Thinking of getting one around Christmas

**computersoc** · 10-18-2005, 11:38 PM

I've done a lot of research over the past few months and have decided it'll be time to get a top of the line detector. I'm pretty sure I'll go for a V1. Here's some of my questions and concerns:

1. How easy is it to program?
1a. How easy is it to turn X band on and off? I live in NY and go to NJ once or twice a year.
2. I've noticed some threads people say real threats were junked out. Were the people still notified in proper time? Do they plan on addressing this in the near future?
3. How does the upgrade program work?
4. Are the noise tones distinguishable between X/K/Ka/Laser? The detector I use now I can easily tell right away if I have to hit the brakes or keep on going. I don't look at the detector at all (I keep my eyes on the road and I look to see where the cop is). Will I be satisfied in that sense with a V1?

The one I have now has voice warning too, but I ignore it. I hear beep beep beep K band beep beep beep... the first beep I hear, I already know whether or not to slow down... I've memorized the sounds and don't wait till I hear "K band" because that takes up valuable time.

5. When I am ready around Christmas time, should I wait for a new upgrade of the V1 or buy one?

Thanks!

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 10-18-2005, 11:47 PM

X band isn't too easy for me but i am hardly use a V1.... i perfer BELscort brands when switching bands easy off. But i personally like to turn bands on or off with out pulling over

If you ant a V1 I'd turn off all the auto nute features and run it in Big 'L' mode and 'A' when in NJ

**kpatz** · 10-19-2005, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by computersoc

1. How easy is it to program?
1a. How easy is it to turn X band on and off? I live in NY and go to NJ once or twice a year.

You'll need the owner's manual or a cheat sheet printed off the website to program the V1. It's not nearly as easy as the Belscorts.

Turning X on and off is the easiest, as it is the first option (1) in the programming menu. Hold button in while turning V1 on, hold it for 5 seconds until display lights. Press button, firmware rev will flash in display. Press button again, 1 will display, with either an up arrow (X on) or down arrow (X off). Hold the button to switch X on or off (arrow will change). Turn V1 off and back on. You're all set.

2. I've noticed some threads people say real threats were junked out. Were the people still notified in proper time? Do they plan on addressing this in the near future?

This is less of a problem in the latest firmware than in earlier versions, but it still happens sometimes. The simple solution is to consider all Ka band alerts to be real threats, regardless if they are junked out or not (when an alert is junked out, you'll get the alert, and then you'll get the "J" afterward).

3. How does the upgrade program work?

When VR offers new features, you can send your V1 in for a fee and have it upgraded to the latest technology. Look at the "Upgrades" section of their website for more details.

4. Are the noise tones distinguishable between X/K/Ka/Laser? The detector I use now I can easily tell right away if I have to hit the brakes or keep on going. I don't look at the detector at all (I keep my eyes on the road and I look to see where the cop is). Will I be satisfied in that sense with a V1?

I find the tones pretty easy to distinguish, as long as I don't have the radio up too loud. X and K are the classic "beep" and "brap" sounds that have been used since the 80s on the original Escorts. Ka is a double brap (brap-brap), and laser causes a European siren type sound that you can't miss. The other sounds to become familiar with are the bogey-lock sound ("dee-deet" followed by a band sound, "dee-deet brap" means new K bogey for example), and the Junk sound (dee-dah-doh). A good way to become familiar with the sounds is to drive into a parking lot with a lot of door openers.

5. When I am ready around Christmas time, should I wait for a new upgrade of the V1 or buy one?

That's up to you. Stay tuned here, if any updates are likely to be around the corner, chances are you'll hear about them here.

**sethy** · 10-19-2005, 09:49 AM

I would wait until v1 releases ther new unit.

**wallcrawlr** · 10-19-2005, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Sethy

I would wait until v1 releases ther new unit.

Is there a thread here speculating the changes?

**Techhead** · 10-19-2005, 07:02 PM

Sethy, What new V1 release are you refering too? Another upgrade? :roll:

**kpatz** · 10-19-2005, 07:05 PM

The only speculated change I've heard about is a firmware update to address the known issues such as the bogey ghosting and Junking out of real threats.

I'll bet the next hardware update will be for Spectre immunity, and/or 16ms POP detection.

**computersoc** · 10-19-2005, 08:28 PM

Doesn't it have pop protection already?

**jimbonzzz** · 10-19-2005, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by computersoc

Doesn't it have pop protection already?

It detects the 67MS Ka band POP consistently.
It detects 16ms K-Band POP only like 10% of the time, the only detector that has been show to do so in testing.

As far as 67ms POP, that has yet to be tested. But I expect the V1 to detect it consistently. Other detectors might not be so lucky...

Jim