https://store.valentine1.com


http://www.bel-tronics.com


Can anyone help?

 

Try this link for some info.....several months old but still good.


Car and Driver Road Test

 

V-1

 

actually the val 1 sucks based on a recent test - the escort 8500 got top honors


makes you wonder whos right eh?

http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html

 

Anyone who would post that statement, obviously knows nothing about radar detectors whatsoever.

That test has a few flaws. First of all, that was the one, I believe, that was sponsored by one of the manufacturers. Second, they never mentioned HOW they got the units they tested. It is a known fact that on several occasions, a company, when asked to supply a detector for this type of test, has submitted a "souped up" ringer and NOT the unit that they sell to the general public. If you look at the C&D test, each unit was PURCHASED by the tester just like you and I would do. No chance of any ringers.

Finally, the V-1 unit they tested does not appear to be the latest edition. The fact that they said it was the biggest of the units tested suggests this. The newer edition of the V-1 is significantly smaller than the one they have pictured. Trust me, I know. I have both models. The big one (the one in their picture) was purchased (by me) in 1993. The one I got for my Z is the 2002 model and is actually much smaller. The newest V-1 is much better at detection than the older one and thus this test doesn't seem valid.

 

V-1
Never leave home without it.

Best 400 bux I spent.

 

Thanks for paraphrasing...I said it sucks BASEd on a recent test. I was even good enough to provide the link!

You obviously are one of these rabid internet "fanboys" who takes personal insult when any of your "toys" get dissed. Most of the time, these things turn into flame-wars, my car is faster than yours, my computer is better than his, this game has better graphics...etc.
However, I respect the fact that you have first hand experience with the products in question - and as such I will likely believe the C&D review more.

I appreciate your knowledge regarding this subject. Its nice to know that there is a "new" version of the V1. However, your style is such that the "unitiated" may misconstrue your blind arrogance as true knowledge. These forums aren't pissing matches you know. Someone is looking for information and he gets a bunch of opinions regarding such. The more data the better. Let he who asks make his own choice. Thanks for your personal review of the V1!!

That said, I dont appreciate your abusive and inflammatory tone. However should I be surprised - these comments coming from someone who *obviously* is so lacking in self-worth and confidence that their identity and persona is seeminly defined by their vocation Dr.Bonz? Learn some tact and humilty it will take you very far. Certainly you dont think you're the only one around here who can throw a DHS in grannie's hip...or do a a 5 level thoracic fusion?

Its easy to throw mud on the internet isnt it. There, there you got the attention you so badly crave.

p.s. I'm considering the Escort Passport SR-1. Full remote and hardwired.

http://www.radartest.com/REMRD.html

 

Wow! Where do I begin?

Well, how about here.

If you truely wanted to just refer to an article and not your opinion (for the sake of supplying information, as you put it) then why did you feel the need to use the word "SUCKS"? I read the article and no where in it did I see that word. When you say something sucks, you seem to be interjecting your opinion and not fact.


"You obviously are one of these rabid internet "fanboys" who takes personal insult when any of your "toys" get dissed."

I don't mind in the least if something I have gets "dissed" but it has to be proven to me. Your in depth analysis (basically, "it sucks") really doesn't sway me much to tell you the truth.



"However, your style is such that the "unitiated" may misconstrue your blind arrogance as true knowledge."

Blind arrogance? Wow, I didn't know I had that!
Cool!




"That said, I dont appreciate your abusive and inflammatory tone."

Yep, that's me alright. If you ask any one of the other posters on here who have read my posts, "abusive and inflammatory" are the words that I see the most




"these comments coming from someone who *obviously* is so lacking in self-worth and confidence that their identity and persona is seeminly defined by their vocation Dr.Bonz?"

Yeah, I'm always throwing out orthopedic surgery tips on this board. It's a nasty habit I guess. Must be a sad quest for that attention I'm always craving. I'm so sorry to have offended you but with my lack of self worth and confidence I saw no other way out!




"Certainly you dont think you're the only one around here who can throw a DHS in grannie's hip...or do a a 5 level thoracic fusion?"

Not to put down anyone's line of work, but I would think that someone of your knowledge would at least concede that performing surgery isn't one of your more simple vocations.


Finally, I just wanted to say that my car IS faster than yours and my computer IS better than yours.

Ooops! There goes that pesky blind arrogance again!

 

...rolls eyes.

you win buddy

 

"you win buddy"


This is just an exhibition and not a competition. Please, no wagering!

No hard feeling man. It's just how things are done on here. Someone posts an opinion and it either gets lauded or blasted. I guess I've been here so long I'm just used to it.

The Bel is a good detector, so is the V-1. We agree on that at least.

Peace!

 

I liked both the Valentine & Escort, got the escort because of the multi-band expert mode & also because:

- if the valentine1 is better than the escort, I believe it would be marginally better and not 33% better as the price increase from an escort would suggest (or from the contrary side, I do not believe the escort is 25% inferrior to a Valentine as such a decrease from Valentine's price would suggest).

- I got the escort because X band doesn't false as much supposedly in many reviews. X band is being phased out in favor of K & Ka & Laser, so less X annoyance is better for me.

Having said this, I still praise the V1 and it was a serious condender for my wallet as I generally like to purchase the best (BTW, that is why I purchased the Z in the first place) but while maintaining conciousness with regards to price if appropriate.

 

I also got the 8500 and am very happy with it. I still think the V1 also a great detector. What helped me decide it that:

1.) I think the 8500 looks a little more sleek - and will look nicer in my CS when I get it.

2.) The 8500 can interface with Escort's ZR3 laser shifter - which I've been hearing very good things about. I want to get this soon after my Z arrives!

3.) Cost me $100.00 less

As far as the detection ability goes, I think they are neck and neck - or maybe a slight edge to the V1, but the things I listed above steered me towards the 8500 - I now have $100.00 extra to buy the ZR3 shifters.

 

Here's one more radar test to throw into the mix. I have been doing research on radar/laser detectors and stumbled across yet another website that compares quite a few models. I don't know anything about Speed Measurement Laboratories (click here for SML's website) but their tests appears to be pretty unbiased. Comparison tests can be found near the bottom of the page under the Navigating SpeedZones heading and choosing Annual Test 2002. Below is the top part of the chart that I pulled from the site comparing the detectors that Rock was inquiring about (test was done in June of 2002). I am not providing it as ammunition in the age-old "V1 vs BEL vs Escort" debate because frankly I won't be using any of them! (see below)



Here's some interesting "information" I picked up in doing my research (may be old news to some):

1) 1 out of every 5 dash/windshield radar detectors are stolen.
2) Remote radar detectors only receive 90% of the radar signals due to it's lower location in the grill versus the dash/windshield.
3) "X Band" radar is pretty much a thing of the past and is being replaced by KA band
4) Radar detector "detectors" (used by police) are switching from "VG-2" detection to "Spectre" detection and both the V1 and the BEL detectors were picked up by the Spectre system (not good). PNI and Cobra were not.
5) "Light" reflects off of lighter cars (silver, white) hoods and interferes with "dash/windshield" laser detection more than darker colors (black, brickyard, etc.) do.
6) Some detectors, including the Passport SR1 (remote detector), are no longer produced because it was interfering with satellites, ATMs, Muzak and small aircraft radios and the FCC wasn't really amused.

In the "For What It's Worth" (aka the "See Below") department, I just purchased the BEL 975LR remote detector because:

1) I'd be in the "lucky" 20% (1 out of 5) to have my "dash" detector stolen, so went with a remote.
2) My first choice, the Passport SR1 remote, is no longer available (see above).
3) The BEL975 ended up near the top of every remote test I could find.
4) The BEL 975's software can be upgraded to Spectre "non-detection" in the future (now?).
5) The BEL ended up costing me ~$300 after rebate.

 

Interesting. I didn't know that. Luckily I pretty much stay away from any states where detetors are illegal.

Thanks for the new info.

 

What if you throw out the arrows "gimmic" out of the mix between the escort and the V1? I doubt I'm going to try and focus on an arrow when the alarm goes off rather just slow down. In other words if the V1 didn't have arrows would it still be a better detector than the escort and worth more?



Sub-question:

I just sold my "solo" cordless detector because I dodn't think it was effective. I got a ticket while using it and it never went off (It could have been a laser trap and the solo is only radar).

Anyway I heard these cordless detectors are not as effective as the corded ones and the solo was probably 6-7 years old. How much better are the new state of the art detectors?

 

Where did you hear good things about Escort's shifter? I couldn't fine anybody with personal experience about them. I was thinking about bying, but I can't do that until I know they really saved somebodys ***.

------------
8500 RULES

 

rai: You are right when you say that you just slow down when the detector goes off and don't really look at the arrow. But this isn't the advantage of the arrows IMO. It is the fact that they tell you not only that radar is present, but that it is present AND IF IT IS A THREAT. How many times have you encountered a signal that just seems to keep beeping and seems to be travelling along with you. You never know where it is. Do you slow down? Do you speed up to move away from it? The V-1 tells you EXACTLY what you need to do and which radar you need to worry about and which you do not.

It is hard to describe since there are so many scenarios that describe how the arrows are extremely helpful. All I can do is repeat what I have read in two different publications comparing radar detectors. "Once you have the arrows, you'll be amazed at how you ever did without them" This describes my feelings exactly.

 

Hes right, but if you have to choose out of those 2 get the V1