Thinking of getting one around Christmas
I've done a lot of research over the past few months and have decided it'll be time to get a top of the line detector. I'm pretty sure I'll go for a V1. Here's some of my questions and concerns:
1. How easy is it to program?
1a. How easy is it to turn X band on and off? I live in NY and go to NJ once or twice a year.
2. I've noticed some threads people say real threats were junked out. Were the people still notified in proper time? Do they plan on addressing this in the near future?
3. How does the upgrade program work?
4. Are the noise tones distinguishable between X/K/Ka/Laser? The detector I use now I can easily tell right away if I have to hit the brakes or keep on going. I don't look at the detector at all (I keep my eyes on the road and I look to see where the cop is). Will I be satisfied in that sense with a V1?
The one I have now has voice warning too, but I ignore it. I hear beep beep beep K band beep beep beep... the first beep I hear, I already know whether or not to slow down... I've memorized the sounds and don't wait till I hear "K band" because that takes up valuable time.
5. When I am ready around Christmas time, should I wait for a new upgrade of the V1 or buy one?
Thanks!
Re: Thinking of getting one around Christmas
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Originally Posted by computersoc
1. How easy is it to program?
1a. How easy is it to turn X band on and off? I live in NY and go to NJ once or twice a year.
You'll need the owner's manual or a cheat sheet printed off the website to program the V1. It's not nearly as easy as the Belscorts.
Turning X on and off is the easiest, as it is the first option (1) in the programming menu. Hold button in while turning V1 on, hold it for 5 seconds until display lights. Press button, firmware rev will flash in display. Press button again, 1 will display, with either an up arrow (X on) or down arrow (X off). Hold the button to switch X on or off (arrow will change). Turn V1 off and back on. You're all set.
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2. I've noticed some threads people say real threats were junked out. Were the people still notified in proper time? Do they plan on addressing this in the near future?
This is less of a problem in the latest firmware than in earlier versions, but it still happens sometimes. The simple solution is to consider all Ka band alerts to be real threats, regardless if they are junked out or not (when an alert is junked out, you'll get the alert, and then you'll get the "J" afterward).
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3. How does the upgrade program work?
When VR offers new features, you can send your V1 in for a fee and have it upgraded to the latest technology. Look at the "Upgrades" section of their website for more details.
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4. Are the noise tones distinguishable between X/K/Ka/Laser? The detector I use now I can easily tell right away if I have to hit the brakes or keep on going. I don't look at the detector at all (I keep my eyes on the road and I look to see where the cop is). Will I be satisfied in that sense with a V1?
I find the tones pretty easy to distinguish, as long as I don't have the radio up too loud. X and K are the classic "beep" and "brap" sounds that have been used since the 80s on the original Escorts. Ka is a double brap (brap-brap), and laser causes a European siren type sound that you can't miss. The other sounds to become familiar with are the bogey-lock sound ("dee-deet" followed by a band sound, "dee-deet brap" means new K bogey for example), and the Junk sound (dee-dah-doh). A good way to become familiar with the sounds is to drive into a parking lot with a lot of door openers.
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5. When I am ready around Christmas time, should I wait for a new upgrade of the V1 or buy one?
That's up to you. Stay tuned here, if any updates are likely to be around the corner, chances are you'll hear about them here.
