Bel 985 Users

[GTO_04]

I bought 2 of these about 1-2 years ago from Costco. This is a very good radar detector. It compares very favorably to my V1 3.851. However, I only picked up 1 verified laser alert in the 6 months or so that I was using it. It wouldn't suprise me to see this detector do very well in any testing environment. I bet its almost as good as the V1 in picking up KA. I'm not sure about K band. Usually would run that RD with the X band in City mode.

X2! The 985 is outstanding! Very close to V1 on K and Ka band. V1 does have a faster response time though. I prefer to run it in highway mode. I do not recommend Autoscan mode. In urban areas, CityX works very well.

GTO_04

[Event Horizon]

so this is discontinued eh.. 2 bad. Only used available?

[vw242]

Here are the SML tests for 2003 where it detected Ka POP and V1 did not 8)
http://www.speedtraps.co.il/valentin.../speedzone.htm

Other info that might be useful

Detector Immediacy of Response Time
Bel Vector 995 .60 second
Bel RX 65 .67 second
Whistler ( all models) .73 second
Bel 895 .77 second
Passport X50 .96 second
Valentine One 1.01 second
Cobra ( both models) 1.24 second
PNI Steel Eye 1.48 second
Radio Shack 3000 2.34 second

[ELVATO]

So why'd they discontinue it. Too good? I might try to find one someone. My sis is going to need one when she gets a car :P

[<<JAZZY>>]

Here are the SML tests for 2003 where it detected Ka POP and V1 did not 8)
http://www.speedtraps.co.il/valentin.../speedzone.htm

Other info that might be useful

Detector Immediacy of Response Time
Bel Vector 995 .60 second
Bel RX 65 .67 second
Whistler ( all models) .73 second
Bel 895 .77 second
Passport X50 .96 second
Valentine One 1.01 second
Cobra ( both models) 1.24 second
PNI Steel Eye 1.48 second
Radio Shack 3000 2.34 second

It's too bad that SML's POP test has been unreliable year after year because the V1 detected K and Ka POP that year but SML didn't see it that way.

Also, that "immediacy of response" test was done using a stopwatch which is seriously flawed because of human error. It has already been seen in actual testing on video that the V1 is the quickest (faster than Bels and Escorts) to respond to quick pulls of the radar trigger.

[Hessen]

So who has used this detector and how does it stack up today?

I've got one in "Mint" condition.............. :wink:

It's a great RD, but laser detection sucks, IMHO the STI is a better RD.

8)

[KnightHawk]

My buddy brought his like new vector 985 last night and did a test run with it over the hill test. It only got 0.2 miles with 35.5. Lag behind the X50,V1 and 9500i.

[ES13Raven]

Also, that "immediacy of response" test was done using a stopwatch which is seriously flawed because of human error.

Yeah, but if you think about it - so are all the detector distance tests that everyone runs including GOL.

Think about it - if the car is moving and the detector alerts, they stop the car and put down a cone to mark the distance and measure it with a lidar gun. Did they stop in the exact location that the detector alerted? Probably not but its pretty close.

There is human error in all tests, but if you get an average (which GOL does) then you get better results.

SML should have done several "immediacy of response" runs to show an average.

[KnightHawk]

Also, that "immediacy of response" test was done using a stopwatch which is seriously flawed because of human error.

Yeah, but if you think about it - so are all the detector distance tests that everyone runs including GOL.

Think about it - if the car is moving and the detector alerts, they stop the car and put down a cone to mark the distance and measure it with a lidar gun. Did they stop in the exact location that the detector alerted? Probably not but its pretty close.

There is human error in all tests, but if you get an average (which GOL does) then you get better results.

SML should have done several "immediacy of response" runs to show an average.

Wait until you see the video when i did the test with the 9500i and V1. Check my post at the escort forum.

[GTO_04]

My buddy brought his like new vector 985 last night and did a test run with it over the hill test. It only got 0.2 miles with 35.5. Lag behind the X50,V1 and 9500i.

What range did the V1 get in that test? My 985 has been very close to the V1 in most of my 34.7 Ka testing. But the V1 is better at detecting instant on hits. Not that the BEL is bad though. Maybe my 985 is juiced. Very interesting. Now at 33.8 there is a bigger gap between the V1 and the BEL. My V1 seems to have a sweet spot at 33.8 GHz.

Also, IMHO when you run the 985 it should be in Highway Mode. Range is severely reduced in Autoscan mode. City X would be OK in urban areas, much better than Autoscan.

GTO_04