2006-2007 Radar Detector Test.

Click here Enjoy

Thanks for the link. I always enjoy reading about these electronic countermeasure wars that are constantly going on. I've been a Valentine person for a long time (since they first came out) and was somewhat surprised to see its lack of performance in Ka band on the Over-The-Hill test. Looks like Bel is the manufacturer to beat these days. I was also gratified to see that the laser jammers are really useful *and* necessary. I've had the Lidatek unit on my M5 and it has saved me from a handful of tickets already. More recently, I've put the Laser Blinder product on the 996 and it has helped me on 2 occasions already. I'm a big fan of these products.

Quote from the test seems to say otherwise about the laser jammers... "Laser Jammer II from Taiwan and the knock off Laser Blinder from New Zealand both failed miserably in jamming police laser guns with jamming efficiency of 28% and 14% respectively. Laser Veil performed as advertised substantially reducing laser capture ranges by up to 61% when applied." 61% is not bad I guess... Radar/Laser detectors are illegal here in Virginia and most of the local police here in northern VA use laser now. As the tests show, all detectors were pretty misserable at giving advanced warning for laser. Most were pretty good at alerting you when it was already too late though...

Yeah, since 2001 the battle has been between Bel and Escort/Passport when it comes to detection. V1 stays in the top 3 yearly but used to rule prior to 2000 in detection.

I saw that but only last year they indicated Blinder works ~78% of the time. They did say Bel and Escorts were the best Laser Jammers, which are not illegal.

a1, why did you move to laser blinder from lidatek? Not satisfied with lidatek? Which model did you have?

From the review site conclusion: " The Valentine One is still the champion of advanced warning to radar with its front and rear facing antenna. Its directional arrows tell you the direction of the radar and it was the best detector in rear reception while easily reporting both K and Ka POP modes. The Valentine One still rocks. Bel�s rugged STi Driver�s sizzling performance was matched by its silent stealthiness being the only detector tested not detected by any radar detector detector. It reported all radar bands from an earth curvature nine miles. " I think V1 still wins the test. The STi would be important to people running in states where a detector is illegal. And it looks like time to check out the legality and effectiveness of the laser countermeasures -- there's plenty of motorcycle cops with laser now and the only thing saving me is defensive driving.

Whoo-hooo!!! My Bel RX65 stikes again! ...just wait for the V1 defenders to come out.

Yeah, but if you read the entire test it's lacking in the over the hill test which I've seen done a million times in South Carolina on I85. I thought it was very odd for them to show test results with one thing then to conclude with such a statement. So I just stick to the facts they present instead of the subjective conclusion they wrote.

I'm about to buy 2 V1's at $400 each. Is there a better place to buy than Valentine's own site? Any group buy available? I'm not a fan of Bel. Too much false alarm. Is the Escort 8500 the only other competitor to V1?

The Escort 8500 is the same as the Bel - same manufacturer, same electronics, made in the same facility. The RX65 is basically the same detector as the Escort 8500, but with more features. I've not had too many problems with false alarms with my RX-65. There are some that you alerts hit in the same locations and you just recognize them as false alarms - no big deal, especially if you have the RD mute after the first alert. The RX65 is cool in that it gives a verbal alert, then mutes - not really a big distraction and a big selling point.

Heh-heh . They'll be here, you can count on it. They somehow have to defend spending an extra $100 for the .....uh.....arrows. Yeah, that's right. That's the ticket. It's the arrows that trumps them all.

The conclusions are hardly subjective, they're impirical from the test results. This is a test of two interesting units with a list of also-rans. Both top units have the failings. The over-the-hill shows the V1 has a problem with Ka sensitivity off line-of-sight. If you're in a state where detectors are illegal the Bel STi would be the best option based on the test of the RDD. I rely upon the V1 and keep three units up to date. But this test reminds me I need to revisit the market and see if there is an option to get a Bel STi or some other unit. As long as the V1 as two receiver cones and continues to save me (no tickets in ten years...) I'm a bit complacent. I'd prefer to see an instrument test rather than on the road. And I don't think they paid appropriate attention to discrimination and falsing. Now that the Bay Area is littered with "traffic" radar (meant to report traffic flow) there's a real need for a GPS-based hybrid to improve the falsing. And once they finally get to putting in speed cameras, as in the UK, we'll see better countermeasure technology and this "arms race" will escalate to the next level.

Hehe...I have a Escort Solo2, the cordless. Many would regard this as crap, but it's the best cordless on the market, and I want a cordless. So far so good, afterall, it's not just all about the equipment. A big part involves smart driving, alertness and common sense from the driver.

V1 is the only place you can buy V1's. but...call them and ask to purchase a couple of the refurbished units. they'll probably tell you that they don't have any and that it might be a while, but from what i've heard it really doesn't take that long after they put you on 'the list'...a week or so. there is an arguement to be made that these refurb units are actually better than the standard 'off the line' ones as they have been attended to with a little more attention when they get re-done. i figure that - at worst - they are as good as the new units. i'm betting you can't see/tell the difference.

I'm about to send in two older units and one new unit for firmware updates -- they usually just send wholly new units. I imagine they have ample refurbished inventory, but I can see the advantage in not "cannibalising" new unit sales.

that is one of the great and unique things about V1's - you can always send them back in to get the newest software update - and yes...they send you brand new units back. nice.

that site's hella biased. u need to go to a forum like the rennlist of radar detectors to get a more accurate assessment

SML tests are not controlled since there alot of Rep's in the area making sure their procducts do "great" in those tests. You have to pay that guy at SML in order to have your RD and or laser jammer tested. It has been known who ever pays with the biggest check gets the best rating.

With the number of cars adding laser and radar emitting options, radar detectors may soon be pointless. Common sense will be the only tool we have. According to Car and Driver, the Audi Q7 emits K-band and the Infiniti QX56 emits laser... http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...nnoyances.html Until someone comes out with a detector that can differentiate between "real" speed detectors and all these vehicle-based sensors, I see no reason to replace my 5-year old Passport 8500. As often as not, I don't even use it. Driving with the general flow of traffic and being aware of my surroundings has saved me from far more tickets than any detector.

The Infiniti cars have had laser since at least the FX model and while it's annoying, the number of falses are still pretty small and infrequent. I'm a bit surprised Valentine has produced a discrimination update. It's worth re-programming the V1 just to screen out all the traffic radar K band locations but that does leave you at risk if you're flying near a small country town where the Sheriff hasn't updated (such as where I live ... the CHP have the instant-on type and the Sherrif has the old road-hazard type. The other hassle factor is the newer models with metallic films in the glass which screens out radar so the detector sensitivity is below useful levels. Some cars have "toll pass" windows but these are too small to really help the detector. I expect Valentine will have to produce a "remote" unit (with a receiver for the front of the car and another for the rear.) I wouldn't do it to a 911, but for an SUV, given the various bumps already on the roof (one for the satellite antenna, another for things like OnStar, cellular kits etc.) I'd be happy to have another bump or two up there to catch radar and another bump at each end to catch laser. Plenty of opportunity there for Valentine to offer a much more complete, versatile and effective unit (at a much higher price.)

The problem with putting a remote sensor front and back of your car is that they will be very low and will not give you the detection range due to objects blocking the radar and laser beam.

I'll sell you my V1 for $250. I haven't used it in years (bought new in 2001). Perfect condition.

Where is this known?

Passport allows you to see the actual frequency on each band so you can ignore those not associated with Radar.

My buddy, a long time supporter of V1, has just purchase the new Bel. And yes he had the old and new V1 versions. True story.

Actually, the laser sensor position of a K40 remote detector is the best location for detecting laser. Patrolmen don't aim at windshields.

Where is the link to the forum you mention?

Interesting stuff and until recently I haven't kept up with the various detection technologies. I recenlt acquired a 996 with a K40 system. I does have the laser diffuser installed but I am beginning to think that it is either not working or totally useless. The reasoning behind this is that I have been passing through a speedtrap zone on a few occasions where there is a motorcycle cop with a radar/Lidar gun and the detector is silent. This is where there is one cop clocking cars and five others issuing tickets. I know the radar portion of the detector works as it goes nuts when I drive on a road with one of those "you speed is....". Is there anyway to see if the Laser portion is working?

Mine came with a K40 too and very rarely does my laser sensor set off. Today there was trap ahead of me but the laser detector didn't sound, more than likely because the patrolman didn't aim at me. In my rearview mirror I saw him running out to the middle of 495 to flag down a BMW.

washington dc porsche........ The cop didnt target you.

I like the Bel RX65. I think it looks better and works better than the V1 but the one hard wired in my head beats them all!

I know.

I guess I need to read the Passport owners manual, I've been using the factory defaults for 5 years and never paid attention to the settings!

I use the Bar graph feature so I can see up to 6 or so signals at one time if need be. DC is very tricky these days with radar guns on those big traffic alert signs which they sometimes place near their normal Portable Radar Units.

If you don't like false positives, why are you buying V1s? They false more than most - and users find they run them with features disabled to attempt to limit the false positives.

you have to be very careful using the "Tech" feature on the Passports due to it not being totally accurate in finding the exact radar band freq. If you drive by your local market and its a K-band and you have the "Tech" feature activated and its read 24.150 give or take a tenth and there is a cop sitting and waiting with his radar and he is using a K band radar and its is on the same band of the super market the passport has a tendency to not know the difference between the 2 K band freq's and only show 1 K band signal and that is not good for you because you just ignored that normal K band signal and there was a cop shooting you with radar and you were speeding. A V1 would and does separate the signals and will tell you how many radar signals and the direction of the radar signals.

The bar graph feature shows how many signals (up to 6 or so) are nearby and is very accurate. I never use the Tech feature since I prefer to see the strength of each signal illustrated on the Bar Graph instead of reading Freq. numbers. I'll try the Tech feature to see if it is inacurate, seems odd that the bar graph is accurate and the Tech feature isn't.

Hey gang, I'm holding out on buying a new radar detector until I can see the new Passport 9500i. The GPS integration is nice. Speed sensitive detection and the ability to "mark" known false alarm locations and camping troopers is very cool. Anyone have one yet? They're just now showing up. http://www.escortradar.com/9500i.htm -Charles

washington dc porsche said, The bar graph feature shows how many signals (up to 6 or so) are nearby and is very accurate. I never use the Tech feature since I prefer to see the strength of each signal illustrated on the Bar Graph instead of reading Freq. numbers. I'll try the Tech feature to see if it is inacurate, seems odd that the bar graph is accurate and the Tech feature isn't. I knew that I forgot to mention something in my post about the Tech Mode. Actually the "Expert" mode on the 8500, 8500 (X50) and 9500i can do the same thing if the police radar is the same as the door opener or a cop just down the way who is running radar, your display just might show 1 threat but there is really 2 out there. I have had this happen a few times on different 8500's and X50's but I have the V1 now and no problems. The V1 is designed just for this and the Escorts have to guess, I dont like guessing.

I actually hired a midget in SmartCar to ride ahead of me a few miles at all times and warn me of any radar traps. I'm unsure why I needed to hire a midget, but he likes the work and seems to enjoy driving a Smartcar at 10/10th. Oh! I make him wear a helmet, jeez

The features in the 9500 are long overdue for all detectors, especially the V1, which has needed an update for a decade or so now ... but I should add, the V1 is indispensible, plus the bogey counter and arrows make it easy to keep track and know when you pass a trap, especially when it's one where the cop is shooting traffic from behind (such is often the case on Hwy 80.) I made the mistake of driving from the Bay Area to Tahoe this past weekend forgetting to re-install the V1 after it came out of the car for a trip to the cleaners. Good grief -- what a nervous trip!

I never leave home with it.

That's never happened to me with my 8500 and I run across multiple boogies in DC daily. The most I've seen so far is 6 boogies at one time, two of which were X band and the other four were K band. Daily I see up to 3 except when going toward that 6 boogie perimiter motion sensor.

It's "little people" not midget.

the remote K40 in my c4s has front and rear detectors with separate warning lights, very useful. As far as I know, none of the Passport remote systmes allow you to differentiate front radar from rear radar

out ?

I know I'm in the minority, but I really don't think any one of the top three detectors (V1, Escort or Beltronic) has any technological advantage. My guess is the features are all user preference. Some detectors may be more sensitive...I just really don't think its that different. Not sure of the new Escort...sounds like a gimmick to me...jury still out. I have an SR7 w/shifters (2F, 1R). Installed in the cd holder.

Well I have owned the V1, RX65, Bel STi, Passport 8500 and X50 and the V1 is the best radar and laser detector that I have ever owned or tested.

I concur. A long time Cincinati Microwave Passport fan, I finally bought a V1 and after a weekend trip to Charleston (from Cary, NC) I sent it back. We could never go more than a few minutes without a false alarm. Never saw one single cop the entire trip, but had hundreds of falsies. And the thing is huge too! I have since tossed the passport too, as my last ticket was via "instant-on" and I never had a chance. Now I just try to stay reasonably close to the speed limit, or with traffic. I must be getting old. Michael

LOL!! Interesting story.

Well there are Modes to make the V1 quieter, I would rather have a radar detector more sensitive then not pick up vital radar or laser signals.

I have a K40 too, but I prefer my 8500 because I can control more features and know when there are more than one Bogey's out there. My needs as far as detectors go in the following order: detection, number of signals, location of signal.

Thanks for the link. Very helpful!