Radar Detectors

[yelcab1]

V1, don't leave home without it

[Harlan Chinn]

The V1 seems to work the best in this geographic area. But nothing is going to save you from the WSP aircraft and them radioing your pace to a group of cruisers ahead. I've found that speeding is best on the stretches of highway that are known for not having speedtrap locations and simple common sense of sighting front and back for known law enforcement type vehicles parked, following behind or driving ahead.

[350HP930]

Originally posted by cstreit
Sorry guys but the V1 is the only way to go. If you don't have the arrows, you don't know where to look. If you don't have the counter with the arrows, you don't know that one signal is from a garage on the side of the road, but the other is from a trooper coming up from behind.

I disagree concidering that I do not take the time to LOOK at my radar detector before taking action and the fact that the V1 is not the only way to go.

I treat my radar detector an acoustic and not an optical warning device so I could never justify paying an additional $300 for some arrows, a counter and upgradable firmware. I have much better hardware to spend the addional money on.

When it comes to sensitivity and false signal rejection the V1 is no better than the other top of the line detectors out there.

As I stated before just as you don't need a rolex to tell time you also don't need a V1 to avoid tickets.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Really? Just a couple of weeks ago, I was driving past a known emitter--a BMW dealership with some kind of microwave burglar system that I pass frequently--and I ignored it, as usual. Then I realized the Valentine's arrow was pointing ahead (and blinking, which means "_this_ is the stronger threat") with the numeral 2 (two threats being received) in the display, and the BMW dealer was behind me. There was a cop half a mile up Route 9W. If I hadn't had the arrows, I wouldn't have figured it out in time. Saved me a ticket. Thank you, Mike Valentine. As the ad says, quoting Car and Driver, "Once you live with the arrows, you'll wonder how you ever managed without them."

Stephan

[ZOA NOM]

Why do you drive a Porsche then? You can get where you need to go in a Beetle. There's a reason why Rolex is at the top of it's field. You get what you pay for. I'm surprised that a P-car driver would cut corners on anything for his passion.

[350HP930]

Not all porsche owners are the kind of people who pay $1000+ for a watch or spend other extravegant amounts on simple devices when there are reasonable alternatives available.

I will leave the bling bling and $500 coffee makers for people that have that kind of money to burn.

Hell, I bought my 930 for less money than I could have bought a corvette for so I guess that just another case of me being cheap, practical and getting what I pay for.

The thing I like about my Bel is that it has different tones for different radar types and signal strengths.

I don't have to look at it to determine if its the door opener, alarm system or a cop at a trap.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

True of the Valentine as well, besides which you get to select one of three levels of warning. It'll audibly call out everything, some stuff or just the most dangerous.

Stephan

[cstreit]

As I stated before just as you don't need a rolex to tell time you also don't need a V1 to avoid tickets.

THis is not an accurate comparison. Yes a Rolex and a Timex both tell time well enough for 99.99% of the people. But it's an inaccurate comparison because the features of the V1 truley distinguish it from all others. Sort of like the difference between a pocket knife and a swiss army knife. Yes, you can open your wine bottle on the battlefield with a pen-knife, or like the Swiss (I guess) you can use the corkscrew and clean the Brie out of your teeth with the toothpick.

I bought my 930...

By your prior reasoning you should be driving a 1985 Honda Civic. It will do the same basic job as the 930.

Now I typically don't get that passionate about things on this board. However HP, with all due respect, I don't think you've used one enough to develop a true appreciation. Here is why I say that...

1) Audio alerts of signal type tell you very little, other than somewhere, there is some sort of signal. Why? Did you know that reflected X band from an auto-door opener can trigger K-band in a detector? On all of them? If you can't see that it's off to the side, you don't realy know what it is. The V1 can tell you.

2) If there is a cop coming up behind you in medium traffic, his radar is often obscured and shows weaker than normal. Without a rearward facing arrow, you don't know where to concentrate your scanning effort.

3) I have several areas on my regular drive that false (Both on the hi-end Bell in the truck, and on the Valentine...) However some days there is also a speed trap... Without the # of signals, you just never know what's there.

What it boils down to in my mind is really how earnestly you want to "play the game". Personally I consider it somewhat of a sport... I do not take the game of "cops and robbers" or more approprately "revenue enhancers and concious protestors" lightly. Speed traps are an affront to reason as is the 55MPH speed limit. I choose to play the game and want the best tools at my disposal. (But never complain or grouse if/when ticketed) The V1, Laser jammer, and Bear Tracker Highway Patrol alert are all installed.

Will a $100 detector tell you when a cop is near? yes. Will it tell you how many, where they are, etc? No...

So if a road user chooses to walk around the fringes of "the game", and not take it seriously, then you buy the $100 detector. If OTOH you are serious about not getting caught, and have been mentored on the "art of speeding", you buy the V1.

I do not intend to sound anything other than passionate and convinced about this... "You payz yer money, you takes yer chances"

[RoninLB]

Hey Steve,

so i'm north of LA on I-5 going south twords lala land. There is no serious towns or cities to my left or right.. so now I get a low Ka signal and the arrow points ahead.. OK, must be the CHP up ahead.. but I'm in a hill and dip section and the low signal is constant from ahead.. it's reading a constant low beep as I travel another mile which confuses me.. Screw it, better safe than sorry. I detune and get inside a pack of cars in the middle lane..

Bingo.. the CHP was parked in front of a broken down truck in the right shoulder and banging cars from behind as they pass him. I was getting low reflected signals from the rear of cars a mile, at least, back. The arrow saved my ass.

Your Shopping Ctr thread is a routine hiding place for the PD to get radar detector guys without arrows because the non arrow guys figure it's routine Shopping Ctr signals.

different strokes for different folks

[rdane]

As I stated before just as you don't need a rolex to tell time you also don't need a V1 to avoid tickets.

Good statement showing what many folks don't know about a Rolex or a Valentine.

OH, and WSP planes often are using radar themselves. If you are alert you'll get buzzed while they are hitting someone else and get a chance to slow down.

Saved me last year heading north on I5 LaConner tulip trip.

[ZOA NOM]

I rest my case, HP, if you would pay a paltry $1000 for a Rolex, then you really don't get it.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by rdane
.

OH, and WSP planes often are using radar themselves. If you are alert you'll get buzzed while they are hitting someone else and get a chance to slow down.

Saved me last year heading north on I5 LaConner tulip trip.

Hey rdane,

is the plane following parallel to the interstate ?

they must be low to use radar, I think

this sounds like another chapter of Mad Mag's Spy vs Spy

[cstreit]

Ron,

Typically they use the timer method...

You'll sometimes see a big white stripe perpendicular to the road you're traveling on... Usually 3 lines in succession several hundred feet apart. The are a set distance. The 3rd line gives double verification.

[Emission]

[i] They're a waste of time if you don't know how to use them, that's all. [/B]

The user is the most important variable with any detector.

If you know how to use the instrument, it will save you over and over again. A better instrument will help a wiser user.

I've used lousy detectors (very carefully) nearly as effectively as good units.

No unit will save you from tickets. Driver intervention after the unit alarms (and knowing when to slow down) is the only thing that saves you from tickets.

[350HP930]

Damn, I should have known I would send the rolex and v1 croud into a tizzy by either debating performance or misquoting prices.

Lord knows we are just low class slobs if we don't know the exact market value of a status symbol watch or dare to question the effectiveness of the most expensive radar detector when its unique features touted do not overly impress us.

[swbsam]

I've got a grand, if you have a rolex.

[jbripps]

hello,

It's very true, whether an arrow lights up or not, you ARE going to slow down, and only for a minute. For the record, I keep my Passport on the Bogey Counter setting. No arrows, but shows if there is more than one signal clocking you, as well as which type of radar is being used, and strength to boot. VERY easy radar to use. I also like the built in Voltmeter, which is always displayed on my unit when the alarm is not active.

regardsw,

[Jim Sims]

Detectors won't help any if the cop is using a stop watch, telephone poles and binoculars - happened to colleague of mine out in eastern New Mexico. Jim

[swbsam]

OK, eleven hunderd.

[fintstone]

Might be nice to know where the cop is hiding, but frankly, I don't care. If I get an alarm, I slow down. Plenty of alarm-free miles to drive fast.