I like my Valentine One…

I like my Valentine One…
For close to two months I poured over forums and watched videos on YouTube. I still couldn’t make up my mind, so I ended up evaluating both the Redline and the Valentine One. I tried both out for thirty days, and ended up keeping the Valentine. Both units are extremely solid, however the Valentine One worked out better for me.
Truth be told I wish I could have kept both, but I plan on buying the Redline soon enough though. Not to run together of course! Initially I did make the n00b mistake of running them together, and I found the performance to about the same until I ran the Redline solo for about a week, and wow! The range blew me away! Like the example below, I picked up a highway patrol shooting CO radar from an intersection in the city 4 miles away

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9806/76468185.jpg

Personally, the extreme range wasn’t necessary for my driving habits, and what I found is that the Valentine One still puts down some impressive numbers as far as range is concerned(I’m seeing averages of 1 to 2 miles with a max alert of 11 miles) In this particular encounter, there is a K band speed sign(contrary to the Image) at the top of this hill that I picked up.
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8323/24588157.jpg


With that said, every situation I’ve experienced the Valentine One gave ample warning to slow down before I passed the source (They use a lot of 34.7 here, and some 35.5). In everyday driving, I even found the range to be almost on par with the Redline (run separately). As I said in the beginning, both are solid units.

So seeing how similar the performance could be, I decided to keep the Valentine. But OH the arrows! I can’t explain how infinitely helpful they can be. As I was driving through long stretches of desert, the highway patrols love to come up on you real fast from behind, and at night the value of the arrows really shine! (Pun intended). Granted, I realize once you get an alert and watch the signal strength meter on the Redline, you can slow down and wait until the source disappears. But I feel the arrows are just more helpful than a signal strength meter, especially at night.

The over-the-hill and around-the-off-axis performance on the Redline is very good. I thought the performance of the Valentines was sufficient for my needs. I also like the size and weight of the Valentine; the Redline feels SUPER heavy and over all felt larger.

The Valentine seems to false more than the Redline, and the Automute on the Redline make the falses less irritating. I have X Off, POP off and KA guard on, and mine doesn’t false intolerably when driving in the city. I did try the 30 second K band Automute, and I didn’t like it (It was sure quiet though) so I went back to factory and just run it in logic mode. Having X off gets rid of an infinite amount of falses. And from my perspective, I don’t think the Valentine falses as much as most might think. So with that said, I couldn’t justify spending an extra 100 bucks, plus another $30 or so for a hard wire kit for the Redline.

HUGE PLUS TO Valentine Research for INCLUDING the hard wire kit with the Valentine One at no additional cost! Now, if I could have got a hard wire kit with the Redline I was trying out, instead of a silly super-cup and another smart cord, that would have been cool!

Some gripes…I don’t like the mount, Its really cumbersome and the little ridged part on the top continuously gets scratched every time I remove it(I’m going to build a custom mount out of the sun visor mount though). And VR customer service feels lack luster. Other than those two things, I really like it.

Anyways, if anyone is trying to decide, feel free to PM me and i'll help anyway I can. Many thanks to the members who gave me their perspective on these two units...

You made the right choice! Nonetheless, great write up and your descriptions are entirely true!

nice write-up

I like the V-1s windshield mount. It is by far the best 'stock' mount out there, ever

But, for a permanent install, using a visor 'mount'(not on the visor itself) would certainly be an improvement in both discretion(visibility from prying eyes) and keeping it in the shade on sunny days

I bought the V1 and Redline at the same time and ran them together. The Redline rarely beat the V1. Usually about dead even. Except the Redline.e was silent on an IO or QT. Could uave been interference but I didn't want to use only one if I had them both. I sold the redline cus I like the V1 better.

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Originally Posted by OldGoat

nice write-up

I like the V-1s windshield mount. It is by far the best 'stock' mount out there, ever

But, for a permanent install, using a visor 'mount'(not on the visor itself) would certainly be an improvement in both discretion(visibility from prying eyes) and keeping it in the shade on sunny days

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Originally Posted by atticuss187

You made the right choice! Nonetheless, great write up and your descriptions are entirely true!

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Thanks. I dabble...I do enjoy writing though:D

I am planning on posting a write-up of my custom mount(once built)I found a nifty plate that adheres to the windshield(I think it uses 3M double-sided something or other) It has two screws in the plate originally meant to attach to the smaller mount on Escorts. Here is a picture from the Clublexus.com forum:
http://www.clublexus.com/gallery/data/500/radar2.JPG

I was going to use that, then angle a piece of metal from the plate screwed to the top of the visor mount. This way, I can slide my unit in and out of the visor mount without damaging the top or worrying about suction cups. The suctions cups though, are quite good IMO...

I never leave mine in the windshield and it typically comes in the house at the end of the day.

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Originally Posted by radarhunter

I never leave mine in the windshield and it typically comes in the house at the end of the day.

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That's what I like to hear. The force has taught you well ;). This guy I work with leaves his V1 out in his car all day. Up here in MA it's been about 90-100 degrees these past two weeks with like 85% humidity. I told him that the heat ruins not only his RD but all electronics, yet he still continues to leave his V1 hanging in the windshield being eaten up by the sun. I just want to brake into his car at take it. Leaving your V1 in your windshield during the summer is like seeing a lost puppy with a broken leg limping on the side of the road...you just want to take good care of it.

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Originally Posted by atticuss187

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Originally Posted by radarhunter

I never leave mine in the windshield and it typically comes in the house at the end of the day.

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That's what I like to hear. The force has taught you well ;). This guy I work with leaves his V1 out in his car all day. Up here in MA it's been about 90-100 degrees these past two weeks with like 85% humidity. I told him that the heat ruins not only his RD but all electronics, yet he still continues to leave his V1 hanging in the windshield being eaten up by the sun. I just want to brake into his car at take it. Leaving your V1 in your windshield during the summer is like seeing a lost puppy with a broken leg limping on the side of the road...you just want to take good care of it.

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Yikes! Poor V1 :( You'd think that someone who spent $400 or $500 on a RD would want to take better care of it...

It's true though, the sun bakes them and it's a awful shame to see them that way. I baby mine :)

The other reason I don't leave mine in the windshield is that I simply don't trust people. I would hate to walk out to my car and see a smashed window and my V1 gone...that would be a bad day...

Great review. Glad you tried them both and found the right detector for you, you made a smart choice.

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Originally Posted by radarhunter

And VR customer service feels lack luster.

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Agreed. IMO they aren't terrible, but they could do a better job (much like Escort). They are selling super premium products which should have super premium service. Neither delivers as I would hope them to.

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Originally Posted by radarhunter

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Originally Posted by OldGoat

nice write-up

I like the V-1s windshield mount. It is by far the best 'stock' mount out there, ever

But, for a permanent install, using a visor 'mount'(not on the visor itself) would certainly be an improvement in both discretion(visibility from prying eyes) and keeping it in the shade on sunny days

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by atticuss187

You made the right choice! Nonetheless, great write up and your descriptions are entirely true!

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Thanks. I dabble...I do enjoy writing though:D

I am planning on posting a write-up of my custom mount(once built)I found a nifty plate that adheres to the windshield(I think it uses 3M double-sided something or other) It has two screws in the plate originally meant to attach to the smaller mount on Escorts. Here is a picture from the Clublexus.com forum:
http://www.clublexus.com/gallery/data/500/radar2.JPG

I was going to use that, then angle a piece of metal from the plate screwed to the top of the visor mount. This way, I can slide my unit in and out of the visor mount without damaging the top or worrying about suction cups. The suctions cups though, are quite good IMO...

I never leave mine in the windshield and it typically comes in the house at the end of the day.

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Where can I find that mount?

PM Sent :)

Good write up.I personally don't see you going wrong with either detectors.

Instead of posting a new thread, I thought I would just update this one...I still like my Valentine One. I've been using it for quite awhile now and I have had some seriously awesome encounters outlined below:

This one below just, wow. I was exiting the freeway and I picked up Ka alert. I thought it could be a LEO sitting on the freeway in front of me(The exit also goes straight to an on ramp) however to my suprise as I rounded the corner I could see several LEOs parked on the opposite side of the road with someone stopped.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1199/55538933.png

There is a video for this encounter on my YouTube channel. PM for the link.

This street I think is just good for radar?? I was driving down this street and picked up a weak Ka alert, so I kept driving and it got stronger and I got to the intersection getting ready to turn right, still waiting(Still holding to the same signal at this point, 1 bogey). I still didn't see anything about 10 to 15 seconds AFTER I arrived at the intersection(Still waiting to turn right) I saw the LEO running CO KA heading south. Pretty impressive off-axis performance.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/2301/92568303.png

Same street and intersection. I was heading down this road, and got a semi-strong Ka signal, and I got the intersection and saw the LEO sitting on the south end of the intersection at a light going north.

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/3619/74245953.png


All in all. For the value to performance ratio, my 3.872 is HOT! I'm excited to upgrade to 3.891 at some point...Oh KA, guard was ON in all these encounters. VR makes a serious product.