Which radar detector is better?

[Arachnid J]

I am planning on purchasing a new radar detector and was curious about which one is better. I'm trying to decide between the Valentine 1 and the Passport 8500 X50. They seem to be pretty close in comparison. The only thing that I seem to like more about the Valentine 1 is the ability to tell which direction the signal is coming from. If anyone has any comments on the two please give me feedback. Anything positive or negative! Thank you.

[mbeach]

On most boards this will cause a week-long arguement.

That said, I use a 3 year old PassPort 8500 (pre-VG2 modded). I can't imagine a better unit out there.
The newest (and most expensive) Bel seems to be a nice piece. If my Escort ever gives up the ghost, I'll have one of these on my windshield.

IMO, V1s are gimmicky and old school. Period.

[Tone]

If you have never used a V1 you have no idea the amount of data a V1 produces that allows you to locate the source - hugely important in avoiding tickets. If you think it is old school, check any of the INDEPENDENT tests (not sponsored by someone with a financial interest). I've run a lot of other detectors (including the plastic 8500 which I immediately sent back) and none offer great protection - remote units are nice but extremely expensive. Two antennas are key to LOCATING radar - not many units have that and is a large part of why the V1 is bigger than most. Remember, Mike Valentine left Escort when they went from metal to plastic cases to continue his history of making better products. I have buddies still using first gen V1s and they still perform well.

I run routinely at 85-90 (as conditions permit) and ofter much higher than that onpty roadsrun and have avoided numerous tickets with the V1. Instant on is always hard to beat but with the data you receive from the V1, you are a leg up.

I also run a Laser Blinded Laser Jammer that works - I repeatedly run through known laser traps at 15-30mph over the limit and have yet to be stopped.

[driver3]

V1 hands down.. I love mine. The directional arrows are for me the entire reason to have one. Well worth it, and they will upgrade it when technology changes.

[mbeach]

Tone,
I used to have a V1. It wasn't all that great or I'd still have it. I traded it for a shift knob.
From a guy who knows a thing or two about radio wave propagation, the V1 has excellent receiver sensitivity, but little else to offer.
Bad ergonomics, ugly appearance, lame display, poor laser discrimination.
Without the presence of a (large) multiple antenna array, there really is no true directional capability to the V1 -it's all a gimmick based on signal strength. Crack open a V1 and count the antennas (that are forced to receive an attenuated signal thanks to your precious metal housing) -and tell me that there is a really a chance that the V1 can pinpoint a radar source (which is already bouncing off of every solid object in the vicinity).

If you really do the research, Mike Valentine's V1 has fallen behind in every legitimate category. It's a shame, because at one time it was a fine piece of gear -15 years ago. Valentine has legions of loyal/rabid followers -if he'd just get off his high horse and get back into a lab I'd say he would produce a world-beater in no time.

When your laser alarm is falsing thanks to the tailights of a Chevy Trailblazer, you'll understand what I'm talking about.

[shoota77]

I've only had one radar detector and its the 8500 X50. I bought it before I drove from Anchorage back to Boston and it had paid for itself before I left Alaska. It has worked very well and gives me excellent early notice of police presence. The only time I've ever been pulled over with it was when the car I was in got hit by laser (which we got out of)...it was instant notice but I hear once you're hit with laser you're fubar. So, that's all I have to say...it's a great product and it's slightly less expensive than the Valentine which also seems like a fine product. Good luck!

[WyrreJ]

I have the V1 with remote display. I have the main unit mounted over the rear-view mirror and the remote display is hung off the driver-side a-pillar and stuck to the windshield with some kind of tacky clear tape I had at the time. I removed the housing of the remote display so it would be thinner and mount better on the windshield.

The remote is directly at eye level so that when the alarm goes off I can see it and the directional arrows without moving my eyes from the road. I figure this gives me a few 1/10ths of a second faster response time than using the display directly on the main unit.

One day I am also going to wire up the remote audio so that it is the driver's side headrest.

The false laser alarms from neon signs and the trailblazer's 3rd brake are annoying, but rare enough that it is not a big deal for me. I find that the directional arrows are most useful as general "cop locators" so that when I am driving around town, I am aware of their location since they usually leave their radar units on even when not in use.

The bogey counter has saved my *** twice in 3-4 years -- speed traps under "cover" of known false detection zones. Normally the bogey counter reads 1 in those areas, but the times it saved me it read 2 instead so I knew something was up.