Before you read this, if youre a fan of the V1, I would probably not read this report

OK, like everyone else, I wanted a V1 like the people that have them. They raved about them and I started to believe it too. This weekend, some friends of mine and I decided to go on a lil road trip to Destin, about 3 hours from Auburn. My friend had a V1 and my other friend, who drove, has a Phantom II. They argued about whos to use cause both swore up and down that theirs was the better one so I came up with the idea to use both of them and see which one works. I was shocked and saddened to say by the time we got to Destin, we woulda had 2 or 3 tickets if it were not for the PHANTOM II!?!??!?! I was shocked by the range and power of this thing and by how much that it performed better than the V1. What gives???? I thought the V1 was the "BEST ON THE MARKET!" Well, personally I think it sucks. The V1 is better than my 8500, but its a world away from the II. My 8500 is GONE as of this weekend and I will gladly spend a $100 less for the II over the V1 and save some tickets and that $100 and go get finally an AEM.

 

You're right, V1 is just a myth... anything else would be as good, check out Cobra ESD 9150 Radar Detector at http://shopcobra.com/product.asp?sku=1756120

 

The Great Detector Test

 

Yes, the V1 is better than the 8500 I have. Shit, that test shows that. But do you see the II on there anywhere?!??! They didnt test it. By the way, my friend with the V1 that showed my radar up but got blown away, is ordering his tomorrow for $249.99

 

So enlighten us, what the heck is a Phantom II ??
Sounds like one of those illegal jammers you buy from the back of Autoweek magazine.

Don’t you think Car & Driver would have included it if it had a chance of competing?

Shawn S

 

And please fill us in on the details of your “test”.

Shawn S

 

Well, we were driving down I65 south of Montgomery and the damn thing started going off. (I am a BIG FAN of the V1 so I still am in shock over this) I told my friend to turn the damn thing off and as soon as I said that the V1 started going off and cars ahead were braking. 2 seconds later right there was a speed trap. Basically the Phantom had been beeping for about 3-4 seconds before the V1. The whole trip was like that going to destin and coming back.

The II looks like something from the very first radar detectors ever used that some bum builds in his garage. Seriously, the think is acceptable looking overall, but who cares if it works? All i know about it so far that is just like the V1 in 360 degree detecting but it jams the front up to 400-500ft so you have plenty of time before they even read you. (Dont know if this is true, but the cops sure as hell looked at us twice driving by confused as hell) Below is what it looks like and I am still trying to figure out where you buy the damn thing from. They have 2 on ebay as of right now that are going for $250 a piece.

 

And we're suppose to believe you?

BTW, how long have you been using radar detectors.? Before you go on some wild discertation about your clever "experiences" with radar and speed traps, tell us all about your background with cops, radar, driving on the highways and byways of life, your years and years of driving....not some short daytrip roadtrip thru the Alabama countryside to Florida. BTW, I've been up and down that road all over AL (Dothan, Mobile, Montgomery), I65, Tallahassee, I10; and the AL State Troopers are nothing to brag about.

Save us some time and keep your story. Yeah I'm a bit perturbed because there's not a shred of fact (to support your claim) in your outburst, your so called "report". You wouldn't be the first one but you are the first to claim you've got something that kills both the V1 and the 8500. I guess all the experts are just plain wrong.

 

Here are some links I got from doing a search..

http://www.police-radar-jammers.com/
http://www.auto-radar-detectors.com/newphantomii.html
http://www.auto-radar-jammers.com/
http://www.007radarjammers.com/Phant...r_jammers.html


http://www.technoscout.com/general/p...001&sourceid=0

"Legal in every state except California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Virginia, Nebraska, and Washington, D.C. "

 

I never said you had to or if I ever wanted you to believe me. If i get out of a ticket its my gain. As for my driving experience, I have driven in such major cities as: San Fransisco, Indianapolis, Chicago, Orlando, and Atlanta. (lived there for four years and still do so I guess that I would have no clue WHATSOEVER as to what the hell a "radar and speed trap" would be. Gee, Ive always thought that everytime I drove past a cop standing outside his car in downtown Atlanta pointing a radar gun at me I just thought that he was just trying to say hi to me or something????) Look, I know that I am only 19 so (here comes the driving inexperience statements) but in my 4 years of driving through 4 differenct cars, I have driven at least 100,000 miles myself so I think that might constitute as having some experience. Also, about the Alabama state troopers, what the hell does there bragging about constitute them shooting a radar gun at a car guys??? I know their from Bama and might be a little slow, but damn, how hard can it be?? If both radars are picking it up, obviously they are doing their job pretty fucking well knowing how to hit a car with a radar gun.

Oh, and about your "fact," if you always base your opinions off of what experts say, damn I am sorry. All I meant by my post was a new detector for people to go try. People leave posts on this board all the time about new cars that NO ONE HAS EVER TESTED! That car MUST SUCK since no "expert" has ever tested it.
Oh, and the only facts I need are the ones that my own 2 eyes saw on the trip by both lil detectors flashing in front of me.

 

Hey, did you ever think that maybe because the phantom 2 is active and not passive, there is interference. BTW, my passport 8500 yesterday, detected a cop from 2 miles away.

 

Well, more than likely mine is probably defective. Ive had mine for a little over a month, (had a Bel before), and it has done really well except for highway driving. So maybe mines defective, but as far as the Phantom II and V1 that I saw this weekend, the V1 just wasnt as good. But, who knows, maybe this one he had was defective??? Who knows, the only way to test that is up against another V1.

BTW, Id like to apoligize for being a complete and udder dick earlier in this thread. My best friend of the past 4 years got in a wreck early tonight in his new tacoma I am pretty pissed off about it. Go figure, he was hit by some dumbass lady in putting on makeup and talking on her fucking cell phone at the same time. And y is OUR insurance higher????

 

I still think Valentines look like shit. They need to change the styling. Escort gives a way better presentation of data IMO...But since most you you guys own V1s, I'm probably gonna get flamed on how the V1 out performs. I never trust those damned tests...Thats why I just tested out my friend's V1s and 8500s to see which one I liked more. All I know is that my 8500 has saved me many a time, so I guess thats all that matters.

 

Sorry about you friend, hope there is no bodily injuries. Keep us informed about the performance of your Phantom II. Don't worry about the critic. Once you make a purchase of something, reason and objectiveness sometimes goes out the window. Again, give us a more "long term report" as data is accumulated.

 

and a shill for the Phantom people.

There isn't a legal radar jammer that works. For them to work they would have to transmit a signal. Transmitting RF signals requires a license from the FCC. There have been numerous tests of these devices over many years. No passive jammers have been found to have any effectiveness and some actually improve your chances of getting tagged.

I've owned numerous radar detectors throughout the years and can attest to their viability:

Fox - I had this one on my 81 Prelude. This granddaddy wasn't very good and I sold it after getting tagged.

Escort - The original Escort was an excellent K band detector. Mine was stolen out of my GTS Turbo.

Passport - Also an excellent unit but its performance faded with age. Had it through my 94 SHO when I passed it on to my son. While caravaning with him I noticed that it leaked so much RF it set off my V1. It did come with a great case that I still use to put my V1 in.

Valentine 1 - It's simply the best! Now going onto its third car (Type S 6-speed) this radar locator continues to perform flawlessly. I've never been tagged with this unit in operation. It is costly but more than offset by its long life.

Klamalama

 

Rocky Mountain Radar makes the Phantom II. The company owner has been quoted as saying something to the effect of " I can sell a non functioning black box with indicator lights and alert beeps and only get a 30% return rate". They are total scammers. My dad bought one for me this Christmas for around 250 bucks and it looked and felt like it was worth about 5 bucks. Dad didn't do enough research on this one. They don't even include a curly cord with it. Just a really cheap looking straight cord that looks like something you'd get at pep boys. After doing alot of internet research on Rocky Mountain Radar I discovered the truth about these passive radar jammers. They are worthless garbage. I returned it and for arounf the same money I bought my Passport 8500. The difference is night and day. Here is a link to a non biased review(they don't sell detectors).

http://www.radartest.com/JOS.html

Oh..one other funny thing it says in the manual in the FAQ section(not verbatim but close to it): Q:Why doesn't my Phantom II work(jam) on those mobile radar signs police place on the side of the road to warn you of your speed?
A: Those radar signs on the side of the road don't use advanced radar detection technology like police radar guns use. The Phantom II is designed to jam the more advanced radar used by police.

 

Stick a fork in it....THIS ARGUMENT IS DEAD !!!!


Shawn S

 

The receiver circuit was over saturated by the other jammer, it's sensitvity can only be tested as a stand alone unit. Putting a transmitter right next to the antanna of the V1 caused the filter circuits to be over driven. I'm surprised you recieved any warning at all. Your test just proved the V1 still works while having a noise generator blasting it. We use this type of tech in my business of building systems for F-16, and now the new JSF F-35.

 

 

Not to beat a dead horse but....

 

The horse is down but let me explain a few things...

In order to receive a radio frequency you must create a transmitter. Hence in order to receive lets say for example 95.6Mhtz you must create a oscillator that oscillates at 95.6mhtz... That oscillator will emit RF radiation at that frequency even though its only oscillatiing to tune to receive that frequency. If you do not shield the receiver properly it will emmit RF (radio waves) on the frequency you are trying to tune.

the V1 is considered a military grade receiver because it does not emmit any RF from the local oscillator. Hence it is undetectable...

yes, this is how cops detect radar detectors, because most leak RF! they detect you the same way you detect them!

So technically speaking they can make a receiver which does transmit. But is not considered a transmitter! It is just a very cheezy and leaky receiver!

This is also why you pickup cheap radar detectors on your V1's because they are leaking RF from their receivers! VERY CHEAP receivers do this. I'm sure V1 owners have had someone pull up behind you with a $80 detector and your V1 is going nuts!.... This is why that happens.

But here's what I have been wondering for a couple of years now. With those cheap RF leaking receivers which are inadvertantly transmitting do to bad shielding.... Radar guns were proven to cause cancer? now if your cheap ass radar detector is emmiting low output RF in the same spectrum for days in and out while your sitting by it.... Is it going to effect you!?!?

LOL, but WTF do I know right... people on here still believe they can make 1000 watts to their speakers amp with 13volts and 110amp alternator... heh I love when you break the laws of physics... if you could produce 1000watts from that power source you would be creating more energy than you put in. You should take your amp and make a infinetly running vehicle! You could also probably win the darwin award.

"but it says 1000watts!!!" heh

 

A fucking Men.

I still love my 8500.

 

I'm getting my new Bel 980, relplacing the older Bel model

 

http://www.1-radar-laser-jammers-det...detectors.html

I think I will be installing a remote mounted Valentine 1 unit, M-10 Laser diffuser, and a Phantom Radar Jammer that I will seal with silicone and mount in the lower grill area.

 

so what is a good "all around" radar detector? I'm not looking at spending that much, don't need the best.

 

I'd go with stuff on the Escort line. Before I got the 8500 I had the solo. Also a very good radar detector. My dad has one of those older escorsts and all my uncles use escorts.

 

Some of you guys got hoodwinked but I spotted it right away. I don't usually get harsh (because I may not know all the techical details) but I'm not easily fooled. The Phantom?

Shawn is right, this argument is done.

 

Ya.... What he said.

 

Yea, this argument is done. but what I simply saw, well, is what I saw. If it were anyone but me saying what I said, I wouldnt believe it either. So, will I buy a Phantom?? Dont know, I still want to see a V1 run on its on since the consensus is that the Phantom was "blocking" it in a sense. So, after I see both run seperately on their own, Ill make my decision.

 

I guess i won't trade in my V1 after all

 

Yea, me too.

Damn….I hope I can shut down my V1 sale on EBAY.
It was a “Buy it Now” for 25-bucks.

Shawn S

 

I guess $25 for V1 is a fair price