V1 purchase, now buyers remorse?

[Gokhos]

So last Tuesday I picked up a new Valentine one, hooked it up and was finally happy to have one of the best Radar detectors available.

As soon as I was driving around, I heard several X bands go off, ok so it picks up a fair amount of automatic doors and other radio waves.

So I read my manual and decided for driving in the city I should keep the detector on "L" mode. It didn't help filter out all the stupid alerts. In front of my house there is a wine/liquor store with automatic doors and every single time I drive past it, it goes off.
Using the detector daily and as of today, I am really getting annoyed with so many false alarms on this thing. Basically, I feel that the V1 is no better than the other cheap detectors except that it detects the alerts earlier.

When I was deciding to buy this I researched both the escort 9500ix and V1 and according to lots of people the arrows are worth getting the V1. And the other features on the passport may be good to have but the arrows trump them.
I'm not so sure about that.. having a detector that filters out automatic doors and other non threats would be a big plus for me.

So anyway here I am thinking to myself this is the reason why I never had a radar detectors in the past 10 years due to the annoyance of the beeps that I got from the cheaper $100 detectors and thinking about returning the V1 and purchasing the passport. However, I have yet to use the V1 on a highway except for my short commute that only lasts for 10 minutes on the turnpike. I have a road trip coming up from NJ to NC this Friday and thats when I guess I will find out if I want to keep the V1 or not. If the V1 goes off every few minutes due to false alerts, I think I will just unplug it and put it in the glove box until I return back home to ship it back to Valentine one in Ohio.

The reason for this post is I wanted to share my fustrations and ask you guys if there is something I am doing wrong or if the mode I selected is incorrect?
Any advice?

BMW Guy,

Good post. You got a new RD and IMO are asking valid questions. All devices take some time to learn and get used to using. And there are all kinds of RD with various specifications and features available. Some people will declare the RD that they use is the best. Maybe so. But I say, pick what you need / want.

What I did when I decided to get serious about RD was to look at where and how I drive and what I drive. I gathered a lot of information, more about the where and how and what, than RD specifications and ratings. To me, the first thing you need to know is what factors are going to affect all of this. Then I started looking at RD and trying to make decisions. The V1 was among the many RD that I ruled out when I started looking for higher end RD. I actually chose two different RD, one for in town and one for on the road. I use a 9500ix in town and an XTR695SE on the road. I don't consider either one of them toys, they are serious RD. And they work for me, where I drive, how I drive. I am sure there are those that disagree with my choice, but it is the choice I made and it works for me.

I think you can return the V1 within 30 days of purchase if you decide it is not for you. I hear the V1 is a good RD. I only looked at it, never really used it. I have a friend that has one and after looking at his in operation and listening to what he had to say, I ruled it out. But it works for him and he is happy with it.

Good luck. I hope you find the right RD for you.

[Akosikojak]

You do have a quality RD just take the time to program it and give it some time, I do think once you get used to it you will be impressed. I do agree if you leave the valentine 1 in factory mode while traveling inside the city you might get annoyed fairly quick with all the alerts. So please take the advice of the forum and reprogram your valentine to suit your needs.

[John_in_NC]

Fantastic!
I ask for help and advice and I get insulted even by a moderator.

Thanks MetalFlame and others with helpful tips.

Your right, that is not what is supposed to happen here and is no need for it.

The reason you are annoyed is because it was a false and you were not speeding. I too share those frustrations when I am in a place with a lot of automated doors. But those areas I am rarely speeding to the point I would be pulled over. And in those situations I completely mute the sound and just use the arrows.


When I get up on the highway or start mashing the gas, I have learned to simultaniously reach for the volume.

Oh, another thing, I have found the remote head is very helpful because the mute button is very soft and easy to press without reaching way up on the windshield to hit it.

[Redeciolus]

Jmccam is right. Don't look on somebodys else opinion. If you don't like just return it.

[stealthfz1]

Absolutely not true. I've been running this setup for over a year and have noticed absolutely no interference between them. There is absolutely no way my 9500ci, with it's zero emission M3 radar antenna, is interfering with my V1. If anything, it would be the other way around, the V1 interfering with the 9500ci. Even Michael B said you could safely run a Belscort remote and a windshield mounted RD. My guess would be that he probably knows alot more than you do about radar detectors.

That may be true but I had a XTR695 on my friends motorcycle behind me interfere with my V1. Only once but there wasn't any other explanation for it. Especially since his XTR695 alerted normally.

Makes me think that there could be interference.

[FastLane]

I think you guys could have been a little nicer.

I bought the v1 and did research on it before i bought it and was also annoyed by all the false alarms from a top of the line detector that i paid a lot of money for.

I just bought the 9500ix and that detector is MUCH quieter and that is of more importance to me than arrows. Now when it goes off i actually slow down instead of figuring its just garage door openers or another false alarm while driving around the city.

Enjoy the beamer and get the 9500ix.

[stevo1569]

lol have fun driving around with your 9500ix locking out cops...

Ok that was a bit rash. I know you cant stand false alerts but at least with me I have to be the one to filter out the results. I trust RDs enough until the filtering aspect comes into play.

Good luck with whatever unit you decide to invest your money into.

[noTe]

annoyed by all the false alarms from a top of the line detector that i paid a lot of money for.

A top of the line RADAR detector that detects ALL RADAR? OMG are you serious?!!?

[Red Turbo Tegg]

I think you guys could have been a little nicer.

I bought the v1 and did research on it before i bought it and was also annoyed by all the false alarms from a top of the line detector that i paid a lot of money for.

I just bought the 9500ix and that detector is MUCH quieter and that is of more importance to me than arrows. Now when it goes off i actually slow down instead of figuring its just garage door openers or another false alarm while driving around the city.

Enjoy the beamer and get the 9500ix.

What were your programming options like?

I drive through the city with many falses and my programming options mute almost everything, and I've NEVER missed a real threat. If I do have to hit the button, it takes care of all the falses in that area untill I leave it, but that only ever happens if I'm stuck at a light or am really close to the source. A quiet detector isn't as important to me as situational awareness and detecting power.

[stlcardsfan]

I think you guys could have been a little nicer.

I bought the v1 and did research on it before i bought it and was also annoyed by all the false alarms from a top of the line detector that i paid a lot of money for.

I just bought the 9500ix and that detector is MUCH quieter and that is of more importance to me than arrows. Now when it goes off i actually slow down instead of figuring its just garage door openers or another false alarm while driving around the city.

Enjoy the beamer and get the 9500ix.

I think you've figured which detector is better for you. If you are deciding between the 9500ix and the V1 and arrows are of less importance than is quieter detector then you have pretty well answered your own question.