I couldn’t decide on which radar detector to get so I decided to take each company up on their 30 day money back guaranty (Passport will even pay for the return). I have both units mounted on my windshield and will review them over the next month. I have not seen any other post here from someone who actually used both at the same time so I though this might interest all of you.

Both units purchased directly from the company. Prices: V1 about $440 including concealed display and shipping. 8500 about $340 including shipping, a 3yr upgrade warranty and the direct wire SmartCord (the did not charge me for the direct wire SmartCord, a $30 value).

Details on each unit can be found here:
8500 http://www.escortradar.com/
V1 http://www.valentine1.com

My review is just what it is, my review and opinions, I’m not trying nor will I try to convert anyone.

I have used Escort products for 15 years but never the V1.

Ordering & delivery:
Both units were ordered on 1/29/03 and to be shipped UPS ground. The 8500 arrived 1/31/03; the VI arrived 2/4/03 (2 business days later). I felt the rep from passport was more pleasant to deal with, but no complaints on either side.

The 8500 is packaged better than the V1. The 8500 came in a nice storage case (box). I won’t be using the case but it is a nice touch as it holds the unused items better.

Appearance & specifications:
Both units are very well made. No disappointments here. The 8500 is longer and skinnier; the V1 is shorter and wider. I prefer the windshield mounting hardware of the 8500, however the V1 has a really simple ingenious lever for removing the unit from the windshield. The 8500 has a very clear and bright LED display, quite a bit of customizable features and a sleeker look. It displays the band letter(s) and the signal strength. It also has an expert meter (EM) that I am getting used to. The EM displays the radar band letter(s) and a small line or lines for signal strength. The V1 has a more detailed display, rear antennae, arrows and bogey counter. My initial issue with the V1 is that its visual indicator of the radar band is a dot next to the band letters. It is hard to determine which band it is and even harder at night. I know which band it is by distinguishing the sound the unit makes for each band, which the 8500 also does. I think that if V1 could display the letters on the large display, instead of the dots, it would be an improvement. As I have never used the V1, I am getting used to the display and the arrows.

Performance (1st look):
I am running the 8500 in the recommended auto mode that lets the computer filter out false alarms. I am running the V1 in full logic mode, which does the same. On my first round trip commute, which consists of mostly highway driving, I came across 3 “real” K-band signals and one “real” Ka signal. 2 of the K signals was one stationary road sign, I hit it coming and going. The other K and the Ka were cops. In each instance the V1 went off 1-3 seconds before the 8500 and stayed on longer (significantly longer with respect to the Ka signal when I passed the source).

Both units falsed about equally. I will pay close attention to the falsing because I went into this test with the pre-conceived notion that the V1 would false too much. It has not proven so the first day. When the units falsed together (I was at a shopping center) the V1 picked up more sources than the 8500.

Day 1 summary:
Price, looks & features - 8500
Performance - V1

Stay tuned for more reviews on the performance.

 

Wow, this is a great and useful post! I own the 8500 and love it. It has paid for itself 3 times over. You cant go wrong with either one. Thanks!

 

Thanks

 

My guess is AutoMode is filtering signals based on some algorithm. So it making desicions instead of just showing you data.

Go with Expert Mode! It'll provide you with much more information than V1 can (band and strength of each sourse in case of mutlyalert). And set it to highway. Tell us results then.

Also, what area you testing in? In reagrds to city to rural, industrial to residential, flat to hills, open to forest %tages. I'm especially interested in over-the-hill encounters, with no direct visibility line to source.

 

Both units are set to their computer modes.

I am using the expert meter, but prefer to use the auto mode (I want to minimize false alerts. The auto mode only filters out weak X band not K or Ka. The expert meter takes a bit to get used to and it is hard to see the signal strength. I'm not sure if I need to see all the signal strengths, only the "most dangerous" and strongest.

As far as the setting, I live and work in the NYC metro area (Orange/Rockland counties) and will be traveling between them and Northern NJ. I haven't encountered an over-the-hill situation yet but I'll keep it in mind. The traffic sign I spoke about was not in sight (around the corner and maybe there was a little hill involved).

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep you posted on more results.

 

Well, then you can go to stealth mode, and just distinct signals by ear. After just a little practice you'll be able to distinct bands and strength by ear. Personally, I prefer to see all the info. It's kind of entertaining. Also you can remember patterns and see if something goes wrong. For instance, I have a place on my way where gas station produces two weak Ks. So If I see 3rd K(and it happenes) - cop is near.

 

Seeing the printed radar band may be "entertaining" but it is basically worthless. You have only a split second to react after an alert. Are you telling me that you hear a beep, take your eyes off the road, and actually LOOK at what band the signal is??? You have to rely on the audible signal chirp and learn which sound indicates what band.

Also, while the V-1 and the 8500 are both pretty well sheilded, you have to be careful comparing the two in the same car at the same time. One could easily set the other off. This is much more prevalent on the older "cheaper" models. You couldn't even have two of them in the same room much less the same car since they would simply set each other off.

 

The V1 is the ****. I can't tell you how easy it is to use. The bogey count is awsome. I hated every radar dectector because they would just beep all day long , The V1 you can tell by if the count just says 1 it is a cop any more threat detects and it is 90% of the time a false alarm. The arrows are the sh-t . it is so easy to use. I hate when you buy a radar detector and it just beeps all the time.. I installed mine and it saved me twice the first 4 hours I installed it. Plus you can't help it the the inventor MR. Valentine is in to Electronic Military Warfare. That rocks.! It is the best detector out period......

 

Was looking also... looks like the Escort Passport 8500 is the hands-down winner.
See below.

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1026
vs.
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1027

And...
http://products.consumerguide.com/cp...x.cfm/id/23253

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

And finally..
http://www.radar-detectors.com/products/escort/8500.asp

I recall another thread where someone's hard wired it....
That'll be my next project.

 

I have the 8500 and now the new cordless. i greatly prefer the cordless for the tiny size and no cord. It also shuts off when no vibration is sensed, It beeps to remind you to turn it back on when vibration is sensed again. Iv'e had it for a month with origional bateries. Although not as sensative as the 8500 it works well enough for me. im no racer but do drive competetivly and alertly.

 

Are you telling me that you hear a beep, take your eyes off the road, and actually LOOK at what band the signal is??? You have to rely on the audible signal chirp and learn which sound indicates what band.

At times I do. I'm just saying that why have a visual signal that is hard to visualize. By your remarks, why have one at all.

 

Also, lets not turn this into another V1/8500 pissing contest. Like I said before I have been using detectors for 15 years and am very familiar in how to use them. Yes, I'm getting to know the V1 better. Both units are good. The 8500 has its good features and the V1 has its.

I'm just reporting on my observations

 

Yea, I also use expert mode and take my eyes off the road to look at it. Just yesterday two distinct K bands produced two cops about 1/4 mile appart. Sure, when a warning that goes off one could just slow for a while...and avoid, but someone else said it is interesting and I agree. I even encountered a cop that was using two radar units in one car!! I'm sure it was one out his front and one out his back. This dude meant business

 

Keep up the good work, I am going to use your observations along with my other research to make my decision.
Thanks

 

Long time no hear!

Yes I do look at screen. If I expected signal in this area, and pattern matches to what to be expected (like two weak Ks I described in my post), then I can proceed without worrying. If signal is not expected, then I react/slowdown first, and then look at the screen. And of course I know what signal represents what band.

By the way, THANKS FOR ADMITTING YOU NOT LOOKING AT YOUR DIRECTIONAL ARROWS. Honestly, after all that arguing, I didn't expect you to admit you are not using them!!!

 

My dad has owned a Valentine detector since they started coming out YEARS ago and swears by them. He hasn't gotten a ticket since he bought his first one. He gave me one for my 16th birthday and i haven't ever gotten a ticket. Being a late-teens male from SoCal, i don't need anything bumping my insurance rates even higher...

 

No, no, no! The directional arrows actually MEAN something to me. My point was, the BAND doesn't really mean that much to me. If it hits my car (X, K, Ka, Laser....whatever) and I'm speeding, I'm going to get a ticket. As suggested above, I really don't care if the thing tells me (visually) what band it is and as far as I'm concerned I really never use this feature.

The arrows (here we go again Vlad ) tell me if I need to worry about that incoming signal or not.

And one more time........the Radar test is flawed in several ways (I'm really too tired to list them all again but if you do a search on this topic you'll find them). One BIG flaw was that Cinncinatti Microwace (the company that makes the 8500) sponsored the test.

OK one more time REALLY now..........Both the V-1 and the 8500 are top of the line detectors and you absolutely can't go wrong with either one.

Done.......

 

Do theses devices pick up a lot of false signals since it is so sensitive and has such a long range?

I'm in the market for a detector. Haven't had one in 5 years. I hated my last detector because it would beeped like crazy everywhere.

 

Both are pretty good at not falsing. I think the 8500 was a touch better if I remember correctly.

 

In my experiment so far (2 days) Dr. Bonz is correct. The 8500 is falsing a little bit less. But when the V1 falses it is not for a long time nor is it annoying (maybe 1 beep)