Range, band types, arrows, and the rest

If left out in the hot sun for too long it seems to overheat and the Ka band goes off incessantly for no reason until it cools down.

I've always been more than pleased with my V1, but wasn't really all that sure how good it was. That was until I drove from LA to San Francisco and I was able to confirm that it saved my ass at least 5 times just on my way up! While I do appreciate its attention to detail, I do wonder if it's really necessary to include the X-band anymore as I've NEVER had it go off at anything other than a supermarket. Price is steep compared to the competition, but mine has paid for itself several times over now!

Quality, sensitivity

Price

I had cheap detector and got a $250 ticket. I didn't want to spent $400 on a radar detector but I did the research and I've been amazed at how good the Valentine is. You can pick out radars from a long way out, a very long way. I drive mostly short trips and everyday commuting. I like the bogey counter and direction indicator because it not only warns me of radar traps but also cruising police - be they on the same road or in a side street. I helps me locate the police cars - doesn't matter if I'm speeding (which I don't do often) but it let's me know to be on my best behaviour. Valentine set the standard and the others are catching up - the Escort 8500 looks good. It depends on what driving you do - for me I want to know about the neighborhood cops. Locally the police on the freeways use laser and that's tough to avoid. Drive smart, drive safe.

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El Cheapo Junk Uniden

Sensitivity to numerous radar bands. Bogey counter, front and rear radar pointers.

can't detect instant-on radar (but neither can any other radar detector)

I purchased a Valentine one radar detector after researching numerous websites and other sources. All of the sources rated Valentine One radar exceptional. I agree with this rating wholeheartedly. I have absolutely no idea why others here are rating this radar so low;but, I have driven fromDallas, Tx to Boston, MA several times and have avoided "every" radar trap. I even kept the radar on in states where they were outlawed, driving by radar traps without police even knowing. Prior to purchasing the radar detector, i received so many tickets that my liscense was revoked. Having had the unit for two years, I have not received one ticket. This unit is exceptional.

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Uniden, cobra, other cheap brands. All were absolutely worthless.

For UK gatso's and Lasers

Won't jam Doesn't give a record - I would like a computerlink (to PDA laptop?) to give type of threat - so when you stop you can see if it's a laser or radar and ideally if an all in one unit with GPS can give precise speed readings against detection and braking, if coupled to a jammer can see whole picture - come on guys develop something really good!

Valentine One works well in the UK, I had a Bell unit before - which only worked AFTER passing a GATSO - how come they have improved so much now? The V1 is usefull for UK as it is good at detecting Laser - most police hand held traps are laser in UK now. For Gatso's the arrows ensure that it is the Gatso not a local shop / garage security system. However NOTHING detects induction systems (passive) or SPECS (infrared).... except Morpheous (and i had the idea before the patented it!) which is perfect combination in the UK

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Bell 9..?

Sensitivity, ARROWS, bogey counter, low falsing from other detectors, good construction, remote display option.

No guarantee against instant on/laser, price (cheaper than one ticket though), Highway signs and new cell phones (on KA band no less) pollute the radar environment, worry about theft,

Best I've had, but it is expensive. The arrows and bogey counter are helpful, and here's why you should discount anyone who says they are not: 1) Do you live in the prarie with no one else around? If not, the arrow going from front to back tells you the beep was a false from another car going by. Without the arrow you'd have to go slow for the next 2 miles. 2) All the highways have those frigging K band construction signs in PA, MA, etc. now. Are you going to drive the limit all the way through PA without a bogey counter to clue you in that a cop is hiding near the construction sign? With the today's sensitive units in today's false rich environment, the arrows help save you from turning the thing off and setting cruise at 65. The bogey counter does go nuts near stores, but this is a clue that a store is at fault. Occasionally you'll pick up a reflection and an extra bogey hit when a cop is real close. You can turn X band down or off if this bugs you.

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2 older unidens, original escort/passport.

arrows are accurate bogey counter great range accessories are top notch

Band LED's should be a different color Price-$800 CDN including shipping, taxes and brokerage fees....OUCH!!!!

I just purchased my V1.8 Valentine 1 a few weeks ago. All I can say is WOW! I've owned Uniden and Bell detectors but the V1 blows them away. I live out here on the flat lands and and my V1 picks up the radar from miles away. I will never be able to live without the bogey counter and arrows now. The new redesigned case is small and very light. The accessories are top notch as well. Once you hook everything up you will be able to see the thought and planning that went into the accessories. And for all you guys researching radar detectors, ignore all the 1 star ratings posted below. Read them carefully and you'll see they're all written by the same illiterate clown who can't spell or use punctuation. :-) The V1 is the best there is and more than likely, the best there ever will be. Why else do you think every new "top-dog" detector that comes out is automatically compared to the V1??

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Bell, Uniden

The Standard Bearer

Need to reprogram for some areas or regions.

How to S L A S H falsies on the V1. Find out what bands are used in your region. In CT X is not used by law enforcement. Off it goes, option 1 on the programming choices. And less K fanaticism around town by turing option & off. It's easy to program. On the latest ones, you push and hold down the volume knob while turning it on. After 5 seconds all lights will come on and stay on. One buttopn tap and the serial number is displayed. One more tap and you're at option 1. Push and hold for a few seconds and the illuminated forward arrow (on) changes to the downward arrow (off). Now x-nband is off. Tap forward to the other options, which are explained on the V web site. HTH. Stan

Range, range, range. Did I mention range? The directional arrows are neat and sometimes useful, though I don''''t see much rolling radar on a day-to-day basis here in backward Oneida County. Oh yeah - range.

Not cheap - I''''m afraid to leave it in my car because this thing *must* be a theif magnet.

First of all, to the people who prefer their Escort 8500s, God bless you, since you''''ll be getting my tickets. The Valentine 1 is the most expensive radar detector out there for a reason - it is, simply put, the best. I''''ve owned top-of-the line detectors from Whistler, Bel and Cincinatti Microwave (Escort) and they aren''''t even in the same league. Not since the original Escort and Passport has someone made a radar detector this nice. When I first got the V1, it warned me about radar sources so far away I thought it was falsing. My old detector gave me enough time to slam on the brakes; the V1 gives me time to finish passing, coast down, and reset the cruise before the cruiser comes into view (luckily, the sheriffs and local cops around here only have always-on K-band). Out on the Interstates in NY State Police land, it continues to provide the best warning - it''''s sensitive enough to catch instant-on being used against people 1/2-mile to 1-mile up the road, again giving me enough time to slow down without drama (and without attracting attention to my bright blue WRX). Like other people here have mentioned, the V1 is really too sensitive for use in town - door openers and security systems set it off every-which-way - and let''''s face it, how often do you get the chance to really speed around town anyway? As for laser, well, that''''s probably the V1''''s weakest point. Generally, the V1 will go off after I''''ve already seen the trooper and slowed down (thanks, GEICO!), but it is nice to at least know when I''''m being clocked. The V1''''s laser warning could wake the dead. I have an older unit, so I don''''t get lights to indicate which band of radar is being used against me. I did gradually learn to decode the V1''''s sound signals.

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Whistler 1495, Bel 980, Escort Passport 7000.

SENSITIVITY, ARROWS, CONSTRUCTION, UPGRADES

Like all others, basically useless against Laser. NEED DIFFERENT COLOR LIGHTS FOR DIFFERENT RADAR

the good: the arrows work. They work when you need them to work. Highways, backroads. In the city I dont speed, so I turn it off. Now traffic cameras do drive it nuts on some highways. I usually switch it to advanced logic. I have picked up 2 Ka bands ahead and found 2 state patrol sitting in the median 10 seconds later going 75MPH. The arrows switches to behind you when you pass them so yes they work. I have picked up K in front and K behind at the same time and did in fact see a police car behind me and one up the road . The arrows work. I like the fact that they flash the direction of the stronger stength radar. That helps when you have already passed one radar. It picks up radar over the hill pretty good. Depends on the speed you are traveling. I only got about 1 second warning on Ka on the interstate because the trooper was shooting into an area that had no signs and was next to a field and no cars were ahead of me. But on K i have picked it up 1/4 mile ahead over a hill. You really cant live without the arrows once you have them. I was at a light in the suburbs near the interstate exit and Ka bleeped once and stopped. I thought it was falsing. I was sitting at a stop light. Well when the light turned green I look in my rearview (the arrow told me it was behind) and about 8 cars back was georgia''s finest state patrol. He was behind me at the light and had i not known to look back there I would have never noticed him. The bad: Passed numerous Laser traps where I saw the cop standing outside his car pointing at the road I was driving on and not once have I picked up laser warning. Maybe he wasnt aiming at me. ALso I have passed at least 5 cop cars where I saw them for at least 5 seconds and nothing went off. They were either not shooting (instant-on) or just sitting there scaring traffic into slowing down or using POP 3 or as I read at speedzones.com there are now Laser guns that can be used behind the glass so they dont have to get out. Laser jammers are the only way to prevent tickets from this and POP 3 is gaining in popularity. So in summary.....despite what you may read the arrows work when you need them most and the rear antenna is good to have. For 100$ less you get 1/2 the coverage (only front). I would like a carrying case because i dont leave it in my car. For 400$ you think you would get one. Laser is a problem and according to a T

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I owned an 8500 previously but sent it back after 2 weeks. Why? -Plastic -Multiple signal warnings only go up to 2 for K and Ka -Didnt detect Ka well when I saw highway patrol (basically it went

8500 less fales then thw V-1

I have a new 8500 and a 98-V1. I have had a escort since 1982. The V-1 one is the best>>>> I drive in Houston tx and in open areas at speed over 100MPH and can say that both are good but the V1 is in MY car and the 8500 is in my slow driveing wifes car.

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fox.k-40