Best detector ????
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Probably a majority of the folks here will tell you to get the V1, which I am sure is a great unit. Lots of bells and whistles. However, when I was in your shoes about six months ago, I decided, based upon some consumer report type testing and the price difference (I think about $100) to go with the passport 8500. So far, it has saved me a bunch of times and I am happy to have it. It works great in all bands and exceptional in the laser band. The smart cord feature is very useful as it is a fairly long reach to the windshield to mute the unit. I will continue to support my long time favorite, escort/passport until I have a reason to do otherwise. JMHO
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Data from www.RadarTest.com:
Tested the Bel 980, Escort 8500 and the V1:
1. Maximum Radar Range: Straightaway/Hills Test
X-band K-band Ka-band
Bel 30,000 ft 27,000 ft 40,000 ft
Escort 30,000 ft 27,000 ft 40,000 ft
V1 40,000 ft 27,000 ft 24,000 ft
2. Maximum Radar Range: Around-the-Curve Test
X-band K-band Ka-band
Bel 4500 ft 1050 ft 1000 ft
Escort 6200 ft 1050 ft 1000 ft
V1 6200 ft 1000 ft 750 ft
3. Laser Field of View
Avg FOV
Bel 25 inches
Escort 45 inches
V1 90 inches
4. Maximum Laser Detection Range
Max Range
Bel 4000 ft
Escort 4000 ft
V1 4000 ft
5. False Alarms on 10 Mile Urban Loop
False Alarms
Bel 1
Escort 1
V1 2
6. Max Audio Volume
Decibels at 24 inches
X-band K-band Ka-band
Bel 88 83 85
Escort 86 84 87
V1 86 83 83
Full descriptions of the the tests and the results can be seen at www.radartest.com in the "World's Best Radar Detector" article.
All are very close, the Bel and Escort offer a variety of features that the V1 does not, but this may or maynot be important to you. It really becomes a "religious argurment" at this level. I have always owned the Escort models, others love the V1.
Fact is, at this level they are all good, and they are all going to keep you out of jail...
Tested the Bel 980, Escort 8500 and the V1:
1. Maximum Radar Range: Straightaway/Hills Test
X-band K-band Ka-band
Bel 30,000 ft 27,000 ft 40,000 ft
Escort 30,000 ft 27,000 ft 40,000 ft
V1 40,000 ft 27,000 ft 24,000 ft
2. Maximum Radar Range: Around-the-Curve Test
X-band K-band Ka-band
Bel 4500 ft 1050 ft 1000 ft
Escort 6200 ft 1050 ft 1000 ft
V1 6200 ft 1000 ft 750 ft
3. Laser Field of View
Avg FOV
Bel 25 inches
Escort 45 inches
V1 90 inches
4. Maximum Laser Detection Range
Max Range
Bel 4000 ft
Escort 4000 ft
V1 4000 ft
5. False Alarms on 10 Mile Urban Loop
False Alarms
Bel 1
Escort 1
V1 2
6. Max Audio Volume
Decibels at 24 inches
X-band K-band Ka-band
Bel 88 83 85
Escort 86 84 87
V1 86 83 83
Full descriptions of the the tests and the results can be seen at www.radartest.com in the "World's Best Radar Detector" article.
All are very close, the Bel and Escort offer a variety of features that the V1 does not, but this may or maynot be important to you. It really becomes a "religious argurment" at this level. I have always owned the Escort models, others love the V1.
Fact is, at this level they are all good, and they are all going to keep you out of jail...
Fact is I've owned a few lower end models in the past. All they did is make me a safer slower driver. When they went off I didn't know what or where the "threat" was so I was even slowing down for falses. Then I jumped straight into a V1. I can't imagine living without the bogey (threat) counter or the directional indicators. It is bigger then most anything out there and annoying as hell with all the falses (but what detector doesn't false), but has saved my ass many a times. I drive on I-5 which is a North-South freeway in California and it is 2 lanes each side with a nice wide middle area for the CHP to turn around and come after you. The speed limit is 70mph and I've been driving 80-85mph for over a year. This thing kicks ass and has kept me safe. I even got a reading on a CHP over 8 MILES away. I figure we were going about the same speed and closing on each other so that was really only 4 miles, but still... damned good coverage. I notice other folks with radar detectors and mine will go off and I will slow down and they keep on going and sometimes get nabbed.
The worst thing is that 3-4 months after I bought my V1 I got paced and got a ticket. First time I've ever been paced and it is right after I got the V1...
Oh well...
The worst thing is that 3-4 months after I bought my V1 I got paced and got a ticket. First time I've ever been paced and it is right after I got the V1...
Oh well...Fact is I've owned a few lower end models in the past. All they did is make me a safer slower driver. When they went off I didn't know what or where the "threat" was so I was even slowing down for falses. Then I jumped straight into a V1. I can't imagine living without the bogey (threat) counter or the directional indicators. It is bigger then most anything out there and annoying as hell with all the falses (but what detector doesn't false), but has saved my ass many a times. I drive on I-5 which is a North-South freeway in California and it is 2 lanes each side with a nice wide middle area for the CHP to turn around and come after you. The speed limit is 70mph and I've been driving 80-85mph for over a year. This thing kicks ass and has kept me safe. I even got a reading on a CHP over 8 MILES away. I figure we were going about the same speed and closing on each other so that was really only 4 miles, but still... damned good coverage. I notice other folks with radar detectors and mine will go off and I will slow down and they keep on going and sometimes get nabbed.
The worst thing is that 3-4 months after I bought my V1 I got paced and got a ticket. First time I've ever been paced and it is right after I got the V1... Oh well...
But like always, do some research and make the decision for yourself. Buy what you are comfortable with and the price range you want... I'm off to order two hidden displays now myself...
The worst thing is that 3-4 months after I bought my V1 I got paced and got a ticket. First time I've ever been paced and it is right after I got the V1...
Oh well...But like always, do some research and make the decision for yourself. Buy what you are comfortable with and the price range you want... I'm off to order two hidden displays now myself...
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My V1 has been a 'saver', a ton of times.
RG
RG
Most police are using K band andKa band. The Bel 980 wins all the tests for range and sensitivity to K and Ka.
Laser is easy to defeat with other methods, when your detector sounds for laser it's already too late.
The V1 wins most tests for X band. In the Northeast very few police agencies use X band radar.
Based on sensitivity and cost, the Bel 980 is hard to beat.
Laser is easy to defeat with other methods, when your detector sounds for laser it's already too late.
The V1 wins most tests for X band. In the Northeast very few police agencies use X band radar.
Based on sensitivity and cost, the Bel 980 is hard to beat.
I had an escort 7500, and was supposed to have been upgraded to an 8500. What I got was extremely shitty service. I will NEVER use an Escort again.
Not to mention that it was Mike Valentine that made escort, then he went off and formed his own company.
The other night, I was cruising down CA-152 east of Los Banos (speed limit 65) at about 75. Not really pushing it, but enough that I'd get a ticket. I got a K-band warning (1 on the power meter) and immediately slowed down to 65, with the locator telling me the radar was coming from the front.
After about 5 mins, I got bored not seeing anything, and took her back up to about 70. Another few minutes after that, the V1 started beeping more and more, so I slowed down. A few minutes after that, a CHP car goes flying down the other side of the highway.
I figured that if I was cruising about 65, and picked him up ~10 minutes away, then with the closure rates and all, he was a good 15-20 miles away.
Without the locators I probably would have attributed the signal to a false alarm, and sped back up.
Those arrows are life savers.
Not to mention that it was Mike Valentine that made escort, then he went off and formed his own company.
The other night, I was cruising down CA-152 east of Los Banos (speed limit 65) at about 75. Not really pushing it, but enough that I'd get a ticket. I got a K-band warning (1 on the power meter) and immediately slowed down to 65, with the locator telling me the radar was coming from the front.
After about 5 mins, I got bored not seeing anything, and took her back up to about 70. Another few minutes after that, the V1 started beeping more and more, so I slowed down. A few minutes after that, a CHP car goes flying down the other side of the highway.
I figured that if I was cruising about 65, and picked him up ~10 minutes away, then with the closure rates and all, he was a good 15-20 miles away.
Without the locators I probably would have attributed the signal to a false alarm, and sped back up.
Those arrows are life savers.
Hey guys, the MOST important feature of the Valentine One is the rear facing antenna!! In yesterdays Val 1 thread, I mentioned how the Val 1 saved my butt, as the CHP(2 of 'em) came up on my tail....
Bottom line: If it doesn't have a rear facing antenna you are NOT fully protected
End of story
Bottom line: If it doesn't have a rear facing antenna you are NOT fully protected
End of story
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12,353 Posts
I agree with the notion that getting tracked from behind is a danger, but I will again lean on data provided by www.radartest.com. They did an interesting piece on how this "same lane" moving radar works in a cruiser and the steps needed to make it work on the road, very interesting stuff, their conclusion is that it is very difficult if not near impossible on a road with moderate traffic levels for an officer to use this feature effectively, and even when used the effective range is less than 1000 feet.
They then performed a rear radar detection test with the Bel 980, Escort 8500, V1 and the Cobra XR-1010, the results
Rear Radar Detection Range
V1 8976 feet
Bel 980 6072 feet
Escort 8500 4308 feet
Cobra XR-1010 1321 feet
With the rear facing antenna on the V1 it wins the sensitivity test but going down to even the Escort you get a warning from almost a mile away, more than plenty of time to react before the bogey can pick you up.
Read the data on the website, these guys are independent and have lots of data on how radar works and how best to defeat it. I learned a great deal from these guys.
They then performed a rear radar detection test with the Bel 980, Escort 8500, V1 and the Cobra XR-1010, the results
Rear Radar Detection Range
V1 8976 feet
Bel 980 6072 feet
Escort 8500 4308 feet
Cobra XR-1010 1321 feet
With the rear facing antenna on the V1 it wins the sensitivity test but going down to even the Escort you get a warning from almost a mile away, more than plenty of time to react before the bogey can pick you up.
Read the data on the website, these guys are independent and have lots of data on how radar works and how best to defeat it. I learned a great deal from these guys.
Hey guys,
I got a Bel 975R remote system. Man this thing is great. I got it for a couple reasons. First, I knew I wanted a remote system, so I could hide it in the car from cops and thiefs. I took out the ashtray and the control box fit in perfectly. I can still close the lid and you wouldn't even know it was there. Second, this system seems to be the only one that offers upgradeable software. With technology today I do not want to be buying a new system every year. it also performs just as good or not better than the Bel 980. The only thing that dash mounted units have to their advantage is that they sit higher in the car than the remote system there for getting a greater view of the road. This thing has saved me countless times. I would recomend it to everyone.
George
I got a Bel 975R remote system. Man this thing is great. I got it for a couple reasons. First, I knew I wanted a remote system, so I could hide it in the car from cops and thiefs. I took out the ashtray and the control box fit in perfectly. I can still close the lid and you wouldn't even know it was there. Second, this system seems to be the only one that offers upgradeable software. With technology today I do not want to be buying a new system every year. it also performs just as good or not better than the Bel 980. The only thing that dash mounted units have to their advantage is that they sit higher in the car than the remote system there for getting a greater view of the road. This thing has saved me countless times. I would recomend it to everyone.
George
Btw, radartest.com isn't really unbiased. The guy who runs it gets paid by the detector companies (valentine so far has refused his "consutation" offers).
Sorry, but when I read about how someone gets paid to review stuff I pretty much discount all that they have to say.
Btw, valentines are upgradable, you just have to send them back in, they're totally willing to upgrade it for you. That includes hardware, not just software.
Sorry, but when I read about how someone gets paid to review stuff I pretty much discount all that they have to say.
Btw, valentines are upgradable, you just have to send them back in, they're totally willing to upgrade it for you. That includes hardware, not just software.
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Police use light instead of radar in OntarioJLH-Z06 said:I have read some posts about different radar detectors. I have heard about the V1. I would like opinions as to the best
Re: Re: Best detector ????
jerboa
Bel, Escort and V1 all pick up laser(lidar. After my initial V1 response I read the reviews. Three different organizations picked the Passport 8500 over the V1 in current (2001)reviews. V1 data are from 1997. I bought the 8500.william wallace said:
jerboa
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