Boomerman: I will check out that link and get back to you. I have narrowed down my search to the Escort Passport 8500 x50 and possibly the Valentine-1 if I can find convincing info that it is a superior product. The RX-65 offers Ku band and voice alerts, but it falls short of the x50 in some of the tests, and thus falls way short of the V1 unless I read the reports incorrectly?

I just would not be thrilled to find out the V-1 has more false alerts than a $99 Whistler (based on the peterson article and Radarbuster review).

 

Once you get the arrows, you never go back! I have used the E 8500 and own the Bel 985, and the V-1. My wife will even tell you, there is nothing like the arrows on the V-1. She hates using the Bel or borrowing the 8500. You cannot tell if the radar is in front or behind you. Are you running up on the cop or is the cop running up behind you? Or is it a walmart store?

The Arrows rule!

 

Normally, I wouldn't be able to see the arrows on the V1 or try to look at it while driving. I usually go by the audible tones and/or voice alert from the other brands.

 

With any radar detector you have different settings that you can try to help eliminate some falsing.
For example on my V-1 I run it with the Big L setting (not going to explain the settings but you can go to V-1 site and read more) and it does a good job of filtering.
I have tried other settings and for my area that works the best.
Now I would bet when that test was done they left the V-1 on big A for automatic and yes it will be noiser on that setting.
If where you live uses laser then you are going to have to consider a few other things as well.

Laser detection is not the best on the Bel or Escort units.
Not that it matters for the most part, but it could mean the difference between picking up laser being used on another car before it is used on yours.
This is where a laser jammer would be a nice addition to your protection in the future.

I would not worry about the KU band at this time.
It has not been approved by the FCC and it will be some time before it is.
By that time you will need a new detector or an update anyway.
As for the arrows you can see them pretty well.
The V-1 has different tone alerts for each band.
You can also buy the Valentine remote display and mount it where you will see them.
The V-1 will NOT false like a $99 Whistler
I own a few of the Whistlers and they get annoying with all of the falsing they do.

Remember tests are only raw data in a controlled situation.
Real world detection is the important thing.
All radar detectors will give false alerts, that can not be helped.
Go by a Walmart, Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy and you will get a false alert just about everytime.
This is due to alarms and automatic door openers using the same frequency.
You are spending a lot of money and you have to decide what will work best for you.
The good thing is any of the ones you are considering will let you try it for 30 days and if you do not like it you can return it for a refund.
Keep me informed with what you buy.

Just always remember no radar detector is 100% guaranteed that you will NOT get a ticket.

 

There's a high probability I will buy a RX-65 from eBay since they have a decent price ($227 shipped). The 8500 x50s on eBay are about $250 shipped and a few of the Authorized resellers have 8500 x50s for $299 shipped.

The Solo S2 is tempting though, because it is highly portable, but lacks the range of the 8500 x50, RX65, and V1.

 

Gotta like the V-1 too in the fact that it's upgradable as far as firmware goes. Just send it in and get the new latest technology.

 

Bel and Escorts are advertised to be upgradeable as well. What I wish V1s had was a dark mode. For another $40, we can buy a remote display unit but that's on top of the $400.

 

I too am torn on which one to go with! I guess i just need to bite the bullet so to speak and get the V-1

 

the v1 is the best. like mentioned before, the arrows tell u where the radar is coming from, nothing beats it...nothing

 

If you buy it from Ebay the manufacture will not honor the warranty if there is a problem.
Never buy a battery powered radar detector, the range is poor and as the battery gets weak the detection gets even worse.

 

Bite the bullet, you will not be disappointed!
I know it is a lot of money but consider this...
Price of a ticket approx $150 or higher.
Insurance increase
Time off if you have to or want to go to court on this.
All of these add up to more than what you would spend on the Valentine 1 detector.

 

Don't buy the Escort!!!

I did, and now I regret it. After less than four months, my suction cups wore out. I never even removed them after my initial installation; they just fell off and are now too flat to use. So, I e-mailed Escort's support and did not receive a response. After my second e-mail, I got a response saying that they replied but I did not get the e-mail. I was told to call their support telephone number, which was not toll-free. After calling their support number and waiting on hold for about 5-10 minutes, I finally spoke to a person. After this conversation, I was told that I need to send a fax describing what happened and that I needed new suction cups. I also need to fax a copy of my receipt. Why do I need to contact them three different ways in order to get them to send me the $0.05 worth of suction cups that have made my $300 radar detector unusable?

Buy the Valentine 1!

 

Reading the radardetector.net forums, the manufacturers don't seem to be able to fix problems with their detectors. x50s are getting worse as they are "fixed".

Where's the cheapest place to go for V1s? I heard V1 sells them used for about 10% less?

 

They don't work. Once a detector warns you... you're done. I am very selective in what I stop but don't let me see your nose dive, or your brakes come on when I hit the transmit button. Radar detectors are an automatic ticket from me... no they aren't illegal in NY but they are an admission that you willingly violate the law and presumptive eveidence that you have already recieved any break I would have given you on your speed.

I understand that there are some guys out there that will write you for silly stuff because they are jealous of your car or ability to afford such a toy... Guys at my station have already said something about "it must be nice to be able to afford a house, truck, and sports car". Drive like a responsible adult and don't pop off when pulled over... you will most likely get away with no ticket or a warning in states that write warnings. Almost everyone I write falls into one of 6 categories, known criminal history, warrant/drugs/drunk/etc, suspended license, attitude, child restraint, radar detector.

Don't give some BS reason about why you were speeding... don't lie and say you think you were going the speedlimit... you know what the limit is and it only takes a very few times of getting behind the wheel to be able to judge about how fast you are going by looking at your surroundings... 80 does not feel or look like 65.

Believe it or not... radar operation is very easy once you understand the basics and laser operation is even easier. If you were stopped for speeding... you were speeding... not the vehicle next to you... and I don't care that you have to goto the bathroom or you are late for soccer practice. Be an adult and admit you were in the wrong and you usually get away with knowing you got caught... if you get a ticket... you deserved it and you shouldn't be complaining about cops are just revenue generators and all the other crap I hear on this and other forums. LE forms their opinion of the public based on contact just like the public forms it's opinion of LE based on contact. Accept the fact that the guy with the ticketbook (or computer) is the one who wins no matter what (I get paid 3 hours OT minimum to goto court) and you will do much better than those who think they are above the law or better that LE.

 

So do all LEOs hit only the car they want to pull over without any stray radar bouncing away from the target vehicle? I had a motorcycle LEO hit my car with Ka when I was doing the limit (I saw him using my Mk 1 system and then the detector went full Ka - instant on). Someone else behind me with a good detector would have caught the Ka and slowed down (it was a speed trap and I was the only car in between the lights at the time).

Scenarios like this are what detectors were designed for and should work.

 

There is no such thing.

Detectors are designed to help you cheat the system... Cheaters pay... players play. I'm more than willing to let a Z06 doing 100+ on an empty highway at 1am go... as long as there is no detector involved. We have sports cars for a reason... it's not because we like paying more for insurance.

 

So the 65+ people that 1 LEO (people that worked in that area now know him by name and know the area to be a dedicated speed trap due to the sudden change in the speed limit from 45 to 25 mph) pulled over in 1 day wasn't part of a speed trap? LOL.

 

You obviously know that the limit is reduced in that area... the Trooper/Deputy/Officer doesn't have some button in his car that changed what the limit is does he... there is no trap... it is a sign that is visible for a distance and gives you plenty of time to slow down to the posted speed correct? Quit trying to make it someone else's fault you got caught.

I work a road that I have property on quite hard... it's a rural area that is posted as 30... most people I stop have travelled that road for many years (some longer than I have been alive) and admit to knowing that the posted limit is 30 and that they were well in excess of the posted limit.

 

You described a different situation.

When a municipality changes the limit from 45 mph to 25 mph on a 8 lane road, and the LEOs set up camp right by the 25 sign (no "reduced speed ahead" sign to warn drivers) it is a bona fide speed trap.