Best Radar Detector and your thoughts on VEIL
03-24-06, 12:25 PM
#17
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Originally Posted by Kermee
Having owned a V1 for almost a decade with an upgrade about 5 years ago, I tend to disagree with the V1 being a "ticket notifier" when it comes to laser/lidar. I usually catch the "spray" of laser at least once a month up and down the I-5 and I-405 corridor from the Washington State Patrol. And the target is usually in front of me.
At 1,000 feet, the laser beam leaks at least several feet in diameter.
At 1,000 feet, the laser beam leaks at least several feet in diameter.
03-24-06, 12:46 PM
#18
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Originally Posted by kensteele
that's too bad that someone has derailed your basic "research" and basically filled your head with apparent lies. I challenge anyone to prove to me that V1 with laser detection is a "ticket notifier." I don't care about any magazine articles, circumstantial evidence, or all that other drama about laser usage and stats, etc., all I care about is physics, facts, and real life circumstances. I have hardcore concrete proof that the V1 can detect and successfully prevent you from being ticketed when you are targeted by stationary police laser. I've done it. Several times. Way more often that I've been caught (which is twice). If you're going to believe the "idiots" who don't own a V1 and then turn around and tell you it's useless because you can't completely avoid a laser ticket at all times with it, you might as well believe the rest of the uninformed general population that claims a basic radar detector doesn't work either (citing radar instant-on capabilities).
Originally Posted by kensteele
When properly used, the V1 is not oversensitive...It doesn't false like you think it does, it's really not that bad. When in the proper mode, the V1 will perform as designed, which is to make the driver aware when it detects traffic radar and laser. Do I wish the V1 would false less? Yes. Did I wish all the other garbage radar detecotrs false less that I used to own? Yes. It's not a perfect world and some places are worse than others. V1 doesn't deserve the title "chicken little" because when it alerts, I know whether to slow down and start searching for cops or simply mute the radar and keep driving. BTW, nobody drives all over creation so much that every day they have to deal with a new false alarm. V1 is the best on the market and people who attack simply don't own one or can't afford one...I hate to say it. I've had Solos and Escorts and Passports all my life so I'm not guessing when I say those detectors don't compare. My 2 cents.
03-24-06, 03:39 PM
#19
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by charlesmsn
whoa ken, cut me some slack. I don't own a V1 so I can't say. I'm just parrotting what I read. you're right, I'm uninformed, which is why I asked the question.
your 2 cents is appreciated. I have never really owned a radar detector because my old corolla would get to noisy with engine hum and wind shear that I could tell I was going faster than it could withstand. I've used friends' units but they were cheapies so I couldn't really gauge their worth.
your 2 cents is appreciated. I have never really owned a radar detector because my old corolla would get to noisy with engine hum and wind shear that I could tell I was going faster than it could withstand. I've used friends' units but they were cheapies so I couldn't really gauge their worth.
don't rule out the v1 during your search, it pays for itself in the long run and it's clearly the best overall. 
03-24-06, 04:23 PM
#20
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I too am a faithful V1 user for almost a decade. I have had it updated recently and am very happy with it. To those who say the directional arrows are worthless I beg to differ. I appreciate knowing which direction the signal is coming from. Nothing better then knowing when your approaching the signal and you can laugh as you pass by him in the median thanks to the heads up of the V1. I too have tried Uniden and Bell but for me there is no comparison. I would gladly shell out the extra $ for the piece of mind and trust I have in my V1.
03-24-06, 04:45 PM
#21
Lexus Champion
I had the Escort X50 and everyone says how great the V1 is so I got it.
Yes it has the arrows which is nice but in my experience (NOT OPINION, EXPERIENCE), the X50 kills the V1 in range...period.
Yes it has the arrows which is nice but in my experience (NOT OPINION, EXPERIENCE), the X50 kills the V1 in range...period.
03-24-06, 05:27 PM
#22
I know a lot of tests show the range of competitors units to the V1's as being much better, but realistically I get a little over a mile of warning on the K-bands and around 1.5 - 2 miles on the Ka-bands (on long stretches of freeway/highway). Course, that's all dependent on how much power the radar-operator is putting out of the gun and how frequently he's going to shoot. Having a radar-detector which has better range here in Washington State than my V1 is useless. Most roads and terrain here are very hilly and have lots of trees. Most of the radar spray over 1 miles is absorbed by the trees or ground anyway. If there's zero-signal past 1 mile due to attentuation of trees and terrain, not even the best radar detector is going to pick it up.
The only time range is a factor, assuming sensitivity is the same on both detectors, is how frequently the radar-operator is shooting radar. If the radar operator is shooting about once every 15 seconds and you're driving about 90 MPH and he's a mile away, and Radar detector A picks it up and Radar detector B doesn't pick it up, you lose about 1980 feet assuming Radar detector B picks it up on the next shot 15 seconds later.
Also, remember that range and sensitivity doesn't exactly mean the same thing. Realistically, the V1, Escort 8500 X50, or high-end Bel detector will all do the job just fine. We just have so much K and Ka-band junk here in Washington State that it's nice to have the arrows on the V1 to know where it's coming from. And while the X50 probably has better range than the V1 right now, I doubt it has much greater sensitivity which means both units are going to false about the same amount.
I hope this confuses everyone some more.
Cheers,
Kermee
The only time range is a factor, assuming sensitivity is the same on both detectors, is how frequently the radar-operator is shooting radar. If the radar operator is shooting about once every 15 seconds and you're driving about 90 MPH and he's a mile away, and Radar detector A picks it up and Radar detector B doesn't pick it up, you lose about 1980 feet assuming Radar detector B picks it up on the next shot 15 seconds later.
Also, remember that range and sensitivity doesn't exactly mean the same thing. Realistically, the V1, Escort 8500 X50, or high-end Bel detector will all do the job just fine. We just have so much K and Ka-band junk here in Washington State that it's nice to have the arrows on the V1 to know where it's coming from. And while the X50 probably has better range than the V1 right now, I doubt it has much greater sensitivity which means both units are going to false about the same amount.
I hope this confuses everyone some more.
Cheers,
Kermee
Last edited by Kermee; 03-24-06 at 05:31 PM.
03-24-06, 11:08 PM
#23
Lead Lap
Originally Posted by bagwell
I had the Escort X50 and everyone says how great the V1 is so I got it.
Yes it has the arrows which is nice but in my experience (NOT OPINION, EXPERIENCE), the X50 kills the V1 in range...period.
Yes it has the arrows which is nice but in my experience (NOT OPINION, EXPERIENCE), the X50 kills the V1 in range...period.
this just goes to prove that on the internet there is ALWAYS someone who is the EXCEPTION. this is why I believe that on the internet facts mean nothing. I have been curious about getting a v1 since I have a [probably obsolete] k1 factory installed in my LS. thanks to kermee et.al I think I will be getting a valentine. does this hide well inside the IS interior?
03-25-06, 03:09 PM
#24
V1 installs very nicely in the 2IS. kensteele has a great write-up on it and my install mimics his.
V1 Radar Detector Installation
Majority of the wiring is hidden and it's a very clean install and I love it and so will you. It's a great DIY project. Glad all of the CL members who chimed in helped make your decision.
Cheers,
Kermee
P.S. The main reason most of us tap from the fuse-box directly vs. the power that's available right next to the rear-view mirror is the rear-view mirror power seems to be always-on. We tap from a fuse in the fuse-box which is only hot when the car is "ON".
V1 Radar Detector Installation
Majority of the wiring is hidden and it's a very clean install and I love it and so will you. It's a great DIY project.
Glad all of the CL members who chimed in helped make your decision.Cheers,
Kermee
P.S. The main reason most of us tap from the fuse-box directly vs. the power that's available right next to the rear-view mirror is the rear-view mirror power seems to be always-on. We tap from a fuse in the fuse-box which is only hot when the car is "ON".
03-25-06, 03:36 PM
#26
Lead Lap
Originally Posted by kensteele
sorry. didn't mean to get so excited. don't rule out the v1 during your search, it pays for itself in the long run and it's clearly the best overall.
don't rule out the v1 during your search, it pays for itself in the long run and it's clearly the best overall. and some have the v1 winning.. I have owned two v1's in the past 10 yrs which I
took with me on all 4 of my drives from NYC to Miami, and i currently own a 8500 which
i bought a few months ago.. The v1 was great, however it falsed a bit too much for my liking..
I got used to the directionals and miss them, but the 8500 i have now seems to work awesome
and falses much less.. It's not possible to say which is clearly the best unless we
test them by having both plugged in at the same time, which I'm sure none of us here
have done..
03-25-06, 04:02 PM
#28
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by Tony1
I disagree that it's clearly the best, in all the tests done recently, some have the 8500 winning
and some have the v1 winning.. I have owned two v1's in the past 10 yrs which I
took with me on all 4 of my drives from NYC to Miami, and i currently own a 8500 which
i bought a few months ago.. The v1 was great, however it falsed a bit too much for my liking..
I got used to the directionals and miss them, but the 8500 i have now seems to work awesome
and falses much less.. It's not possible to say which is clearly the best unless we
test them by having both plugged in at the same time, which I'm sure none of us here
have done..
and some have the v1 winning.. I have owned two v1's in the past 10 yrs which I
took with me on all 4 of my drives from NYC to Miami, and i currently own a 8500 which
i bought a few months ago.. The v1 was great, however it falsed a bit too much for my liking..
I got used to the directionals and miss them, but the 8500 i have now seems to work awesome
and falses much less.. It's not possible to say which is clearly the best unless we
test them by having both plugged in at the same time, which I'm sure none of us here
have done..
If you read the 8500 "winning" tests again, you'll see a pattern. If the V1 loses because it scored lower point on "looks"..... But I don't want to argue about them here, there's a whole forum for that: http://radardetector.net/
They're both good, I'm not putting down the 8500; but I've had radar detectors since 1985 and I started out as a big fan of Cincinnati Microwave products; now Escort. Not anymore. The new Solo was the worse detector I have ever owned back about 5 or 6 years ago.
03-25-06, 05:50 PM
#30
Lead Lap
Originally Posted by kensteele
Please tell me what steps you have taken to minimize the amount of V1 false alerts. BTW, you can't possibly understand the value of the directional arrows in four months. Keep the V1 for two more years and you'll be back to amend this post.
If you read the 8500 "winning" tests again, you'll see a pattern. If the V1 loses because it scored lower point on "looks"..... But I don't want to argue about them here, there's a whole forum for that: http://radardetector.net/
They're both good, I'm not putting down the 8500; but I've had radar detectors since 1985 and I started out as a big fan of Cincinnati Microwave products; now Escort. Not anymore. The new Solo was the worse detector I have ever owned back about 5 or 6 years ago.
If you read the 8500 "winning" tests again, you'll see a pattern. If the V1 loses because it scored lower point on "looks"..... But I don't want to argue about them here, there's a whole forum for that: http://radardetector.net/
They're both good, I'm not putting down the 8500; but I've had radar detectors since 1985 and I started out as a big fan of Cincinnati Microwave products; now Escort. Not anymore. The new Solo was the worse detector I have ever owned back about 5 or 6 years ago.
great,. (when not encountering "instant on" radar, that is..after that time, cinninati didnt make anything that impressed me, up until this 8500...