Radar detector options

Noah has an interesting trip ahead and I wish him great luck.

Jack and other on this board seem very happy with their Valentine One detectors. I have always been a fan of the Escorts. Is there really a difference or is it just a lot of marketing to justifiy the V1's very high cost?

I think it was European car (feb?) that just had a comparison of the new passport and others . The new paaport seems to be more effective against the up and coming band. Sorry but I don't remember the name of the band. The Passport 8500 is now 300 dollars so the gap is narrowing . I have always had Escort, passport etc so after the recent demise of my old passport I will be going with......Passport!!!!

Also they say that the new Passport can be updated as changes occur with the ossifers.

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Bob
1982 911SC Targa
PCA - Founders Region

I have had the Valentine for about a yeatr and a half. I had it hard wired with the plug coming up out of the dash neaqr the middle lower portion of the front winshield. I also got the remote unit that is hidden just to the right of the steering wheel below the instrument cluster. I have had the older escort, not the new passport... so I can't compare them. BUT the V 1 has ALWAYS given me gobs of warning , both front and rear. I am very happy with it.

Seems like you guys are fortunate in being able to be warned regarding speeding. Do you have a system of speed cameras as well?

In Sydney, Australia, the authorities have, over the past few years, put up hundreds of warning signs all over the place stating "24 hour speed cameras in this area". Obviously, there aren't as many cameras as there are signs but there are sufficient so as to be a strong deterrent.

A member of our Porsche Club issued a list of where some of the known cameras lurk, but it is not complete and also the placements get more plentiful and are obviously funded from the lucrative fines they generate.

I wonder if anyone seriously believes that exceeding the limits by a few kms per hour really reduces the accident rate. However, if you are on the side of the authorities, you're laughing - from a financial point of view - and if your a potential speedster, well, it's just a matter of time ....

A friend just put a laser jammer in his new M5. I have not had the oportunity to find out if it is working. Anyone had any experience with these? Are they illegal in some states?

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Rob Fix
'78 SC Targa

[This message has been edited by robfix (edited 01-29-2001).]

I have an old Passport, and it works fairly well on X, K, and Ka band, front and rear. For laser: it goes off when the cop clocks me. If he clocks the guy next to me, it's silent. And it's really cheaply made; I had to solder the power cable into it as the jack was pretty much falling off the circuit board.

I'm ready to try a V1.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9
The Porsche Owners Gallery

I drive about 50,000 miles a year for my job. I started out years ago with the original "Fuzzbuster" and graduated to the first generation Escort. I have a recent model 6500 Escort and it is a good unit but does NOT hold a candle to the Valentine. Be aware that there are quite a few on Ebay but they go for high money compared to a new one with warranty. ALSO be careful as to when a used unit was made. There was an upgrade about 2 years ago that doubled the sensitivity of the K band. The old ones can be upgraded for about $250.00 so why buy a used one?

George
83 911SC Cab/Euro

I too drive about 30,000 miles a year for my job. I have only ever owned a V1 and I can say that it works great. Some will complain about false alarms but I think that it is usually the cheaper detectors that 'leak' and cause the V1 to go off. For me, I think that it is always cheaper in the long run to buy the best.

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E. William Reinecke
1988 Carrera Targa

Got my valentine from the factory. Asked if they had any demo units but instead they had returned units at $40 off.Looked brand new, with the warranty too.
Ned Monaghan

I've been using a V1 since 1996 and it still seems to be a very effective unit. It is suprising how few real radar traps are around and having the mutiple bogey counter allows you to learn the patterns of your regular trips so you KNOW when theres an extra target it might well be real. Like P-cars, "accept no substitutes". Pony up for the V1

Regarding the speed camera's I think they are on their way here. A couple of weeks ago I was in Seattle and noticed several black boxes with conduit running to them under a couple of different overpasses. I can not imagine their purpose unless it is for photo radar.

It's quite amusing in Johannesberg; they are the most gun crazy bunch of people you could ever meet. And they are putting up a bit of "consumer resistance" against fixed speed cameras by shooting them out. The local councils are having trouble coming up with the money for new cameras Please note: This is not a recommendation to shoot out speed cameras and guns should only be used in situation such as someone critising your 911 or taking your park.

As for a photo radar deturant does anyone use the polarized license plate covers?

About a year ago I read an article that said that when the photo is taken the camera only sees a black spot for the license plate and therefore no ID for the ticket in the mail

Apparently there are front license plate covers designed to jam the lazer detectors, but with varring success rates. I know little about these covers except that some exist.

Any recommendations for polarized license plate covers?

Thanks

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Adrian Pillow
1979 911 SC
1966 VW Microbus
PCA - Peachstate Region

Yeah, fixed photo radar would last about 1 week in many rural areas of this country! Here in Florida the speed limit signs are bullet ridden, I can't imagine the lead those things would attract. Wouldn't want to live near one!

Joe
'80 SC Targa

My V1 saves me consistently. As far as laser jammers, I was not a believer in them until recently. A friend was showing me what his Saab Aero could do, and all of a sudden an alarm and lights went off on a device that looked like a remote radar detector.

He slammed on the brakes and we skidded past the police at about 90mph. The cops had a laser gun - which looks like a camcorder - and they were looking at it in disbelief. It turns out my friend has laser jammer which is a bank of LEDs around the front license plate that light up when hit by a laser. The light of the LEDs is of a frequency that throws off accurate laser readings. I'll get one eventually.

This may be a stupid question but are these jammers legal? In France even a radar detector is illegal - perverting the cause of justice. Here in England we are, apparently, likely to follow suit.

James

I found the Valentine1 website yesterday, it says that radar jammers are illegal but laser jammers are legal.

1. I have a Valentine One and it has never let me down, always giving plenty of warning. Even when the police hide just over the crest of a hill, the V1 still picks up the signal before I get to the crest of the hill and get zapped.
2. To the Sydney person complaining about cameras. You can buy plastic covers for the licnese plate that will render the plate opaque at angles other than 90 degrees. If you want more info, email me and I will check my invoice to get the web site for you. They cost about $30 each.
3. Re radar jammers. One of the car mags (R&T or C&D) did a test of these a while ago and concluded that they were useless, except a very expensive one that cost over $500.

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John

Any one using K40 detectors? They make one that is very discreet and thereby appealling however the price does seem to be significantly higher than V1.

Jean-Paul

I've been thinking of getting a Valentine One for a while now, but everyone here in Hawaii I've talked to say they're useless since we don't really have lllooooooonnnnggg stretch of roads, mostly curvy ones. Can the V1 still pick up signals from around the corner? If it does I think I need to buy myself a birthday present.

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Jeff
1976 911S