Greetings from Columbus, OH

[jdoublep]

Greetings. My name is Jon, I am 25 years old and work for Honda of America Mfg. Inc.

I currently use an old, pathetic Cobra ESD-9110 which was a replacement for an ancient Escort model that I cannot even think of because of its age. The Cobra has an okay range and is decent for city driving, but falses all the time and does not do crap on the hwy.

Since starting my job with Honda back in the summer of 2008, my drive time has increased to 2 hours a day, is 90% hwy driving and has me going through two known speed traps. I go to work at 3:00pm and generally can spots the local fuzz in the day light, but sometimes cannot see diddly on my way home at 1am. There are also places on the drive where the fuzz like to sit in-between the wall and zap people.

I am looking for a good unit under 450 dollars that has strong range and sensitivity, but is low on falses. I could care less about red light cameras as there are none where I currently live. I have been looking at various Escort models as well as the Valentine 1. I have always thought the V1 to be the gold standard in range and sensitivity, but I hear it falses all the time in the city, it's costly, and somewhat dated from what I have been reading on the web and watching on YouTube.

For mounting purposes, I drive a 98 Acura CL 2.3P.

So, I have to admit, I am pretty dang confused as to what will be the best fit for my driving habits. From what I read, the V1 and Escort models tend to be the top two choices. As mentioned, I have read just about everything I can find and have watched countless YouTube videos on these dang things.

I am ticket free, but wanna make sure I stay that way as I drive more and more. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

[snoopyc4]

Go with the Valentine One. You stated 90% of your driving is on the highway. The V1 is the best RD for highway driving. It does false a lot in the city but since most of your driving is on the highway and you don't care about RLC alerts, you should go with the V1. Also, the V1 is NOT outdated and is still the gold standard in my opinion.

[QuickTrigger]

Welcome to the forum. I currently live in texas but did an internship this summer at AEP columbus ohio. i lived somewhere around gahanna 670 and 270. my daily commute was a lot around those 2 freeways. From what i can tell you. They are both laser and instant on territory. I have seen more laser up there than i do in texas. And those cops are insane with it. the valentine one is excellent but will no radar detector can protect you from laser. I couldnt afford a jammer back then. So i used my valentine, trapster on gps+ phone, cb radio and never got out without a rabbit. i dont speed as much in the city, so the V1 was perfect for me.

The cb radio was very useful, a lot of truckers drive around those 2 freeways. The v1 did an excellent job sniffing out the instant on traps. i had a cobra back then and sold it as soon as i got to columbus. Got the V1 and didnt look back. The v1 does false a lot but gave me the best situational awareness. once you get used to it, you can differentiate falses based on the arrows, sounds, ramp up, boogey counter.......

Ohio is known to still have x band. In the 3 months i lived there, i never had a chance to come across and x band.

I would also suggest looking at the escort 8500 refurb on fleebay and look around to see if you can bag a deal on the m27 jammers. .........

V1 is def a gold choice when it comes to using it up at columbus ohio....

[jdoublep]

I have seen many videos of the V1 in action and its range appears to be outstanding. I just cannot stand the sound and can imagine it in the parking lots just like my damn Cobra.

I do do some city driving, but unless my job changes, most of my driving is hwy.

Most of the videos I have watched are against K and KA which are the most common here. However, the troopers sometimes also use X. How fast the V1 against X or would there be any difference?

The cops here also Instant On a lot. A real lot.

Thank you much.

Anyone else have any suggestions (preferably Escort)?

[v1user]

Most of the videos I have watched are against K and KA which are the most common here. However, the troopers sometimes also use X. How fast the V1 against X or would there be any difference? Very fast.

The cops here also Instant On a lot. A real lot. If the instant on shots are less than a second the escort won't pick them up. If instant on is used a lot I recommend you use a rabbit even with the V1. I've only been beaten 3 times with I/O in the past year but still I use a rabbit for going more than 15+ on certain roads. That means waiting for a car that is moving at the speed you want to and following him so that he takes the bait.

Thank you much.

Anyone else have any suggestions (preferably Escort)Redline, 9500ix and 8500?

Red.

[jdoublep]

Thanks for the info, QuickTrigger. You beat me to posting.

Yes, I still occasionally see X band being used and there are a lot of Instant Ons where I live in Westerville. The city of Dublin is notorious for using laser especially where 270 meets US 33 towards Marysville, the road I go to work on.

How hard are the M27 jammers to install. I have installed intakes, radios, speakers, etc., but I hear those jammers can be hell to install. All my Honda experience is door construction and paint.

Thanks again.

BTW, love your avatar. I used to play NFS3:HP all the time. Still one of my favorite racing games and I have the soundtrack burned to disc. Great driving music.

[jdoublep]

Thanks, v1user.

Yeah, I try to use a rabbit as much as possible.

[QuickTrigger]

Thanks for the info, QuickTrigger. You beat me to posting.

Yes, I still occasionally see X band being used and there are a lot of Instant Ons where I live in Westerville. The city of Dublin is notorious for using laser especially where 270 meets US 33 towards Marysville, the road I go to work on.

How hard are the M27 jammers to install. I have installed intakes, radios, speakers, etc., but I hear those jammers can be hell to install. All my Honda experience is door construction and paint.

Thanks again.

BTW, love your avatar. I used to play NFS3:HP all the time. Still one of my favorite racing games and I have the soundtrack burned to disc. Great driving music.

I would highly recommend a jammer. i do not think the jammers are that hard to install. the only problem i could see is to mount the jammers and get the wires through the firewall......I have known people with no prior experience, not having a problem installing it. But if you do not want to take the risk, i would find some place that would install it. If your already shedding out so much money why not a 150 more to get it professionally installed. the whole idea is to save you money in the long run.

If you are not planning on adding the jammers, i would get the V1, since most of your driving is on the highway. if your are getting the jammers then i would still consider getting the V1 (quicktrigger/instant on).....since columbus rarely uses has constant on traps.
call me a zombie....

The NFS3 is def one of my fav games. nothing like gaming on a 50" lcd with surround sound.......

[Rebmemmurof]

A friend of mine recently got an aircraft ticket, on 70 just west of Columbus. Be careful if you're out that way.

[AirbnDoc]

Hey, my name is Mike, also from Columbus, OH...I have an escort passport 9500ix...I love it. I also have the ZR4 shifter installed...the detector learns the falses pretty quickly and the shifter has saved my but on 270 several times already from all the laser guns they have out there in Ohio now. I plan on getting Veil G4 to put on my plates and lights soon. I am reading a lot of good things about the Blinder M47 x-treme laser jammer...no first hand knowledge on this product though.

Over all...I love my escort 9500ix would recommend it to everyone.