Problem with a Valentine V1?
 

We just returned from the Porsche Parade in Monterey, CA. Having traveled from the Southwest, we had many miles on I-40, CA 58 and 101 highways. I am using a V1 radar detector and noticed something on this trip I had never seen before. We were getting numerous (and I mean on the order of at least one every 30 minutes) of false positives which I believe were coming from big rigs. That is, while in the A mode, the V1 would alarm, first with a weak signal and then becoming stronger and we would slow down only to almost never see a LEO, but always seeing at least one big rig. In many cases as we passed the big rig going in the opposite direction, we would get a weak side alert and then a weak alert to the rear.. I also experienced a few times where I was getting a weak signal to the front as I was to pass a big rig and when I passed him, the V1 would indicate sideways and then fully alert to the rear right at the big rig. We had several of us in our group and we all experienced the same phenomena. It was almost like LE has placed radar emitters on the big rigs to provide us a plethora of alerts. Has anyone else seen anything like this from the V1s? It almost made the V1 worthless (though it did save our bacon a couple of times).

I've gotten weak alerts from all sorts of vehicles, including a crappy old conversion van once. I think in some cases, it's a radar detector. Yes, I'm certain that some really bad radar detectors can actually emit rf. I used to work for a company that used satellite communications, and we had experienced it.

But in your case, my guess would be that they may have some sort of proximity alert system or something.

I don't think it has anything to do with law enforcement.

We found EXACTLY the same thing! Only in CA and only with the Semi's. Did not have time to contact Valentine as I am still on my way home from the parade.

I get them as well, very annoying

mine did that. Sent it in for constant xband falses. $86 later it was fine.

I use my V1 on I-5 between Lost Angeles and Frisco, 99 and Sacto, and elsewhere, frequently. Have never had this sort of thing happen. But mine has been upgraded and I keep it set on the "Logic" setting. So who knows?

I have two of them and on my older one I disabled X band which vastly reduced the falses. The newer one supposedly has a new false rejection feature but it still isn't foolproof.

The current PITA in LA is all the "Your Speed Is" radar signs they're putting up.

Radar jammers in big rigs?

My cell phone sets off my V1. Setting it to advanced logic mode helped.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1403597368.jpg

I just received my V1 yesterday, I drive to paso robles from central valley every day. So ill see tomorrow how it will do with the semi's. Hopefully I don't get the same results on a brand new out the box.

Just got mine back a few weeks ago from being upgraded. Having the exact same experience. Was also told that the blind-spot cameras on so many cars will set them off. But semis definitely do...to the point that I've now stopped using it all together.

Just got mine back a few weeks ago from being upgraded but having the exact same experience. Was also told that the blind-spot cameras on so many cars will set them off. But semis definitely do...to the point that I've now stopped using it all together.

I just returned from Monterey, CA as well on those same roads and noticed the same things.

I suspect it is radar jammers and adaptive cruise control. Many of the new high end cars are using the radar front and rear for their cruise control.

The big rigs will emit a single alert as you approach from behind and got to a dual alert once you roll past them. It is so bad the V1 is just an annoyance. I only had two occasions when it alerted me to a real threat in almost 5,000 miles of driving. I had several hundred false alerts.

Some of the cars must be blasting radar at high levels. The Mercedes S class are using a lower level of power so they don't alert for a mile like some cars. Radar detectors are almost useless now and it will only get worse and worse.

Mine does this too. Audi's adaptive cruise control sets mine off too.

That being said, I'd rather no that something could be up rather than get handed a summons...

well today was the first day using the v1, I did pick up some false alerts. But not like some are describing in the first few post. I guess on my way home we will see how it goes. There is alot of rigs on the roads I am traveling on. The false alerts I did get was when a rig on the opposite side of the road was on the shoulder. Other then that not any before or after. I have no clue what that could be.

In parts of New Mexico and Arizona the only other thing in site was a big rig. I would get the alert in front, watch as it went by and point right at the simi, and keep on in as behind me as it went by.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1403643460.jpg

Not much traffic sometimes.

I can guarantee that it's not "radar jammers" in big rigs. That's absurd. They would lose their livelihoods immediately when caught, (which would be extremely easy for LE), and they have no need for such a thing. I haven't seen a big rig going much over the speed limit in years.

Use your head for a minute.

The same reason that big rigs don't speed much anymore is the reason that your fancy toy doesn't work anymore. Constant GPS tracking and the signals that it emits. And yes, all of the adaptive cruise and other crap is just the cherry on top.

I think radar detectors in general will go the way of the dodo pretty soon. A lot of LEO's are using instant-on laser anymore, which means all your detector will do is confirm you got caught before the lights are on.
There may be some areas (NM, SW Colorado, Nevada come to mind) where the local agencies haven't yet adopted these systems. But they will eventually. It's really a shame since there are so many highways like what's pictured above - empty, flat, and not rutted.

I hate to brag because as soon as I do, I'll get nailed but I've driven x-country more times than I can count w/o a radar detector and only gotten one speed ticket ever. And that one was in Utah coming down the 15 in pitch dark, middle of nowhere where I should not have been speeding.

I've also used a V-1 a couple times but I think that in a certain way, it's a hindrance. I rely on it too much and don't use all of my senses to sniff-out speed enforcement. And don't get me wrong, any time you are exceeding the speed limit you are risking a ticket. But you can severely stack the deck in your favor by using some common sense. It's worked out well for me. :)

Highly illegal, like Federal illegal because that's the FCC. Pretty darn hard to find too, I suspect.

laser jammers is another story. Also probably illegal in most places, but then due to local laws.

Yep, got to be careful. V1 should just be an addition to your senses, not a replacement. Kind of like having an extra gauge in the car to give you more info about what the engine is doing. That doesn't mean that you can ignore all of the other gauges.

Ummm not every trucking company runs GPS. The oilfield service co I work for has over 1000 trucks in North America and we won't install them.

I wonder if some of the trucks run adaptive cruise or sonar to watch out for animals on the road... Maybe this is what sets off the v1. Yup - did some digging. Volvo has Volvo Enhanced Cruise which monitors safe driving distance and looks for objects on the road. Page 8... http://www.volvotrucks.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/VTNA_Tree/ILF/Products/VNL%20Series/VNL%20730_780%20Brochure.pdf

I get this ALL the time with my new V1, not so much with the older ones. I travel I70 inbetween Kansas City & St. Louis. It's REALLY annoying.

I'm doing a 3000 mile MC road trip next week and I was thinking of getting another V-1 for the bike but now I think I'll skip it. Just two deer whistles and a lot of crossed fingers. :)

I usually just drive the speed limit or keep up with traffic..

Have not seen a big rig speed in years???!!! Holy Crap Dude no offense but come drive around 285 in Atlanta GA sometime or up 75 North just North of Atlanta

I have now driven my 1985 911 to:

2014-Monterey, CA
2013-Traverse City, MI
2012-Salt Lake City, UT
2011-Savannah, GA
2010-St. Charles, IL
2009-Keystone, CO
2008-Charlotte, NC
2007-San Diego, CA
(2006-Flew to Portland)
2005-Hershey, PA
2004-Fort Worth, TX
2000-Sacramento, CA
1996-Miami, OK

No tickets at all for anything in over 30 years. Not even a local ticket, not even a warning.

That's great but how fast do you drive? I just drove a PU truck to SF and back and did not even think about speed enforcement because I was not speeding, (much).

Some of my x-country jaunts have included triple-digit speeds at times w/o radar detector or tickets. These were all through open/barren areas of course with light traffic, but you still need a combination of luck and skill to avoid expensive penalties.

Where?

And I haven't had a ticket in so long I can't remember the last one.

I drive with the flown of traffic plus a knot or two on the Interstate. On rural rounds, unless I know them, no more than the SL plus three (more if on a divided rural hwy) unless I have a local in front of me.

How much are you guys paying for getting a flash update???

on the V1 factory website, I entered my 10 digit V1 serial number and it said $199 to update it. (I dunno, unit is 6-8 years old)

you can get a brand new model for $400,

so how for your own flash experience?

A friend of mine sent in an old one to have updated. They sent him out a new one that was skinnier for the update price.

the big trucks may have something that the weigh stations read as they go buy so they dont have to stop. maybe kind of like the car pass things the yankees have for toll roads.

the trucks could also have something that transmit's out to let their company know where they are and how fast they are driving at all times.

Not just trucks. Lots of door openers now transmit on Ka band, even more on K and X. X is worthless - always a false. Disable it without any risk. I doubt there's a cop in the US that still uses X band anywhere, I've never seen it be real.

Infiniti SUVs set off the laser mode (adaptive cruise I think). Some issues with semis but not many. Mostly it's the door openers. Very annoying.

So I spoke with a very nice lady at Valentine today and she wants me to go in and reprogram my V1 to turn the Traffic Monitoring filter on. Personally, I do not believe this is the issue, but I will try it and see what happens. She also said that Valentine had been slammed with requests for help over the past week or so (sounds like many of us reached out to them after our experiences in driving to/from Monterey).

After using a V1 for awhile, it seemed the only time it detected radar that was the POPO was on Ka or Laser. So I turned off X and K. If I where to make a long trip, out of state, I will probably turn them back on.

Drove to St Louis and back yesterday. It seems that the FedEx fleet sets it off more than any other carrier?? Gotta call Valentine tomorrow

I don't use one either. I had one in college while in Montana. The one time it should have saved me, I was in my car with two friends, yakking away, radio on as well. Detector volume was to low. I noticed that it was warning me after I noticed the flashing lights.

Like Denis says, common sense (knocking on wood).

I was all sold on skipping the V-1 because of this trucking thing and then my buddy tonight brought up the fact that I plan on taking a lot of county or state roads, (as opposed to the interstate), where big rigs will be scarce and local enforcement might be out doing revenue enhancement. So now I'm leaning back towards one.

Hmmm...

Mine has saved my bacon more times than I can count. I wouldn't do the haul you discuss without it.

This seems to be a problem, but only in these metro areas at this time:

Traffic Monitor Filter

Leaky/cheap radar detectors...

I also wonder if the new proximity sensors used in cruise-control and impact avoidance are setting them off. Frankly I'd like X-band just shut off. No cops use it any more.