Second Thoughts...

[bled01]

I just purchased a Redline detector after not using a radar detector for over 10 years. Back in the day I had a couple of them and I think one was a <REMOVED - SEE RULE #1> and the other was one of the top of the line Bel models at the time. My commute to work is now 65 miles mostly on the highway so I thought I needed to pick up another detector.

I did lots of research on different sites(although I did not find this forum until after I purchased). I narrowed it down to the 9500ix, Redline and Valentine V1. I ended up going with the Redline based on these considerations:

• Mostly highway driving.
• I may be buying an iphone soon so I possibly wanted to take advantage of Escort live at that point.
• I saw results that that the Redline had longer range than the V1 and less false positives.
• Did not think that not having the arrows on the V1 would be that big of a deal.

Now that I have driven a few days with the Redline I am not so sure. It has gone off sparingly and it is my guess that almost all of the times were due to stores and other sources. The two times I drive by a LEO it did not go off at all. Both times they were pulled over writing tickets and I realize that they may have turned the radar off at that point but it was a bit disconcerting. I know for sure that one of the LEO's was not using Laser because in that town they never get out of their cars when sitting in their speed traps.

Also, since finding this forum I am really concerned to hear about this issue about falling asleep on the Redline and a delay picking up I/O. Am I missing something or does that not leave me extremely vulnerable? That combined with realizing that having the arrows on the V1 will be more convenient that I previously thought has me thinking I should have gotten the V1.


Question is should I return the Redline for a V1 and why? I know there are fans of both companies so if you can elaborate as much as possible on the reasons for your opinion that would be a big help.

[napthalene]

You know they can shoot laser from inside cars right?

[AvsBest]

The 4 points you stated are dead on and I think you made a decent choice. Like the previous poster said, they can shoot from the car if they put it sideways and just chase you after. You said that the 2 LEOs on the median were writting tickets (I take it there were looking down and writting) then it would make sense that the radar was off. The radar audio can be annoying if the radar is left on for 10 hours.

If you are annoyed by the falses on the Redline, you will toss the V1 out the window... The Redline is lacking in I/O situation but not a lot of LEOs out there are fast enough to defeat it and when the LEO is enforcing speed on the freeway with a few cars in the beam, they need to leave it on a little longer to make sure they get the right car. So yes it is an issue but realistically, you might have 1 encounter per year like that, if that.

[marksand]

I bought a RX65 a month or so ago. Really like it. Good range and few falses.

[bled01]

The 4 points you stated are dead on and I think you made a decent choice. Like the previous poster said, they can shoot from the car if they put it sideways and just chase you after. You said that the 2 LEOs on the median were writting tickets (I take it there were looking down and writting) then it would make sense that the radar was off. The radar audio can be annoying if the radar is left on for 10 hours.

If you are annoyed by the falses on the Redline, you will toss the V1 out the window... The Redline is lacking in I/O situation but not a lot of LEOs out there are fast enough to defeat it and when the LEO is enforcing speed on the freeway with a few cars in the beam, they need to leave it on a little longer to make sure they get the right car. So yes it is an issue but realistically, you might have 1 encounter per year like that, if that.

It was more of an educated guess that the one LEO in that town that always has the speed traps was not using Laser because I always see them camped out with the windows shut and have never really seen them holding any sort of gun. I wonder if there is any type of database out there that tracks what towns and/or states are using?

Getting back to the Redline, it is not so much that I am annoyed by the false alerts. It is more I want to be able to better differentiate when there is a LEO and false alert in the same area, and I started to think that would be easier with the bogey counter and arrows on the V1. I have not messed around yet with the ExpertMeter on the Redline, but perhaps I can accomplish the same thing using that with some practice. Glad to hear that the I/O issue is not as dire as I have read in some other posts. It seemed like some people really have major issues with it.

I guess I will give the Redline a longer trial and see how things go. Perhaps I should order the V1 and run them side by side to compare before returning one?

Thanks for replying.

[Obsidian]

Read my response to you on the other forum. The Redline is all you need, don't buy into the nonsense the V1 people spread. If you seriously think the bogey counter and arrows jumping all over the place is going to help you differentiate false alerts on a V1 then I have news for you. Yeah reading the forums some of these guys claim to use the arrows like Yoda uses the force, but it's complete BS.

You have the best windshield mount radar detector in the world, and it's only going to get better in the near future.

[bled01]

Read my response to you on the other forum. The Redline is all you need, don't buy into the nonsense the V1 people spread. If you seriously think the bogey counter and arrows jumping all over the place is going to help you differentiate false alerts on a V1 then I have news for you. Yeah reading the forums some of these guys claim to use the arrows like Yoda uses the force, but it's complete BS.

You have the best windshield mount radar detector in the world, and it's only going to get better in the near future.

Thanks for your replies.

[nine_c1]

If you still have a few weeks on your trial period and can spare the dough then go ahead and grab a V1. Like Escort, they give you a full 30 day trial period (but unlike Escort there is no sending it back on day 31).

I would not advise running them side by side for a valid comparison though. They can mess with one another and when close the V1 puts the RedLine completely to sleep. Some guys do run the combo on a regular basis and say 36" apart is all you need but even then I feel there can be moments when the sweeps line up and bad things will happen.

You should run them independent and try to find a LEO taking a coffee brake that left his radar on.

They are both excellent detectors and it comes down to personal tastes. However, if you want to explore the networking thing with your smart phone the RedLine is the obvious choice.

[zr1]

...there can be moments when the sweeps line up and bad things will happen.

Like this:

[Mista140]

Check out my response on the other forum as well. Just balance out your judgement on the two RDs based off your experience and our views of the two. Remember, your decision is the only one that counts. Not V1 Zombies or Belscort fanboys.