My Review: Redline versus V1

[Escort_Redline]

I originally started using the Redline for about 4 months. I then sold it for a V1 (3.872 latest version).

I have had the V1 for 3 months now.

V1 Pros
Mounts nicely on windshield and pretty sleek.
Arrows
Power cable
Light weight
Great range on ALL bands

Cons
Not enough modern functions and customizable options
Windshield mount
False alerts to K band and Ka band (when Ka guard off)
Feels "cheap" on construction

Redline Pros
Windshield suction cup
Very modern design and display
Many customizable options (tone, brightness, sounds, display, battery voltage, etc.)
Built with durable material
Great range on ALL bands
False alert technology

Cons
"Big" to mount on a windshield
False alerts to "POP"

Common positives
Great range on all bands. Both are high end radar detectors.

If I were to do it all over again, which one would I pick??
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.
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...
.......
...........Valentine One.

However, I really miss the Redline. (If I didn't already sell it, I would have kept it and not get the V1).
I do mostly highway long distance driving, and I feel a bit more confident with the Valentine V1.

[icantdrive55]

Cheap on construction? I think it feels like a "tank". Solid.

[OldGoat]

Hallelujah !!

An Epiphany

[oh yeah, nice review]

[AirMoore]

Nice review... Escort came really, really close with the Redline IMO... just aren't there yet with the all-around V1 performance...

Then again, the more I think about it:


The V1 is a true enthusiasts detector developed years ago... first and foremost for the true enthusiast, the Redline is a true mass-market detector first and foremost (as with all Escorts products)... and they were both developed with that in mind. Those two facts combined seem to me (IMHO) to be the reason why many users on here simply have a hard time ditching the V1, or at least not having one on back-up.

[Escort_Redline]

I use the V1 now without having any performance doubts. It will more likely sound off to a frequency alert sooner than another detector would.

When I also did a comparison test, the V1 3.872 always went off 1sec quicker than the Redline. However, let's wait to see what the experts say when they test the two officially (GOL).

[snoopyc4]

Cheap on construction? I think it feels like a "tank". Solid.

X2 What exactly about the V1 makes you feel it has cheap construction? Just curious.

[nine_c1]

Nice review... Escort came really, really close with the Redline IMO... just aren't there yet with the all-around V1 performance...

Then again, the more I think about it:


The V1 is a true enthusiasts detector developed years ago... first and foremost for the true enthusiast, the Redline is a true mass-market detector first and foremost (as with all Escorts products)... and they were both developed with that in mind. Those two facts combined seem to me (IMHO) to be the reason why many users on here simply have a hard time ditching the V1, or at least not having one on back-up.

You got that right.

The V1 was designed and marketed by an engineer. The RedLine was obviously designed by an engineer as well.........but the design parameters were mucked up by marketing geeks looking for mass appeal (the mass being uneducated of course).

We usually hammer on Escort though for improvements we desire. What about Valentine?

I'd like to see the old man take it to the next level by boosting the Ka performance up to M3 territory. Add in a form of spec mode (or a basic 33.8, 34.7 or 35.5 identifier) and improve reaction times just a tadd more on 34.7 and 35.5 (without having to turn off guard) and your very close to the summit for the hard core contingent. Scrap the Logic modes and give us back the simple Highway/City filtering modes to cut down on X & K falsing in town. In fact, give us two city modes (uptown and downtown) to allow the user to really dial back in the heavy metro areas. It still works better than GPS when your traveling in unfamiliar territory.

One other thing! Both manufacturers need improvement here, the internal diags are insufficient on both brands. A V1, RedLine, 9500ci..........ect. ect.........can completely die on you today or run with seriously degraded performance without notifying the user! This is bad news for the user who usually only figures it out after weeks of poor performance.........in which time you could get nailed. While each brand supposedly runs internal tests, we see alot of legitimate complaints about detectors going dead on one band or another without alerting the user. NEED IMPROVEMENT HERE!

[CJR238]

One other thing! Both manufacturers need improvement here, the internal diags are insufficient on both brands. A V1, RedLine, 9500ci..........ect. ect.........can completely die on you today or run with seriously degraded performance without notifying the user! This is bad news for the user who usually only figures it out after weeks of poor performance.........in which time you could get nailed. While each brand supposedly runs internal tests, we see alot of legitimate complaints about detectors going dead on one band or another without alerting the user. NEED IMPROVEMENT HERE!

Escorts notify the user in a few ways, but as anything in life anything can go wrong. And that's why i run 3 RD's.

[Cips]

Nice review... Escort came really, really close with the Redline IMO... just aren't there yet with the all-around V1 performance...

Then again, the more I think about it:


The V1 is a true enthusiasts detector developed years ago... first and foremost for the true enthusiast, the Redline is a true mass-market detector first and foremost (as with all Escorts products)... and they were both developed with that in mind. Those two facts combined seem to me (IMHO) to be the reason why many users on here simply have a hard time ditching the V1, or at least not having one on back-up.

You got that right.

The V1 was designed and marketed by an engineer. The RedLine was obviously designed by an engineer as well.........but the design parameters were mucked up by marketing geeks looking for mass appeal (the mass being uneducated of course).

We usually hammer on Escort though for improvements we desire. What about Valentine?

I'd like to see the old man take it to the next level by boosting the Ka performance up to M3 territory. Add in a form of spec mode (or a basic 33.8, 34.7 or 35.5 identifier) and improve reaction times just a tadd more on 34.7 and 35.5 (without having to turn off guard) and your very close to the summit for the hard core contingent. Scrap the Logic modes and give us back the simple Highway/City filtering modes to cut down on X & K falsing in town. In fact, give us two city modes (uptown and downtown) to allow the user to really dial back in the heavy metro areas. It still works better than GPS when your traveling in unfamiliar territory.

One other thing! Both manufacturers need improvement here, the internal diags are insufficient on both brands. A V1, RedLine, 9500ci..........ect. ect.........can completely die on you today or run with seriously degraded performance without notifying the user! This is bad news for the user who usually only figures it out after weeks of poor performance.........in which time you could get nailed. While each brand supposedly runs internal tests, we see alot of legitimate complaints about detectors going dead on one band or another without alerting the user. NEED IMPROVEMENT HERE!

No! Keep the programming the way it is and ADD X band Automuting. That's about as customizable you can get for city/highway modes.

[brianric]

[quote=nine_c1;744329]

One other thing! Both manufacturers need improvement here, the internal diags are insufficient on both brands. A V1, RedLine, 9500ci..........ect. ect.........can completely die on you today or run with seriously degraded performance without notifying the user! This is bad news for the user who usually only figures it out after weeks of poor performance.........in which time you could get nailed. While each brand supposedly runs internal tests, we see alot of legitimate complaints about detectors going dead on one band or another without alerting the user. NEED IMPROVEMENT HERE!

The V1 does let you know if you run through an area known to set off the detector, and suddenly you find it quiet. My V1 just went in for repairs for that very reason.