defective radar detector?
05-23-2004, 11:46 AM
#41
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Age: 53
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the biggest difference is the X50 doesnt have SWS text messages anymore. it will tell you there is a SWS message but just not the message.
in addition to that the SWS feature has been replaced with the new POP radar detection.
i noticed that the default settings of the unit had the POP mode turned off. i got a POP warning the first day of use out on a contry road, may have been false and might be why its defaulted to off to prevent that. but i left it in the on setting and havnt had any other alerts from that type of radar yet.
other than that it seems to be functioning the same way my old 8500 did.
in addition to that the SWS feature has been replaced with the new POP radar detection.
i noticed that the default settings of the unit had the POP mode turned off. i got a POP warning the first day of use out on a contry road, may have been false and might be why its defaulted to off to prevent that. but i left it in the on setting and havnt had any other alerts from that type of radar yet.
other than that it seems to be functioning the same way my old 8500 did.
05-23-2004, 01:31 PM
#42
Originally posted by Bass Mechanic
here is a more even simple analogy to understand, and ill give an example.
suppose you have either the V1 or the Escort and lets say you get radar from behind. now keep in mind that the Escort DOES detect rearward signals it just doesnt tell their direction.
if you put a peice of tape over the arrows so you cant see the threat.
now suppose your driving and hear the radar going off.
would you:
A. slow down as soon as you hear the threat
B. maintain your speed for a while and see if you know where it was.
answer is A.
now with the arrows uncovered would your answer be A or B?
im guessing the answer is still A
my point is what difference does it make. you want to avoid a speeding ticket. your detector is telling you there is a threat, does it matter where it is comming from? is there any time you get a threat front or rear and disreguard it and keep driving?
the fact is with the V1 you give up such an informative multi use Dotmatrix display with many cool usefull features for 3 arrows and a bogy counter.
here is a more even simple analogy to understand, and ill give an example.
suppose you have either the V1 or the Escort and lets say you get radar from behind. now keep in mind that the Escort DOES detect rearward signals it just doesnt tell their direction.
if you put a peice of tape over the arrows so you cant see the threat.
now suppose your driving and hear the radar going off.
would you:
A. slow down as soon as you hear the threat
B. maintain your speed for a while and see if you know where it was.
answer is A.
now with the arrows uncovered would your answer be A or B?
im guessing the answer is still A
my point is what difference does it make. you want to avoid a speeding ticket. your detector is telling you there is a threat, does it matter where it is comming from? is there any time you get a threat front or rear and disreguard it and keep driving?
the fact is with the V1 you give up such an informative multi use Dotmatrix display with many cool usefull features for 3 arrows and a bogy counter.
05-23-2004, 02:34 PM
#43
Instructor
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
may the arrows be with you ...
Yes, as with any tool it's how you put it to use.
I had two radar traps ahead of me once, the first one was well hidden and you couldn't see him until you'd practically passed by. The V1 indicated that there were two, flashing the front arrow, bogey counter reading 2...soon it then flashed the side arrows that 1 bogey was no longer in front of me and was now to my side....ok, One down, one to go...
As I'd said, its all about situational awareness.
I think that Car and Driver put it best ,
"We've said this before and its still true: Once you live with the arrows , you'll wonder how you ever managed without them."
I had two radar traps ahead of me once, the first one was well hidden and you couldn't see him until you'd practically passed by. The V1 indicated that there were two, flashing the front arrow, bogey counter reading 2...soon it then flashed the side arrows that 1 bogey was no longer in front of me and was now to my side....ok, One down, one to go...
As I'd said, its all about situational awareness.
I think that Car and Driver put it best ,
"We've said this before and its still true: Once you live with the arrows , you'll wonder how you ever managed without them."
05-23-2004, 05:27 PM
#44
6MT Snob
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Chicagoland
Age: 49
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From my experience I have had the following detectors (in order)
1. A cheap uniden tri band from the early 90s
2. An entry level escort passport from the mid 90s
3. A BEL 850sti
4. A Valentine V1
I am saying ONLY from my PERSONAL experince that the V1 is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY you pay for it. Most cops in IL are still using K band, on a K band thats not using instant on, I get a 2-3 mile heads up. And I get about a mile heads up on Ka band. Its also very good about picking up instant on if you turn off the city logic mode when you are out of the city area where most blips are 95% of the time a cop. I have had a valentine one for 3 years and in that 3 years I have not been pulled over one time for speeding.
Now Keep in mind that a radar detector does not insure you from anything. You have to be a smart driver. For the places you drive every day, you should know where the turnstyles are on the toll/expressway and even if you dont get a blip you should be cautious around them. If you see lines in the higway running perpendicular to the lane lines look up... do you see any low flying planes? If you do slow the hell down because you are probably being tracked with VASCAR which no radar detector no matter how good it is can track.
The other thing is its okay to be a little paranoid. You see a Chevy Impala, Crown Vic or something else thats a common cop car in your area unmarked watch out. I live in Naperville IL and we have 4-5 unmarked undercover traffic cops, the ones I have seen recently are an unmarked dodge minivan with really dark rear tint, a for expidition and a previous generation grand prix.
Just my few cents on the topic.
1. A cheap uniden tri band from the early 90s
2. An entry level escort passport from the mid 90s
3. A BEL 850sti
4. A Valentine V1
I am saying ONLY from my PERSONAL experince that the V1 is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY you pay for it. Most cops in IL are still using K band, on a K band thats not using instant on, I get a 2-3 mile heads up. And I get about a mile heads up on Ka band. Its also very good about picking up instant on if you turn off the city logic mode when you are out of the city area where most blips are 95% of the time a cop. I have had a valentine one for 3 years and in that 3 years I have not been pulled over one time for speeding.
Now Keep in mind that a radar detector does not insure you from anything. You have to be a smart driver. For the places you drive every day, you should know where the turnstyles are on the toll/expressway and even if you dont get a blip you should be cautious around them. If you see lines in the higway running perpendicular to the lane lines look up... do you see any low flying planes? If you do slow the hell down because you are probably being tracked with VASCAR which no radar detector no matter how good it is can track.
The other thing is its okay to be a little paranoid. You see a Chevy Impala, Crown Vic or something else thats a common cop car in your area unmarked watch out. I live in Naperville IL and we have 4-5 unmarked undercover traffic cops, the ones I have seen recently are an unmarked dodge minivan with really dark rear tint, a for expidition and a previous generation grand prix.
Just my few cents on the topic.
06-04-2004, 01:01 AM
#47
Originally Posted by toddstuh
Yes, as with any tool it's how you put it to use.
I had two radar traps ahead of me once, the first one was well hidden and you couldn't see him until you'd practically passed by. The V1 indicated that there were two, flashing the front arrow, bogey counter reading 2...soon it then flashed the side arrows that 1 bogey was no longer in front of me and was now to my side....ok, One down, one to go...
As I'd said, its all about situational awareness.
I think that Car and Driver put it best ,
"We've said this before and its still true: Once you live with the arrows , you'll wonder how you ever managed without them."
I had two radar traps ahead of me once, the first one was well hidden and you couldn't see him until you'd practically passed by. The V1 indicated that there were two, flashing the front arrow, bogey counter reading 2...soon it then flashed the side arrows that 1 bogey was no longer in front of me and was now to my side....ok, One down, one to go...
As I'd said, its all about situational awareness.
I think that Car and Driver put it best ,
"We've said this before and its still true: Once you live with the arrows , you'll wonder how you ever managed without them."
06-04-2004, 12:04 PM
#48
Instructor
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I grew up in the mid west and I remember how out there the smokeys would wait in the medians, on ramps and behind over passes and such.
Here in new england, I don't encounter as much radar on the main highways but its the backroads and small town cops that one has to watch out for. I live in southern new hampshire and our terrain is hilly and wooded. Unlike the midwest where it's genreally flat and you can see for miles, we can see barely a mile ahead due to the terrain. This is where the arrows are invaluable. They use alot of Ka band here and instant on. Since you can't see much ahead anyway if they zap someone miles ahead the V1 will pick it up and display the direction.
In contrast...
My wife gave me a Cobra radar detector for Xmas a few years back...I put it in my Truck because the noise from the tires lets me know how fast I'm going. It works ok for slower speeds but don't rely on it when you're going any faster because it only provides seconds of warning and at speed will alert you when you're practically on top of the cop.
Here in new england, I don't encounter as much radar on the main highways but its the backroads and small town cops that one has to watch out for. I live in southern new hampshire and our terrain is hilly and wooded. Unlike the midwest where it's genreally flat and you can see for miles, we can see barely a mile ahead due to the terrain. This is where the arrows are invaluable. They use alot of Ka band here and instant on. Since you can't see much ahead anyway if they zap someone miles ahead the V1 will pick it up and display the direction.
In contrast...
My wife gave me a Cobra radar detector for Xmas a few years back...I put it in my Truck because the noise from the tires lets me know how fast I'm going. It works ok for slower speeds but don't rely on it when you're going any faster because it only provides seconds of warning and at speed will alert you when you're practically on top of the cop.
06-04-2004, 02:10 PM
#49
Safety Car
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: philly
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bass Mechanic
now i know the V1 is a good unit also. but quite frankly i really could care less about the arrows. since they cant get your speed from the side thoes arrows are pretty much worthless.
and as for the rear, pretty much pointless anyway because if they are following you most of the time they need only pace your car to get your speed. most cops that have their radar on while following traffic arent clocking you, they just simply either dont realise they left the gun on or in their car they just leave it on all the time. pacing a car from behind is far more productive for a cop because they know driving with the radar running lets people like us know we are being clocked. pacing you and watching their speed is a far more effictive tool to get your speed when rolling in traffic. (i know because i have a couple friends that are cops and have done several ride alongs with them) ill give it a thumbs up for the concept but to me 99% of the time the speed is taken from a stationary cop car ahead of you. if it is comming from behind its really easy to tell that the signal stays the same for some distance for a long period of time.
here is a more even simple analogy to understand, and ill give an example.
suppose you have either the V1 or the Escort and lets say you get radar from behind. now keep in mind that the Escort DOES detect rearward signals it just doesnt tell their direction.
if you put a peice of tape over the arrows so you cant see the threat.
now suppose your driving and hear the radar going off.
would you:
A. slow down as soon as you hear the threat
B. maintain your speed for a while and see if you know where it was.
answer is A.
now with the arrows uncovered would your answer be A or B?
im guessing the answer is still A
here is a more even simple analogy to understand, and ill give an example.
suppose you have either the V1 or the Escort and lets say you get radar from behind. now keep in mind that the Escort DOES detect rearward signals it just doesnt tell their direction.
if you put a peice of tape over the arrows so you cant see the threat.
now suppose your driving and hear the radar going off.
would you:
A. slow down as soon as you hear the threat
B. maintain your speed for a while and see if you know where it was.
answer is A.
now with the arrows uncovered would your answer be A or B?
im guessing the answer is still A
A lot of times the state police do drive up and down the highway with their radar on and local police always seem to do this - again a rear arrow would show the direction.
Also the rear arrow lets you know when the threat has been passed, the arrow switches from the front to the rear whether its a false alarm or not, etc, numerous stituations.
my point is what difference does it make. you want to avoid a speeding ticket. your detector is telling you there is a threat, does it matter where it is comming from? is there any time you get a threat front or rear and disreguard it and keep driving?
the fact is with the V1 you give up such an informative multi use Dotmatrix display with many cool usefull features for 3 arrows and a bogy counter.
the fact is with the V1 you give up such an informative multi use Dotmatrix display with many cool usefull features for 3 arrows and a bogy counter.
If I were to get another it would be the V1, but I'd rather save the cash and drive reasonably for now without the beeps.
06-04-2004, 02:26 PM
#50
Advanced
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NJ
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bass Mechanic
i just upgraded to the 8500 X50 with the Blue display, let me just say that the blue pic on their website doesnt do justice. this blue display lights the whole interior of my car up at night.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ITSJESTER
4G TL Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
17
12-06-2018 02:29 AM
chrisr
5G TLX Audio, Bluetooth, Electronics & Navigation
4
12-04-2015 02:17 AM
sockr1
Car Parts for Sale
22
10-01-2015 01:31 AM
