Difficulties you faced when making the switch

[chriskohtc]

Are there any V1 users out there that previously used a RX65 or similar RD?

I'm thinking about making the switch, but want to find out from you guys with previous experience what were the difficulties/annoyance/downsides of using the V1 compared to your previous RD.

Q1) Which RD did you switch from?
Q2) What were some of the transition difficulties you faced when you first got your V1?

Thanks.

[snoopyc4]

Q1) Which RD did you switch from?

Well, I didn't exactly switch but I supplemented my 9500ci with my V1.

Q2) What were some of the transition difficulties you faced when you first got your V1?

1. False alerts. For awhile, it is annoying. When you are in the city, you pretty much lose track of where everything is because the bogey counter keeps going up and up. Over time though, you kind of build an immunity. At least I did.

2. Differentiating between a K and a Ka band alert. You learn this over time as well. K band is one brap and Ka is two braps.

3. Ka band false alerts followed by a J-out. Lesson learned: just turn POP OFF.

[protias]

I've had my V1 for several years and also suplimented it with the STi-R a few months ago.

[chris98891]

i actually went exactly as you said, rx65 to v1.

hardest part for me was adjusting to the new sounds (easy enough)
and getting along with the less technical display. i was used to the voice alerts and ability to read the display and easy to read ramp up.

didnt take long though, i always kept mine on highway mode anyway so i'm pretty used to the falses. distance has definitely increased, and the arrows help a lot. i'd say it was worth it.

[v1user]

I use a RX65 as back up.

The biggest differences for me are the 1. tones and 2. auto mute.

Overall, the tones of the RX65 sound more pleasing to your ears and the auto mute is very nice. Think of the Bel as a plush comfortable Lexus. Now stiffen the suspension, remove some of the interior panels and do a little engine work and you have a V1.


I really like the arrows, range and its response on that one radar shooting technique that can't remember the name of right now.

[Motor On]

snoop, my difficulty was learning K from X at low strength, funny how we all process these things just a little differently.

I remember the first commute to work with it stock settings A mode, and I drove through a strip mall gauntlet; set it to big L and fixed that in a hurry. Then about year later I was convinced X was a non threat shut that off went back to A full time and not just road trips and been smooth sailing.

[supercowpowers]

I used an M4 RX-65 before I got a V1. I turned off automute and voice alerts, so the only thing I really lost going to the V1 was the frequency display, which is only marginally useful on K-band, my biggest threat.

The V1's display is, sorry, rather ancient, and it's hard to discern the different bands. The problem was exacerbated for me at first because the K and Ka tones are so similar, but I got used to it and can tell them apart right away now.

The bogey lock tone gets annoying really fast when you've already muted a false and it goes off 5 or 6 times passing a shopping center, but you can set it to sound at the muted volume in the programming if you want.

At first I thought the V1's speaker sounded a little "sick" at full volume - like the amp was clipping or something, but somehow it sounds OK to me now.

It's hard to turn the V1 on and off without disturbing the little lever that sets the muted volume. My solution was to install a killswitch in my car...

[chriskohtc]

Maybe I should keep my S7 RX-65 after all? The extra awareness really is tempting, but I don't know if it justifies the extra cost. Now, the V1's response to "that radar technique" is the main motivation behind "upgrading", but I'm still deliberating on it................................................ ..

On a side note, I really should save my money and invest it instead. Tsk tsk.

[Solidjake]

I had an 8500 for a few months. After I sold it I bought a V1 straight from VR. I didn't know about the site, but I knew I made a wise choice. I know I will never give it up. Ever.

[compu44]

Maybe I should keep my S7 RX-65 after all? The extra awareness really is tempting, but I don't know if it justifies the extra cost. Now, the V1's response to "that radar technique" is the main motivation behind "upgrading", but I'm still deliberating on it................................................ ..

On a side note, I really should save my money and invest it instead. Tsk tsk.

I actually used to have an S7 based RX-65, and at one point I tried to "upgrade" to a V1. Save your money, it's not worth it. The V1 had a very slight performance edge on K-Band and 33.8Ka, but it was useless against 35.5Ka, which is one of the strongest points of the S7 RX65s, especially when operated in USA mode. I guess it really comes down to whether or not you can stand all the false alarms and stepping back 10 years in usability, and what the threats of your area are. The V1 has an advantage over almost everything else on the market for extremely short bursts of radar, and nobody will contest that. However, if 35.5GHz Ka is used in your area, you shouldn't even consider it.


Basically here was the breakdown from my experience:

RX65:
Awesome performer against 35.5GHz Ka.

Very good against 34.7Ka and K-Band

Frequency Display

Great tones and ramp-up.


V1:

Tones are somewhat indistinct, but ramp up is very good. I actually preferred the physical volume knob on the V1.

Awesome laser performance, but be aware that it's going to false on laser. A lot. The only false laser alerts I EVER got with my RX65 were from large airports. The V1 would false on some brake lights, neon signs, laser cruise, and occasionally even the sun.

HORRIBLE 35.5 Ka. Honestly, look at the last GOL. The only way they could make the V1 fare better than a $100 Cobra on 35.5GHz was to disable the Ka filtering.

No notification that it is falling out of tune, which happens frequently.



Basically, there you have the differences. I ended up selling my V1 at loss and going back to the RX65 until the STI came out. There were a very few aspects of the V1 that I liked, but none of them were worth the loss of 35.5GHz range over my RX65.