August 2007 IO Test Question

[Ovencleaner]

On the August 2007 IO detection test, I noticed many detectors did not alert consistently to IO. I know if I get hit by IO im probobly dead allready, but do detectors like the Bel v955 really not alert at all? Im in the market for a new detector and this has confused me quite a bit, and is quite scary. Im trying to decide which detector is best for me, and I have to deal with alot of instant on. I am probobly going to kill myself at this rate deciding between a Bel v955 or a Whistler Pro 78. I looked at the March 2007 results as well for a real world test, and it is what I am using as my reference. I know the v955 has slightly better detection, but not detecting IO 2/3 of the time scares me. Can I really trust a detector like that? Although I havnt seen POP in my area, whistler was better in that category as well. And with the Rev C, I think the pro 78 may even be at the range of the vector series. Am I misunderstanding the IO test somehow or do some detectors just not find it at all?

[<<JAZZY>>]

Your best bet is to forget about all those crap detectors and get a Valentine One then you don't have to worry about it.

[jdong]

The IO test was performed from a significant distance away, so don't rule out that it might've been past the detector's sensitivity range and even if it were CO the detector may not pick it up.

Also, some detectors have a more aggressive filter (particularly Belscorts) that might keep the detector quiet, but also make a shorter IO burst less detectible.

[stealthJamal]

Our IO test was not a good test in my (and many others) opinion. But it is still a test to look at.

[jimbonzzz]

Our IO test was not a good test in my (and many others) opinion. But it is still a test to look at.

X2

I think a good, conclusive test of IO in the real world would be very difficult (though not impossible) because of the variables involved. For example, there's no set amount of time an officer clocks a suspected violator before going back into standby. Even if there was, anyone operating a radar unit manually under test conditions would never do it exactly the same way twice. But of course, neither would the officer in the real world. And even a few millieconds can make a difference between alert vs no alert. LOTS of variables...

[jerry540i]

Our IO test was not a good test in my (and many others) opinion. But it is still a test to look at.

I liked it. 8)

J/

[MEM-TEK]

Your best bet is to forget about all those crap detectors and get a Valentine One then you don't have to worry about it.

I love it! Finally another inflammatory post from you which calls all other RDs crap versus the V1! Newbies note that Jazzy is very fanatical about his V1 radar detector -- and rightly so in some respects. Newbies also note that I myself am a Belscort fanatic. Yet the V1 does have some attributes which are very desirable:

-- The V1 has arguably the best X and K band sensitivity. This is most useful in NJ where X band still is predominant, and is most useful when driving through rural areas where K band is still used.

-- The V1 does have simple and very quick to glance at LED band indicators along with a simple LED bar graph signal strength display. I am "old school", really do like these particular features, and miss in particular not having simple LED band indicators on my Belscort radar detectors. Some V1 fanatics even get the LED band indicators changed to different colors for each band. That is really cool.

-- Of course, the V1 does have those unique directional arrows since Valentine holds the patent for a radar detector with an integrated front and rear radar receiver.

-- The V1 does generally have the best raw Ka band sensitivity as well, yet it isn't without its flaws in detecting some Ka radar frequencies off-axis.

-- The V1 is very chatty in town due to false alerts from microwave door openers and intrusion alarm systems, but it is a superb radar detector for the road warrior who spends most of his or her time on interstates and long road trips.

On the other hand:

-- Belscort radar detectors have arguably the best filtering of false alerts caused by one or more pairs of microwave door openers. Note that (with the exception of the Bel STi and the Escort 9500i) this filtering applies to X band door openers. Bel has implemented a somewhat conservative filter for K band door openers in their STi, and Escort has implemented similar filtering plus speed based filtering within their 9500i. Thus these two RDs are quieter in town compared to the V1.

-- Bel's products, due to their deliberately engineered less intense audio ramp-up, are much nicer to use in the "family car" since the audio alerts are far less annoying to the passengers.

-- Currently the Belscort products in general come in at a fairly close second place with regards to detecting K band, but nothing comes close to the V1 when detecting X band.

-- Fairly recently manufactured Bel STi and Escort 9500i radar detectors (manufactured within the last 9 months or so) come in at a very close second place with regards to detecting Ka band radar.

Going for a cheap radar detector with fair to good performance?

-- Look at the cheaper Bel Vector models or Whistler's Pro-78. Don't even bother considering other brands, cheaper models, or other RD models than the Vectors or the Pro-78.

So overall, what do I think?

-- The V1 is arguably the best choice for the "road warrior" who spends most of his or her time in a car driving alone on long interstate travels.

-- Bel and Escort (Belscort as we call them) offer a variety of radar detector models to fit the budgets, needs and personal preferences of the rest of us who still want an extremely good yet more versatile radar detector.

-- Are you a younger driver? Young adults have higher metabolisms (compared to us older farts) which rapidly burn up their energy. As a result younger adults tend to suddenly get very tired and can much more easily fall asleep behind the wheel. Whistler's Pro-78 radar detector has a unique and patented Stay Alert feature which helps drivers to remain alert. This feature could very well save the life of a very tired younger driver -- and probably has.

Well, there you have it! Thats my reply to one of Jazzy's famous one liners.

--Michael

[Ovencleaner]

Your best bet is to forget about all those crap detectors and get a Valentine One then you don't have to worry about it.

I love it! Finally another inflammatory post from you which calls all other RDs crap versus the V1! Newbies note that Jazzy is very fanatical about his V1 radar detector -- and rightly so in some respects. Newbies also note that I myself am a Belscort fanatic. Yet the V1 does have some attributes which are very desirable:

-- The V1 has arguably the best X and K band sensitivity. This is most useful in NJ where X band still is predominant, and is most useful when driving through rural areas where K band is still used.

-- The V1 does have simple and very quick to glance at LED band indicators along with a simple LED bar graph signal strength display. I am "old school", really do like these particular features, and miss in particular not having simple LED band indicators on my Belscort radar detectors. Some V1 fanatics even get the LED band indicators changed to different colors for each band. That is really cool.

-- Of course, the V1 does have those unique directional arrows since Valentine holds the patent for a radar detector with an integrated front and rear radar receiver.

-- The V1 does generally have the best raw Ka band sensitivity as well, yet it isn't without its flaws in detecting some Ka radar frequencies off-axis.

-- The V1 is very chatty in town due to false alerts from microwave door openers and intrusion alarm systems, but it is a superb radar detector for the road warrior who spends most of his or her time on interstates and long road trips.

On the other hand:

-- Belscort radar detectors have arguably the best filtering of false alerts caused by one or more pairs of microwave door openers. Note that (with the exception of the Bel STi and the Escort 9500i) this filtering applies to X band door openers. Bel has implemented a somewhat conservative filter for K band door openers in their STi, and Escort has implemented similar filtering plus speed based filtering within their 9500i. Thus these two RDs are quieter in town compared to the V1.

-- Bel's products, due to their deliberately engineered less intense audio ramp-up, are much nicer to use in the "family car" since the audio alerts are far less annoying to the passengers.

-- Currently the Belscort products in general come in at a fairly close second place with regards to detecting K band, but nothing comes close to the V1 when detecting X band.

-- Fairly recently manufactured Bel STi and Escort 9500i radar detectors (manufactured within the last 9 months or so) come in at a very close second place with regards to detecting Ka band radar.

Going for a cheap radar detector with fair to good performance?

-- Look at the cheaper Bel Vector models or Whistler's Pro-78. Don't even bother considering other brands, cheaper models, or other RD models than the Vectors or the Pro-78.

So overall, what do I think?

-- The V1 is arguably the best choice for the "road warrior" who spends most of his or her time in a car driving alone on long interstate travels.

-- Bel and Escort (Belscort as we call them) offer a variety of radar detector models to fit the budgets, needs and personal preferences of the rest of us who still want an extremely good yet more versatile radar detector.

-- Are you a younger driver? Young adults have higher metabolisms (compared to us older farts) which rapidly burn up their energy. As a result younger adults tend to suddenly get very tired and can much more easily fall asleep behind the wheel. Whistler's Pro-78 radar detector has a unique and patented Stay Alert feature which helps drivers to remain alert. This feature could very well save the life of a very tired younger driver -- and probably has.

Well, there you have it! Thats my reply to one of Jazzy's famous one liners.

--Michael

I think I will be going with the Pro 78 since Ka IO is the biggest threat to me.... for where I drive I don't need false alert filtering really(I memorized all of their locations) Oh and trust me, I have used stay alert before :D. The Pro 78 seems in all review I have read to offer decently reliable alerts, which is what I am interested in.

This was a very interesting test, and I hope GOL will continue to do IO tests like this, and perhaps detector reaction speed as well. Since there dosn't seem to be a cure to selective IO, it would be great to see more info out there.

Thanks GOL for all the hard work!

[erickonphoenix]

I think I will be going with the Pro 78 since Ka IO is the biggest threat to me.... for where I drive I don't need false alert filtering really(I memorized all of their locations)

If this is the case you should really put your money on a Valentine One.

[Ovencleaner]

I think I will be going with the Pro 78 since Ka IO is the biggest threat to me.... for where I drive I don't need false alert filtering really(I memorized all of their locations)

If this is the case you should really put your money on a Valentine One.

a V1 is not necessarily out of the question, its just im on my own trying to pay of college.. every dollar I save helps enormously.... I guess I should look at it as preventing my insurance from going up... But do I really need a V1 if I use a rabbit with a decent detector?

[crazyVOLVOrob]

But do I really need a V1 if I use a rabbit with a decent detector?Rabbit's with decent radar detectors are rare!!!!!

People owning decent radar detectors is rare. :lol:

[Ovencleaner]

But do I really need a V1 if I use a rabbit with a decent detector?Rabbit's with decent radar detectors are rare!!!!!

People owning decent radar detectors is rare. :lol:

hahaha, i meant IF I have a decent detector :P... the rabbit has a cobra!

[<<JAZZY>>]

a V1 is not necessarily out of the question, its just im on my own trying to pay of college.. every dollar I save helps enormously.... I guess I should look at it as preventing my insurance from going up... But do I really need a V1 if I use a rabbit with a decent detector?

You can buy a returned V1 for $359 plus S/H and sell it 4 years later on ebay for that same price so the price shouldn't be a factor.

The money you save because your V1 saved you when a lesser model couldn't save you is priceless.

[Z1NONLY]

I have another question..

The RD's that did alert, what type of alerts did they give?

Were they official "instant on" alerts, or just brief alerts for the given band at the given strength?

[jimbonzzz]

They gave regular radar alerts.
The detectors that have special "Instant-on or "Pulse" alerts technically can't tell if its instant-on or not, all they can do is give those warnings when the signal strength goes from nothing to immediate full strength. Since we were a mile away, the signal was weak so there were no IO or PULSE alerts.