V1 or 8500 X50? RETURNING MY 9500ix!

[jdong]

Another thing I wanted to ask you guys is if the V1 has multiple tones for different alerts. From the youtube videos I've been watching the V1 has the same single blurp alert for all bands, is this true?

No:

X-band has a higher pitched clean beeeep that converges to solid.

K-band has that burp alert, a more raspy tone, that converges to solid.

Ka is a rapid double-K-band beep that converges to solid.


In fact it kind of reminds me of what the X50 does on the standard, non-loud tones. I've had no difficulty recognizing the tones from each other; though youtube clips recorded with a digital camera's video mode and tiny microphone doesn't do it justice.



As far as versions, honestly in the past 3 years or so NOTHING has happened significantly in terms of updated V1's. Sure every 3 or 4 months a new minor version bump comes out, but there's really no significant difference. No performance changes or anything like that -- most likely just V1's internally switching parts suppliers to cut costs.


But should there be a major V1 update, you will have to send in the unit along with a modest fee (much less than the cost of the unit) to get it upgraded.

[brettzo]

After watching more youtube videos the tones seem very similar, if not exactly the same as the 8500 series.

I called V1 yesterday and tried to obtain a volume discount based on 3 units and they wouldn't budge...Escort gladly offered me a 5% discount and free hard wire mount kits for the 9500ix's that I had ordered a few weeks ago. Seems like the guys over at V1 are pretty stringent with any form of a discount. Maybe this is due to a superior product? One can only hope! My confidence in the V1 has increased substantially after hours of research. I will be placing the order today or tomorrow, although shipping to Canada is also incredibly high. After I purchase the external mute switch and display I will be sitting around what I paid for the 9500ix. I hope it's worth it!

Stay tuned...

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Hello all!

I recently started a thread under the Escort section regarding my bad experience with the 9500ix, which was a recent upgrade to my 8500 X50. Long story short, I hate the 9500ix so far, as the True Lock feature is terrible at detecting real threats when it's blocking a fake threat and the band sensitivity on both K and Ka band are proving to be far inferior than my X50, even on highway mode (full sensitivity).

So I will be returning the 9500ix next week and contemplating either another X50 or a V1. I've heard nothing but GREAT things about the V1, aside from the fact that there are a ton of false alarms. So here's my question, why would some say that there are a lot of false alarms on the V1 in comparison to any other non GPS detector out there?The V1 is the most sensitive radar detector in the dash mount group. Sensitivity leads to false alerts.
Can you not block X band? No you can turn off X-band or any band for that matter. Also you can enable something V1 calls K-band Automute, which will cut down on k-band falses

If so, does the V1 come with a mute button on the cigarette lighter adapter, like most Escort models? No you would need to buy a concealed mounted display to mount on the ciggerette lighter.

I have a hard time understanding why some would make it sound as though the V1 has more false alarms than any other detector, when the fact of the matter is any detector equipped with X and K bands will encounter the same false alarms. The only reason I could think of is not being able to block X band, or the lack of a conveniently placed mute button.Hope you can clarify my questions and point me in the right direction of my future detector.

The V1 is by far the best performing dashmount detector available and has the best detection ability which leads to more falses. The mute button stock is only on the detector.

Turn off X-band and enable 30 second K-band automute and mute the rear antenna to K-band when in 'l' or 'L' mode and the V1 is just as quiet as these other detectors



Personally I would keep the 9500ix and just turn off the autolearn feature and manually plug in the false spots

[jdong]

After watching more youtube videos the tones seem very similar, if not exactly the same as the 8500 series.

I called V1 yesterday and tried to obtain a volume discount based on 3 units and they wouldn't budge...Escort gladly offered me a 5% discount and free hard wire mount kits for the 9500ix's that I had ordered a few weeks ago. Seems like the guys over at V1 are pretty stringent with any form of a discount. Maybe this is due to a superior product? One can only hope! My confidence in the V1 has increased substantially after hours of research. I will be placing the order today or tomorrow, although shipping to Canada is also incredibly high. After I purchase the external mute switch and display I will be sitting around what I paid for the 9500ix. I hope it's worth it!

Stay tuned...

Oh the V1 doesn't give ANY group or volume discounts. The price you see is the price, no silly coupon codes, promotions, etc etc etc. If you want a V1 and have done all the research you needed, NOW is definitely as good as any other time to buy one without fear of some super deal popping up tomorrow.

And yeah, I found the 8500 and V1 to be virtual clones of each other when it came to tone style. The only difference is that the V1 actually has proper accurate ramp-up, as opposed to the M4 based X50's and 9500's, which try to do things like peg the alert bar artificially for IO, hold the alert tone for 5 seconds even for a quick IO shot, ... ...

The V1 does a much better job of accurately communicating to you exactly what's going on in the airwaves. It's then up to your job to interpret what is the threat and whether or not now's the right time to start slowing down.

[brettzo]

So the V1 arrived today. I have already tested the unit on the same photo radar unit that I had previously tried the 9500ix within in the exact same location. The detection distance is like night and day. The V1 alerts amazingly, more so than any detector I've ever used. I can say it's even a vast improvement to my old X50! I'm stunned as to the detection distance, especially on the low K band transmission from the photo radar unit.

The false alarms are apparent, however disabling X band and using the mute button, I think I will survive. The range on this thing is absolutely unparralled and I wouldn't give it up for another X50. The arrows are an amazing tool as well. Being able to accurately track where signals are coming from is very handy and helps distinguish true alerts to false.

Conclusion...I LOVE THE V1! I will be heading out on a highway trip on Friday and can't wait to see if I can pick up some laser.

[jdong]

Yeah, the sensitivity both in raw detection distance and the ability to see things off the side of the road is definitely very significantly noticeable between the V1 and other detectors. It tends to make the V1 chattier but you can also pretty easily discern the difference between false and real alerts.

IMO the point of the RD for me is to make me aware of the radar signals around me, and I'd take the chatty V1 over a quieter detector any day. Of course each driver will have a different taste regarding this.

[left4dead]

Besides the top-notch detection range, bogey counter and directional arrows.....the V1 comes in a sturdy magnesium case made for REAL MEN and which protects the internal components of the unit.

Meanwhile the 9500ix comes in a 'girly' plastic case and many have reported problems with their "true-lock" feature. Detection range is not as good as the V1.....yet they still charge $100 MORE than the V1. Talk about highway robbery!

I've done EXTENSIVE research before I finaly purchased a RD. V1 hands down!

[brettzo]

Yeah, the sensitivity both in raw detection distance and the ability to see things off the side of the road is definitely very significantly noticeable between the V1 and other detectors. It tends to make the V1 chattier but you can also pretty easily discern the difference between false and real alerts.

IMO the point of the RD for me is to make me aware of the radar signals around me, and I'd take the chatty V1 over a quieter detector any day. Of course each driver will have a different taste regarding this.

I agree with you 100% I always like to know what frequencies are in the air at all time, aside from X band, it makes me that much more confident.

Going to the V1 from the 9500ix is a huge confidence booster. The X50 was pretty good and I truly was skeptical about the reviews I had read about the V1 thinking that there couldn't possibly be anything better out there. Well 5 min after plugging the V1 in I proceeded down the main street near my home and the device accurately picked up the K band photo radar unit with ease and at amazing distance. I wish I would have had it on video, my jaw literally dropped. It now feels as though I was missing out all of this time.

[brettzo]

Besides the top-notch detection range, bogey counter and directional arrows.....the V1 comes in a sturdy magnesium case made for REAL MEN and which protects the internal components of the unit.

Meanwhile the 9500ix comes in a 'girly' plastic case and many have reported problems with their "true-lock" feature. Detection range is not as good as the V1.....yet they still charge $100 MORE than the V1. Talk about highway robbery!

I've done EXTENSIVE research before I finaly purchased a RD. V1 hands down!

I agree, the V1 is a very solid design. Another thing that impressed the hell out of me was the window mount. The Escort products were always infamous for bouncing around on the window (one of the most irritating things in the World IMO). The V1 sits there perfectly with no movement and feels SOLID on the windshield. Huge improvement for me as well coming from the various evolution of Escort RD's.

[th3 factory freak]

I'll just add that I highly recommend a V1 carry case, hard wiring, concealing and making a kill switch.

V1 FTW!