new vs 15 year old V1

[chawski]

My current v1 is coming up on around 15 years old...it still works, has been tuned up by valentine, but its certainly showing its age. Im highly considering doing the swap for a new one, as I can get the newest one for under $300.

I have a few questions if you all wouldnt mind...

1) yes, i realize this is the valentine section, but how does the new v1 compare to the competition? Ive been nothing but pleased with my v1, but havnt bought a detector in quite some time, so I really havnt had much need to research the others.

2) If i go with v1 again (which i probably will), would I be better off waiting a few months, as rumors are of a new version coming out soon?

Thanks!

[Veil Guy]

My current v1 is coming up on around 15 years old...it still works, has been tuned up by valentine, but its certainly showing its age. Im highly considering doing the swap for a new one, as I can get the newest one for under $300.

I have a few questions if you all wouldnt mind...

1) yes, i realize this is the valentine section, but how does the new v1 compare to the competition? Ive been nothing but pleased with my v1, but havnt bought a detector in quite some time, so I really havnt had much need to research the others.

2) If i go with v1 again (which i probably will), would I be better off waiting a few months, as rumors are of a new version coming out soon?

Thanks!

I've got some vintage V1s myself.

Have you checked what it would cost to do an upgrade from them?

The new unit at $300 if that is the cost then I suppose you could get something for your older detector too to reduce the costs even more.

With respect to performance the new Redline EE is the top dog on Ka band so depending upon where you drive and what they use is good to know.

X and K prformances are closer between the two.

While the Redline dominates on Ka, the V1 absolutely owns laser.

And my feeling of late has been evolving on this matter. There is an increasing amount of new laser guns that are proving to be difficult to detect (and jam). As a consequence the V1's superior laser reception I am now valuing more than Ka.

Imagine a Ka band gun that any detector couldn't specifically detect. I feel that way about head new laser guns.

For that reason I would lean towards the V1. I am assuming you wouldn't need to be running them in Va/Dc. If that were the case the Redline would then be my choice.

Another fine detector I believe is Escort's SmartRadar.

Either unit coupled with something like Waze on your smartphone should be a winning combo.

VG

[chawski]

with the trade in from valentine1, its like 280 for a new one, so the price is certainly right. Given my V1 from long before it told you what band you are being hit with, i really am not entirely sure what the common band is here (louisville ky). I suspect laser is common, mainly bc I see officers obviously running a speed trap, but get no hit from my v1. On the other hand, I still get plenty of saves with it, so radar is definitely being used here.

I suppose I could sell it on craigslist and maybe get more than valentine will give me, but given the age, Id feel pretty cruddy selling a 15+ year old V1 for much more than about $100.

No use for Va/DC coverage. I dont really trust the VG2 'invisible" detectors anyway. never done or see any testing on it, but to me, its not worth getting confiscated and a fine

As far as the rumors of a new version, do you know anything about that?

Thanks!

[Veil Guy]

with the trade in from valentine1, its like 280 for a new one, so the price is certainly right. Given my V1 from long before it told you what band you are being hit with, i really am not entirely sure what the common band is here (louisville ky). I suspect laser is common, mainly bc I see officers obviously running a speed trap, but get no hit from my v1. On the other hand, I still get plenty of saves with it, so radar is definitely being used here.

I suppose I could sell it on craigslist and maybe get more than valentine will give me, but given the age, Id feel pretty cruddy selling a 15+ year old V1 for much more than about $100.

No use for Va/DC coverage. I dont really trust the VG2 'invisible" detectors anyway. never done or see any testing on it, but to me, its not worth getting confiscated and a fine

As far as the rumors of a new version, do you know anything about that?

Thanks!

VG2 invisibility was always a dubious capability. Spectre is the RDD to watch out in all of its releases. Escort and Beltronics have absolutely proven that they are not detectable by Spectre. Mr V. may have had his doubts about the possibility, but the wizards from Beltronics have done it. You can take that to the bank!

No. VR doesn't leak to my knowledge. At least I haven't caught any word on it. In fact, I just updated one of my older V1s to the latest V1C and I am baselining it as we speak.

VG

[chawski]

Several month follow up:
Picked up a smart radar to try. Saw an online deal for 179, free shipping and 45 day return, so I figured id give it a shot. Long story short, its going back.

(yes, I realize this is the valentine section, but figured people might like the read)

Things I liked:
-Ability to run with no screen
-good sensitivity.
-overall I feel like it works as well as any detector in that price range

Reasons its going back:
-"remote display" with RJ9 connector. I knew when I bought it the cable was very short, but I figured it wouldnt be an issue just picking up a longer rj9 extension cable. Well, it was. No one locally had one, not even a dedicated cable store around town. Not ebay, amazon, home depot, lowes, radio shack....the list goes on. Way more trouble than it was worth to try and find one. I eventually found one online from somewhere overseas but just said screw it. Theres no point in making a remote display if it has to be mounted within 8 inches of the detector. The selling point was that its more discrete, but mounting the display to your rear view is by no means discrete...anyone behind me can see it.
-Live plug - again, great idea, terrible execution. It uses a more standard rj11 plug, but its not interchangeable like the valentine one. The cable was too short. If you market a detector to be mounted high on your windshield near the rearview mirror, it would make sense that your included power cable could reach it. I wanted to have the mute button easily accessible, but due to the short plug, had to hardwire it which left me with no mute button other than the one on the detector. I wanted it hardwired anyway, but would be nice to have the mute button within easy reach.
-volume/mute - Not being able to use the live plug meant that muting it or changing the volume either had to be done with the phone app, or by finding the small button on the detector. I love how easy the v1 is to mute or lower volume in the city. With this detector, that meant i pretty much just shut it off around town.
-Escort Live! - great idea, but too power hungry on the phone. While plugged into my appradio 3 and using Appradio Unchained (Fantastic app!) I was losing about 1% per 20 minutes of use. For comparison, while running google maps, i get a constant charge. When not plugged into the headunit, I was still seeing significant power loss over short amounts of time. another problem is that it auto saves alerts from anyone else, which again, seems great in theory, poor in execution. If youre one the highway and it picks up any falses from an exit, it shows as an active radar on the app. I would be in "speed trap" zones my entire commute to work because of all the falses. I got to the point that I ignored it, which is completely opposite of what it should be helping with.


Once I get my refund for this, I think im gonna send the v1 back and get the newest upgrade. I wouldnt really consider myself a valentine fanboy, more so just what Ive always used and its what I know. I really like the arrows and Im just not ready to give them up. I know there are many other detectors out there that many will say are better or just as good as the valentine, but its what I like and i think im gonna stay there.

[radarrob]

My experience with v1's is the older ones Ive never had any rediculas false alerts.I borrowed a friends newer v1 with all up bells and whistles and still get false alerts more.I own a v1 ver 1.6 but does not detect 33.8,the best thing I did was send it in for a tune up and was happy ever since.

[Springs37923]

Several month follow up:
Picked up a smart radar to try. Saw an online deal for 179, free shipping and 45 day return, so I figured id give it a shot. Long story short, its going back.

(yes, I realize this is the valentine section, but figured people might like the read)

Things I liked:
-Ability to run with no screen
-good sensitivity.
-overall I feel like it works as well as any detector in that price range

Reasons its going back:
-"remote display" with RJ9 connector. I knew when I bought it the cable was very short, but I figured it wouldnt be an issue just picking up a longer rj9 extension cable. Well, it was. No one locally had one, not even a dedicated cable store around town. Not ebay, amazon, home depot, lowes, radio shack....the list goes on. Way more trouble than it was worth to try and find one. I eventually found one online from somewhere overseas but just said screw it. Theres no point in making a remote display if it has to be mounted within 8 inches of the detector. The selling point was that its more discrete, but mounting the display to your rear view is by no means discrete...anyone behind me can see it.
-Live plug - again, great idea, terrible execution. It uses a more standard rj11 plug, but its not interchangeable like the valentine one. The cable was too short. If you market a detector to be mounted high on your windshield near the rearview mirror, it would make sense that your included power cable could reach it. I wanted to have the mute button easily accessible, but due to the short plug, had to hardwire it which left me with no mute button other than the one on the detector. I wanted it hardwired anyway, but would be nice to have the mute button within easy reach.
-volume/mute - Not being able to use the live plug meant that muting it or changing the volume either had to be done with the phone app, or by finding the small button on the detector. I love how easy the v1 is to mute or lower volume in the city. With this detector, that meant i pretty much just shut it off around town.
-Escort Live! - great idea, but too power hungry on the phone. While plugged into my appradio 3 and using Appradio Unchained (Fantastic app!) I was losing about 1% per 20 minutes of use. For comparison, while running google maps, i get a constant charge. When not plugged into the headunit, I was still seeing significant power loss over short amounts of time. another problem is that it auto saves alerts from anyone else, which again, seems great in theory, poor in execution. If youre one the highway and it picks up any falses from an exit, it shows as an active radar on the app. I would be in "speed trap" zones my entire commute to work because of all the falses. I got to the point that I ignored it, which is completely opposite of what it should be helping with.


Once I get my refund for this, I think im gonna send the v1 back and get the newest upgrade. I wouldnt really consider myself a valentine fanboy, more so just what Ive always used and its what I know. I really like the arrows and Im just not ready to give them up. I know there are many other detectors out there that many will say are better or just as good as the valentine, but its what I like and i think im gonna stay there.

Wow.. What a bunch of nitpicking that can easily be fixed.. like extending the display cable.. It doesn't take a genius. You could take to any electronics tech and have them do it for less than $20. Also.. Buy a direct smart cord that has a mute button on it and hard wire it. Trivial problems solved. The smart radar is every bit as good on laser (with less falses) than a V1 and for $200 you get double the moneys worth in performance. It is no slouch in range and sensitivity. Also the built in bluetooth and escort live is a bonus. If a big bulky detector that resembles an artifact is what you really want, then go for it.

[radarrob]

Smart radar is a amazing detector for its size and performance.

[PointerCone]

Smart radar is a amazing detector for its size and performance.

and is NO longer made (unfortunately) There's some units out there for sale, mostly reconditioned ones for droid and ios. I prefer the IOS of anything ER Live!!

[CJR238]

Once I get my refund for this, I think im gonna send the v1 back and get the newest upgrade. I wouldnt really consider myself a valentine fanboy, more so just what Ive always used and its what I know. I really like the arrows and Im just not ready to give them up. I know there are many other detectors out there that many will say are better or just as good as the valentine, but its what I like and i think im gonna stay there.

Yup, the newest V1 in combination with YaV1 app blows pretty much anything out of the water. Only Better preforming RD is the RedLine, but you sacrifice a lot of quiet.