Busted...so I'm here...

[Drexx3]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum, obviously, but my arrival was the end result of research online for where to find good, solid information and opinions on radar detectors.

I want one now, rather I need one now. I live in Southeast Florida, in Palm Beach County. I moved here about 4 years ago. For the past 22+ years I have been ticket free. I bought a new car last October (nothing too fancy, a 2011 Hyundai Sonata) and 10 days later got a ticket. Was on 441 south of Palmetto taking my wife to get her car from service work at the dealership and a PBSO motorcycle cop got me with laser. He said it was 61 in a 45 and he showed me the display. Due to my courteousness he wrote me up for 54 in a 45 (citation indicates "ULTRALYTE LR B #UX016205".) I hired a lawyer and got off just paying the fine (and their fee). Didn't have to use my once-every-twelve-months "go to school - get out of points" card.

It's a good thing...unfortunately.

Driving home from a friends house a few nights ago in Boca Raton city, about 9:30pm, my wife and I were driving to pick up her car to head home (we work close and drove together) (note to self: next time I'm driving my wife to get her car, she drives). Anyway, I wasn't entirely familiar with where I was and had the GPS set to get me back to work which is near where her car was. She says "Hey you can just go straight here then [blah] [blah]" as an alternate route. I decided to do that all the while my GPS recalculating and suggesting I return to my original route, I should have listened (hindsight is 20/20).

On a road known as Spanish River Blvd there's a bridge that takes it over I-95 near the Boca Raton airport. The road apparently drops to 30 when crossing the bridge. Just as I crest the bridge, gazing out my driver side window to see what I can of 95, my wife says "Is that a cop right there?" As I turn to look in front of us and subsequently, gently apply the brakes his headlights turn on.

(In this location the road goes from four lanes, turns into this two-lane bridge and afterwards expands back to a four-lane road separated by a grassy, curbed median. The cruiser was in the triangular, orange striped hazard area in front of the median, facing me). My turn is coming up not long after the road splits so I signal and change to the right lane. I notice he's behind me. I get into the turn lane, make the turn, then it is like Christmas behind me (again ). He barely approached my window, kind of like leaned up to it. Introduced himself and the BRPD then said he got me doing 51 in a 30. (The radar listed on the citation says "GENESIS RADAR (#03309)", BTW).

The conversation was brief, he barely even glanced at my registration, didn't ask for proof of insurance, took my license back to his cruiser, and within 3 minutes came back with a citation, told me my three options (pay the fine, take the class, go to court) and handed it and my license to me. Before I could even get my license back in my wallet I was watching him tear off, do a u-turn and head back to what was obviously a lucrative spot.

So here I am and that's my story. Since my last citation was less than 12 months ago the attorney I used last time said they "don't see a problem getting no points, but we can't guarantee it". I'm stuck trying to decide between the attorney again or just taking the class to get the guaranteed no points. My gut is telling me to do the class.

I've been driving the speed limit everywhere for the last three days and everyone is passing me, even the old people! (There was another post where someone said the same thing.) It is crazy! I did the same thing after my last citation but eventually began to drive faster again.

Aside from driving slower, I've decided to purchase a radar detector. I'm stuck deciding between the 9500ix and the V1. Most of my driving is city, but there are highway trips to Orlando, the Keys, the west coast of Florida, etc.

Since I'm dealing with both radar and laser based on my research I'm leaning towards the V1, but since 85% of my driving it city driving I feel the 9500ix may be the ticket (poor choice of words there.)

I'm looking at the LI as well and will possibly eventually add it, but right now the budget only allows for the RD.

So I'm appealing to the experts on this board for comments and suggestions about the RD that should work best for my situation given what you know from the above.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

[Frenzy]

V1 is chatty, but as you go you'll learn. This spot creates 3 bogeys, hey today I have 4, watch my speed. X-Band off will quiet it down.

It is super fast on I/O, if that is a threat.

[comno6]

I use a V1, but have experience with a 9500ix. I personally prefer the V1. It has super fast reaction, better sensitivity, and the arrows. The 9500ix isn't as quick, lacks the arrows and doesn't have V1's bogey counter (it does have expert mode, but this is hard to see). It doesn't have the sensitivity the V1 does.

However....

As Frenzy said, the V1 is a chatty detector. The 9500ix is super quiet, and doesn't involve nearly as much interaction as the V1. It is kind of a set-and-forget thing, whereas with the V1, you have to be paying more attention to its alerts. The V1 will false a lot more than the 9500ix.

So its up to you what you want. If you want a quiet detector, with good sensitivity, and a speedcam GPS data base, then go with the 9500ix. On the other hand if you want a RD with better sensitivity, directional arrows, and the bogey counter, then go with the V1. It all comes down to preference. They are both good detectors.

[RadarGoat]

I'm looking at the LI as well and will possibly eventually add it, but right now the budget only allows for the RD.

.

L I is an excellent choice. Even though LIDAR is highly effective if you are the target, and NO Radar Detector will save you. V1 has the better chance of detecting scatter as opposed to the 9500ix. I have had a couple of saves due to the vehicle ahead of me being targeted and the V1 alerted.

[904nm]

I've been driving the speed limit everywhere for the last three days and everyone is passing me, even the old people! (There was another post where someone said the same thing.) It is crazy! I did the same thing after my last citation but eventually began to drive faster again...

I feel your pain. A couple years ago I was in that exact position. However, I did have a RD when I got my last two tickets. I also got enough warning both times to have avoided the tickets. However, my RD was so chatty that I started to get desensitized to the warnings. Eventually my brain tuned out the warnings at the wrong time.

So I ended up buying a 9500ix. I love it around town. After a couple months using the 9500ix it has memorized and blocked all the false sources. When I drive around in the city it is silent. Just pure golden silence or Pandora streaming my music without annoying beeps.

However, on the freeway I've always had an uneasy feeling with the 9500ix. I tend to cruise at 30 over the PSL when traffic permits. At 95 it would really suck to get a ticket. The 9500ix is not good at picking up short pulses of radar. So if you are on the highway, with light traffic, and the LEO is just doing short bursts of radar, I don't think the 9500ix will pick it up to give you the warning you need. I also hate not knowing if the LEO is ahead or behind me, or if more than one is present.

So, this week I picked up a V1. I love it on the highway! No x band here so I have that turned off. I'm very intolerant to any noise or rattles in my cars. The V1 is pretty quiet and doesn't bother me on the highway. However, in town even with X off, it is frequently beeping. If I turn off K band then it is fine. I still need to research if they use K band anymore here. If not, I plan to turn off K. I've only had the V1 a few days now and I love it too, but probably would get sick of it if I had to use it in the city on a regular basis. I have fondly named my V1 Chicken Little and my 9500ix Helen Keller. Helen is so much easier to live with in the city but a bit blind to trust on the highway.

Finally, I also got the Blinders M47 for laser protection. I would not speed if I did not have laser protection, period. If my budget allowed I think I would have gone with the LI but I have been very happy with the M47 and they have saved me at least twice in the 17 months I've owned it. That alone has more than paid for them just with the cost of the two tickets.

Some people will disagree but I think for practical purposes all radar detectors are worthless for laser protection. When they go off 90% of the time you have been clocked and if you don't get a ticket it is just because the cop was looking for bigger fish to fry. Yeah, I guess you may get real lucky and get a warning from a scatter shot to another car. But if you are the one targeted and the RD laser warning goes off, get ready to pull over.

I'd love to have a V1 with GPS in it. There are no plans for Valentine1 to come out with that. So for now I turn on Helen in the city and Chicken Little on the highway. Hoping Mike Valentine changes his mind and starts working on a GPS enabled V1. Until then both units will be in my car for radar protection and I will always also run a laser jammer. I would not count on any RD to help me out at all on avoiding a laser ticket.

Welcome to the forum!

[machtschnell]

Welcome a bummer about the tickets. FL is a happy ticket state remember there are no income taxes. Got to make money somewhere I guess.

I am a 9500ix user myself. I spend a lot of time on the interstates in the southeast and would have to agree about the sensitivity. I recently picked up a lidar ticket here in GA and the 9500ix let me know I was getting one. I have noticed in SC they use a lot of I/O so I have learned to use a rabbit and that has created quit a few saves.
I recently picked up LI's and now thinking about getting the V1 for my middle of nowhere trips for the extra sensitivity. Plus it integrates with the LI's. If you can live with he extra noise around town the V1 will serve you well on those trips to Orlando. You are looking at the best of the bunch for window mounts. Good luck and welcome.

[Vette6893]

Both are good detectors. As others have said, the 9500ix is great for quiet city driving but is not as strong on the highway and not as responsive. All depends on your driving area, style, and preferences. I like to know what is around me and where it is, the V1 fits my style. At the moment it sounds like you want something to give you as much information as possible but only you can decide. Both have a 30 day return policy, test drive them yourself.

[jpk226]

Think about where you speed the most not just where you drive I bought the 9500ix but I find that I speed a bit more when I'm on the highway so its kind of a toss up of which to choose v-1 or the 9500ix. I'm not sure if there's radar drones on your highways but if there are get a 9500ix if not and you mostly speed on the highway then get a v-1.

[HueManatee]

I've been driving the speed limit everywhere for the last three days and everyone is passing me, even the old people! (There was another post where someone said the same thing.) It is crazy! I did the same thing after my last citation but eventually began to drive faster again...

I feel your pain. A couple years ago I was in that exact position. However, I did have a RD when I got my last two tickets. I also got enough warning both times to have avoided the tickets. However, my RD was so chatty that I started to get desensitized to the warnings. Eventually my brain tuned out the warnings at the wrong time.

So I ended up buying a 9500ix. I love it around town. After a couple months using the 9500ix it has memorized and blocked all the false sources. When I drive around in the city it is silent. Just pure golden silence or Pandora streaming my music without annoying beeps.

However, on the freeway I've always had an uneasy feeling with the 9500ix. I tend to cruise at 30 over the PSL when traffic permits. At 95 it would really suck to get a ticket. The 9500ix is not good at picking up short pulses of radar. So if you are on the highway, with light traffic, and the LEO is just doing short bursts of radar, I don't think the 9500ix will pick it up to give you the warning you need. I also hate not knowing if the LEO is ahead or behind me, or if more than one is present.

So, this week I picked up a V1. I love it on the highway! No x band here so I have that turned off. I'm very intolerant to any noise or rattles in my cars. The V1 is pretty quiet and doesn't bother me on the highway. However, in town even with X off, it is frequently beeping. If I turn off K band then it is fine. I still need to research if they use K band anymore here. If not, I plan to turn off K. I've only had the V1 a few days now and I love it too, but probably would get sick of it if I had to use it in the city on a regular basis. I have fondly named my V1 Chicken Little and my 9500ix Helen Keller. Helen is so much easier to live with in the city but a bit blind to trust on the highway.

Finally, I also got the Blinders M47 for laser protection. I would not speed if I did not have laser protection, period. If my budget allowed I think I would have gone with the LI but I have been very happy with the M47 and they have saved me at least twice in the 17 months I've owned it. That alone has more than paid for them just with the cost of the two tickets.

Some people will disagree but I think for practical purposes all radar detectors are worthless for laser protection. When they go off 90% of the time you have been clocked and if you don't get a ticket it is just because the cop was looking for bigger fish to fry. Yeah, I guess you may get real lucky and get a warning from a scatter shot to another car. But if you are the one targeted and the RD laser warning goes off, get ready to pull over.

I'd love to have a V1 with GPS in it. There are no plans for Valentine1 to come out with that. So for now I turn on Helen in the city and Chicken Little on the highway. Hoping Mike Valentine changes his mind and starts working on a GPS enabled V1. Until then both units will be in my car for radar protection and I will always also run a laser jammer. I would not count on any RD to help me out at all on avoiding a laser ticket.

Welcome to the forum!

Supposedly Orange and Irvine still use K-band periodically. I've never encountered it myself though.

To the OP:

I'd say get the 9500ix. It's a really quiet detector and it's amazing in the city..especially if most of your driving is in the city. It works pretty well on the freeway as well.

[milkman]

The IX is a very nice RD but you should be picking between the V1 or the Redline. The V1 and the Redline have much more range.