I am in SW Florida and this time of year when the snowbirds come down the cops are out in a force like I have never sen back in NY. I am thinking a Valentine One. $399. on the Valentine site and over $450. on Ebay. That I am not sure about. valentine say he only sells direct, anyways I am looking for feedback from you guys who have a detector. THX, mark

 

I have both an Escort 8500 and a V-1.

Valentine is worth every, single, red penny. Best in class.

 

Thanks, I am leaning towards the valentine.

 

Im using a Passport 9500ix. It has GPS in it to memorize false alarms. Im not sure if the v1's have GPS in them, but I had a Passport 8500 and it false alarm like nobodies business. Everything set it off, so I sent it back and got the 9500ix. If it gets the same alert 3 times in the same area is stores it as a false alert so it doesn't keep happening.

You dont want a detector that goes off 24/7 because you become condition to ignore the alarms since it is always going off.

 

+1 on the Passport 9500ix. I sold all my V-1s and started running the Passport 9500ix in our fleet about a year ago (we're in the ground transportation service business primarily taking guests to and from the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale airports). The Passport 9500ix is much more sophisticated with it's GPS and red light camera warnings. I will say one thing about the Valentines . . . they hold their value well!

 

Another+1 on the Passport 9500ix.

 

I have the V1. I really like the signal direction feature .

 

I read somewhere that some of the new cars with adaptive cruise control, the kind that slows you down if you are following too close, work on a radar beam that will set off radar detectors. There aren't too many of these new cars on the road yet, but any of you guys with radar detectors run into this problem?

 

See ... everyone likes that feature, and I think it's what made the V1 really take off in sales in the first place. But what bothers me about them are a number of reviews that claim that the direction info they receive is often incorrect, making it kind of gimmicky. (Reflections confuse it, etc.)

I don't know all of the details but I've also heard a lot of stories that Valentine's owner was a former Cincinnati Microwave employee who worked on the Escort detectors. After he left/got fired, he created the V1 using a lot of "borrowed" tech from them but changed just enough to avoid a lawsuit. As the Escort kept going through development, the V1 kept on using the same basic older tech he started out with. He's supposedly kind of an eccentric guy too. Not saying that's necessarily bad -- but makes it a little questionable, IMO.

 

I don't usually pay too much attention to side signals ( usually automatic doors ). The front and rear are the ones I watch closely. And you learn which types of radar are being used in which areas. Small townships typically still use K and X band radar, while Hiway patrol and cities use new style Ka and Laser systems.

 

I purchased an Escort Passport Max in May and tossed my V1 aside. Best all around detector I have ever used. No false alarms, a lot of learning features, GPS and picks up further than my V1 ever did.

https://www.radarbusters.com/Escort-...ssport-max.htm

 

I always liked my Bel 965 but after 7 years it may be time for a new one, with the new features. That Passport 9500 sounds nice. My first detector was an Escort back in the late 90s. I was pulled over in Ontario and it was so old and junky, the OPP did not bother to confiscate it. I guess I hold on to stuff too long (like my 1977 Honda Goldwing).

 

I am in SW FL, I use a V1, but was out on I75 this week and false d almost non stop for 170+ miles headed North almost under construction all the way.. I have had my V1 upgraded twice,the last time it came back with the explanation that the feds are burying some type of device, while repairing or expanding Interstates,that will record traffic patterns and assist in identifying potential traffic slow downs but also causes false alerts from the V1. I would seriously research this before any purchase.Of course I shut the unit off, said a prayer and floored the accelerator.

 

I don't know much about your area ... but in California I have found that "X" and "K" (which are where 99% of the "falsies" come from ... ) are no longer used by law enforcement ("k" is still used by a few "your speed is .... " signs).
SO, In California, if you turn off "x" and "K" (in programming mode) and leave on "Ka" and laser YOU END UP WITH an awesome (nearly falsie-free) tool. I have a V1 in both of my AMGs and one in my F250 as well ... and consider them required "safety" equip.
Cheers,
Chris

 

I 'm running the Cobra SPX 5500 in both SRT's. I love the "train approaching" alert when there is not a railroad crossing anywhere in sight. It keeps me amused, however, the K band and Ka reception is awesome, 2 miles or so.