $400 Valentine One." Well put -- everything falls short of the Valentine One. It's really that simple. And, as made apparent by the detector-equipped cars speeding by me after I recieve a warning and slow down, it *does* beep first.

3.) SWS - Safety Warning System. The V1 is *not* equipped with features from any such device. My opinion: who cares!? You don't buy a radar detector to beep when there's an ambulance within three miles of you in any direction. You buy the one that will beep first so you don't have to pay a $150 speeding ticket. And with the V1, you will actually use (and soon be unable to live without) all the features (with the exception of being able to reprogram it) that come with the base unit.

4.) Finally, even though the Valentine One is the best detector on the market, it will NOT grant you immunity from speeding tickets! When using the V1, you must work as a team - the V1 will not slow your car down for you! It will tell you when to slow down, but YOU must adhere to it's warnings for it to be effective -- that's what you bought it for! (And unlike other detectors that spit out annoying signals for no reason, the V1 will earn your trust by reporting reliable radar information 95% of the time.)

~~
Smart driving *combined* with the superior radar tracking abilities of the Valentine One makes its users the most aware and ticket-free group of drivers on the road.
~~

Read the excellent reviews below for more general information.

Similar Products Used:

I started with the best. I was close to buying a top of the line Bel. But if you do your homework, as I did, you will quickly learn that the V1 is without a doubt *the* premier radar detector on the market. You'll be glad you bought it.

Everything, well, almost!

Size. Its is a little on the big side.

Well,
Me and the little woman wanted a sports car with a real, sorta real back seat and shopped around and wound up in a New Beetle 1.8T. This little car is quick and has no problem exceeding 100mph.
So, with my warning from the State in hand, ya know them point's thing and this little sports coupe that turns me into Mario, I shopped around for a New and improved Detector, one that actually works.
On recommedations from friends and Magazines I ordered this very expencive little wonder, I was hesitant, but looked at my State issued letter and sprung the 400 bucks. Absolutley no complaints, other than size, and really that is insigificant in comparison to the peace of mind I get when I'm exceeding the Posted by god only knows how many MPH!!!
And the funny thing, I have yet to get zapped since I got the box. Oh well better safe than sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Passport, Many moons ago.

Hands down the best Radar Detector in the market (and I've had 5)

A bit large, but I wouldn't be willing to trade one ounce of the performance for a smaller unit. And of course, pricey.

Paid $399.00 (kind of like buying a Saturn)
Regreted the price until my unit arrived.
I am planning on buying second unit for my wife. Unit comes complete with a handy system to hardwire the detector.

If you are considering a detector, this is truly the only one worth considering. 2 tickets avoided = free detector, and lower insurance costs.

Similar Products Used:

Escort, Bel, Uniden, Whistler, Passport.

The only ones simmilar were the Escort and Passport units, but with the direction indicators and bogey counters......

Directional arrows & number counter
Range
Non-plastic case

telephone style power connectors

The Valentine One (V1) is great but it better be for what it costs ($400). I'm on my third detector. Started with an original Escort, then a battery powered Solo & since 1/94 a V1. Tested a new Escort & V1 & Solo against each other, The V1 won hands down and the Escort came in last. V1 is built like the old Escorts, or without plastic. The inability to run in a "dark" mode took a little getting used to. I didn't feel the remote indicator was worth the $70.

Thought the directional arrows & number counter would be a gimmick but they're not. The arrows are very useful in indicating when you've passed the radar. The numbers let one know if there's more then one cop out there. R/L example: The V1 beeped, saw the cop on the opposite on-ramp. Thought that was the end of it but the counter went to "2" and the up arrow lit up. Another cop was hiding on an on-ramp on my side.

Mount the V1 on the visor for stealth, maximum range & I hate suction cups. Can't use the sun visor but I'm tall so I put up with it. Have hard wired the V1 into the fuse block. Ran the chord up the a-pillar. (Pushed the chord between the windshield & the pillar on my GS-R.) Filed a little relief slot in the top of the molding to make the transition to the visor. Can't see the wire from the outside.

Wish the sun visor clip was a self adjusting type like the Solo's, but it's not. You'll probably have to bend the V1 clip to keep from tearing up the visor. If you get one use the suction cups until you decide to keep it. Take your time bending the clip, it's a small zone between to tight & to loose. The V1 is big & heavy (like the original Escort) so you'll find out how strong your sun visor is.

The one gotcha about the V1, it uses telephone style (RJ) connectors. The tabs don't have much of service cycle. Every time one unplugs the V1, to safely store it, they lose a little "snap". They soon get limp & have to be treated with tender loving care. I'm on my sixth connector, fortunately we have a crimping tool at work. Keep the coil cord in the glove box as a backup.

To keep the X-band false alarms to a minimum the only mode I use is "L". Can't comment on the V1 laser detector, have zero experience with it.

Until I can get a detector with the range and features of the V1 combined with the battery power, size/weight, & visor clip of the Solo I'm keeping my V1.

Am not ticket free but there's no defense against instant-on radar.

Similar Products Used:

Escort '81-'90, Solo '90-'94, V1 '94-

Detection range, arrows, bogey counter

Price, lack of flexibility with "mute" mode, false laser indications

Performance is fantastic--the best there is. And three key features keep it on top: Greatest detection range of any detector on the market, by leaps and bounds; arrows to indicate direction to signal source; and "bogey counter" to indicate number of discrete signal sources. I give a hearty "ditto" in assent to the testimonials others have given on those features. You can't underestimate their importance.

Only two gripes, both minor: The V1 has a "mute" feature that drops the volume to a softer level you select via an infinitely variable volume knob. I use that a lot due to false K-band sources in my area (a pox on the guy who invented K-band door openers!!). For true falses, though, I wish I could push the mute button twice and completely silence the alarm for the duration of that event. I hate getting caught at the light in front of my grocery store, because the detector goes crazy for the 90 seconds I sit there. I don't want to turn the volume lower, because I'll forget to turn it back up, and end up getting burned.

I also get false laser alarms on a regular basis. It took me a long time to figure out that it's the rotating radar beam from the airport I drive past all the time that sets it off. Never gotten buzzed by real lidar, so I don't know if that sensor really works or not.

Overall, still the best you can buy at any price. Too bad Mike Valentine knows that and keeps his prices up there...

Similar Products Used:

Two older Bel units

Incredible sensitivity, great ergonomics, good selectivity!!!

Pricey upgrade cost when desired to uppgrade it.

Price paid was $400.00 direct from V1. Sure, you can get a 100-200 dollar unit but I really think that once you get the V1, you will be so happy that you purchased it!!

I have measured x-band (real police radar) 5 miles in advance...k-band (real police radar) well over 3 miles...ka-band (real police radar) over 1 mile. Not one other single unit can perform like this! And the direction arrows are the best!!!

Similar Products Used:

Compares to no other detector. Period. At any price. I have tried just about every other unit over the past 15 years and the ONLY two that have come close in performance in the past is the BEL Express3 944 (early 1990's) and the Escort DSP (early 1990's).

Detection distance

No auto mute for all modes, auto dimmer too dim at night

Can only compare this to my old Escort Passport 4600. The V1 has much greater detection range on X, K and Ka bands. This is really important on the K bands since the Escort would usually only detect K bands about 1/4 to 1/8 mile away, barely enough warning! My V1 is hardwired into my 1992 Honda Accord. The wire is stuffed under the front of the headliner and I removed the corner post trim to feed it into the fusebox. There is a set of 4 terminals above the fusebox fuses and the one closest to the rear is only on when the accessory or ignition is active. Have the V1 wiring block wired there, with both the V1 and the V1 remote display plugged into it. The remote display is not that useful to me during the day because the sunlight seems to make its display too dim no matter where I try to locate it. If you place it real low and out of the sunlight, you then have to take your eyes off the road and hunt for it. At night it's great and I place it just behind the steering wheel where it's close to my eyes. During the day I just use the V1 main unit, with no remote display. I have it mounted just below the rear view mirror where the darker windshield tint band won't interfere with the laser sensor. Also when mounted here you can look around for the source of the radar and drive without looking down and there is almost no sunlight striking it so the display stands out real clear. You can plug and unplug the remote display quickly to try it out during different conditions. Also the mute button is active on both the V1 and the remote display, so mounting the display behind the steering wheel is OK because you can still use the V1 mute button.

The operating nodes are easy to learn and very useful. I usually run in the LOGIC mode where all X band bogies are reported but minor ones are muted all the time. There is an all bogies mode but it seems to report all X band alarms at full volume (many nuisance alarms). Advanced Logic mode will ignore some X band bogies if they are judged to be non-threatening. Neat thing is you can switch between the 3 modes quickly while an alarm is active and decide which one suits you for the types of signals you are concerned about or the types of false alarms you usually encounter.

The directional arrows and the bogies counter really do work and they add immensely to the entertainment value of this thing. I enjoy locating radar and the visual feedback on the V1 is a great aid to staying awake and it makes driving a lot more fun!

I would personally prefer it if the unit had an auto mute function instead of having to hit the mute button after every alarm. Also the display is a little dark at night for my tastes and the brightness is automaticaly controlled by a built in sensor.

I felt real bad paying $400 +$38 for a radar detector until I used it for a week and overall this thing is a joy to use. The build quality, included accessories (including extra suction cups) and outstanding sensitivity quickly make you forget what you paid.

Similar Products Used:

Escort Passport 4600

This product is simply exceptional. My experience with radar detectors over the past twenty years gives me affirmative standing for making this representation.

Customer support has some weakness. I had sent my original V1 for an update and when returned it was damaged. It seems Mike Valentine and family run the operation. Mike (himself) finally spoke with me and agreed to take the product back and return the original purchase price, plus the cost of the upgrade. Then several months later I had a friend order me a new V1! Thanks Mike for the horrible customer service, but, for a great product.

$399.00 plus shipping

Similar Products Used:

Whistler Spectrum (1982 - 90); BEL, Uniden, and Escort