GreetZ,
This has been out since the end of last year. Has anybody here had a chance to real world test it? The GOL (Guys of Lidar) did their test and it came out "almost as good as" the V1 (V1 lovers chime in hear..). Except this one is supposed to be invisible to the infamous Spectre III RDD.

Now I've seen enough threads about how people swear by the almighty V1. This thread IS NOT ABOUT THE V1.

If anybody has had the Beltronics STi, please enlighten us about: false positives, buttons, sensitivity, any other nags you may have.


http://www.beltronics.com/sti.html



Oh BTW, I spoke to MIKE3348, the creator of the "custom radar mounts". As it turns out, the mount for the X50 works for the X65 which is the same mount for the STi.

-LamaZ

 

I have had my passport srx for three years now... and I will never go back to a plain "in the windshield” detector.

 

valentine1 is the best

 

Somebody mentioned that it sucked, exactly what sucked about it?

-LamaZ

 

I have a valentine1 and its has got me out of a lot of tickets.

 

the suction cups suck

 

dude valentine one owns!!

 

V1 all the way!

 

I purchased another brandX "best reviewed" alarm 5yr ago. It signalled too many false alarms. Returned it and have been an ecstatic V1 owner since. Just had it firmware upgraded to the current model!

 

OK, F - it. Let's do this!

I'll play devils advocate.... What about the results of the following tests showing that the V1 got owned in a couple different situations by the RX65 and the STi.

http://www.guysoflidar.com/testjan06.html

-LamaZ

 

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...t=sti&start=30

STi first impressions

I took my STi and X50 on a 1 hour mini joy ride to see what would happen. Both were mounted high. Both were set to Highway, both had X, K, Ka, & POP enabled, both were set to threat display to detect multiple threats.

I decided to take a drive in my normal driving environment (Northern Virginia) because I know where the typical radar false alerts are. However, 10 ft into my drive and STi gave me a faint X band false alert, then again about 30 seconds later and again and again. I decide to separate the two detectors further apart to see if it would help. It slowed the alerts down but not enough for me. I decided to turn off the x50 because I thought there could be some sort of interference. The STi X false alerts slowed down some more but not entirely. I still got more X false alerts with STi in highway mode then with my x50 in highway on a road that I know where the false alerts are. (at least i thought i did with my x50)

I turned x50 back on when I was approaching a known K band speed sign. They both detected the speed sign at the same time. However, x50 signaled at full strength long before the STi. STi only signaled full strength when I was right on top of the speed sign. Plus STi full strength alert isn't like the x50. No solid beep when your on top of a threat with the STI. My only other encounter was K band photo radar trap that x50 alerted to about 1 second before the STi. I changed them both to AutoScan mode for my ride home and they performed like twins. No falses and the alerts seemed to be identical.

In my amateur opinion, both detectors are almost identical in performance when set to AutoScan mode. But if I had to pick, STi is very good but the x50 in grrreeaattt!!! x50 is the better price for performance (pound for pound) radar detector. x50 gave less false alerts when set to highway mode where STi is a bit too sensitive(at least in highway mode). I also prefer the signal strength on x50 because I think it reflects the threats better. Also threat display on x50 can track 7 different radars at the same time. STi threat display tracks only 3. However, STi is louder and has voice & brighter visual display then the x50(blue). STi does have a nice auto dimming display which senses the background lighting and dims your display. But, since my STi cost over $100 more then my x50, I was hoping I would see a $100 difference in range or performance. But the STi isn't listed on Bel's "Professional Series" detectors for a reason. It seems less polished. ie: can't change the dimming display without going into program mode. Can't turn off the glow in the dark buttons unless you enable dark all mode. (My x50 spoiled me) But all that is minor til you remember that it cost $100 more. I guess the extra $100 for the STi is for the external speaker and hardwire kit and magnesium casing. I want to see Roy and GOL do the official tests. But, the thing I HATE the most about my STi the *PEEP*glow in the dark buttons. You can't turn them off unless you run the STi in dark only mode!!! :x Someone should shoot the designer of that dumb idea!!

Images from cell phone.



STi in Auto Dimming Mode. Yep, that's as dark as it gets without Dark ALL mode. I really hate the glow in the dark buttons!!!

 

The Valentine One is the best radar/laser detector on the market today.

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/radartesting.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/pop.html

http://guysoflidar.com/shootout05/spectre.html

http://motortrend.com/features/consu...r_buyersguide/

"This year, the measurement of the radar and laser detection abilities of each of the over $200 units gives the Valentine One ($400) a small edge over the competing BEL Vector 995 ($260) and Escort Passport 8500 X50 ($300 with red display or $340 with a blue display) units."

V1 is the best in laser detection:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...213&highlight=

V1 has the best rear radar detection because it is the only detector with 2 antennas to locate radar:

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...214&highlight=

V1 is the least detectable detector by RDD's or Radar Detector Detectors in states where radar detectors are illegal. The Spectre III is the most used RDD in the world and it can only pick up the Valentine One if it is 166 feet or closer which is better than the X50 which can be detected 954 feet away.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...383&highlight=

The Valentine One which accounts for only .6% of radar detector sales wins every poll when it comes to being the favorite detector. The X50 doesn't even get an approval rating as high as George Bush's worst rating. :lol:

http://www.radardetector.net/The-Ult.......-5523t.php

Which of the "Big 3" is really the best overall - in your opinion?
V-1
64% [ 45 ]

RX-65
12% [ 9 ]

X50
20% [ 14 ]

Other (state which and why)
2% [ 2 ]

Total Votes : 70

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...ghlight=#42353

Radar Roy from Radarbusters.com said this about the Valentine One, "Just spoke with Carl Fors from SML, his website will be going online tonight with the 2005 results. He has declared the V895, 8500 and the Valentine One as the top performers. Motortrend, who was also at the test, will be declaring the Valentine One as the top detector based upon its detection of laser.

http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...=4696&start=90

Radar Roy said, "There were results that they (Guys of Lidar) got during the test that I was not exactly pleased with, such as the discovery of the Blinder not having Stealth Mode installed and the Valentine beating out the Escort and Bel in the range tests. Even though I don’t sell the Valentine, it does have slightly better range than both the RX65 and the 8500 and I also show this same fact on my site. Would love it to be the other way around."

Here is a link and video of the V1 alerting to radar quicker than the X50 and sometimes the X50 didn't alert to the radar at all. They are quick pulling the radar guns trigger and the X50 is filtering it out and the V1 is picking it up every time.

http://www.radardetector.net/V1-vs.-...otout-865t.php

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D

V1 wins in POP detection:

http://media.putfile.com/JammerTestscom_tests_V1X50_POP

V1 wins because it detects laser gun in stealth mode while the X50 remains silent:

http://media.putfile.com/JammerTests...nd_X50_stealth

 

The main problem with all of this data is that it is 2005, the STi wasn't available back then. Granted the V1 owned everybody since then.

Yes I had done my homework and found this same article. But thank you for enlightening the rest of the thread readers.

Can anybody tell me if the power pinout for the V1 is the same as the X65, X50?

RJ-11
Pin 3 12V
Pin 4 Ground