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  1. #1
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    55

    Question The good, the better, the best?

    Through a strange set of events, I have recently acquired three different radar detectors Don't ask - bad timing and communication for a birthday, my wife, daughter, and an impulsive purchase.

    So I'm doing some informal testing of each of them and reading lots of reviews, since I don't need three but would like to keep two of them. One will be used in a car and one on a motorcycle. Both vehicles are driven similarly - highway commuting, thruway driving, and backroad rides to our lake house.

    I have a Valentine 1 (v1.7), Passport 8500 (blue), and Beltronics RX65. I'm writing this post to ask for comments and feedback on these units and ask the pro's, experts, and everyone more familiar with radar detectors than I (which is probably everyone on this messge board) about these models. I'm in New York so I have no legal concerns about using a radar detector.

    I'd love to hear from you all about the strengths and weaknesses of each of these radar detectors. And, if you had to choose two, which ones would you keep. Or, alternatively, would you return all three and buy something entirely different. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

  2. #2
    Old Timer
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    6,806

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    What are the revision #s on the 8500 (is it an X50?) and the RX65? You can find this on both by pressing the mute, city, and dim buttons all at once while turning the unit on. Note that this will reset things back to factory defaults so if you changed any settings they'll have to be re-done.

    What's your #1 threat in your area? Ka? K? Laser?

    At first hunch I'd say keep the V1 and 8500, but if the RX65 is a rev 4.5 and Ka is a bigger threat than K, keep the RX65 instead of the 8500 (X50)
    If I'm passing you on the right, YOU are in the wrong lane!

    If speed kills, how come I'm still alive?

    Active Countermeasures: V1 3.858, Escort Redline, Beltronics STi-R+, LI Dual 7.1x CPU/8.7 Heads (front)
    Other/Backup Countermeasures: V1 3.813 (loaned to friend), Beltronics Pro RX65 M4 6.3
    Vehicle: 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
    LEO Toys: Kustom Pro Laser II & III
    Encounters/Saves August 2011: Radar 3/1, Laser 0/0


  3. #3
    Speed Demon
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    527

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    V1, but be prepared to hear it often. Went from it to a 9500ix and haven't looked back. Had a x50 between the two but GPS capabilities is the way to go. If V1 ever comes out with GPS it will own all others. IMO But like kpatz said, know your area's main threats and your driving habits. The V1 is no fun in the city.

  4. #4
    Newcomer
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    Sep 2007
    Location
    New York
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    55

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    The 8500 is an X50 and the RX65 is v4.5. The biggest threat in my area is Ka.

  5. #5
    Old Timer
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
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    6,806

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    Is the X50 a Rev 5 or a 6.x?

    The X50 Rev 5 OWNS K band, but the RX65 4.5 OWNS Ka. If Ka's the bigger threat, you'll probably want to keep that one.

    Why not keep all 3? Look at my avatar, I have basically the same RDs, well, the V1 is a 1.8 and the RX65 is a 6.3, and I found one of my old junkers in the shed recently, so now I'm up to 4. Or use one for a week, then another, and another, and decide which ones work best for you.

    Do you have more than one car? Keep one detector in each car, then have one more as a play toy/backup.
    Last edited by kpatz; 04-30-2009 at 07:17 PM.
    If I'm passing you on the right, YOU are in the wrong lane!

    If speed kills, how come I'm still alive?

    Active Countermeasures: V1 3.858, Escort Redline, Beltronics STi-R+, LI Dual 7.1x CPU/8.7 Heads (front)
    Other/Backup Countermeasures: V1 3.813 (loaned to friend), Beltronics Pro RX65 M4 6.3
    Vehicle: 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
    LEO Toys: Kustom Pro Laser II & III
    Encounters/Saves August 2011: Radar 3/1, Laser 0/0


  6. #6
    Good Citizen
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    95

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    V1....just picked one up today!

  7. #7
    Professional
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    west coast of the ___American Corporatocracy___ X-band is alive-deadly-expensive
    Posts
    1,267

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    o.k. - I'll play the fanatic . . .


    Sell one of the Belscorts and use the money to upgrade the V-1

    current technology at an 'upgrade' price

    now THAT's an ass-kickin' move . . .

    you'll never look back

  8. #8
    Speed Demon
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    712

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    I have to say V1 and just make KA more responsive (which just means ramp up is not linear).

  9. #9
    Newcomer
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    New York
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    55

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    Sorry, I goofed. The 8500 is NOT an X50. It's just an 8500 apparently because it does not say 'X50' on top of it. So, is this the pecking order for Ka?

    RX65 > V1 > 8500

    How inferior is the 8500 compared to the V1 and RX65 for Ka and Laser detection?

  10. #10
    Old Timer
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Great Lakes
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    6,538

    Default Re: The good, the better, the best?

    Depends on if the Escort "original" 8500 is a Rev 13 or Rev 15? I have a Rev 15. To check your revision #, while it's plugged in and powered up unplug it. With one hand hold both buttons on the top and the mute button at the same time and w/ the other hand plug in the 8500 and then you can find out the revision #.

 

 

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