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      04-07-2012, 03:45 PM   #1
GAM
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Radar Detectors

Hi guys,
I was driving fast on a road going back home at night where there is usually no one driving there at night and passed a cop stopped on the side, at twice the speed limit. Not proud of it but had to keep going and hide before he could get me.. So I'm wondering what's the best radar detector for you guys and advantages/disadvantages/limitations.
Thank you very much
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      04-07-2012, 03:53 PM   #2
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I have the valentine 1 and seems to work great for me.
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      04-07-2012, 04:04 PM   #3
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Escort 9500ix, saved me a few times and stores falses.
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      04-07-2012, 04:06 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arben72
Escort 9500ix, saved me a few times and stores falses.
+ 1 that is what I was going to put
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      04-07-2012, 04:26 PM   #5
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I personally have a Valentine 1.

Valentine 1:
-Very sensitive
-Directional Arrows are awesome
-OBD plug (optional) helps with clutter
-Works great on highways where there aren't many stores/banks/false readings

Escort 9500ix:
-Ability to store false readings (it won't go off every time you drive by Publix)
-Probably comparable performance to the Valentine 1

The reason why I chose the Valentine 1 is because I only use it on the highway/interstate and have read countless reviews saying it is the 'most sensitive.' If I lived in a state where radar detectors are legal and drove primarily in the city, I would have likely gotten the Escort. The ability to tell it to ignore a certain frequency at a particular location does seem pretty cool
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      04-07-2012, 04:31 PM   #6
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Don't the VA cops have radar detector detectors?
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      04-07-2012, 04:40 PM   #7
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I'm sure they do, whether or not they use them regularly is the question.

I haven't personally gotten caught but the penalty is a $40 ticket then having to go and get it back after they confiscate it.

I figure the cost/benefit of possibly getting a radar detector ticket outweighs getting a speeding ticket and points on my license
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      04-07-2012, 04:53 PM   #8
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Valentine 1 - works great in the 5 years I've owned it
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      04-07-2012, 05:07 PM   #9
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Valentine 1 and Escort 9500 are the best.

The Valentine 1 has directional arrows which, IMO, are a huge benefit. Knowing where the radar source is coming from is such an advantage in terms of functionality. The downside of the V1, is that it gives false alerts a lot. This can really get annoying at times.

The Escort 9500 is, overall, a better detector in almost every way, but lacks the directional arrows of the V1.

So, in terms of convenience and user friendliness, the Escort wins. In terms of functional performance, the V1 wins due to it's directional arrows, but if the Escort had directional arrows, it would be the clear choice.

I was under the impression that the patent on the V1 directional system had expired, but I am amazed that other detectors haven't incorporated directional arrows in their design yet.

I have 2 V1's FWIW.
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      04-07-2012, 05:09 PM   #10
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Not sure what the directional advantage is for the V1. Either way you are going to slow down... so, it's useless.

Go with the 9500ix which has "learning" GPS that will automatically lock out false positives.
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      04-07-2012, 05:22 PM   #11
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I recently bought the BEL STI-R Plus. I've only been using it for a week, but so far so good.

Similar to the 9500ci, except for a few differences that end up making it better IMO. It doesn't come with laser jammers, so it's entry point is cheaper. You can get the jammers for it separately or you can get your own jammers such as the LI. It has Ka band segmentation, so you can improve its performance by limiting what ranges to scan. Though subjective, I like its red display which is a closer match for the car's orange illumination compared to the 9500ci's blue display.
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      04-07-2012, 05:25 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stefan View Post
Not sure what the directional advantage is for the V1. Either way you are going to slow down... so, it's useless.

Go with the 9500ix which has "learning" GPS that will automatically lock out false positives.
Not necessarily true. If it comes on behind me or to the side, I tend not to worry as much. If it comes on in front then goes behind, I know that likely there was a cop in the vicinity that is now gone. Once you learn how to really use the arrows and learn how they work, it is really a must have.
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      04-07-2012, 05:36 PM   #13
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V1 FTW
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      04-07-2012, 05:38 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arben72 View Post
Escort 9500ix, saved me a few times and stores falses.
+1

But this topic has been discussed a million times.
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      04-07-2012, 06:18 PM   #15
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Does anyone use the V1 or Escort thats built into the mirror?
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      04-07-2012, 06:44 PM   #16
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I got a Passport S2 or 3, Can't remember. But it's battery operated, so no wires.

In Europe if you're caught with these things they kick your sorry ass into next week. Serious Points, plus hundreds in fines. (And that don't mean a couple hundred)

So basically I keep it in the driver's corner just under the windshield, so I can snatch it up quick if I see a cop.

Interesting, the other day I had 2 cops come up to me from behind, and stay on my ass for a couple mins, (on bikes) They love trying to intimidate you here.

Anyhow, I didn't panic, I just got a kitchen towel kind of cloth from my door pocket, cleaned an imaginary dirty spot on the windshield; and then tossed the cloth over the radar, ....so sort of in the corner. Lol.

It worked, they just sped off probably thinking I was some ass-hat who was cleaning his shield for some stupid reason.
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      04-07-2012, 07:30 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VVG View Post
Not necessarily true. If it comes on behind me or to the side, I tend not to worry as much. If it comes on in front then goes behind, I know that likely there was a cop in the vicinity that is now gone. Once you learn how to really use the arrows and learn how they work, it is really a must have.
+1.

I've owned the V1 for many years now and once you learn the patterns and how things work, you learn to use the arrows to your advantage.
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      04-07-2012, 07:34 PM   #18
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When I'm in VA I drive with a 9500ci (the fully integrated GPS + laser jammer), everywhere else I either use the car with the 9500ci and V1 or just the V1 in the M3 -- the V1 is by far the best detector, like I tell everyone I trust it with my license. I've had Passport 8500s before, and didn't like them as much or trust them as compared to the V1. I have not used a 9500ix, so I cannot comment on that one.
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      04-07-2012, 07:34 PM   #19
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I like my V1
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      04-07-2012, 08:15 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GOLFFRR View Post
I have the valentine 1 and seems to work great for me.
This
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      04-07-2012, 09:41 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VVG
Valentine 1 and Escort 9500 are the best.

The Valentine 1 has directional arrows which, IMO, are a huge benefit. Knowing where the radar source is coming from is such an advantage in terms of functionality. The downside of the V1, is that it gives false alerts a lot. This can really get annoying at times.

The Escort 9500 is, overall, a better detector in almost every way, but lacks the directional arrows of the V1.

So, in terms of convenience and user friendliness, the Escort wins. In terms of functional performance, the V1 wins due to it's directional arrows, but if the Escort had directional arrows, it would be the clear choice.

I have 2 V1's FWIW.
WHS. Had a V1 for years, an it was great. Now have a 9500ix, and IMO it's better.
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      04-07-2012, 10:23 PM   #22
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Well Im not sure what the laws are in Florida but here only state troopers are allowed to use Radar/Laser etc... So on back roads a detector is pretty much rendered useless since they usually use some form of Vascar or the officers "Trained Eye"

Having said that I have a Escort 9500ix, the reason I went with that is because they are in the process of adding red light and speed cameras around here. With the database that you update on the 9500 it will have them stored and alert you. Another nice feature that I like about it is that you can mark known speed trap locations, also with the GPS feature it remembers where the false alarms are so your never left guessing and can leave it in a more fool proof mode instead of looking at the signal type and strength to determine if your getting clocked.

Really can't go wrong with a Escort or Valentine, it really all depends on what features your going to find useful for the environment that your driving in.
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