Well, since I made the long post above, I thought to update this thread with my experience thus far with my V1; 3 weeks into my trial period.

Thus far, I am 95% certain I will be keeping my V1 for good. Why you ask? Here's the story:

I specifically chose July for my V1 eval because I had planned a 4-day 1,300 mile road trip around the July 4th weekend and knew would get a chance to test it quite well. With all the research I had done prior to my purchase, I knew the differences between the three modes and which one to use when. This trip was from Denver down to Telluride, CO (a famous ski resort) and back, covering a large portion of the state. I knew I will come across a slew of rinky dink towns along the way, along with some that are bigger, which meant I was sure to find a variety of speed detection methods in use, perhaps even some archaic X-band guns. Another bonus was the variety of terrain I was going to encounter; although 70% of the trip was going to traverse through mountain twisties, there were some open highway portions as well.

Result: My experience was somewhat mixed. The V1 picked up every threat I came across but I wasn't overly impressed with its "around the bend" radar detection ability. Case in point: One tiny "blink and you'll miss it" town on my way to Telluride lay right past a long, lazy curve. I had already dipped below PSL in anticipation of an LEO around the corner but since my V1 was quiet, I thought there probably won't be one. Well, as soon as I came around the bend and entered the town, I was staring an LEO right in the face sitting no more than 20 yards away, facing the flow of traffic. A half second before he came into view, the V1 went from silent/zero dots to blaring my ears off with a full strength K band signal. Good thing I wasn't speeding or I could've been toast. Looking at the GOL tests involving the V1, it is supposed to have the best detection around a curve. Now it's possible that LEO hit me with instant-on but it is very unlikely considering the setting. The gun was sitting on his dash and he had a notebook in his lap that he was typing into as cars drove past, glancing up at his radar gun from time to time.

This happened again, also with K band an hour later. This time the curve was even lazier than the first one although the cop was sitting much further away. It was a slightly curvy entrance to a long, straight stretch of road and he was sitting it its farthest end.

Positive feedback: All that hoopla about V1's Ka detection being amazing isn't just hoopla. I experienced it first hand MANY times during the trip. At one location, I started getting a Ka signal on a straight but hilly stretch of road while leaving one of the bigger cities on my way back. There was no LEO to be found. This is where the arrows come in damn handy. V1 was telling me that signal was over the hill and getting stronger. Sure enough, the LEO was sitting 30 yards from the top on the other side. But get this: He was facing THE OTHER WAY! So V1 gave me a signal from a half mile away to a threat that wasn't even facing my direction! Seems almost hard to believe until you experience it. As I drove past him, the signal went from 70% strength to 100% and arrow moved to the back. So this was where I got to test its claim of "360 degrees of protection" as well. The rear antenna gave me a full blast signal all the way until I reached the next hill a half mile away and dipped past it but even then it went down to 70% and stayed there for another half mile. That is no easy feat folks! This is one serious piece of machinery.

I hear non-V1 owners say all the time that arrows mean nothing to them and when they hear a signal, they slow down. That isn't the point. The arrows are the one thing that once you learn to appreciate, you WILL wonder how you ever lived without. Twice on this trip, I drove past a parked LEO but V1 kept telling me there were 2 bogeys not one, and both front and rear arrows were lit. Moments later, an LEO drove past me from the opposite direction. Watching those arrows dance around can be fascinating!

V1 debunked a personal myth for me that I even wrote above in my earlier post. I found Ka being WIDELY used among the Colorado Highway Patrol officers, and not only in their standard Crown Vics, but the latest Chargers and Magnums (2 cars that I was thinking will be outfitted with laser since they have to be new additions to their fleet). The last 110 miles of my trip were on I-25, the main highway that runs through the length of the state. So that's to say it is your typical highway; a mostly straight stretch of road as far as the eye can see. I came across two Ka ambushes set up by CHP. I wasn't speeding more than 8-9 miles above PSL anyway but it was still cool to see how early I got the alert even though there were hundreds of cars ahead of me to block the signal.

So THAT is why I am thinking of keeping my V1 for good. Simply because radar is A LOT more widely used in Colorado than I had imagined, even in the newest LE vehicles.

Oh, I should mention that I was in the "All Bogeys" mode for most of the trip, something that's a must whenever away from pesky sources of false positives.

Unfortunately, I did not encounter laser at all on this trip so cannot report on V1's ability against it, but as I said earlier, early detection against laser is a rare, rare chance so I am not even going to hope to be protected.

I also didn't find any X-band in use so upon my return, I reprogrammed the V1 to ignore X-band falses from automatic doors. I also did the full K-band auto-mute reprogramming that I alluded to in my earlier post using the directions in one of the radardetector.net stickies. The above two have made the V1 MUCH quieter as I was hoping. Also, I use "Logic" mode while driving around Denver. In downtown etc. where K falsing is most likely, I turn the V1 off. After all, it isn't like I can speed through gridlocked traffic anyway!

 

Thinking about getting this but the installer quoted me a price of $1400.00

http://www.k40.com/

 

i need one my passport keeps fuggin up on me blasts laser anytime i let off the gas for some unknown reason.

 

The K40 is an overpriced POS with marginal radar detection and it failed to jam any laser guns used by the police.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9fwJCRDk2Ik

 

It is from electonic interference in you car because the Bels and Escorts don't have a filter like the Valentine One to keep this from happening.

This is a well known problem and it is talked about all over the radar detector forums.

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...le-8500-a.html

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...ser-alert.html

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...laser-x50.html

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...elerating.html

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...0-non-x50.html

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...er-alerts.html

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...eleration.html

 

Here's review on it. We [me and my family]were going camping, down by Pismo Beach, CA. So I thought, what a wonderful way to test it. Thirty minutes into the trip, we're coming across some corn fields, and the Ka-band starts go nuts. I'm looking at the arrow, confused, and we're driving, as we get closer to the corn fields, it's going 100%, all out. Turns out there was a CA Highway Patrol guy, hiding behind the corn fields, so that pretty much saved me from getting a ticket. However, that was the only encounter I have had, to this date, with a police officer or highway patrol, that really makes me question the purchase.

I decided I would go through another test, as I live about two miles away from a police station, I figured that I'm bound to get a live radar there. I'm driving, and as I approach it, it's not even detecting it, until I get within 50 yards from the police station, which also had me puzzled.

Another thing, is when I go to my local Vons or Albertsons, the K-band just goes NUTS! I don't know if the security system, or whatever, is giving a K radar signal, if anyone can help me out, I'd apprecaite it.

Overall, I think it is okay, but have only had one encounter with a police officer with his radar, its probably just my luck though.

 

It's the sensor for the automatic doors used in most retail stores these days, they apparently use some sort of K-band to look for any movement and, obviously, open the doors if it detects any motion. In my experience all radar detectors 'detect' this K-band activity, but some radar detectors will allow you to disable K-band for a certain location (GPS I assume?) or mute just the K-band, etc.

 

vnarang, read my post above on K band automute. Then go to the V1 section on the RD.net forums and you will find the sticky quite easily. Follow the auto-mute settings and it will make the K V1 quieter around K falses, but only for 30 seconds (factory setting is 10 seconds). So if you pull up to and idle by an automatic door, it won't help. You will need to turn the volume down in those cases.

 

the V1 along with any detector is useless against laser, and that's all that seems to be used in Southern California.

but i do give the V1 credit for it's ability to pick up radar signals.

 

I live in Sarasota, Florida with probaly the highest end cops in the country especially since its one of the wealthiest and there are many fast cars is this area, i wont drive a day without seeing a car that does 0-60 in under 4 seconds espescially since i usually have to drive on the highway. But anways I love this radar and alot of our cops down here use Pop and Pulse and my radar has saved me mannnnny times and when im on the highway if there are state troopers hiding my radar will read it about a mile/mile and a half away but LASER is the only thing you cant really avoid especially if your traveling at high speeds. My step dad has the valentine on his new 997 twin turbo and he said for the money the Whistler is a much better deal at around 125 bucks for 1 day shipping so this should give people something to think about especially if your trying to save a little bit of money.

 

Having driven a lot now in CA and CO...i have to say that there is no worse speed trap anywhere I have been than in Colorado Springs and the surrounding area. Local politicians have removed every way for the city to make money save 1: writing tickets. I used a v1 and a passport with relative success...and in the drive between LA and Colorado i was able to set quite a pace. Finally I was pulled over by aircraft (no I was not going THAT fast.) Moral of the story is that regardless of what we do with radar detectors, there will always be a way for us to be pulled over. It is a fun game gentlemen but we all get burned eventually. Nice review...and gl!

 

I recently did a 4,500+ mile trip from Dallas to Boston to Miami and back to Dallas in the Z. The V1 worked awesome in all of the states, but I was especially careful in areas were laser was detected. Saved my butt at least 15 times on the trip and allowed me to cruise at high speed with piece of mind. You still need to be vigilant about looking ahead and behind you for bogeys (ie. pacing, etc).

 

Nothing better then seeing that pissed off face when you pass the 5-0 and they see your V1 posted up on the windshield.

 

I use my gaydar instead.