Was thinking about purchasing a good radar detector and was wondering which ones were Acurazine users opting for? There are lots of radar detectors on the market i know, just trying to get a feel for the best.

Cheers

 

Valentine 1.

 

V1 is typically the go to RD on this forum.

I use the 8500 x50 blue - use it about 5-10times a year on long trips. For daily driving i'm going the limit or within fair reason.

 

I've heard good things about the v1, I'm also looking for one and I am going with the v1.

 

Before I got my Passport 8500, I get about 1 ticket every 1 - 1.5 yr. Don't remember when I got my 8500, but I'd say it has been 6 yrs or so. And, yes, I've been ticket free.

Never used V1, so I can't say it's good/bad. However, that dude on the V1 ad does look like a pervert.

 

hahah yeah w3rdup he does.

I'll look into the p8500

 

i use a cordless escort solo 2. it does wonders for me.

 

i think ur budget will explain what you will end up getting....

i have a whister xtr 520....would i recommend it ??? yes....if your on a stiff budget...this thing costed me less than $100 and has a blue LED display....you can customize it completely....wrt brightness, contrast, how and when the light on it should go on/off....

it boast a remote control, so u dont have to reach the detector to change any settings....k/ka/x/vg2/pop/pulse/laser/yada yada bands....highway and 2 city modes....360 degree scan....pretty neat....

i have been using this since like 2 years now....i dont know if its successor is out....its lasting for me and saved my ass atleast a million times....

again i know the v1 and passport are way better than this....but this is way way way cheaper....matches the blue lights with the interior...and works pretty nice....my

here is an image

 

v1

 

V1..... The guy invented the original Escort. And of course he looks like a perv, he's an RF Engineer. Better than a douchebag salesman.

 

Escort Passport 8500-9500 hands down.


Oh and try using a quick use of the search button for more results.
Just one of many,
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...Radar+detector

 

8500 x50 escort no tickets
got the hardwire mod by inviso cord?

 

Vee One

 

I've been using the V1 for years and I have no complaints. It works very well and I love the directional arrows.

 

Definitely do a search... tons of topics about radar detectors.

 

I am a huge fan of Beltronics radar detectors. All of their models are great units and they have something for almost any budget. Since Bel and Escort merged, most if not all the Bel models share the same platform as the X50 just with more or less features. Also the Bel STI, is the only detector not detected by SPECTRE III.

 

i have V1 and no tickets.

 

Ditto, BUT I did get hit with Laser driving up from FL this year and at that point it was too late (I saw the cop the second the V1 started screaming SLOW DOWN LASERRRR), because laser is from close range, and w/o a jammer, you're dead meat....

So to resolve that, I'm probably going to pick up K40's latest Laser Defuser EX (it's completely revised and a hell of a lot better compared to it's older version, and among the best in class, as noted by the review i've seen on it compared to the competition). I'll let you know how that goes..

 

i've had the 8500x50 and now the 9500i.

i'd say go for the v1.

 

Everyone here is either going to say Passport or V1

/thread.

 

I own a beltronics radar... was recommended by a friends relative who happens to be a cop

 

I second this recommendation, owning an Sti. That is one heck of a good detector- no tickets in 3 years of ownership. I mounted my detector high on the windshield in the tint strip of my TL and it's invisible to the outside world and the strip doesn't affect range or laser. The Sti also has front surface controls so it works great in my configuration too. I also used an invisicord and it's very convenient moving my detector between my two cars. I consider the extra cost of the Sti as extra insurance, since a ticket is costly and probably 2/3 of the detector's cost even ignoring insurance increases.

 

Can't go wrong with either Valentine 1 or Passport.

I have the Passport 9500ix, with GPS that remembers false signals and shows speed cameras and red light cams. It's dead quiet around town because it remembers where all the signals come from, and its sensitivity is very good as well. Personally, I couldn't live without the gps feature. It would be too annoying without it.

 

Another RD thread?

V1. The arrows don't lie. If you can't afford one new, buy one used.

 

Passport and Beltronics are the same people.

Most people say V1, I've talked people that's owned several different brands, including V1's and Passports/Beltronics (and also from reading Radar Detector forums, yes... I've done my research on this), V1's are great, but it's also one of those products that's hype'd by good marketing, and simply from forums like this... just because most people say its good, yet most of them have not experienced other brands. But I hear the Passport 9500ix is better. Less false alarms.

Me, personally... I have the Beltronics RX65, which IS basically same as the Escort x50, but with a couple extras.

Any of these higher ends will do the job, I'd stay away from the cheaper stuff.

 

I have owned two Beltronics and an Escort in the past. The Escort was pretty good, the V1 I've owned now for several years better IMHO. I think they falsed about the same. I will admit I haven't tried one of the newer Escorts, though.

I agree that any of the high-end RDs will do the job. However, I still think that the arrows don't lie. The "Situational Awareness" the V1 folks market is not anything to be sniffed at IMHO. Once you use the arrows, you really don't go back, and that's not just marketing. It just works.

I mean....do you want to know if that Ka band (aka real LEO 95% of the time in my experience) is in front or behind, and are they coming or going? That certainly affects your driving behavior.

 

So, what's a good website for ordering V1?

 

But who cares whether they're ahead or behind you? The arrows are a useless novelty. You're going to slow down anyway, and if the signal is getting stronger it's pretty obvious they're in front of you. With the Passport, I have GPS that locks out the false alerts. It's absolutely quiet around where I live, so I don't have to wonder whether it's a cop or a supermarket. It also tells me where the speed and red light cameras are. GPS >> red arrows

 

what is a radar for?

 

Agree. Yeah, it's nice to know where it's coming from, but when the RD goes off, you react accordingly. Slow down if you're speeding. You don't figure out first where he's at then slow down. You slow down PERIOD and behave (until the coast is clear). What does it matter where he is?

 

I have a Bel RX65 and a GX65. Both are awesome. The GX65 has GPS and the RX doesn't. If price is no object, def. go with the GX or it's twin in the Escort line, the 9500ix, if, however, money is an object, you can buy my RX65 for a great price... See the classifieds...

 

Here, let me Google that for you- CLICK

 

For the V1 owners: The forward and back arrows are helpful but doesn't the strength meter of a normal detector serve a similar purpose? If you're driving and the signal is getting stronger it means your getting closer to the radar and you best be slowing down. It really doesn't matter if the cop is approaching from the rear or you're approaching a cop parked on the road- you best be slowing down in either case.

The side arrows appear to have limited benefits too because you don't know if the radar is to the left or right of you. If I'm going down an interstate and there's radar ahead of me- it would be extremely nice to know the radar is on the otherside of the freeway in which it probably won't be much of a threat. In that scenario I would want a forward arrow with a left arrow only lit- if the V1 did that I would be sold on the arrows.

I do like the fact that the V1 has 8 LEDs of resolution for strength which is more than the typical 3-5 leds of other detectors.

Having evaluated the V1, I think the bogey count is more helpful than the arrows for most drivers. I think sensitivity is a key metric and that's where the Bel/Escort radars have beat the V1 in past tests- perhaps the V1 has improved the last few years.

 

The passport has an advanced display mode, which displays individual signals, and their individual strengths too (second one shown below. height of the bars is the signal strength)

 

The arrows tell you where the signal is coming from. When the arrows glow in front or back, it's most likely something to watch out for. If it's on the side of you and it remains illuminated from the side, it's most likely from a store's electronic doors, so it's not a threat.

BUT, there's many times that the signal will go from front, as you see a cop on the side of the road shooting you, then as you pass it, the arrows jump quickly from side to back as you pass it. Trust me, it works..

Read page 7-9 of the owner's manual, it will explain more: http://www.valentine1.com/Moreinfo/p...l_2009-i10.pdf

It's really hard to convince you that it really helps without having you try it out yourself to see..

Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy2oAbVxgzw

 

Meh, I still don't see how arrows beat GPS. You're going to slow down if you're still getting hit by the signal, so what does it matter where they are? And wouldn't supermarkets show up as a forward arrow when you first pick them up?

 

I first had a V1 in my Acura and a Passport 9500IXin my Yukon. In 3 years of using the V1 never got a ticket till recently when I got lasered. Decided to stick with the Passport as its more sensitive to laser and for its ability to be upgraded and its ability to store faslse alerts.

 

I have read that the V1 can be very noisy for city driving because of the false alerts. Do you V1 owners agree?

 

I just checked out the video and I'm still not sold. In that situation with a non-V1 detector, I would still not be speeding with my detector going off like his was- you would have to be a fool to mash the gas pedal in that situation.

Every driver will have different priorities. On local roads, I already know where false alerts are so that's where GPS units shine over the V1. It's nice to have a quiet detector in those situations.

I don't need a side arrow pointing to a store because I already know where the source is- that's where the bogey count helps that the V1 does have but nobody on this thread appears to talk that (just the video). In practice though, I have yet to find a radar trap near a store or city situation because traffic generally keeps speeds down anyway. It's the open road where I fear radar traps mostly.

I need a detector that has good range when I'm jamming on country or desert roads. It really doesn't matter whether there's an arrow that's displaying front, side or rear. I will slow down in the country if the signal grows stronger and it's K or Ka. There are no stores or other false signals to contend with in the desert so side arrows are really worthless in my opinion- it's a matter of sensitivity only. I need range and that's where the V1 is lagging behind the Escort/Bel detectors.

I also want a detector that is stealth in case I drive in a state where detectors are illegal. This is also where the Sti outperforms the V1.

It was this review that made a difference to me: http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=100542


I have been a very happy camper with the Sti and have no arrow envy- I would like the bogey count though but it's a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. The must-haves for me are sensitivity and stealthiness. I believe I would have saved $50 on the V1 so it was not a money issue either, but purely a performance issue for picking Sti over V1.

 

I also have the bell RX65 and did alot of research when buying it.
It is the same thing as the passport 8500 just cheaper .
I am on my 2nd one 1st got stolen.. overstock.com
Never got a speeding ticket with it , DID once get a ticket for having it stuck on my windsheild