| Author | Message | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 886 Registered: 5-2001 |
Having your headlights and driving lights on reduces the RANGE of effective use of the laser gun. Doesn't make you invisible. Highbeams helps the most, but probably makes you that much more noticeable running down the freeway.... | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 541 Registered: 11-2002 |
I would tend to think this is not true as all US manufactured guns use a 904 nanometer laser. This is outside of the visible light range which of course headlights are. I heard the reason the cops don't use laser at night is because it is much harder to see the subject vehicle through the viewfinder at night. If anyone has any info to the contrary I would be most interested in hearing it. | ||
| Mitch Alsup (Mitch_alsup)
Member Username: Mitch_alsup Post Number: 719 Registered: 4-2002 |
I have heard a rumor that driving with your lights on will confuse laser speed detectors. It is supposed to have something to do with the infrared emitted from the driving lights makes infrared laser beam impossible to detect by the laser gun. Can anyone substantiate? This might be why laser at night is not used by police departments: not only can't the policemen/women find the targets, but the target is shrouded in bright emissions at the same frequencies (IR) as the laser itself uses. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 540 Registered: 11-2002 |
BTW I think what Dennis said in the final statement of his rant "Laser guns are more deadly to us than regular radar, but you should just be looking to reduce/minimize your exposure, not necessarily looking for invulnerability." is the best thing I have heard so far. That is exactly what I try to do and I think it is the only thing you can do. Lets face it this is a bit of a numbers game we are playing. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 539 Registered: 11-2002 |
Boy I guess I really pissed you guys off. Hans, you never answered my question about other methods. Don, yes I have. That is precisely why I have tried to come up with other means. David, don't take everything so personal. It might be interesting to note that I don't live in Washington state. Second of all I am not backing down from my original postion. I think you should pay more attention to the conversation. I also said I am sure the detector works just fine against the older guns and that you would be better off with other means. I love your 1 ticket in 5 vs 8 analogy but my method has only gotten me 1 ticket in over ten years, go figure. As far as the companies making both detectors and guns is concerened, I will concede that. That is how it was years ago but I guess that has changed, my mistake. That does however have no bearing whatsoever on the rest of my post. Look guys if these things make you feel better, go with it. I was just giving my opinion of them. If you are all so thin skinned that you can't except that, oh well. I have found my own way to go fast without a detector. If I had to guess I would say my driving record has the same if not less tickets than just about everyone here that is arguing for these detectors. I am sure there are some with less and some with more. Is that just luck, who knows. I think it is interesting though that there is a lot of agreement with some of the things I have said. The only real bone of contention is whether or not the detector has any value. If you guys think they help you, fine I can except that. I personally have seen no difference in the amount of tickets I've gotten over the years with or without the detector. | ||
| Dr. J C928 (Attitude928)
New member Username: Attitude928 Post Number: 38 Registered: 11-2002 |
So once you have your Valentine 1 and a good stealth vehicle (black Maser Khamsin with pop-up headlights & no front plate), which laser deflector would you buy? Will it deflect laser in all directions? | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 376 Registered: 10-2002 |
Dennis, Very well articulated. Another tidbit. I'm really starting to learn to read the V1. It's VERY clear when instant-on or pulse radar is being used--easy to recognize, plenty of time in Albuquerque traffic. Just on the way home from work tonight, I was driving up a three-lane each way road with a median. My detector starts giving stong K-band signals. Strange, though--bogey counter says 2, arrows pointed forward. I had two other people in the car, and felt cocky--"two city police cars[k band], right next to eachother, approaching in the opposite direction." 20 seconds later, I spot them--just as the V1 indicated. The thing is solid technology. A few tidbits: ** I've never found X-band actively used for speed enforcement, and am thinking of turning that off. ** K-band is the most common radar here, 90%. Ka-band is used by some air force base police, and some rural rode police I've found. ALSO, those remote mobile speed display units--as in, "hey, you're going this fast, and the speed limit is this fast"--use Ka band. ** Some places (grocery stores) will false on K-band. ** After a month of driving around town, e.g. to/fro work, you learn all of the false alarm areas--and it becomes immediately obvious what's real and what's not. ** I've never seen Laser being used actively in Albuquerque. Middle-brake lights on certain SUVs (Chevy Trailblazers, ALWAYS) will trip the laser detection. | ||
| Dennis (Bighead)
Junior Member Username: Bighead Post Number: 114 Registered: 2-2003 |
. A few comments from a semi-professional speeder. 1. First off, Connecticut no longer bans radar detectors; that law went off the books more than a few years ago. Right now, Federal law bans the use of detectors in big, commercial trucks, and the only state that does is VA, as well as the District of Columbia. Radar jammers are illegal under Federal regulations. Laser jammers are not. Some states ban "devices" that interefere with police operations, which might include laser jammers; untested, as far as I know. 2. A good radar detector is, BY FAR, your BEST friend in speeding. It's like the old joke about two friends being chased by a bear; one stops to put on running shoes, the other asks, "you can't outrun a bear, even in sneakers!". The first guy responds, "I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun YOU!" A good detector will REDUCE the chances of you getting a ticket, especially if you use YOUR BRAIN. Use "rabbits" wisely, and keep your eyes open. 3. Is a detector infallible? No, of course not, only a moron would assume that. And only someone not a whole lot wiser would take the position that "hey, it's not 100% effective, so I'm not going to even bother." Bulletproof vests don't protect you against getting shot in the head, but you're safer wearing a vest than not, wouldn't you say? Heck, even if a good detector only cuts down the odds of me getting ticketed by 25%, it's STILL A GREAT INVESTMENT. 4. Are laser detectors useless? No, but they are certainly much less effective than radar detectors. Yes, laser guns are much more focused. But they suffer from some fundamental problems, leaving aside for the moment the debate about the "width" of the beam and such. First, they are used by police nearly always during the DAY. Thus, for all of us nighttime speeders, getting clocked by laser is pretty damn rare. Why? Because it's much tougher for the cop to see well enough into oncoming headlights to aim the thing; also, bright headlights and driving lights reduce the effectiveness of laser guns. Second, depending on your car, you can cheat. If you have a dark-colored Ferrari with flip-up headlights, and either live in a rear-plate-only state or otherwise don't use a front plate, the number of reflective positions on your car is limited. You can further enhance this, if you want, by covering your driving lights. What's the cop going to bounce the beam off of? Your LASER DETECTOR will warn you enough, possibly, to slow down before the cop finds a way to bounce the beam off you. Third, cops tend to be lazy, like you and me. If they can sit in the car and score hits with their radar continously and write as many tickets as they want, why would they want to stand outside in the hot sun/freezing snow and shoot people with laser? Obviously, if it's much less densely populate, and the officer wants to pick off some "semi-professional" speeders, he or she can do so with the laser. But it does require a whole lot more effort than with radar. Fourth, laser cannot be used on the move. Lots of local police just drive around, either with the radar active, or pinging people in oncoming traffic as they move along. Can't do that with laser. So, radar will CONTINUE to be used, and used A LOT. Thus, get yourself a good radar detector. 5. Laser can be JAMMED, and jammed legally. As I said above, you can minimize your laser reflectivity; and if you combine that with a good jammer, you've improved your odds significantly. 6. Valentine 1 is the BEST. I've owned a fair number of detectors over the years, but V1 always, always wins. If anyone is curious, you can search the archives here or on the FerrariList for my detailed explanations of why it is superior, compared to the Passport, K40, SR1/SRX, etc. By far. Valentine owns the PATENT for forward and rearward facing sensors and the warning arrows, and that's why NO OTHER DETECTOR offers these features. The arrows are INVALUABLE, as well as the counter. Spend the money, it'll be the best investment you've ever made. 7. Don't ••••• about the V1 "falsing". Mike Valentine's position is to err on the side of TOO MANY warnings, rather than NOT ENOUGH. Hey, if you didn't read the manual, there are THREE sensitivity levels. I leave mine in the LEAST sensitive, and it STILL works fine. And if even this is STILL too sensitive for you, you can PROGRAM the V1 to not warn you of certain warnings, like all X-band (very, very, very few jurisdictions even use X-band radar any more). Voila, greatly diminished "falsing". And, BTW, the reason that V1 might generate more false signals is because it's nearly a quantum level more sensitive than other detectors. Why is it that in every serious, scientific test comparing radar detectors (e.g., Car & Driver) over the last decade, Valentine 1 has WON, usually by a significant margin? 8. Hardwiring, as has been pointed out, is the way to go. I spent $399 for my V1, and a friend wired it up in the 355 while we were in an underground parking garage in Montreal about to head out for the GP. Took 10 minutes. I wired up additional plugs in my other cars. Now I have two V1s for four cars. All sit at the top of the windshield , near the rear view mirror, and are all almost invisible, either from people standing outside or following in another vehicle. Three seconds to remove and carry or hide away when parked. $800 for complete protection for two drivers in four cars. Top that. That's it for my little rant. Bottom line, if you want to drive fast, you need a good detector. Valentine 1 is the best, but anything is better than nothing. Laser guns are more deadly to us than regular radar, but you should just be looking to reduce/minimize your exposure, not necessarily looking for invulnerability. vty, --Dennis . | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 875 Registered: 5-2001 |
Charles, Kidney dialysis doesn't work for me, but I don't go around telling everyone it is worthless. In Washington State, the ONLY law enforcement officers I have seen use laser is the State Patrol, ALL other municipalities continue to use K or Ka band radar guns. Yes, that may change in the future, but for the time being, radar is prevalent in this state. In addition, I have seen recently where the State Patrol has reverted back to old X band radar guns since most people ignore those warnings as a likely automatic door opener... Charles, first you said that radar/laser detectors are a "waste of money" and "worthless", now you are backing down to "fine if it works for you",..."doesn't work for me..." Are you now admitting they have merit? You say that no matter what I think, my detector is not going to keep me out of court, "..it is only a matter of time..." Is it not worth getting only one ticket in five years versus eight? I would say that is worth it! Can you site where radar detector companies also make radar/laser guns? Never heard of that. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1443 Registered: 4-2002 |
Have to laugh over this one. Just got back from Gotta-Hava-Java (our local version of Starbucks). Leaving work, there is a busy intersection where if you REALLY GAS IT, you can make the green light at the next intersection. Just as I was getting ready to let'r rip, I get a full-on Ka signal, with a rear arrow. What would have ruined my day is the cop was a couple blocks behind, monitoring this intersection. Being behind, I would have never seen him. I just slowly cruised to the next (red) light. It worked twice in one day. | ||
| Don Vollum (Donv)
Junior Member Username: Donv Post Number: 97 Registered: 1-2002 |
Charles, have you ever used a modern radar detector for any length of time? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1442 Registered: 4-2002 |
Uh, yeah, Charles, that 10mph over would have definitely been a ticket around here. Too bad you won't admit that these things CAN save your butt. | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 472 Registered: 9-2001 |
This is why GEICO will never be on my list of available companies...they basically funded the development of Lidar by funding LTI in the late 80s. As for the economics, take a look at this and you can see how it works out. http://www.motorists.org/issues/tickets/free_lasers.html | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 538 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tcab I heard about that. They look at it as a good investment. I heard the price of the gun can yeild quite a bit of additional revenue for the insurance company. That is also why many smaller police departments now have them. | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 471 Registered: 9-2001 |
The guns are not made by CM or Valentine...but you should know taht your insurance company does tend to donate them to the police. Now this is a conflict of interest and worthy of note when you renew as they are working the police to raise your rates. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 537 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yup your right pretty worthless. The cops will not waste thier time with you if your only going ten over anyway. You didn't need a detector to avoid that ticket. I think you must have ignored my last post. I just said I wonder how many times you have been within range of the gun and didn't even know it. I am sure it goes off every now and then, so what! I also said I am sure the detector works just fine against older guns. We both agreed technology has advanced though and radar is old stuff. The problem is almost all the cops around here have laser now. Hans I am not trying to offend you so if this is making you mad lets just call it quits. If you feel the detector helps you then fine stick with it. It just does not work for me. Do you see any merit in the other things I said about countermeasures like black car, pop up headlights, ect? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1440 Registered: 4-2002 |
Just got back from lunch. Usual 2-bogey false alarm going by Safeway, when V1 went into "Loud, Obnoxious Mode". Signal would come and go. After about 3/4 mile, there was a cop zapping cars. I was doing about 10mph over, but had PLENTY of time to slow down. Yup, pretty worthless piece of equipment. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1438 Registered: 4-2002 |
Charles: You couldn't be more off-base there. Cincinnati Microwave doesn't make guns, and Valentine Research doesn't either. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 536 Registered: 11-2002 |
Wow this is fun! | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 535 Registered: 11-2002 |
That is part of why I don't get one. The companies that make the detectors also make the guns. Boy talk about a conflict of interest. I think they have quite a sweet little deal going. First they come out with the latest gun and all the police departments buy them. Then six months later they come out with a new detector and sell them to all the speeders. As soon as the guns are obsolete they come up with a new one and so on and so on. sounds like a vicious cycle to me. As far as useful warnings are concerned I just don't buy it. I wonder how many times you have been well within range of the gun and you didn't even know it. The only reason you didn't get a ticket is because the cop was beaming someone else. Of course you are only going to be aware of the times you did pick them up, not the times you didn't. That is why I said it is only a matter of time. It is just a pure numbers game. Sooner or later the cops will pick you as the first vehicle they beam and then you are toast. Buy a 348 instead of a detector, a much better investment! | ||
| Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Member Username: Kaz Post Number: 313 Registered: 11-2002 |
I favor the Passport (sorry)..took the V1 and put in the beater truck. Re: Laser - If you are the target you will not have enough warning to slow down in time. Only thing you can do is pick up the signal while another car is being "shot" and always take a laser alert seriously. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1433 Registered: 4-2002 |
Charles: Yes, the technology is changing, but that's the very reason to get a V1. They change, adapt, and UPGRADE! And, despite what you say, they are EXTREMELY useful, as mine has given me *many* save-my-butt type of warnings. If technology has rendered them obsolete, why do I get useful warnings? | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 534 Registered: 11-2002 |
You are correct PT. All laser guns are "instant on". Unfortunately they don't give off but a fraction of the residual radiation that the old guns did. That is why the odds of picking up a reflection from another vehicle are slim to none. I think the best countermeasure against laser is a 348. No crome in the front (except the Cavallino), no front license plate, pop up headlights, low profile, tape over the fog lights and get a black one. They are the ultimate stealth bomber! | ||
| P. Thomas (Ferrari_fanatic)
Member Username: Ferrari_fanatic Post Number: 331 Registered: 4-2003 |
I think your best chance at picking up laser before they get you is if it "bounces" off of the car in front of you. Otherwise, it is "instant on". | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 533 Registered: 11-2002 |
I agree you need a full arsenal but technology in war changes and as a result they replace obsolete weapons. You certainly wouldn't try to shoot down a plane with a gun like they did in WWII, they use missiles for that now. I think you guys think I am saying there is nothing you can do but that is not what I am saying at all. If you recall I said you would be much better off with some other type of countermeasure such as a jammer or diffusor. Both are much more effective against laser than a detector. Read the rest of my post. It talks about other ways to reduce your risk of getting detected such as black car, little crome, no front license plate, retractable headlights, ect. IMO the way to win this battle is to understand how the gun works. I prefer that over buying into the marketing campaigns of the companies that make the detectors. Like I said if having one of these things makes you feel better then by all means don't listen to me, go get one! | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1427 Registered: 4-2002 |
Don is right, in that a detector is not a magic pill. Just drove the 200 miles home from Portland. Lots of cops, some but not all using radar. Many seemed to use the good old fashioned low-tech 'tailing' approach. A detector is just another tool, a counter weapon, or whatever. You don't fight a war with only one type of gun. In the traffic wars, I want a totally full arsenal. I prefer not to go into battle with only part of my armament. The detector is tremendously useful, and I can't imagine being w/o it, but it is entirely necessary to drive as if you didn't have it. Watch your mirrors, overpasses, reactions of drivers around you, etc., etc. Sometimes your warning will be visual, sometimes it will come via the V1. Sometimes the warning will be panicky brake lights on some car in front of you. Who knows? Just be careful. | ||
| Don Vollum (Donv)
Junior Member Username: Donv Post Number: 96 Registered: 1-2002 |
I can tell you from experience that I have gotten successful laser warnings on my V1 when a vehicle in front of me was targetted. Charles is right that laser offers advantages to the police, but it also has disadvantages. Namely, the short range, the fact that the officer has to be stationary, and reasonably aligned with traffic. All of this means that the officer is pretty easy to spot most of the time, well before you are in laser range. To sum up, no a detector won't save you all of the time. It isn't a magic pill. However, if you combine it with vigilance and care it can save you some of the time, and that should be all you need. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 531 Registered: 11-2002 |
Hans is quite correct, it is difficult to hit a moving target. That is why the cops are also trained to keep the angle of attack to 10 degrees or less. It is much easier to hit something moving straight at you than something moving from the side. They also use radar in a new way here. They deploy a two man team. They put one cop up on an overpass and the other down on the road as a catch car. This makes it much easier to specifically target a vehicle and spot the cars that are visually faster than the others. That way they don't have to radar a bunch of cars, just the ones they know are going fast. The fact is guys the cops are aware of all the same things we are. They know how these detectors work and of course devise methods to defeat them. As much as you guys like to think the detector is going to keep you out of court the fact is it isn't. No matter how many tickets you think you have avoided in the past it is just a matter of time. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1426 Registered: 4-2002 |
Charles: You ever shot a gun? Imagine trying to hit a moving car with a pistol at up to 1/2 mile away. Sure, the laser beam is fairly narrow. But try and point such a device at a moving target. I'll guarantee that you'll move and jiggle at least a bit, and at 1000++ feet, those jiggles will spill all over and not just hit the front plate. Last summer, I got a laser ticket. (I didn't have a detector, so I don't know what sort of warning and/or reading I would have got.) The cop was standing in the middle of the freeway. (I should have reacted faster, but I was in a "What the hell is he doing?" sort of shock at seeing him there.) He was holding the laser device much like you would a pistol at a shooting range - both hands, no rest. Unless he is superman, it's a virtual certainty that his beam hit more than the front of my car at that distance. (He was nearly 1/2 mile away.) Didn't help me but if anyone else had a laser detector, it may have helped him. And if I had one, I *may* have gotten a reading before he had a chance to steady his aim on my plate. As I said, operation-wise, these are not trivial for the coppers to use. | ||
| Dan 360 (Dan360)
New member Username: Dan360 Post Number: 35 Registered: 2-2003 |
I liked the flamesuit comment below. I will also put in a vote for the Escort. I did a fair bit of reading in car magazines and on the web and it seemed that there was a fair bit of "I returned my XXXX" after a week since the "YYY" was much better. I personally didn't want to hardwire a solution (althought that fitment in a 360 looks kinda cool). It seemed to me that putting the V1 somewhere and wiring up the mini display was more more than I wanted, and frankly the V1 looks rather "old-tech" and bulky. Therefore I just have the Escort on the windscreen just above the dash and connected to the lighter outlet by the gearstick on my 360. If I were buying now, I'd get the battery powered escort so I'd have no cables and a nice small box. Performance of the Escort has been fine for me and has saved me on Ka band a good number of times. Most importantly in and around town. Its not like I'm going to drive around town at 65, but they WILL ticket you around where I live for going 32-35 in a 30, so having the radar detector does help locally. Its even gone off a couple of times for Laser on the Mass pike, but only when I've been able to see the car. I didn't buy it for laser detection as said below, for any instant on you have limited protection esp laser. What I can say is that "touch-wood" in 17 years of speeding I have not had a single ticket. I've only had the passport for the last year and what it has re-inforced for me is being circumspect about where I choose to speed. Its not a bullet proof jacket, but it does help you understand where the police can hide, esp in areas with lots of false positive (gas stations, malls etc). I'm glad I've got one, but its no substitute for "due care and attention" on the road. Dan | ||
| Chris Pounds (Eggman)
Junior Member Username: Eggman Post Number: 87 Registered: 3-2002 |
I agree with Jason Fraser. I have the front/rear remote mount laser/radar SR1 unit. It has performed in an exemplary manner, and saved me many 'a ticket. Rare falsing; if it does false, it is usually a really "leaky" detector from another automobile in very close proximity. The remote/hidden mount is a gem as nobody can see it other than me. My .02, Chris. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 530 Registered: 11-2002 |
Sounds like I really hit a nerve. Here are some interesting facts about the laser gun. First of all the police are trained to pick cars that are 1000 ft or less from them. At that range the beam is only 3 ft wide as opposed to radar which is 250 ft wide @ that distance. So I guess that shoots down the residual radiation theory. Second, the laser needs a reflective surface to bounce the beam off of so the cops are also trained to aim it at the headlights, license plate, or some other reflective surface. This is were your diffusor might come in handy but the detector is almost totally useless. Here is what one of the leading diffusor companies has to say about the subject. BTW every single source I have looked at for info on this subject agrees with this and I have checked out 30 or more sources, they all agree. Laser has distinct advantages over traditional radar guns. At five hundred feet the laser�s elliptical beam is a mere 18" wide compared to X band radar at one hundred and fifty-five feet. Laser works in a monochromatic format with a narrow spectrum by emitting infrared via a gallium arsenide diode at extremely high power. Infrared light is sent by the laser gun in a series of predetermined pulses, in excess of 300 per second, at the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second. Each emitted pulse is timed when it leaves the laser gun and when it returns. The difference from the time it leaves and returns is then computed in miles per hour. All this takes place in less than 1/3 of a second. Laser looks for flat, reflective surfaces of the target vehicle such as the front license plate. In the eighteen states and five Canadian provinces with no front plate, the laser is aimed at the headlights. Vehicular shape and color affect the laser gun�s ability to target a vehicle. A black Firebird with pop-down headlights and no front plate is extremely difficult, if not impossible to measure. A white car at 1,000 feet has 10 times the reflectivity of a black car at the same distance. A large eighteen wheeler with chrome bumpers is a sitting duck. Laser�s effective range when targeted at the front of a vehicle is approximately 1,000 feet. From the rear up to 4,000 feet. Rear reception is assisted by the reflectors in the tail lights and the square back design of most vehicles. Laser has several advantages over radar and several disadvantages. Laser can target individual vehicles in a group, radar can�t. Radar/laser detectors are of little use when confronted with laser. A detector mounted on the windshield at the traditional aiming distance of laser, ie 800 feet from the gun, most likely will give no alert when the laser is aimed at the front plate. It is outside of the laser�s 30" elliptical beam width. Unlike radar with it�s scattering microwave transmissions, laser�s infrared has no scattering alerting a vehicle trailing the target vehicle with a detector. Countermeasures - Radar / laser detector evaluations have consistently reported detector inability of providing advanced warning to police laser guns. Laser citations are going up. IN 1996, the Ohio State Police wrote some 107,000 laser citations. I don't mean to bust anyone's chops but IMO you would be far better off to invest in some sort of countermeasures such as jammers or diffusors instead of a detector. One final note. I am sure the detector works just fine against the older radar units. The problem is just about every police department in the country has laser now and if they don't, they will. This might not be true for the smaller departments but you can bet all the big ones already have it. In Georgia the highway patrol have it and most of the county police do as well. I know all the owners of these detectors want to believe they have not wasted thier money. That is why they defend these things like they do. I suppose I would feel the same way if I had spent a lot of money on one. I actually considered buying one of these things myself until I did some research on the subject. If owning a detector makes you feel better by all means get one but keep in mind that is all it will do. | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 635 Registered: 4-2002 |
I've had a V-1 since the first came out. I have had it upgraded twice. It is the best thing since canned beer. | ||
| Jason Fraser (Jfraser)
Member Username: Jfraser Post Number: 384 Registered: 3-2001 |
Okay, I'm going to put my flame suit on but what is it with you guys and Valentine 1 radar detectors!!!! I will admit that the arrow indicator system is the best on the market, but I found the unit bulky and prone to falsing....I kept mine for a week before returning it. I went with a custom installed Passport SR1 (and laser diffusers), which I believe has been superceded by the SRX. The unit is superb...minimal falsing, always plenty of time to slow down, permanently installed, and active as soon as the ignition is on. If there is a distance advantage with the V1, it's negligable & I haven't seen a satisfactory install of a V1, whilst I like the arrow system mounted into the mirror, the main unit still has to be placed somewhere....In a box of tissues or a headrest doesn't work for me. Frankly, each to their own, but the portrayal that the V1 'dusts' the competition is a false one, it may be very good but so is the SR1/SRX. Charles, I have to disagree with your comment that these units aren't effective, especially when considering laser...laser detectors in conjunction with laser diffusers offer not only a detection capability but also an extremely effective means of blocking laser signals  | ||
| Peter (Bubba)
Member Username: Bubba Post Number: 374 Registered: 5-2002 |
just wondering, are police radar bands in the states, europe, and asia the same? | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1425 Registered: 4-2002 |
Oh, BTW, the V1 is readily upgradeable. Type in your serial number into their website, and it tells you if any upgrades are available. Many seem to be software, but occasionally they revise the actual electronics. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Intermediate Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 1424 Registered: 4-2002 |
V1, all the way. I have been only using one for a couple of weeks, but...... Arrows are indespensible (sp). They help distinguish the false alarms. Typically, false alarms are caused by strip malls. Go by a strip mall, and the 'side' arrow, and 'back' arrow light up. All of a sudden, you get a 'forward' arrow. Big tip-off, one you'll never get from any other brand of detector. Also, the 'bogey counter' is flat amazing. As mentioned, "instant on" usually will be triggered on a car ahead of you. Laser is actually quite hard for the coppers to operate. You'll often see them in time if you're observant. Quite often they will work downhill areas, as they need a decent full on view of you to get a reading. Detection of 'False Alarms' are the V1's real strong suit. Set to "Logic" mode (small 'L', to you other V1 users), it filters suspected false alarms with a muted beep. Many, many times I've driven by the strip malls with the 'muted' beeping, only to have the 'Loud, Totally Obnoxious' noise appear, signifying a real signal in the midst of the false signals. It tracks up to 9 separate signals, and evaluates (quite well) each one for threat level. Also, another vote for the remote display. And, Ben, the tissue box idea is the best I've ever heard! Damn amazing piece of equipment. Don't leave home w/o it. | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Intermediate Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 1150 Registered: 1-2001 |
As to the comment - "the detector is useless against instant on type guns" - not entirely true at all... My V-1 does a GREAT job of detecting "instant on" - just have to know what to look for. Takes a little time to figure out, but for the most part it's not any harder to detect than a regular radar signal. When "instant on" is in use in range of the dectector (assuming other resonably fast traffic around you) you will see a pulsating hi/low detection alarm as an indicator of it. Got room for another V-1 vote? Also if you want to conceal the detector (and you aren't worred about laser warnings) put it in a car sized tissue box (and put tissue back in it!) on the rear deck. Wire the remote display accordingly. Of course changing the settings becomes tricky but hey you want it hidden right? lol -Ben | ||
| Vishal Soin (Vs1)
Junior Member Username: Vs1 Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2002 |
We have a V1 hardwired in each of our cars except the 328. Went with an Escort Solo2 for that. I'm pretty impressed with that unit as well. While not in the same leagueas the V1 - it's a great unit and a good way to go if you do not want to hardwire a V1 in your 328 [which was my main reason]. Congrats on the the 328 - you'll love it. | ||
| Stephen J. MacKellar (89gtb)
New member Username: 89gtb Post Number: 26 Registered: 12-2002 |
Another 'vote' for the Valentine 1 - there is no substitute IMHO. | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Senior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 5057 Registered: 8-2002 |
John, You mount the detector in the same place but it allows you to Have it way up top on the windshield. The remote display attaches to the power cord or you can place it by the VIN plate so only you can see it http://www.valentine1.com/home.asp mlemus | ||
| john roberts (Jr328gtb)
New member Username: Jr328gtb Post Number: 19 Registered: 5-2003 |
matt/the don with the remote mini display, where do you mount the actual detector (on a 328, if you know) thanks john | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 872 Registered: 5-2001 |
With the response here, I cannot even think why would still be considering the passport/escort products. Yes the V1 is larger, and may have a few more false alarms, but are you willing to trade sensitivity for a unit that won't pick up a signal until it is too late? The V1 has a number of modes you can use to selectively reduce sensitivity to certain bands/frequencies. Better yet, why not go to their site and learn all about it? Google search will give you their address..... | ||
| "The Don" (Mlemus)
Senior Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 5056 Registered: 8-2002 |
John, For $39 you can get the remote mini display. Matt | ||
| john roberts (Jr328gtb)
New member Username: Jr328gtb Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2003 |
Wow - everyone has and loves the V1. I am considering that along with the passport 8500 and the escort solo 2 (wireless version of the 8500). I have an old passport that has worked well for years but it is time for an upgrade. two concerns about the V1 1. size - it looks bigger than the other two 2. false alarms...i think detectors can be "oversensitive" and i don't need to slow down for every house alarm on the highway any comments on those two points thanks | ||
| KCCK (Kenneth)
Member Username: Kenneth Post Number: 359 Registered: 10-2002 |
David and Martin, Thanks for the information. I envy you guys. | ||
| martin j weiner,M.D. (Mw575)
Intermediate Member Username: Mw575 Post Number: 1006 Registered: 5-2001 |
Val 1 David H, add Connecticut to your list of no no states. | ||
| Jason Williams (Pristines4)
Member Username: Pristines4 Post Number: 341 Registered: 12-2002 |
If anyone is interested, I can get 5-10% off Valentine's. | ||
| sindo rodil (308qv_miami)
New member Username: 308qv_miami Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2003 |
valentine one .i agree with Fred, I've picked up an "instant" several times with cars ahead of me , and sure enough saved my butt. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 868 Registered: 5-2001 |
BTW Brad, Your old Passport is still quite effective for x and k band. The problem is it does not detect the Ka band at all, and laser. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 867 Registered: 5-2001 |
Kenneth, Not in North America! With the exception of Virginia and Washington DC in the Eastern USA, and a few provinces (surprisingly also in the East) in Canada, radar/laser detectors are no probem here. I personally see nothing inappropriate with "counter survailing" the police. If they have the right to unobtrusively observe and watch me, I have the right to do likewise and know when they are doing it. This seems to be the prevailing convention in most of North America, accept for the few descenting states/provinces in the "Peoples Republic of Virginia, WA.DC, Ontario, Quebec, etc... :-) | ||
| KCCK (Kenneth)
Member Username: Kenneth Post Number: 357 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have a feeling that in some jurisdictions a radar detector is probably against the law that regulates telecommunications devices. Alternatively, I do not know whether or not the use of one might constitute "obstructing the police" in common law precincts. So watch out, folks, or otherwise the cure might be worse than the disease. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 859 Registered: 5-2001 |
Charles, As Fred stated, if you are the only car on the road, and "instant on" or laser is being used, you likely will not have time to slow, but in the vast majority of other instances you WILL have time to slow, even against laser. One of the big peices of misinformation on laser, is this idea that it is a very narrow beam. In fact they emit (typically) three beams and they DO open up at distance, so that the center beam may be on the car ahead, but the other two may stray further down the road for you to pick up (perhaps someone else could site the articles from C&D). I know I have picked up laser signals from up to half a mile before the encounter, so they are lasering a car ahead of me, and not me directly. I had plenty of time to slow. These were at a slight oblique angle to the patrolman, so I had to have been getting some laser "splash" off cars ahead. In other words, he was monitoring the hov/diamond lane, and I am two lanes over (center lane). | ||
| John_Miles (John_miles)
Junior Member Username: John_miles Post Number: 83 Registered: 7-2001 |
IMHO radar and laser detectors are a total waste of money. Depends on the area. Laser detectors are a total waste of money regardless. Radar detectors, though, are quite useful around this part of Washington State, where the cops (a) don't usually go to extremes to park in well-hidden spots when conducting stationary enforcement, thereby giving the alert driver a fighting chance to see them in time; and (b) almost never use instant-on moving radar from the oncoming lane. Instead, patrol cars in motion tend to leave their radars on, broadcasting continuously to anyone who cares to listen. Consequently, at least around here, if you're approaching a cop running radar, you will (should) either see him in time, or you'll "hear" him a mile or so away. If you fail to spot a stationary speed trap in this neck of the woods, you're not paying attention, an offense that really does deserve a ticket IMHO. When I lived in Texas, the usual police practices were to (a) hide in the bushes like a #$@#$ camper; and (b) use instant-on radar at virtually all times, whether parked or moving. Often the first inkling of police presence was a sudden blast of close-range microwave radiation lighting up my radar detector like a Vegas casino and directed at me from either a hidden spot I could never in a million years have anticipated, or at a closing speed of 130 MPH+ in a crowded oncoming lane. In such circumstances, the only hope a detector gives you is the hope of hearing the cop zap someone else first. | ||
| Mike Procopio (Pupz308)
Member Username: Pupz308 Post Number: 371 Registered: 10-2002 |
Use a V1 with the remote display. I use one V1 between two cars--308 and the SAAB. When I'm without it, say in a rental car, I feel naked! I've found a mounting system that I really like. In the 308, I've mounted the unit just to the right of the rear view mirror shank. I've run the hidden power/data wire across the windshield top, down the A-pillar, and across to my remote display. The remote display is mounted above the steering wheel, right on top of a Ferrari serial number plate or something (I used velcro). The setup is perfect, adjusting volume is very easy and within reach, and I only have to glance at my gauges to see the remote display unit. I've got the identical setup in the SAAB. Whichever car I'm in, I just grab the V1. I can't suggest enough the value of hard mounting. You can't even see this thing when bending down to look in the window--it's really nice. I don't think I'd run a radar detector if I had to "suction cup" it to the middle of the windshield with the power cord dangling down. Talk about being exposed (constabulary)! There are many naysayers to radar. Bottom line is, you've got no defense if you're alone on a highway. But around town in medium to light traffic, this thing can sense instant on pinging those ahead of you a mile away. Most police in my town simply drive around with their radars straight ahead pinging full blast, all the time. Talk about a "police cruiser" detector! That said, the detector for me is not an excuse to speed, since I don't really speed intentionally around town. It's more of a "whoops, I'm doing 50 in a 40 without realizing it" kind of thing and there's radar ahead... I have found the V1 is very sensitive to X-band. A friend has a passport and it doesn't give off nearly the amount of false alarms. (Makes you wonder what else it's not picking up, too!) $.02. --Mike | ||
| JohnR. (Rivee)
Junior Member Username: Rivee Post Number: 225 Registered: 1-2002 |
Charles, you apparently have never had a V-1. Because if you had, you wouldn't be saying what you are saying, guaranteed. I have been saved countless times by my V-1. Sure, like Fred said, if you're alone at night on a deserted road and the cop zapps you , you're doomed, but how many times are you actually alone on any road? My V-1 picks up radar way before I can see the cop (1-3 miles). Also V-1 picks up Laser signals | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 721 Registered: 2-2001 |
I don't agree at all that they are useless. If you are one the road alone, maybe at night for instance then yes you are toast with instant on. But as long as there is a bit of traffic. The detector will catch a whiff of the cop hitting the car up front. As far as laser you may be right but I have NEVER been clocked with laser (knock on wood). My VI has saved me many times over. Several times it has been going off and another car that I see with a detector goes past me only to hit his brakes later then me because he wasn't picking them up. | ||
| Charles Barton (Airbarton)
Member Username: Airbarton Post Number: 528 Registered: 11-2002 |
IMHO radar and laser detectors are a total waste of money. As MD pointed out the detector is useless against instant on type guns and are completely useless against laser. All of the laser guns are instant on and they use a very narrow beam that can be focused on only one vehicle which means if your counting on picking up residual radiation from them checking other cars, forget it. Also if you think you are fast enough to slow down after they have hit you, forget that too. The response time from emission to readout is less than a second in most cases so by the time you take your foot off the gas it is too late. The fact is in most cases all the detector can do is let you know you just got a ticket. Best bet is to pick your spots more wisely. If you want to go fast do it somewhere they don't care if you speed! | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1149 Registered: 11-2001 |
long before, doc. that's the whole idea. unless he's intant-on'ing you in which case you're toast. though usually there are cars within a half mile in front of you so you'll get some indication that something might be up. well worth the money. | ||
| Dr. I. M. Ibrahim (Coachi)
Member Username: Coachi Post Number: 286 Registered: 5-2002 |
I don't care how good your radardetector is, if you are exposed on the road, they will clock you despite your warnings...am I right or does the Valentine tell you they are there long before they can "see" you? | ||
| Bruce Wellington (Bws88tr)
Intermediate Member Username: Bws88tr Post Number: 1905 Registered: 4-2002 |
V1..........ALL THE WAY............... | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 720 Registered: 2-2001 |
No question get get the V1. | ||
| mike 308 (Concorde)
Junior Member Username: Concorde Post Number: 217 Registered: 8-2002 |
Same here... Valentine 1... the arrows are hard to live without once you've gotten used to having them. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Intermediate Member Username: Doody Post Number: 1145 Registered: 11-2001 |
V1. if it's illegal, maybe you shouldn't be using it  i am unaware of any completely invisible installation for any detector. many try hard, but if it's against the law, the law guys almost certainly know where to look. doody. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 577 Registered: 8-2002 |
VALENTINE ONE hardwired into the wiring at the dome light for areas where radar detectors are legal. | ||
| adrian low (Audionut)
Junior Member Username: Audionut Post Number: 114 Registered: 4-2003 |
What do you guys do for mounting? Where do you mount it? Is it visible? Use of radar detectors is illegal in Ontario, so I'd like to know how best to install it before I buy 1 | ||
| Frank Foster (Sparta49)
Member Username: Sparta49 Post Number: 528 Registered: 3-2001 |
VALENTINE 1 | ||
| Vincent (Vincent348)
Member Username: Vincent348 Post Number: 473 Registered: 4-2003 |
What do you guys really think? | ||
| Alex Papas (Alexpapas)
New member Username: Alexpapas Post Number: 28 Registered: 2-2003 |
Valentine 1 In case anyone hasn't told you yet. - THE ARROWS - you simply can't do without them. Once you have used a Valentine and been given the direction of the revenue collector, the escort 8500 just scares you when it alarms. It's like being shot at in the dark! I have both and the escort gets relegated to second car duty but I have finally decide to put it on ebay and spring for a 2nd V1 There is simply nothing like the V1 at any price. Custom mounted K40's and special order escorts are simply a waste of money | ||
| Chris Horner (Cmhorner17)
Junior Member Username: Cmhorner17 Post Number: 167 Registered: 4-2002 |
What everyone else has said.... | ||
| David C. (Worth_it)
Junior Member Username: Worth_it Post Number: 138 Registered: 10-2002 |
Valentine 1 - don't look at the price, just buy it - don't believe the comparisons to the 8500 escort - The V1 is just better !!! By the way, buy the remote display for night driving, what a great idea. | ||
| Kevin Marcus (Rumordude)
Junior Member Username: Rumordude Post Number: 141 Registered: 9-2001 |
i use a valentine one in most of my cars. the nicest part is that ven if you're not speeding it's a reminder to check. | ||
| David (Silverone)
New member Username: Silverone Post Number: 16 Registered: 12-2002 |
the one and only..., http://valentine1.com/ highly recommended | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 615 Registered: 9-2002 |
Valentine 1 Oh yeah, congrads on the 328, great cars! | ||
| Brad Taylor (Btaylor74)
New member Username: Btaylor74 Post Number: 10 Registered: 5-2003 |
I've had my "new" 328 for 9 days now. I'm not an idiot who speeds around town but I like to drive it like it should be driven out on the country highways. I have a clean driving record and want to keep it that way. Any advice for me to purchase a radar detector. I have an old Cincinnati Microwave Passport detector from the mid-80s. I know this is way obsolete. thanks |