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  1. #1
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    7

    Default Question about my first radar detector

    Hello,

    I am looking into getting my first radar detector and am looking for the best one to suit me. My brother and a friend of mine both have the V1...and I've heard tons of great stuff about them...but I want to make sure I get the most useful for me and not the one with the most hype.

    I have searched on google for answers, and it seems every site ranks these units in different order: some put the 9500 on top, others the STi, and still others the V1. This makes it terribly difficult to make a decision since I have virtually no knowledge on this topic.

    In reference to me: My budget is $550 and under for the detector...I haven't thought much about laser jammers due to the cost of the two pieces together, but if they are really that useful, then I would seriously consider one along with the RD. I lightly speed through the city, but very minimally...I've never received a ticket, and this unit would be geared more towards my highway driving (I-90/I-71/I-77/I-271) (typically right around 7-15 over). I drive in Cleveland, Ohio, along with some other rural cities nearby. Cleveland has a series of radar guns that I know of, but the rural towns I drive through do not. I drive a 2003 Cobra.

    In summary, the main uses for this detector is for highway/interstate driving, as I rarely speed through the city for safety reasons...but I do like to get where I'm going quickly, especially the common 4 hours drives on I-71 for when I go to visit my girlfriend.

    Anyways, I read the article for newbies, and this is what I gathered I needed to answer. Thanks for any kinds of help you can offer.
    Last edited by satyr; 02-01-2009 at 07:45 PM.

  2. #2
    Speedtrap Crasher
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    6,732

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    General rule of thumb is:

    Rural interstates: Go Valentine 1
    Urban areas: Go Escort 9500(x)
    States with detector bans: Go Bel STi or Escort 9500ci
    Project "BONES" Speed Lab:
    Valentine One, Blinder M47 "All Front Configuration"
    Pro97 Police Scanner
    1 Saves / 3 Strikes as of 8/22/2009
    Estimated saves in U.S. Dollars: $200

  3. #3
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    Thanks for the response.
    Is there anything in particular that makes the V1 better than the others on the interstate? I know that when my friend had his in my car when we made the 4 hour drive, it was setting off on false alarms quite a bit...which got a bit aggravating through Columbus.

    Also, how useful is radarteset.com as far as rating systems? The only reason I ask is that, after reading this article RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most respected authority., I really had a lot of questions regarding the greatness of the V1.

    Thanks

  4. #4
    Speedtrap Crasher
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston, TX
    Posts
    6,732

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    Quote Originally Posted by satyr View Post
    Thanks for the response.
    Is there anything in particular that makes the V1 better than the others on the interstate? I know that when my friend had his in my car when we made the 4 hour drive, it was setting off on false alarms quite a bit...which got a bit aggravating through Columbus.

    Also, how useful is radarteset.com as far as rating systems? The only reason I ask is that, after reading this article RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most respected authority., I really had a lot of questions regarding the greatness of the V1.

    Thanks
    The V1 edges out the Escort in highway sensitivity and of course the arrows are Valentines proprietary technology and priceless at radar locating. Once you have them it's impossible to think of life without them. But of course the V1 is noisy and "falses" a lot.

    I can't comment on any radar detector testing sites, that's a matter for other members to discuss but the V1, Escort and Bel are the big three for a reason.

    I can't comment on radar testing sites.
    Project "BONES" Speed Lab:
    Valentine One, Blinder M47 "All Front Configuration"
    Pro97 Police Scanner
    1 Saves / 3 Strikes as of 8/22/2009
    Estimated saves in U.S. Dollars: $200

  5. #5
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    Understandable.
    Thank you for your help. Through reading around the site, I did pick up that the escort/bell and V1 seem to be the big ones (bell and escort have since paired, right?).

    I will wait for other members to chime in and make my decision off that.

    Thanks again.

  6. #6
    Rocket Driver
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    GA
    Posts
    8,717

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    If you don't have X band and turn pop off on the V1, run it in little "L" mode with K band auto mute, the V1 is surprisingly quiet.
    Valentine One (3.858 Ice Cream Truck, 3.812 in Vette)
    4 Head LI (On Vette) (7.11 CPU Regular heads front, HP Heads on the rear)
    9500ci (On Vette)

    LI Quad (On Ice Cream Truck)

    LI Dual (On SRX, 7.06 CPU)

    ProLaser II, ProLaser III, Stalker LZ-1, LTI Marksman & Laser Atlanta "R" (looking for an Ultralyte LRB)

    2008 Corvette Z-51 Coupe

    Escort 9500 ix (Cadillac SRX)

  7. #7
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    7

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    Pardon my ignorance, but i'm not real sure what you mean.
    I know those are different bands of detection, but I'm not sure what's used around here, so i don't know if turning any of them off would be a good idea.

    but you would know more than me...

  8. #8
    Experienced
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    233

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    you live in ohio....dont turn off X band

  9. #9
    Speed Demon
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Dacula, GA
    Posts
    517

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    Quote Originally Posted by satyr View Post
    Pardon my ignorance, but i'm not real sure what you mean.
    I know those are different bands of detection, but I'm not sure what's used around here, so i don't know if turning any of them off would be a good idea.

    but you would know more than me...
    Go with the V1 right out of the box.

    If you find you're getting too many falses, read the manual on how to tune those out, but I would leave it in stock configuration. The one alert you miss will end up being the only ticket you get.

  10. #10
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Question about my first radar detector

    So the V1 really does offer the best all-around protection against radar/lasers?

 

 

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