V1 still gets way too many false positives.

V1 gets my vote.

Beltronics can suck it.

The Valentine One alerts to all police frequencies in the U.S. whether it is X band, K band, or Ka band, or laser. A radar detector does not know if it is a cop shooting X band or K band or a door opener using an X band or K band transmitter because they all use the same frequency. If you have a detector that doesn't alert to door openers until you are right on top of them, it is weak at detecting X band, K band, or both. The Valentine One is more sensitive to radar and laser and has 2 patented radar detecting antennas (one facing forward and one backward) so it will alert quicker, from a longer distance, and for a longer period of time because of this sensitivity. It is not a false positive if the V1 alerts to police frequencies, it is doing its job.

Other detectors can do the same job just as efficiently without throwing a warning for every signal out there.

What don't you understand? X and K band door openers operate on the exact same frequency as police radar and no radar detector can tell the difference. If your detector can't detect door openers, it is weak and it will suck at detecting actual police radar. You can go and buy a cheap detector that is weak and it will be nice and quiet for you as you receive a ticket because it no good at detecting radar or you can get a sensitive V1 and decide for yourself what it a cop and what isn't. One gives you the option to use your common sense and the other is a silent brick. A cheap detector is like a quiet security guard that is 90% blind and deaf, they may tell you that someone is lurking around every once in a while but you will be fuck** most of the time. The Valentine One is like a security guard that has eagle vision and the ears of a rabbit and it will alert to 100% of police radar and laser frequencies and let you decide.

I'm not talking about a cheap cobra. I'm talking about something like a vector 955 ($200) or an escort 8500 ($300). Both of which I know friends who own and have yet to get a single ticket. Its not about whether or not it can see EVERYTHING but rather if its smart enough to filter out NOISE compared to cops. And no, they don't all use the same exact frequency. Theres a reason you see 95% positive reviews for other cheaper radar detectors. They work fine so don't pretend like you are radar god b/c you are not.

I have more knowledge about radar and laser countermeasures than you could ever dream of having. The Bel 955 will work fine for somebody who doesn't have enough money and doesn't mind having weak radar detection over a hill, around a corner, or when a cop is using instant-on. Door openers that use X and K band are using the exact same frequency as radar guns that cops use regardless of whether you know that or not. Weak radar detectors may work alright on a straight flat road but the sensitive ones like the V1 own the hills, curves, instant-on radar, etc.

Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR

Police Radar Bands (USA)

X-Band 10.525 GHz +/- 25 MHz
K-Band 24.150 GHz +/- 100 MHz
Ka-Band 33.4-36 GHz


Radar Detector FAQ - Guys of LIDAR

What is the difference between X, K, and Ka band?

Here are the basics of what you need to know:

X-Band is the least common police radar. It is rarely used anymore except in a couple of states, most notably New Jersey and Ohio. Some small towns might also use it on occasion. X-Band IS frequently used by motion sensors, such as those that automatically open the doors at your local supermarket, so in most cases this is what causes X-band false alerts.


K-Band probably has the most radar units out there on the road. However, K-Band is also used for some motions sensors too. Treat K-Band alerts with caution, until you have identified the source.

Ka-Band radar is the newest band utilized for police radar. Some sources claim that most of the new units sold are Ka. Generally, with the higher end detectors, false alerts on Ka are rare, so every Ka alert should be treated as police radar until you know otherwise.


Guys of LIDAR - Radar Detector Test - August 2007

Look how weak the Bel 955 is compared to the V1. Notice how the Valentine One beats the Bel 955 by 400-1500 feet in radar detection which gives you better sensitivity and a longer time to slow down. Look how the Bel 955 is not as good around a curve compared to the Valentine One.

Here is a quote from the instant-on radar test. They used 4 different Valentine Ones and they each alerted 3 out of 3 times for a perfect score with a 100% success rate. They used 2 different Bel 955s and they each alerted 1 out of 3 times with a 33% success rate. You can try to save $200 by buying a cheaper radar detector but you will pay that back in speeding tickets.

"For this test, the radar unit we used was a Kustom Eagle @ 35.5 GHz Ka-Band. The target vehicle with the detectors was positioned at a stationary point approximately 1 mile away from the radar vehicle, with some terrain in between. Each detector was hit three times with instant-on bursts lasting approximately 2 second each. The results indicate whether each detector alerted or not."

While this might be true that only makes you sound like a douchebag.

Claims like this on the internet always make me laugh. Why bother posting about something you can never prove?

the 9500i/xi has the ability to turn off false alarms. So when I drive and this bank and K band goes off, i can block that frequency. so even if a cop uses K band near the bank, its a difference K frequency and will still alert. I love mine! way better features than the V1 IMO. GPS you can set locations, when you get a alert the gps speed shows up. idk check the site out its a awesome detector.

Laser Jammer Tests - Laser Jammer Reviews & News

http://www.laserstarusa.com/

arent laser jammers illegal?

not in most states...

Jammers are illegal in certain states.

I have a cobra, and I hate it. Worst waste of $200 I have ever spent.

Aren't radar detectors illegal in most states???? doesn't stop people from running them.

I have a V1 and I do about 1200 miles of highway driving a week, believe me when I say that it is a good thing to have a sensitive radar detector that picks up and displays everything without filtering no matter how weak the signal is.

Here in Texas 95% of our DPS guys run Ka band and I have picked them up running speed traps from almost 12 miles away. Anytime I see Ka on the highway I know someone is somewhere running radar and unfiltered access to that info will save your ass, even when I am picking them up from so far, sometimes they only actually get displayed 2 or 3 times before I get to them.

The arrows are a god send if you are on a divided highway in the dark and someone is running radar on opposite side. You cant see anything but headlights, but my V1 knows when he has gone past and its safe.

I average about 95mph on the highway, and I have gotten zero speeding tickets to date.

In your case I absolutely wouldn't argue against getting a V1 driving that many highway miles. I drive about 50/50 so I would leave whatever detector I had on autoscan. The Bel 995 looks nice right about now.

yeah cobras are weak. i remember getting one when i had my 01 protege. i believe i got pulled a few times wit it.

no radar detector arent illegal in most state. i think only delaware or one of those states has it illegal. in illinois it not illegal to have a radar detector, but its a violation to have anything obstructing ur windshield. so that goes for having those air refresheners hangin from the rear view mirror. most cops dont bother wit that law, but its still an excuse to get u to pull over.

Amen. I have a V1 and that thing is worth its weight in gold.

Are the external radar detectors that much better?

+1 vote for V1

The Laser Star is a POS compared to quality jammers like the Laser Interceptor and the Laser Pro Park.

Radar Detector Tests and Reviews by Guys of LIDAR


Laser jammers are only illegal in nine states so far.

http://guysoflidar.com/usa-laser-jammer-laws.html


http://valentine1.com/lab/Previously1.asp

I want a hidden detector, with the receiver remote-mounted down in the grille, but you don't make one. Why not?
- B.L., Florida

I want a remote too, but I don't want to give up any protection. For the same reason you see high radio towers, the detector antenna needs to be high in the car; it sees over hills better, increasing range.

Mounting down in the grille amounts to a low tower. You also have the problem of traffic ahead blocking the signal. The only time I've seen a grille mount outperform a windshield mount was a case where the detector could look under the truck just ahead. Normally, a high mount has an advantage because it's up where it can see through the windows of other traffic.

Another thing; the really sophisticated direction finding and bogey counting that V1 has requires perfectly synchronized information from the front and rear antenna. It's possible to maintain that synchronization when the system is broken apart into units at the front and rear of the car, but you pay F-15 prices. My best compromise between maintaining performance on the one hand, and hiding the detector on the other, is the Concealed Display. This keeps V1 in the window where it works great, but operates "dark;" all the light-up warnings are transferred to a small Display that you can locate where only you will see it.