Looking for a new RD

[malibuboats91]

in the past I have had two cobra radar detectors and a escort 8500. Now I am looking to replace it. I have always wanted a V1 but after researching, I'm afraid that the V1 is going to be too sensitive. Back when I had the cobras I didn't really mind the false alarms but how will the number of false alarms on the V1 compare to a POS cobra? And to my 8500? I have been reading more and more good things about the 9500ix and am pretty close to buying one but they are $100 more than a V1. I don't think I really need all its bells and whistles. I mostly do city driving but drive 120 miles every weekend to my parents cottage and will be doing more highway driving when I go to college in september.

[Akosikojak]

I would recommend the V1 esp since you mentioned you will be doing allot of highway driving. Since you also mentioned you have a Escort 8500 (which is a good RD) I would keep the Escort for city duty & go w/the V1 for highway driving and save yourself the $100.

The V1 is a "chatty" RD which is why most will recommend it for Highway use only instead of city.
ONe thing is for sure once you start driving w/a V1 you will really like it for it's performance & it's arrows which are a huge bonus all by itself.

[txautofan]

I would recommend the V1 esp since you mentioned you will be doing allot of highway driving. Since you also mentioned you have a Escort 8500 (which is a good RD) I would keep the Escort for city duty & go w/the V1 for highway driving and save yourself the $100.

The V1 is a "chatty" RD which is why most will recommend it for Highway use only instead of city.
ONe thing is for sure once you start driving w/a V1 you will really like it for it's performance & it's arrows which are a huge bonus all by itself.

I agree. I have an 9500ix and a V1. I use the 9500ix for the city and V1 for the highway (usually in my wife's car). The V1 drives me crazy in the city, always falsing, with often 7-8 bogeys from retail strip centers. That won't be an issue on the open highway and the arrows are useful.

The 9500ix is very quiet, once it learns and locks out falses, both on city street and freeway driving. When you get an alert, it will be a real threat. The reported "lockout" issues are rare and I've never encountered tem in over a year of using it. I go by strip centers all the time that have falses locked out, but always get the K and Ka band alerts from any LEO in the same areas.

Happy hunting.

[malibuboats91]

Thanks for the help! The only thing is....I sold on 8500! I got $200 for it from a guy on Craigslist. So the question comes back.. V1 or 9500ix?

[txautofan]

Thanks for the help! The only thing is....I sold on 8500! I got $200 for it from a guy on Craigslist. So the question comes back.. V1 or 9500ix?

1. For your purposes (and for most people's daily city commute), the 9500ix is likely a better overall choice. Other than driving to your parent's cottage, you are driving mostly in the city. The 9500ix has comparable sensitivety to the 8500 X50, and is plenty sensitive for highway driving.

2. Try them both and see which you prefer. You can purchase the 9500ix from Jeff (GreenRadar) at RadarBusters and the V1 from Valentine's website. I believe they both have 30 day return policies (confirm with Jeff on 9500ix). You can keep the one you prefer and return the other for a refund. However, to give the V1 a fair shake in the city, program it for "big L mode" and turn off POP and X band. That will help reduce falses. Mike Valentine explains how to program it on the V1 website under technical info (it's not in the product brochure).

[milkman]

The V1's Arrows and Ramp-up are something to Enjoy.

[Trumpet2]

I like the arrows. I know the direction of my source and that alone makes the V1 worth a little chatter.

[<<JAZZY>>]

Get a V1 and don't look back. Turn off POP and X band if not in use in your area and learn how to program the K band muting.

[malibuboats91]

What exactly is POP? I'm pretty much sold on the V1 for the price and sensitivity. I sat down this morning and weighed out the pros and cons of each detector. In the end I decided I can save $100 for a better detector. Now I'm waiting for a returned V1 to come in so I get the discounted price. I think I made the best decision. I don't think the falses will bother me too much.

[ddd269]

What exactly is POP? I'm pretty much sold on the V1 for the price and sensitivity. I sat down this morning and weighed out the pros and cons of each detector. In the end I decided I can save $100 for a better detector. Now I'm waiting for a returned V1 to come in so I get the discounted price. I think I made the best decision. I don't think the falses will bother me too much.

What do you mean by "returned V1" and the related discount?

[malibuboats91]

What exactly is POP? I'm pretty much sold on the V1 for the price and sensitivity. I sat down this morning and weighed out the pros and cons of each detector. In the end I decided I can save $100 for a better detector. Now I'm waiting for a returned V1 to come in so I get the discounted price. I think I made the best decision. I don't think the falses will bother me too much.

What do you mean by "returned V1" and the related discount?

People return V1's and then valentine checks them out and resells them for 10% off.

[ddd269]

What exactly is POP? I'm pretty much sold on the V1 for the price and sensitivity. I sat down this morning and weighed out the pros and cons of each detector. In the end I decided I can save $100 for a better detector. Now I'm waiting for a returned V1 to come in so I get the discounted price. I think I made the best decision. I don't think the falses will bother me too much.

What do you mean by "returned V1" and the related discount?

People return V1's and then valentine checks them out and resells them for 10% off.

Ah... thanks.

[Bourbon]

My V1 gets here tomorrow, and I'll be comparing it to a 9500ix I just returned (before I had to keep it). I simply figured that since my driving is nearly all highway, I'd go for the cheaper V1 and buy some whiskey and new underwear with the $100 I saved.

Still, the 9500ix is a great piece, and if for some reason I don't like the V1, I'll get another 9500ix. The blue lights, GPS, and sexy electronic voice make it a fun detector. On my daily commute (which I rarely deviate from), there's nothing to make me get a false detection, so the GPS was kind of a non-feature. I hope I immediately turn into a V1 zombie upon delivery tomorrow, but we'll see....

[mujjuman]

What exactly is POP? I'm pretty much sold on the V1 for the price and sensitivity. I sat down this morning and weighed out the pros and cons of each detector. In the end I decided I can save $100 for a better detector. Now I'm waiting for a returned V1 to come in so I get the discounted price. I think I made the best decision. I don't think the falses will bother me too much.

What do you mean by "returned V1" and the related discount?

People return V1's and then valentine checks them out and resells them for 10% off.

Ah... thanks.

It's like $40 off... so you pay $360 vs $400
Not huge savings in my opinion.

[Bourbon]

It's like $40 off... so you pay $360 vs $400
Not huge savings in my opinion.Not to sound like the fiscal nerd of the bunch, but I'd call 10% a substantial saving. Little things add up to big things over time. $40 off the detector would be the equivalent of buying it at full price and getting the concealed display for free.

[ddd269]

It's like $40 off... so you pay $360 vs $400
Not huge savings in my opinion.Not to sound like the fiscal nerd of the bunch, but I'd call 10% a substantial saving. Little things add up to big things over time. $40 off the detector would be the equivalent of buying it at full price and getting the concealed display for free.

:D If you put it that way... Ok, it's a good deal.
I'm thinking that the returns are tested before being sent out.

[Bourbon]

I'm thinking that the returns are tested before being sent out.I'd be very surprised to learn that they're not in perfect working order, same as new. I'm only speculating and basing it off what I know of other companies, but since they have a 30 return I'm sure most are the units that got sent back to them for whatever reason the original buyer didn't like it (meaning nothing more than personal preference usually).

If I'm not mistaken, by law they can't sell returns as "new", so it's possible that it's more cost effective for them to sell them at 10&#37; off retail than it is to do what's necessary to make it into a brand new unit.

[malibuboats91]

After a long drive today, I decided to order a V1! I'm pretty excited to get it.

[Bourbon]

After a long drive today, I decided to order a V1! I'm pretty excited to get it.Sounds crazy, but since I'm still in evaluation mode with my V1, I'm hoping I run into several LEOs over the next few weeks. I won't lie: The arrows and bogey counter are much cooler than I was expecting.

[malibuboats91]

Where should I mount it in my vw passat when it comes? I have 15% tint on the top of my windshield. I had my 8500 to the right of my rearview mirror and about an inch down from the headliner.

[malibuboats91]

??

[Bourbon]

Where should I mount it in my vw passat when it comes? I have 15% tint on the top of my windshield. I had my 8500 to the right of my rearview mirror and about an inch down from the headliner.It's been pointed out that non-metallic tint won't effect detection.

[malibuboats91]

What about mounting location?

[Woodscolby]

What about mounting location?

Mount as high as you possibly can above the rearview mirror. Make sure it is as straight and level as possible.

[malibuboats91]

okay. Then can I just find a open spot for a fuse that is on the key and stick the wire in there for hardwiring it?

[malibuboats91]

The V1 came today!!

[malibuboats91]

So I got my V1 today. I installed it using the hardwire located just to the right of my mirror just below my aftermarket tint. So I have a few questions. 1) What mode should I be running it on in the city? 2) What mode should I use on the highway? 3) How do I make it so I have less falses in the city?

[spartcus]

Congrats on your new V1, man I should get me one but I want a jammer first.

[ddd269]

I just ordered a V1 also... I hope I made the right choice. I'm overseas so I don't have a choice in returning it.

Quick question on the Remote Audio unit. Does the volume/mute turn on/off the V1? Does it work just like in the V1 knob or just adjusts the volumes and change modes?

[malibuboats91]

So I got my V1 today. I installed it using the hardwire located just to the right of my mirror just below my aftermarket tint. So I have a few questions. 1) What mode should I be running it on in the city? 2) What mode should I use on the highway? 3) How do I make it so I have less falses in the city?

ANYONE????????????

[<<JAZZY>>]

So I got my V1 today. I installed it using the hardwire located just to the right of my mirror just below my aftermarket tint. So I have a few questions. 1) What mode should I be running it on in the city? 2) What mode should I use on the highway? 3) How do I make it so I have less falses in the city?

ANYONE????????????

When you first get your V1, don't change any settings, leave it in "A" mode. Drive with it and understand how it feels and what to expect from it. See if there is any X band in your area, if there isn't, disable X band. Turn POP radar off because it is probably not used either.

Search this forum to learn about the K band muting settings. If you are on the highway or interstate, leave it in "A" mode. If you are in the city, use the little "l" setting so that you can still see or hear the K band alerts. If you really want super muting, put it in big "L" mode...I would never use this mode because I fear quick trigger and instant-on radar would own me.

The V1 is a very simple detector that will impress you with its capabilities.

[malibuboats91]

So when I go on the highway, do I turn x and pop back on?

[spartcus]

So when I go on the highway, do I turn x and pop back on?

Only if you know that it's not use in your area but pop you can leave off. I will check to see if they use x first, what area do you live it?

[malibuboats91]

I live in Wausau, Wisconsin. Thanks for the help!

[malibuboats91]

So it was my first drive on the highway with the V1. With it being a holiday weekend, there were a lot of cops out. On my drive up to our cottage picked up 5 cops running Ka at around a mile away. It was great! I was expexting a little more range but I'm thinking the hilly roads didn't help much. Just for safety sake I turned on the x and pop settings for the highway. Does anyone know if I need to turn those back on for driving in other cities within Wisconsin? I live in central Wisconsin.