Thinking about going to V1

[M0nk3y]

For now, I have a 8500x50.

I've been thinking about making a switch to a V1 for awhile, but I think it's now the time.

For those who have V1s, how do you like them? I've heard they go crazy in the city...is this true or is it not that bad?

As well, doesn't the V1 have traffic drone monitoring now? Ohio has them all over the place, and it's getting to the point where the detector is becoming useless. This is all included in the new version too, correct?

I'm thinking of getting rid of the 8500x50 and pulling the trigger soon. I think I can fetch the 8500x50 for around $200, since it is upgraded, serviced and everything. With that being said, I can get a V1 for about $200 or even get a refurb unit from them directly for alittle cheaper. I wanted to go the used market, but with so many versions out there...I figure going the expensive route is the correct way this time.

Any other information is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[gannet]

what?
:?

 

[pvr]

US radar detector ....

 

[WLH]

M0nk3y, the best radar for you will depend upon a number of conditions including where you live, where you drive and your driving style. May I suggest checking out this forum for some really good advise.

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/

V1 is clearly one of the best detector on the market but may or may not be the best choice for you. I actually run 2 detectors. An Escort Redline which I only run on the highway and a Beltronics STi-R Plus which requires installation. IMO the Beltronics STi-R Plus is the best protection you can get today but it is expensive.

 

[M0nk3y]

M0nk3y, the best radar for you will depend upon a number of conditions including where you live, where you drive and your driving style. May I suggest checking out this forum for some really good advise.

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/

V1 is clearly one of the best detector on the market but may or may not be the best choice for you. I actually run 2 detectors. An Escort Redline which I only run on the highway and a Beltronics STi-R Plus which requires installation. IMO the Beltronics STi-R Plus is the best protection you can get today but it is expensive.

Thanks WLH, I'm apart of another radar forum, but it never hurts to sign up somewhere else.

I travel mostly in the state I'm in, Ohio. We have TSR Drones everywhere so lock-out is important.

I love my Escort, don't get me wrong, but the pricetag for the RL/9500xi and STi are steep. Not to mention the whole "Escort Live" is a money scam (Subscription Fees at $29.99/mo).

I've always been thinking of getting a LIDAR jammer, still have to determine if it's a worthy investment. I haven't been nailed with LIDAR yet in a ticket offense, well actually I've only been caught when I didn't have my radar with me...but that's a long story :roll:

I'll continue to do more research. Each radar rules at their own level. I/O, off-axis...etc is something I still need to look into. All I know is that the 8500 is bottom line and needs to change

 

[WLH]

M0nk3y, before I purchased the Redline about 2 year ago I was also running the 8500 X50 and it needed repair/service so I did a trade-in and got the Redline for $80 off directly from Escort. The 8500 was good in its day but the Redline is like 2 steps up and clearly one of the very best windshield mounted detectors out there.

Here is a video of the Redline in action taken recently....
http://vimeo.com/33007629

 

[M0nk3y]

M0nk3y, before I purchased the Redline about 2 year ago I was also running the 8500 X50 and it needed repair/service so I did a trade-in and got the Redline for $80 off directly from Escort. The 8500 was good in its day but the Redline is like 2 steps up and clearly one of the very best windshield mounted detectors out there.

Here is a video of the Redline in action taken recently....
http://vimeo.com/33007629

My 8500x50 is in running condition, so I figure I'm just trying to try and get $200-150 on it (a normal used price).

How far was the first alert? I'm lucky to start getting a mile on C/O K. Yesterday I was going over a hill and KA started going crazy. Crested the hill and a patrol car was sitting waiting to pick me off. Must of been 200 feet. It was scary close.

With that being said, I do a ton of highway driving, but I do my fair share of "joy" drives and Ohio is a bit twisty. I just need something that can get long range detection and can still get off-axis. I don't know if I would appreciate the arrows or not...which is one of my main questions. Sometimes it gets annoying trying to locate the officer when you get a known K or Ka.

BTW, nice save

 

[WLH]

How far was the first alert? I'm lucky to start getting a mile on C/O K. Yesterday I was going over a hill and KA started going crazy. Crested the hill and a patrol car was sitting waiting to pick me off. Must of been 200 feet. It was scary close.

With that being said, I do a ton of highway driving, but I do my fair share of "joy" drives and Ohio is a bit twisty. I just need something that can get long range detection and can still get off-axis. I don't know if I would appreciate the arrows or not...which is one of my main questions. Sometimes it gets annoying trying to locate the officer when you get a known K or Ka. BTW, nice save

The range on that alert was right at 1 1/4 miles with the crest of a hill and a lot of traffic including a large truck in the path. More than enough notice but I often get warning of 2 miles or even more with the Redline. One of the outstanding features of the Redline line which is important in the area I live is off-axis performance which sound like an issue where you drive as well. Concerning the arrows on the V1. I don't have a V1 but have seen it in use many times and I have always struggled with the value of the arrows. The V1 does not display the frequency of the alert and that is very useful especially for Ka bands. When I get an alert I immediately get to the PSL. That is my 1st priority and not which direction the alert is coming from. The Redline is also 100% shielded to radar detector detectors which is important if you drive in an area where their use is illegal like Virginia. I get into Virginia quite often and V1's are detectable by the latest detection equipment which they use in Virginia.

 

[M0nk3y]

Just a quick questions regarding the Band Freqs.

I know Ka operates from like 35.3-35.9 IIRC, but why does everyone want to always look at the Freq signals if it's Ka? I take every Ka as a threat anyways, so why does it benefit someone to look?

As well, is there any way to determine a false and real signal from X and K bands? Just wondering.

I thought the STi was the only detector that didn't leak, interesting information.

 

[WLH]

Just a quick questions regarding the Band Freqs.

I know Ka operates from like 35.3-35.9 IIRC, but why does everyone want to always look at the Freq signals if it's Ka? I take every Ka as a threat anyways, so why does it benefit someone to look?

As well, is there any way to determine a false and real signal from X and K bands? Just wondering.

I thought the STi was the only detector that didn't leak, interesting information.

In the US and without exception the Ka band radar guns used by the police only transmit the frequencies of 33.8, 34.7, and 35.5. Any other frequency and it is something else and not a police radar gun. The STi-R Plus allows you to turn the other 7 frequencies off. In fact you can tell the brand name of the gun by the frequency. X band is rarely used anymore and is not used at all in Pennsylvania. Therefor I have turned X band off completely which is most often used for alarms system and automatic doors. I am not certain but I think Ohio might be one of those states that still uses X band but you can sniff around on the forums to find out for sure. K band is also subject to a lot of the same false alerts as X band. This is the main reason I went to the STi-R Plus as it has GPS technology and after it goes by the same location 3 times in succession and gets an alert it will no longer alert that location. This is great for the area around where you live.

The following radar detectors are completely undetectable...
Escort Redline
Beltronics STi Magnum
Beltronics STi-R Plus

Beltronics is owned by Escort.

 

[M0nk3y]

Just a quick questions regarding the Band Freqs.

I know Ka operates from like 35.3-35.9 IIRC, but why does everyone want to always look at the Freq signals if it's Ka? I take every Ka as a threat anyways, so why does it benefit someone to look?

As well, is there any way to determine a false and real signal from X and K bands? Just wondering.

I thought the STi was the only detector that didn't leak, interesting information.

In the US and without exception the Ka band radar guns used by the police only transmit the frequencies of 33.8, 34.7, and 35.5. Any other frequency and it is something else and not a police radar gun. The STi-R Plus allows you to turn the other 7 frequencies off. In fact you can tell the brand name of the gun by the frequency. X band is rarely used anymore and is not used at all in Pennsylvania. Therefor I have turned X band off completely which is most often used for alarms system and automatic doors. I am not certain but I think Ohio might be one of those states that still uses X band but you can sniff around on the forums to find out for sure. K band is also subject to a lot of the same false alerts as X band. This is the main reason I went to the STi-R Plus as it has GPS technology and after it goes by the same location 3 times in succession and gets an alert it will no longer alert that location. This is great for the area around where you live.

The following radar detectors are completely undetectable...
Escort Redline
Beltronics STi Magnum
Beltronics STi-R Plus

Beltronics is owned by Escort.

Yea, Highway Patrol is still using X and LIDAR, but are slowing transitioning to Ka.

I was interested in the 9500xi because of the GPS lock-out. It's something that is always nice to have without the whole STi-R Pricetag associated with it.

Any reason why you didn't go with the 9500xi? Just curious. I knew Escort owned Beltronics, I know the son of the father that owns Escort.

 

[Hotride]

WLH what video camera are you using? Quality looks really good.

Do you know if these radar units work in other country's or US only?

 

[WLH]

I agree the 9500xi is an excellent choice. Near Redline like performance with the GPS lock-out, defender database and if you don't drive into Virginia the undetectable feature is really not needed. Also, Escort just released the required program to update the defender database for Mac users.

 

[M0nk3y]

I agree the 9500xi is an excellent choice. Near Redline like performance with the GPS lock-out, defender database and if you don't drive into Virginia the undetectable feature is really not needed. Also, Escort just released the required program to update the defender database for Mac users.

Redline does not have GPS lockout, correct? But all Escorts/Beltronics do have TSR drone lockout?

 

[WLH]

I agree the 9500xi is an excellent choice. Near Redline like performance with the GPS lock-out, defender database and if you don't drive into Virginia the undetectable feature is really not needed. Also, Escort just released the required program to update the defender database for Mac users.

Redline does not have GPS lockout, correct? But all Escorts/Beltronics do have TSR drone lockout?

Correct the Redline does not have the GPS lockout but does have TSR drone lockout which I believe all Escort products now have. This feature was also recently added to the V1 as well.

 

[WLH]

WLH what video camera are you using? Quality looks really good.

Do you know if these radar units work in other country's or US only?

I'm using my IPhone 4 with a program for the IPhone called Witness. It records one hour of video in 10 6 minute segments then overwrite the oldest unless you save an individual segment.

V1 (Valentine One) makes detectors for the UK and Europe and Beltronics does as well. I'm not sure about Escort but the Beltronic detectors are pretty much the same as Escort. I know that there are some different radar gun frequencies used in Europe and there detectors are somewhat different. The Beltronics Sti-R and STi-R plus have always sold well in Europe and maybe even better than the US.