Valentine One...

[Alli-max]

Man, I want one, but $400!!!! Anybody know where I can get one that is a little better? I checked out Ebay, and they newest ones (with Serial numbers) were 99 models. I then checked with V1's website, and they wanted $279 to update. WOW..... Any ideas??

[TXDMAX]

Slow down? No i've been looking at them also can't find anything on the internet. Probably going to wait and talke to my 18 mo old son to see if he'll get me one for fathers day

[Alli-max]

slow down??? dont have time... :D :D :D

[zrone]

One speeding ticket avoided makes it worth the money. This unit is great. On a local highway there were two speed check readouts within a few hundred yards of each other. One before a bridge and one after the bridge. Every time I would go by the Valentine would go off showing two radar sources ahead, no problem once I knew what it was. Well one day I get the same early warning and glance at the detector and see three radar sources. This gets my attention and I make sure I'm doing the speed limit as I go by. As I pass the bridge there is smokey with his radar on getting all those drivers whose detectors only beep. Point being once you find a radar source on your regular route you tend to start to ignore it.

[mdrag]

Alli-max,

As you have discovered, you may be able to find one on eBay - but when I checked the completed auctions, they still bring 275 - 350 or more when used. Then if they need updated....I have a feeling those buying the used units are not 'fooly' aware that the V1s are continously improved...

The V1s have had the same case design/look since introduction, with minor changes in the case thickness - the case was made thicker by 1/4" at one time, but the newest models are back to the thinner case. A few more LEDs on the front display, but you'd really have to be sharp to tell the differences in old vs. brand new - other than checking the serial # on the V1 website.

I've not seen any other source selling discounted V1's. If you want one, you gots to pays... :D

I agree with all the postivie statements on the V1s. Bought a second V1 for my wife a few years ago.

[Alli-max]

GRRRRRRRR...........

Guess I am going to have to cough it up. I am using a Passport 7500 right now, and was coming back home through Tyler a few weeks ago, and watched an office "shoot me" with his Ladar "rifle". Not a beep or anything.... FRUSTRATING!!!

[bora]

Trust me Valentine 1 is worth every penny.
Compared to an ordinary radar detector, it is like having a sophisticated radar detection (like a fighter plane)
system installed in your truck.

[Robert Matz]

I got my "01 D/A Ext. cab 12 months ago today. The first thing I put on it was tires (295's) and then I got 2 tickets in 5 days. My speedo was way off, of course. I drove 55 for the next week 'til the Valentine1 came and i've been slinging asphalt ever since with no interruptions. Just do it!

[SoCalDMAX]

Alli-max,

Quit wasting money on that crazy leaf blower idea and just buy a V-1! It is by far the best detector(locator) I've owned.

I was blowing the carbon out of the truck engine (yeah, that's it!) on the way to Vegas at 85-90mph when the V-1 beeped Ka signal strength 1. It gradually, over the next 4 miles, increased to max strength and I slowed to 70mph. As I crested a very slight rise, there was a CHP lightening someone's wallet by a few hundred $$. Even the better half was mighty impressed. (Keep in mind that this is the same woman who looked at a pristine BMW 750iL and said, "Is this a nice car?")

As I've posted elsewhere, the range, direction indication, prioritization of threats, signal strength indication, number of threats and lack of false alarms really works well for me.

I watched Ebay for a long time and saw exactly what Mdrag said: $300-350 for a used one, not much savings at all. For the $50 diff, I chose new.

They include a coiled cord, straight cord, cig plug, hardwire... I can just move it between 2 cars (my way of rationalizing $400 instead of 2 lesser detectors for $200 ea.)

The best part is, as much as you travel, I'm SURE it's a business expense. ;) Glad to help out, it's ALWAYS fun spending someone else's money.

Regards, Steve

[Alli-max]

Business expense... YEA RIGHT!!!!! Anyway, I am going to order one today I guess. I take it they ship out pretty fast? Thanks for the info, and I bet I can SQUEEEEEEZE some expense money out somehow.. LOL :D :D

[Alli-max]

It will be here tomorrow. Just $19 extra for overnight shipping. I also bought the concealed display so I can mount it on the dash somewhere....

Anybody want a Passport 7500 with concealed display??? First $150 GETS IT!! :D :D

[Alli-max]

Why is it that radartest.com tests the V1 so badly? http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html

[mdadgar]

> Why is it that radartest.com tests the V1 so badly? http://www.radartest.com/DS4HEM.html
>

The answer is here:

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/V1Hater.asp

Craig Peterson runs radartest.com

- Mark

[NutNbutGMC]

^...The battle of insecure marketing. :confused:
Ya' would think the product at hand would substantiate itself. My Duramax does. 'Nuff said.

Exactly what is it that the V-1 does over the P-7500? Does it cook and sew? These things (any of them) can do only so much???

[ 04-25-2002: Message edited by: NutNbutGMC ]</p>

[Alli-max]

thank you strangeengine!!That is too funny.

Nutn.... if that is the case....why do you need a wife..errr.... did I say that???

[NutNbutGMC]

^.... I need a wife 'cause I have one of 'dem 'dar P-7500's. I'm afraid I'm missing somethin' about the V-1. Seriously. What does it do in addition to the generic detector that tells ya', you've just had your picture taken? I was actually hoping that it could cook and sew. I'd ditch the wife at that point. LOL...Hell, I wish I could get the Mrs to cook and sew. MAybe if she sees that $400 will replace her, she'll get with the program. :D :D

[Alli-max]

I really couldnt answer this like the other current owners could, but from what I understand (and I went to a few websites) is that it gives fewer false signals, and somehow better range. It also tells you how MANY officers are out there if there are multiple signals. It can be upgraded when there is a new frequency for radar / ladar guns (programmable chip). I guess I have just heard toooo many good things about it for too long now, and that is why it probably goes for so much... time will tell.

NOW I have an excuse to get the duramaximer/juice I guess!! :D :D :D

[NutNbutGMC]

^... I suppose that it will do the trick in any manner. So, enough said on that, I want to see the leaf-blower get a patent... Dude, I think you're on to something here. :D :D Have a great weekend. Drive fast but drive safely... Is there such a thAng??? :cool: :cool: :cool:
I may have to look into the V-1 myself, however my interest lies in an active jammer.... I'm still looking for one....

[Silver Bullet]

Alli-max - Now that you have spent your money...I think you can get a "vacation rental" fairly cheap from V-1...a buddy of mine said that is what he picked up.

I saw something on TNN about a month ago...a blender powered by a gas weed eater engine...just in case the leaf blower doesn't work out!

[NutNbutGMC]

^...... Here's the straight skinny (and by the way, where the heck is Skinny Blinky??)
Cutting through the glamour, here is the bottom line and ONLY catagory of significance, for the rating results (unless you are into ergonomics).

Quote from Car and Driver:

After 25 years of evaluating detectors, we've refined our technique to a few simple, repeatable tests. To avoid any stray microwave radiation that would produce false alarms, we conducted our tests on the roads of the DaimlerChrysler proving ground in Chelsea, Michigan. Radar testing took place on an unobstructed 2.5-mile straightaway. A gun of each band—X, K, and Ka—was rigidly mounted, one at a time, in a police cruiser that was positioned on a downgrade at one end of the straightaway. By carefully setting each "trap," we adjusted the radar strength so that even the best detector could not find the signal at the far end of the 2.5-mile straight. This type of trap replicates a real-world scenario in which a trooper would be clocking traffic from a low spot in the median or from a dip in the road. It also allowed us to avoid any radar "hot spots" caused by hills and rises that can set off both strong and weak detectors in the same spot.

We tested the detectors' sensitivity, or range, with each radar gun in steady-state and instant-on modes. The farther away a detector sounds its alarm, the more effective it will be at providing a timely warning to the driver. Each detector's sensitivity was evaluated in unfiltered "highway" mode and in the most filtered, or selective, "city" mode. We drove toward the radar guns in both modes and measured the distance at which each detector sounded its first audible warning.

Unquote.

Looks as if the V-1 has a longer range of detection, whatever that may be, relative to the test course. Two inches, 2 feet, 2 miles, 2 meters, who knows??? They never say, but the V-1 out sensitized the P-8500.

As for Laser detection, they are equal. The rest of the info seemed superfluous to me.

I'm thinking the Mrs.is safe, seeing that I can't justify the V-1 over the P-8500. However, each to their own. smile.gif

Resource: http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/2002/february/200202_feature_detectors.xml?&page=1

Skinny Blinky (aka...Slim), are you out there??? Did you take up with Trussman and mutiny the forum???? :D :D

[ 04-26-2002: Message edited by: NutNbutGMC ]</p>

[OilMan]

I make a 1000 mi run on IH-20 between home and Alabama quite often. I find my Passport 8500 to be an excellent piece of equipment to have along on these 14 hr trips. It cost $300 new, so I cannot recommend to anyone I talk to the extra $100 it takes to get the Valentine, based on my personal experience.
I need a second unit and I will get the Valentine, however. Beings as how I am an engineer, a comparison based on my own personal experience is something I think I would like to do. The Porsche forum folks sure do seem to like the Valentine.

[SoCalDMAX]

I've owned Bel, Uniden, Whistler and Escort detectors in the past. None of them has come close to the performance and information of the V-1 radar locator.

It has 2 separate detectors in it, front and rear and tells you exactly which direction the highest threat is coming from. You could be traveling down the road and have 2 X band door openers, a K band radar trailer and 2 cops each using Ka band. The V-1 will tell you that you have those contacts and which direction and strength the highest threat contact is.

As you drive down the road, cops may be stationary on either side of the road or moving in either direction either in front or behind you. The direction display on the V-1 coupled with the signal strength display can help you determine which direction the contact is and which way he's heading.

All of the other detectors I've owned have given false alarms from the emissions of other "dirty" detectors. The V-1 neither false alarms nor transmits it's own local oscillator that I'm aware of. I'm not going to argue with sensitivity numbers - a great receiver needs to be sensitive AND selective or you'll be slamming on the brakes every time you pass a microwave oven. I'm not entirely convinced that the car mags know all that much about radar detector installation much less the vagaries of microwave propagation and how it affects receiver performance. They're writers first, possibly car nuts, but probably not microwave RF engineers.

The best part of the V-1, to me, is presenting you with information that allows you to locate the contact and determine if it truly is a threat. Dual detectors, microprocessor determinaton of false alarms, directional display, hidden remote installation option, etc. To me, well worth a LOT more than the next nearest competitor.

I don't want to be sending off a check for $271 saying, "I'm sure glad I saved money on my detector so I'd have money left to pay for this ticket." ;)

Regards, Steve

PS: Went over and read the Car and Driver detector test article. Out of a possible 100 points, they awarded the V-1 97 points, Escort 8500 got 73 points, Bel 980 got 61 points, Cobra XR 1050 got 43 points, Whistler 1780 got 35 points and Uniden LRD 987 got 34 points. Interesting.

[ 04-27-2002: Message edited by: SoCalDMAX ]</p>

[Alli-max]

Silver bullet....you got my wheels turnin' bub.... :D :D :D

The V1 has been in for 24 hours now, and I have also been running the 7500 (it is hardwired) at the same time, since I havent had a chance to take it out.

Conclusion(in my SHORT time with it):

TWICE already, the V1 has givin me a ~10 and ~20 second advantage over the P7500. It was instant on radar both times, and the first time if I was speeding with the 7500, I would have been ticketed (the V1 went off oin the 2-3 cars before me). The second time, I would have been fine with both radars, although the V1 picked it up a good 1/4 - 1/3 mile before the 7500.

With this sensitivity, I do notice the V1 likes wal-Mart doors MUCH more than the 7500. But then again, I guess this is a case of the good comes with the bad. But, I noticew the "tone" that tells me it is probably microwave doors, and discount it (as I did with the 7500). So far (and remember, I have had it for 24 hours, and approx. 200 miles), NO KA false signals (all bogeys). Havent had a Laser detection yet.

Conclusion: The 7500 is CLOSE to the V1, but thats aboout it. The range on the 7500 isnt as good, and that is imjportant to me. Remember always: Close only counts in horseshoes and handgernades... :D :D

And thanks to you guys that have the V1 and talked me into one (except you mdrag....and yes, I took my MEAN pills this morning :D )

[NutNbutGMC]

^...All right, enough.... D@mn it all. You people kill me. You know good and well I have that P-7500 and now this latest report of Alli-Max's (yea, the same Alli-Max whom started this mess) has really topped the cake. What's up with all of this V-1 stuff??? Just because it's some dang fancy gadget (which I like 'em all) doesn't mean that I am any happier about this situation. NOW, I hope you're all happy..... I have ordered a V-1 component...See what you all have cost me??? :D I'm convinced that it's worth a look-see. However, I am still on the look for an active jammer. To me, that's as good as an infinite tank full of propane for the diesel unit...OR.... 3400 RPM while I'm smoking the mini-vans that pass me now, at the restricted 2800 RPM... :D :D

[ 04-27-2002: Message edited by: NutNbutGMC ]</p>

[Alli-max]

Sorry, Nutn, but we ALL work for V1, and our detectors suck. We just make up and spread rumorsa that we do make good stuff. :rolleyes: :D

BTW.... and this is no BS... Saved me today driving to Texarkana! Was going up there, and it went off, so I slowed down. Well, I didnt see anything for about a mile or so, and just as I was going to speed up, it went off again, but this time I was being CLOCKED! I have no idea why I was speeding (when I get a new detector, it usually takes me about 3-4 weeks to get comfortable with it), but I was. :D Still, time will tell if it was worth the buy. I'll have to take pictures on the 2 areas I mounted it. The remote display is set just above the speedo, and the radar unit is above the mirror.

[pushpole]

I've owned my V1 for about 10 years. I upgraded to laser about 4 years ago. I've gotten one ticket in all those years, a Trooper in the bushes with a laser. It was part of a "Wolfpack" detail last Memorial day. He got me at 87 in a 70 on I-75. The detector went off but it was too late, nothing will save you from instant on with "visual tracking history". My V-1 has saved me thousands of dollars. I'm hardwiring it right now to the overhead console. To access the the console remove the screw on the leading edge. Work your fingers between the console and the overhead towards the trailing edge. When you can't get your fingers any closer to the trailing edge pull straight down to release the clips. There's at least a foot of play in the wiring once you get it loose.

[ 04-30-2002: Message edited by: pushpole ]</p>