Valentine 1 for champs?
#1
Cruisin'
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Valentine 1 for champs?
Ok here's the story. I have a choice .. either invest in the Valentine 1 for around $400, or invest in any other cheaper radar detector. Since they both do the same thing, but the V1 is much more effective and has many other options, what does everyone think? Coz I definately wouldn't mind saving the money. But how much better is the V1? Thanks.
#2
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Re: Valentine 1 for champs?
Originally posted by oO converge Oo
Ok here's the story. I have a choice .. either invest in the Valentine 1 for around $400, or invest in any other cheaper radar detector. Since they both do the same thing, but the V1 is much more effective and has many other options, what does everyone think? Coz I definately wouldn't mind saving the money. But how much better is the V1? Thanks.
Ok here's the story. I have a choice .. either invest in the Valentine 1 for around $400, or invest in any other cheaper radar detector. Since they both do the same thing, but the V1 is much more effective and has many other options, what does everyone think? Coz I definately wouldn't mind saving the money. But how much better is the V1? Thanks.
with the Valentine 1 you get far less false alarms and it has a great range for the rear.
i've been happy with mine, not sure if its worth the extra money
wife got a cheap one and has never been caught.
if your going over the speed limit by 20-40 mph and the cop has the laser gun, it dosent matter what rader decector you have ,you can't slow down in time.
#3
teh Senior Instigator
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okay, first of all, about false alarms, they aren't false alarms, they are doing exactly what they are suppose to do and pick up radar frequency around you, which is exactly what they do. But w/ the V1 it's much easier to tell the difference between what is a cop and what isn't.
Another thing, what does a speeding ticket cost you? About 200-400$. Add that up a couple times and the V1 is worth it. It's saved me more times then I could count!
Another thing, what does a speeding ticket cost you? About 200-400$. Add that up a couple times and the V1 is worth it. It's saved me more times then I could count!
#6
Happy CL-S Pilot
You get the V1 and but learn how to use it. And as mentioned, if you got lazed... you are screwed regardless of V1. Instant on is the same if you are the lead car!
#7
depends on whether you drive the same stretch of road everyday or if you're always traveling to different areas. i ordered an escort8500(sent it back) and found it annoying because it was picking up radar in places i knew there were no cops and it wasn't picking up pa police, must be using something other than radar/laser-maybe vascar. a detector beeping, whether you know its a false alarm or not is annoying. just by paying attention to the road and knowing where cops like to park i've avoided being pulled over.
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#8
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Dude, I got the escort 8500, which some people say is better than V1. I am not here to start a discussion which is better or not, but my detector works really good. And it's cheaper than the V1. So if you want to save $100-$150, go with the passport 8500, and you'll still be safe from the tickets.
#11
I have the v1 and never go on a trip without it. I always just take it from my hardwired CL to whatever car I am traveling long distances in and use the dc adapter. One of the best gifts I've ever received!
#12
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If you are having any thoughts about saving $, get the Escort 8500. I have had one for almost 2 yrs now and have been completely satisfied with it. However, just as everyone else in here had pointed out, i can not tell u how much more or less effective the 8500 is over the V1. A friend of mine had the V1 and she swore by it. Her selling pt was on the directional arrows but the way I see it, if your alarm goes off, I would slow down regardless of where the transmission is coming from.
#13
Suzuka Master
Originally posted by Nashua_Night_Hawk
You get the V1 and but learn how to use it. And as mentioned, if you got lazed... you are screwed regardless of V1. Instant on is the same if you are the lead car!
You get the V1 and but learn how to use it. And as mentioned, if you got lazed... you are screwed regardless of V1. Instant on is the same if you are the lead car!
#15
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Don't waste your time and money on anyother detector including the Passport 8500. None of them can compare to the V1.
I've had ALL the detectors from The Escort Store and have sent them back because they don't work as well as the V1.
Maybe with other detectors you are caught if you get hit first with Instant On or Laser, but when V1, I have been able to beat them both dozens of times.
I've had ALL the detectors from The Escort Store and have sent them back because they don't work as well as the V1.
Maybe with other detectors you are caught if you get hit first with Instant On or Laser, but when V1, I have been able to beat them both dozens of times.
#16
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I've owned both detectors, V1 and the 8500 and both are great radar detectors.
I wouldn't knock the 8500, I think the range is a bit better than the V1, less false alarms with the V1.
Nothing else I've tried comes close to either one.
Check out radartest.com for the battle of the best out there.
The Escort beat the Valantine.
I wouldn't knock the 8500, I think the range is a bit better than the V1, less false alarms with the V1.
Nothing else I've tried comes close to either one.
Check out radartest.com for the battle of the best out there.
The Escort beat the Valantine.
#17
actually it looks like the 8500 is the better pick
http://www.speedzones.com/falsealerts/false.htm
http://www.speedzones.com/falsealerts/false.htm
#19
I just received and hardwred (thanks Shawn !!!!) my V1 last week. Here in NYC I havent had the opportunity to put it to a real test yet.....but i can tell you the sensitivity of this thing on the "A" (ALL BOGEYS) is amazing. It picks up these faint radar signals coming from who knows where.....and the directional arrows coupled withe the number of radars detected coupled with the signal strength meter is the best way I can see to do it.
#20
sonor kid, don't really trust radartest.com I think in the past they have been found of receiving "donations" from escort. Not sure about speedzones, but I am pretty sure about radartest.com. I would say use the search function to look for those older posts, but I think they've been pruned.
#21
Originally posted by KoreanGirl
... Her selling pt was on the directional arrows but the way I see it, if your alarm goes off, I would slow down regardless of where the transmission is coming from.
... Her selling pt was on the directional arrows but the way I see it, if your alarm goes off, I would slow down regardless of where the transmission is coming from.
with the arrows, I get a beep in front, moves to the side, then to the rear. I know I am past the threat.
I get a beep behind. I slow down and scan the back. could be a cop prowling in traffic behind me. without the arrows I may think just a false and continue up the point system. If i get a hit behind, I will be looking for the unmarked cars. Let someone else zoom first and see if anyone follows.
The V1 is a radar locator, not just a radar detector.
#22
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I was seriously set for a 8500 but realized after much, much, online research that the extra 150 or so is going to be worth it for the V1. I plan to order mine soon!
#23
Suzuka Master
Originally posted by fast_daddy_car
the arrows are a necessity!!! Here is why. you get a beep, you slow down. how do you know if it was a cop or not? which way do you look? if you don't see a cop, are you safe? do you wait one mile, five miles before resuming?
with the arrows, I get a beep in front, moves to the side, then to the rear. I know I am past the threat.
I get a beep behind. I slow down and scan the back. could be a cop prowling in traffic behind me. without the arrows I may think just a false and continue up the point system. If i get a hit behind, I will be looking for the unmarked cars. Let someone else zoom first and see if anyone follows.
The V1 is a radar locator, not just a radar detector.
the arrows are a necessity!!! Here is why. you get a beep, you slow down. how do you know if it was a cop or not? which way do you look? if you don't see a cop, are you safe? do you wait one mile, five miles before resuming?
with the arrows, I get a beep in front, moves to the side, then to the rear. I know I am past the threat.
I get a beep behind. I slow down and scan the back. could be a cop prowling in traffic behind me. without the arrows I may think just a false and continue up the point system. If i get a hit behind, I will be looking for the unmarked cars. Let someone else zoom first and see if anyone follows.
The V1 is a radar locator, not just a radar detector.
Granted, it can be helpful for locating, but it's far from foolproof.
#24
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Originally posted by ABreece
The problem is, radar bounces like mad. If the cop pings a car, and that signal bounces off a concrete barrier, and THEN into your car, the direction it came from will probably be way, way off.
Granted, it can be helpful for locating, but it's far from foolproof.
The problem is, radar bounces like mad. If the cop pings a car, and that signal bounces off a concrete barrier, and THEN into your car, the direction it came from will probably be way, way off.
Granted, it can be helpful for locating, but it's far from foolproof.
Here's my layman's answer to that:
Even if radar bounces all over the place, V1 will tract the strongest signal and indicate it via the blinking arrow. The bogey count will eventually be back to one.
#26
Suzuka Master
Originally posted by RaleighNC
Here's my layman's answer to that:
Even if radar bounces all over the place, V1 will tract the strongest signal and indicate it via the blinking arrow. The bogey count will eventually be back to one.
Here's my layman's answer to that:
Even if radar bounces all over the place, V1 will tract the strongest signal and indicate it via the blinking arrow. The bogey count will eventually be back to one.
Don't get me wrong - if i were buying a detector now, i'd go with the V1. I think the arrow idea is really cool. I just wanted to point out that they aren't exactly perfect.
#27
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Originally posted by ABreece
The problem is, radar bounces like mad. If the cop pings a car, and that signal bounces off a concrete barrier, and THEN into your car, the direction it came from will probably be way, way off.
The problem is, radar bounces like mad. If the cop pings a car, and that signal bounces off a concrete barrier, and THEN into your car, the direction it came from will probably be way, way off.
I've had V1 for over 2 years and it hasn't been fooled yet. If this was even remotely possible, I would have seen it by now. I think it is more likely that the police car radar unit just suddenly died than it would be that a signal shot from behind my car failed to register on the rear V1 antenna and bounced off a concrete barrier ahead and alerted the front arrow while the rear arrow remained dark. Honestly.
#28
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Originally posted by ABreece
True, but if the bear's far away, you might end up getting a strange readout, depending on outside factors.
Don't get me wrong - if i were buying a detector now, i'd go with the V1. I think the arrow idea is really cool. I just wanted to point out that they aren't exactly perfect.
True, but if the bear's far away, you might end up getting a strange readout, depending on outside factors.
Don't get me wrong - if i were buying a detector now, i'd go with the V1. I think the arrow idea is really cool. I just wanted to point out that they aren't exactly perfect.
#29
Suzuka Master
Originally posted by kensteele
Just read this one. So if a huge 18-wheeler is directly behind you on your tail[gate] and the cop is 1.5 miles back....that's a maybe. Still I never seen it happen. If there was even a couple car lengths between me and that 18-wheeler...bingo. V1 is awesome. Arrows are awesome. Escort Passport is not.
Just read this one. So if a huge 18-wheeler is directly behind you on your tail[gate] and the cop is 1.5 miles back....that's a maybe. Still I never seen it happen. If there was even a couple car lengths between me and that 18-wheeler...bingo. V1 is awesome. Arrows are awesome. Escort Passport is not.
If your experiences are contradictory to what i'm predicting (no, i don't own a V1 - just posting questions i thought of while reading this thread), i'd say that you're probably right and I'm not.
#32
Originally posted by kensteele
Just read this one. So if a huge 18-wheeler is directly behind you on your tail[gate] and the cop is 1.5 miles back....that's a maybe. Still I never seen it happen. If there was even a couple car lengths between me and that 18-wheeler...bingo. V1 is awesome. Arrows are awesome. Escort Passport is not.
Just read this one. So if a huge 18-wheeler is directly behind you on your tail[gate] and the cop is 1.5 miles back....that's a maybe. Still I never seen it happen. If there was even a couple car lengths between me and that 18-wheeler...bingo. V1 is awesome. Arrows are awesome. Escort Passport is not.
Well I'm glad you like to diss on the 8500 just to make yourself feel better with you owning the V1
Less false alarms in the city with the 8500. later
#33
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I'm not dissing the 8500 because I have a V1. I'm not dissing the 8500 because I think the V1 is better. I'm not dissing the 8500 because it doesn't work.
I'm dissing the 8500 and the new Solo because I had them in my hands. In my possession. I paid full price for them. I mounted them in my car. I drove around with them for days and hundreds of miles. And they don't work as advertised. And having used nearly a dozen radar detectors in my life for the past 15 years, the 8500 and the especially the new Solo simply sucks. I had the first Escort, the first Passport, and the first Solo models...when there was only X and K band on the road. Those were good. I believe that 8500 owners only "think" they have a good detector because they haven't tried the V1 extensively.
Bash me if you want but you can't tell me (for example) that once you get dependant on the arrows that you are fine without them...that they aren't needed. The fact is without arrows...that's like driving without a rearview mirrors. Sure you can move down the road to and fro, but the confusion is very detracting.
Honestly it took me awhile to understand this after I had the 8500 for awhile but I found this out rather quickly and right away with the new Solo 2. And that device is supposed to be their best and latest technology. It's an electronic joke....I bought it for out of town trips and rental cars and backup...and it's not even good enough for that.
What is it? A Passport? An Escort? The Escort Store or whatever they call themselves these days has changed for the worse...since they were Cincinnati Microwave. The detectors are cheaply made, the beeping and the lighting is substandard, the volume is way too low, and they way they filter out false alarms makes me not trust it. Perhaps you have had a better connection with your device. Using a radar detector effectively means you can trust and understand it and if you have that, maybe you are ok. I couldn't build that relationship with mine...so I divorced them. Three times.
So I purposely got rid of all my detectors from that Company and made a conscious effort to try V1. And it made me feel good, it was refreshing to see a detector like V1 exhibiting all the good qualitites of the original Escort except in this new playing field called Ka and laser. I'm a V1 believer. I don't need to put down 8500 to feel good about V1. I need to put down 8500 and all their little friends because I feel like they're a hoax and all the past 4 ones that I've owned (4700?, 8500, new Solo, Solo 2) that I simply discarded, sold or returned, I feel I have to get the word out anytime and everytime I can about how pathetic they really are. Just my opinion.
I'm dissing the 8500 and the new Solo because I had them in my hands. In my possession. I paid full price for them. I mounted them in my car. I drove around with them for days and hundreds of miles. And they don't work as advertised. And having used nearly a dozen radar detectors in my life for the past 15 years, the 8500 and the especially the new Solo simply sucks. I had the first Escort, the first Passport, and the first Solo models...when there was only X and K band on the road. Those were good. I believe that 8500 owners only "think" they have a good detector because they haven't tried the V1 extensively.
Bash me if you want but you can't tell me (for example) that once you get dependant on the arrows that you are fine without them...that they aren't needed. The fact is without arrows...that's like driving without a rearview mirrors. Sure you can move down the road to and fro, but the confusion is very detracting.
Honestly it took me awhile to understand this after I had the 8500 for awhile but I found this out rather quickly and right away with the new Solo 2. And that device is supposed to be their best and latest technology. It's an electronic joke....I bought it for out of town trips and rental cars and backup...and it's not even good enough for that.
What is it? A Passport? An Escort? The Escort Store or whatever they call themselves these days has changed for the worse...since they were Cincinnati Microwave. The detectors are cheaply made, the beeping and the lighting is substandard, the volume is way too low, and they way they filter out false alarms makes me not trust it. Perhaps you have had a better connection with your device. Using a radar detector effectively means you can trust and understand it and if you have that, maybe you are ok. I couldn't build that relationship with mine...so I divorced them. Three times.
So I purposely got rid of all my detectors from that Company and made a conscious effort to try V1. And it made me feel good, it was refreshing to see a detector like V1 exhibiting all the good qualitites of the original Escort except in this new playing field called Ka and laser. I'm a V1 believer. I don't need to put down 8500 to feel good about V1. I need to put down 8500 and all their little friends because I feel like they're a hoax and all the past 4 ones that I've owned (4700?, 8500, new Solo, Solo 2) that I simply discarded, sold or returned, I feel I have to get the word out anytime and everytime I can about how pathetic they really are. Just my opinion.
#34
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Oh, so one person(you) doesn't like it and the 8500 is a "hoax"? It is widely known and that the 8500 works well and is one of the best detectors on the market. This is supported by countless reviews and people testing out each radar detector.
Every time there some question on radars you put down the 8500 like it is complete shit. No, it doesn't have arrows and they give the V1 a big advantage. But you can't sit there and tell me that the 8500 is a failure -it is so obvious you need to "put down the 8500 to feel good about the V1."
Every time there some question on radars you put down the 8500 like it is complete shit. No, it doesn't have arrows and they give the V1 a big advantage. But you can't sit there and tell me that the 8500 is a failure -it is so obvious you need to "put down the 8500 to feel good about the V1."
#35
Yesterday I was on the I-10 on my way to palm springs and was going about 90mph+. Well needless to say I was one of the faster moving cars and was just about to move over a lane to pass a slower moving car when I had a hit on the v1. It was Ka band and the arrows pointed behind me. I quickly just let off the gas and slowed down to about 75. Not 5 secs later I was getting a full on hit and the cop just came into view. He came on the fwy just then and would have caught me if I did not have the v1 with the arrows to let me know where to check and how bad it was.
So for me, another big for the v1. Saved me from another ticket.
So for me, another big for the v1. Saved me from another ticket.
#36
wow, talk about brand loyalty. the truth is the arrows are a gimic, you don't need them to have an effective detector. the whole point is to slow down before a cop can get your speed, there's no extra points for knowing if a cop is coming from behind or up front. you don't rely on the arrows, you rely on the detector picking up radar effectively. as the signal meter gets stronger you know the radar is getting closer, whether its coming from the front or not is irrelevant.
beeping and lighting substandard? please. if you read the manual you would have seen the volume/brightness/sensitivities can be adjusted to numerous levels.
beeping and lighting substandard? please. if you read the manual you would have seen the volume/brightness/sensitivities can be adjusted to numerous levels.
#37
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Originally posted by heyitsme
wow, talk about brand loyalty. the truth is the arrows are a gimic, you don't need them to have an effective detector. the whole point is to slow down before a cop can get your speed, there's no extra points for knowing if a cop is coming from behind or up front. you don't rely on the arrows, you rely on the detector picking up radar effectively. as the signal meter gets stronger you know the radar is getting closer, whether its coming from the front or not is irrelevant.
beeping and lighting substandard? please. if you read the manual you would have seen the volume/brightness/sensitivities can be adjusted to numerous levels.
wow, talk about brand loyalty. the truth is the arrows are a gimic, you don't need them to have an effective detector. the whole point is to slow down before a cop can get your speed, there's no extra points for knowing if a cop is coming from behind or up front. you don't rely on the arrows, you rely on the detector picking up radar effectively. as the signal meter gets stronger you know the radar is getting closer, whether its coming from the front or not is irrelevant.
beeping and lighting substandard? please. if you read the manual you would have seen the volume/brightness/sensitivities can be adjusted to numerous levels.
I'm not talking about simple beeping and lighting specifications of the 8500. A baboon can operate that. I don't need a manual, I had the damn machine in my hand. Here's what I saw:
The lights play tricks on the 8500. It moves up and down inconsistant with the geiger counter...the beeping. Sometimes the lights come on and there is no beeping. I guess that's what they call "filter" false alarms. Then it will start beeping aloud all of a sudden. Fast, fast beeps when the target is still far, far away. What made the original Escort so great was that it will give a single, non-urgent brap at distance and graduate slowly so that you can properly judge target distance and direction. After several years of different situations, I could use the older models and tell where the police was and how far away without the arrows. The newer models are so all over the board it's impossible to tell anything anymore so you just brake and slow down. It's annoying and so primitive.
Yeah I read all those reports and comparisons and I fell for them and I bought the 8500. Why don't the 8500 owners just try the V1 for 30 days...never mind the "looks". If you don't like it you can return it. I did exactly that with two of the Escort Store's prize-fighters and then I quickly took them up on their offer to take back their junk.
I bought all their sh*t for over 10 years model after model after model and then they launch this crap and call it their best, I call it a failure especially the Solo lineup. And I had to find out they were doctoring their units on battery power. With my two solos I got about 6 speeding tickets years ago, I have to wonder if I would have gotten those if I had attached a power cord to it.
#38
Already tried a friend's V1. Didn't see the necessity to spend $150 more on it so I bought the 8500. Arrows are nice but so what. The 8500 detects everything. It is one of the better radar detectors out there right now. It's usually V1 or 8500. Your comments calling it shit are unwarranted.
#39
why should 8500 users try the v1 if the 8500 works. arrows aren't worth a $100 to a lot of people and most can get by without em. when a detector goes off i'm not going to sit around looking for a cop before i slow down, doesn't matter if i know he's coming from behind or not, i'm slowing down. even if the the v1 arrows pointed to the sides on a highway with no shoulders i'm not going to keep speeding just cause val says so. the moment someone starts relying 100% on a detector is the point they start getting tickets.
you're complaining about things on the 8500 which are also present on the v1, like full strength alert way before a cop is seen. thats what you get in a high end detector, long range detection. i don't like it either, but the v1 has full alert even further away than the 8500,1 1/2 miles out according to speedzones, yet you're not complaining. only the cheap whistlers have the constant beeping at the last minute.
http://www.speedzones.com/test2002new/test2002.htm
you're complaining about things on the 8500 which are also present on the v1, like full strength alert way before a cop is seen. thats what you get in a high end detector, long range detection. i don't like it either, but the v1 has full alert even further away than the 8500,1 1/2 miles out according to speedzones, yet you're not complaining. only the cheap whistlers have the constant beeping at the last minute.
http://www.speedzones.com/test2002new/test2002.htm
#40
Darth Chocolate
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FWIW, I totally agree with Ken. It's hard to explain the importance of the directional arrows. It's kinda like the difference between mono and stereo sound. Once you come to appreciate it, you can't go back. I can see how some people may not think the extra information is useful, so sure, they shouldn't pay the extra money. But I know I like having the arrows and I couldn't go back to using a mono-like detector.