return refurb 8500 for v1?

Well, while the 14 days to return it are about over, i wonder if i should return it and get a v1. While theirs nothing wrong with the unit, and works as expected. Im kind of tempted by the arrows because when i get a signal i just tend to look around for where it might be coming from. Maybe im just not used to having a rd. I wonder if the 200$ difference is really worth it. Maybe im just wanting whats "better" for some people, but i don't know. Does the hardwire kit for escort with the mute button work with a v1?

Yes. The V1 will blow the refurb away. Also, not only are you getting better detection range, but you are also getting the arrows. All that is worth more than $200 IMO.

YES! Get the V1, its worth it I'm not positive about the hardware, but I doubt there is any compatibility between the two units.

BUY THE VALENTINE, YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT. AND YOU WILL HAVE A NEW LOVE FOR RADAR DETECTORS. WAIT EXCUSE ME, RADAR LOCATOR! :Banane42:

I have the refurbed 8500, and a new V1. There have been a few occasions where the 8500 was close to the V1 in alerting. But I can honestly say I normally chose the V1 when I drive. There's nothing wrong with the 8500, but I just feel safer with the V1.

I had the V1 alert to a K band speed sign anywhere from 16-20 seconds before my 8500 alerted. There was a little off axis involved on the interstate, but I was still pretty amazed. I went back by the speed sign a few times to verify because I thought this can't be right. But it was.

As far as the arrows are concerned, it's worth it imo. I don't know how many times I've had a LEO get in behind me at night and start running radar. There's no way my 8500 would've picked up the radar as early as the V1 did. By the time the 8500 would've alerted I likely would've been busted. jmo

Plus with the V1, you get a bogey counter. To tell you how many radar sources are around you. This has also saved me from getting a ticket. Sneaky LEO's sitting by a local CVS, & Walgreens.

Once you get used to having the V1 you will like it better than the 8500, I have driven with both detectors and after you get used to the arrows/rear antenna you will wonder how you drove with a detector without them. Grab ya a V1 and Get er Done!!

Yes get the V1!

it's good you tried the 8500 first

drive the same route(s) with a V-1 and what had been a 'tap in the ear' will now be an 'image'

hopefully i can get a returned one for 350!! If so i'm ordering today, if they still will return my 8500. There's a lot of things i still don't understand about the v1, which is an argument for the simplicity of the 8500, but I can read a manual. :D

Things i dont understand:
1: Bogey counter
2: K automute
3: Ka guard
4: All the letters for programming (big L, a, etc, but if i get one ill prob figure it out)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by sweetlou122

Things i dont understand:
1: Bogey counter amount of radar sources seen by V1.
2: K automute Timed muting of K band only.
3: Ka guard setting to guard against falsing.
4: All the letters for programming (big L, a, etc, but if i get one ill prob figure it out) nothing to figure out, it makes no sense. But it is useful for some. Just keep the notes for it close by.

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Good luck with that... :p

Once you get it read the manual front to back and make a new thread with your questions so we can answer your questions better, and according to your needs and experiences with it.

lol @ v1 modes

Does anyone know if v1 is going to release a new version soon? I figure getting one new will be the best bet currently 3.872 or whatever. When you run the serial #, you only see the version 1.7, 1.8 etc, is it possible to find the software or no?

1. Bogey Counter

This is a digit on the display indicating the number of individual radar sources detected. Some V1's (like mine) have "ghosting" issues, where they detect more sources than are really there on strong hits. You'll presumably get a 3.872, which has supposedly fixed the ghosting issue more or less.

This feature works very well with speed signs. If an officer's hiding behind the radar sign, you'll pick up two sources instead of one, and the ruse is defeated.

2. K automute

Just sets the detector to mute K-band for a certain amount of time or below a certain signal strength before alerting to it. Useful for city driving, where you don't need to be aware of every CVS you pass, but if a police office is shooting I/O K-band 250 feet ahead of you, you need to know.

3. Ka guard

Designed to protect against false alerts by "junking out" Ka-band hits that the V1 believes are coming from Crapras, RMRs, and the ilk.

4. Letters for programming

Don't think of them as letters, think of them as individual dip switches you can use to turn certain features on and off. That's all they are. Each letter corresponds to a programming option (which are very well-detailed on VR's site), and your choice of up or down turns the option on or off.

RTFM definitely applies here. Valentine makes a much better manual than most brands do. I drove with an X50 before getting my V1. The X50 served me very well over the course of 3 years or so, and I still have it as a backup, but the V1 has better range and sensitivity (although the X50 falsed a bit less), and once you've driven with the arrows, you'll have a hard time going without.

Edit to add: if you're buying a brand-new V1, you'll be getting 3.872. When you enter programming mode, the software version displays in the bogey counter.