Two BEL Vectors (LR & STi) Only one is 100% working

**Panther37** · 02-19-2007, 08:50 PM

I have a Vector LR (970) and a Vector STi (not the Driver) that I haven't used since 2004. The LR has a bad speaker that I was going to take from the STi. While verifying that the speaker is open (8,000 Ohms when it's marked 32 Ohms) the display would read "?LO3 CAL" about half of the time, regardless if I had anything hooked up to the speaker or not. It used to do this only when it was baked in the sun. When I was testing the unit it was only maybe 70°F and around dusk.
First, should I send it in to BEL, have it re-calibrated and replace the speaker? Basically, are the newer detectors that much better? When I was really using it I could tell just from the frequency in tech mode if it was a cop or not.
Second, I'll be traveling from West Texas to East Florida next month. I'm guessing that the STi should be pretty decent still on the highway, right?

I know I'm a n00b to this board so I appreciate and responses and/or links.

**proudNMAmember** · 02-20-2007, 02:46 PM

I will say personally that the Bel Vector LR 970 is by far the best Beltronics rd I have "ever" used. I would love to get my hands on one of those again.

**carboncopy** · 02-22-2007, 06:29 AM

I've read the 970LR and 980 were great RD's. Wasn't the 970LR hand tuned? I called Bel the other day to ask them about my 966w and it seems like they listed the 970LR as one they would repair. I'd like to see how the 970LR and 980 compare to the top 4 RD's of today.

**6inline** · 02-22-2007, 07:01 AM

If it says ?LO3 CALL all the time - even after restart - it is unrepairable. This is what Beltronics said to me...they seem to be unable to repair their own products - simply because this was serious problem. If in warranty - they should replace it like for like though

**GTO_04** · 02-23-2007, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by carboncopy

I've read the 970LR and 980 were great RD's. Wasn't the 970LR hand tuned? I called Bel the other day to ask them about my 966w and it seems like they listed the 970LR as one they would repair. I'd like to see how the 970LR and 980 compare to the top 4 RD's of today.

You would be surprised how good the 970/980/985 are! GOL did test a 985 in one of their 2005 tests. It did very good, but not as good as the V1. My 985 is very close to the V1 in range so maybe mine is a factory freak. I was going to trade the 985 on a 995 just to have the latest and greatest, but changed my mind when the 985 outperformed the 995.

GTO_04

**<<JAZZY>>** · 02-24-2007, 05:55 AM

The 980 did pretty well at the 2000 SML test.

**GTO_04** · 02-24-2007, 12:43 PM

I see the 980 had a two year warranty standard. I don't recall if any of the newer ones have a two year warranty without paying extra.

Where did you find that page from SML? It's interesting to go back and look at the older tests.

I had a 980 too and it was very good. I traded it on my 985 which is very good but really the 980 was just as good.

GTO_04