Bel 985 Users

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03-14-2007, 07:50 PM
happya$$

Bel 985 Users

So who has used this detector and how does it stack up today?
03-14-2007, 08:30 PM
KnightHawk

Re: Bel 985 Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by happya$$

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

Happy, are you giving a hint? :wink:
03-14-2007, 09:04 PM
Event Horizon

so whats up with the "digital" rd marketing? Hows it different than.. um i guess "analog" rds?
03-15-2007, 11:25 AM
vw242

I have this in several ver #. All seem to work about the same. Great. Too many features to list, invert display, wide/narrow Ka, band defeat, voice, etc... The City All mode is outstanding. Goes for about $110 used.

Bel Vector 985

Serial # Version

A185xxx V5.3

B024xxx V5.3

B025xxx V5.4

B068xxx V5.5

C006xxx V5.6
03-15-2007, 02:33 PM
ELVATO

So it has a USA mode of sorts?
03-15-2007, 04:14 PM
vw242

Of sorts. :!: The actual term is AccuSweep. City All is by far the best feature. It gives a short initial alert(audio and visual) to X,K or Ka and then goes quiet (visual remains) unitl a threshold is met. Go here for the manual http://www.beltronics.com/manuals/v985manual.pdf
03-15-2007, 04:50 PM
drochebs

BEL 985

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.
03-15-2007, 05:27 PM
vw242

If I remember correctly, the Bel Vector 985 has a wider FOV than the RX65 when I tested it with JTW's laser tester. I don't think it has the V1's range but may have it beat in response time. :wink:
03-15-2007, 06:03 PM
passlabs

v985

I have two of them one in wifes car, and one in my car. Both give plenty of warning and feel no reason to get rid of them. Although i will say one of them is from the pre fcc id era, and seems to have slightly more range.
03-15-2007, 07:08 PM
vw242

Press the Aud and Brt buttons while powering up to see version. 5.6 is the most recent.
03-15-2007, 07:11 PM
GTO_04

Re: BEL 985

Quote:

Originally Posted by drochebs

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
03-15-2007, 08:24 PM
Event Horizon

so this is discontinued eh.. 2 bad. Only used available?
03-15-2007, 09:03 PM
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
03-15-2007, 09:15 PM
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
03-16-2007, 06:49 AM
<<JAZZY>>

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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.
03-16-2007, 09:29 AM
Hessen

Re: Bel 985 Users

Quote:

Originally Posted by happya$$

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)
03-22-2007, 06:09 AM
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.
03-22-2007, 09:01 AM
ES13Raven

Quote:

Originally Posted by <<JAZZY>>

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.
03-22-2007, 09:39 AM
KnightHawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by ES13Raven

Quote:

Originally Posted by <<JAZZY>>

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.
03-23-2007, 09:46 PM
GTO_04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azonehits

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
03-24-2007, 01:00 PM
KnightHawk

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO_04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azonehits

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

It was in highway mode. The V1 got 0.3 mile and was neck to neck with my X50 using my golden eagle Ka 35.5.
03-24-2007, 03:07 PM
Event Horizon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azonehits

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO_04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azonehits

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

It was in highway mode. The V1 got 0.3 mile and was neck to neck with my X50 using my golden eagle Ka 35.5.

i think that the STi is top performer on 35.5
03-24-2007, 04:41 PM
GTO_04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azonehits

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO_04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azonehits

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

It was in highway mode. The V1 got 0.3 mile and was neck to neck with my X50 using my golden eagle Ka 35.5.

OK, that makes. I have never tested my 985 against V1 on 35.5, just 34.7 and K band. 985 has about 100 ft. less range than V1(1.7) on 34.7 GHz on a 2 mile test road with a few small hills.

GTO_04