Well, I looked through the archives and didn't see a post directly related to the Valentine One radar detector. It got glowing reviews from a lot of members, and was recommended to me after I got my speeding ticket. I thought I'd start a thread.

I bought the unit directly from Valentine (the only way to go, unless you buy used) and it came with a pretty comprehensive set of accessories. Two power cords, hardwire install kit, visor mount, suction mount, cigarette power adapter, extra suction cups, and manual. Shipping was $16.00, FEDEXed. The unit arrived two days after I placed my order. Price is a bit steep at $399, but this thing is supposed to be one of the best and it's certainly not the most expensive unit out there. (I've seen some radar detector setups for $1100+??)

Appearance-wise, it's smaller than I thought it would be. It's also much, much lighter than I imagined. Some people have complained about "old styling" but in my opinion, the Valentine One "looks the business". Very military-looking, built like an HP oscilloscope from the seventies. I'm not impressed by the "ladies shaving razor"-look of some of the other manufacturer's units.

Just for fun, I went for a drive with the Valentine on my visor at night, tracing my usual commute routes.

I noticed a couple of things:

1) Two cops pulled over a car in tandem on the opposite side of an 8-lane highway. The Valentine one picked up a couple of short "blips" on Ka-band about a mile away from the cars.
2) Full-blown Ka alert on a hidden officer on a highway exit ramp, a place where I never knew that police were checking for speed. After I passed up the off-ramp, the V1 still gave the rear Ka-band alert. Interesting.
3) "Speed Radar Signs", (the ones that show you your speed) are detectable from about a mile away on Ka-band. The interesting thing is that when the sign is off (not displaying speeds) the V1 will still pick the sign up from about 300-350 feet.

I like the fact that the unit is pretty much "plug and play", simple to use, and that it has two volume controls (one for mute and one for normal operation.) I can't say much about how the Valentine One is better or worse than other detectors, but it seems to do what it says it will do. Even in the short time I've had it, it's pretty obvious that Ka-band alerts are always speed radars. K-band is sometimes police, but sometimes a false alert and X-band is almost always a false alert. Now I know when not to pass, when to slow down when everyone else is speeding, etc.

Features I wish it had:

1) Individual bogey counters, arrows, and strength meters for each band
2) An option to disable the radar mode display when no signals are being received.
3) The ability to dim the display even more at night.

 

I heard that there's a "stealth" version of this I believe. Like a smaller radar transceiver that mounts to window leaving the larger unit wherever you choose as to not be visually detectable. Did you get this too?

Justin

 

I've been struggling between buying the V1 or the Passport 8500. Hmmm.

 

Good info thanks. I've been contemplating buying a radar detector but wasn't sure which one to get. I read the reviews concerning the Valentine and they all sound good but I wasn't sure still. Now after reading your review, I've become convinced about what theyve been saying. I have even seen them used on Craig's list for reasonable prices. Hopefully I'll have one soon

 

V1 ROCKS !

Once you get used to it use the remote display option and tuk it in the side of the dash...completely dark but for sounds...once ya know the bells and whistles by heart!
Saved me twice on the way home today...and has saved me hundreds of times...well worth the money and more!

K.K.

 

Yes, I've read the comparisons and it looks like the Bel Sti is the big daddy now for Spectre V.III RDD immunity. This is supposedly a big deal for truckers, Canadians, and VA/DC residents. The Valentine One currently is detectable by Spectre.

Also, another thing to note is that my younger brother has an 8 year old, cheap radio-shack Ka-band detector and it has saved him quite a few times in the last 4 years on the drive from Chicago to Knoxville. It doesn't even have a "power bar" or anything and cost around $80 new. Dirt cheap detectors, then, aren't a complete waste of money necessarily.

 

Which radar detector is the one that has the GPS? I know you can set it up to remind you of speed traps.

 

Did you hard wire it into your car? If so, how hard was it and where did you get the power from?

 

Yes, it is hardwired to turn on in the accessory/start position.

Power comes from the engine bay positive fuse block through a 50 amp fuse to a 10 AWG wire to the gasket below the battery tray.
Ground comes from the chassis.

Both get routed to a sealed, epoxy-potted ABS box with an automotive relay. The automotive relay is switched by power spliced into the glovebox lamp. From there, the power goes into a 6-slot fuse block. The Valentine gets a 2 amp blade fuse.

The entire ABS box/fuse block assembly goes under the passenger footwell carpet where there is normally a piece of polystyrene foam.

Sorry for the complicated explanation.

 

The newest Escort series has the GPS overlay, supposedly to rid you of the annoying store automatic doors that set off radar detectors. I was looking at buying a V1 for when I purchased my Crossfire months ago, but my mom got me the Escort 8500X, so I don't see a need to buy it. Can't beat free.


Justin

 

Thanks for the info on the hardwire sonoronos!

 

I really like this install of the V1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJa1g3bBSXw

 

Never had the V1 but I've had several escorts over the last 25years. I haven't had a ticket in 10 years the last two with the 8500. Ten years ago I dropped my escort solo, had to order another. Guess what two tickets in the four days I was waiting for the new one to come in. Won't drive without one and they are still legal in Maryland.

 

Sorry to be a downer guys, but....These radar detectors are a waste of money, Cops have little trcks to get around your radar/laser detector. by the time it goes off it's wayyy too late. Also the highway patrol doesn't need a radar gun to write you a ticket guys. if he feels your speeding he'll write you up for an estamated speed he was trained at the academy to measure by eyeball, so the judge will side with him.

save your $400 and buy something usefull.

 

Hmm, either the new V1 or the Escort 9500. Both are quite impressive.

 

Cool install BrianBrave...but with the V1 detector unit still on the windshield, doesn't the rear view mirror display become redundant?

I went for a quick solo poker run to blow off some steam. St. Paul to Stillwater to Taylor Falls and back down to St. Paul.

Some things I noticed:

1. Going 10 over the limit, with one car about half a mile behind me, when all of a sudden the V1 shows 4-bar Ka radar from behind. I slow down instantly, then pull off the highway. I'm guessing either the car behind me or the car behind him was a LEO.
2. I kept getting POP Ka alerts going through Stillwater from somewhere behind me. V1 shows a "J" meaning that it's a junk signal - turns out that the Toyota Celica behind me (with the GT3 wing) has a radar detector. I pull over and let him pass - no more alerts.
3. Several K-band alerts on overpass speedtraps.

Maxwell, I think it is hyperbole to say that the V1 is a "waste of money." For example, when that LEO popped me from behind, I knew instantly to slow down, then pull off and let the LEO by. That's $137 saved right there, and I've only had the darn thing for a week.

 

I don't know, I'm smart enough to not speed on open highways, where your the main target out there by the cops. they see sports car and automatically lock in on you.

I do the speed limit and it saved me $400 on the purchase of a radar unit. I think you guys just like to buy tech gizmos..

 

Regardless of whatever tricks they have, these things do work if you know how to use them. If you're cruising an empty highway with no one ahead of you, these things are useless. However, if there is light traffic ahead and they get pinged, these will go off.

My favorite tactic is to find a "rabbit", someone whipping down the left lane. I then get behind him (or her, I suppose) and leave about 1/4 mile distance. If they get pinged, I get an alert in time to slow down. They also help more on roads you are somewhat familiar with.

Detectors aren't some magic devices that alert you 100% of the time, but to call them ineffective is inaccurate and means that you likely never took the time to learn how to use one properly.

I just upgraded from a Bel 870 to an Escort Solo S2. It picked up a cop tracking on 476S (aka the Blue Route) just 2 days ago. Picked up his K band from a little over 1/2 mile. Plenty of time for me to slow down from 75mph to 60mph

 

can the V1 be unpluged while hardwired to use on a family car as well? So, it would be hardwired in the xfire and pluged with the c. lighter courd in the family car.

 

I use the bel rx65 which performs better than the valentine one and you can find it for under $250 online.

http://radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

The bel sti is even better.

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=100542