[Donia330i]

What are the top 3 radar dectectors? Thanks

[PKumarM3]

Valentine 1 is the best.

[claykin]

1) Valentine 1
2) Escort Redline ($500 ripoff IMO)
3) Some Escort equivalent model from Bel since Bel owns Escort ever since some idiots at Cincinnati Microwave screwed up the company and were forced to sell its shell in bankruptcy.

BTW, Mike Valentine along with Jim Jaeger started Cincinati Microwave in the late 70's. Valentine left when the company branched out into things they never should have, such as cordless phones, satellite receivers, contract manufacturing, etc... This is what killed them.

A little background for you....

[Brock]

You are always going to see the top three as Valentine, Escort and Bel with Whistler and a couple others behind them.

Recent evaluations have the BEL and ESCORT top detectors equal for performance with style and interaction differences the big difference such as with Escort 8500x50 and Bel RX65. Same processor just different way of packaging and allowing your interface.

Most recent evaluations I read had the Escort edging the Valentine 1 for long distance detection....though this came at cost of having more erroneous X-band hits...but then again you can program the XBand to never alarm if you are positive there are no old school guns still being used with X band. The only thing the Valentine 1 consistently beat the Escort/Bel top offerings on was Laser detection...but in X, K, Ka...it was Escort or Bel leading the way. Just depends on what you encounter the most where you drive...for me it is K and Ka...rarely laser.

I got the 8500 x50 and could not be happier....far far better than both my whistler and cobra that I ran in my old Land Cruiser. Hardwiring 8500x50 into car this weekend.

Good luck

http://www.radarbusters.com/belescor...inearticle.cfm

http://radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=9095

[E92-Lighting]

i think it depends on what your driving conditions are, for city driving, passport 8500k x50 is probably the best but for freeway driving, V1 is your best bet

[claykin]

When comparing I recommend you look at this review from Speedlabs. They are probably the only professional test service that doesn't have a vested interest in seeing one brand beat another. And even they don't get the value of the arrows on the V1.

http://www.speedzones.com/sz_new_25_june.html

I'll agree that Mike Valentine doesn't have the huge edge he had 5-10 years ago, but the V1 is still a great detector. For those who use it and become accustom to its operation, it can be very valuable and in some cases almost irreplaceable. My 2 cents.

Here in So FL, the unfortunate fact is that there's more and more laser guns. I hardly ever get radar anymore except for speed signs, FL Highway Patrol, and some smaller municipalities. Most have moved to laser which is hard to detect in advance with any detector.

Time to start talking about laser countermeasures!!!

[Donia330i]

Ok well I live Atlanta, GA what type radar do they use here? and i mainly want it for highway driving....

[Brock]

last time i was in east and north Atlanta...JUNE...I got Ka all over the place.

[Drakos]

V1 FTW!! It has saved my ass on numberous occasions. The arrows are godsent.

[igotaweinerdog]

Anyone who has a V1for sale please PM me!

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Brock

last time i was in east and north Atlanta...JUNE...I got Ka all over the place.

I've heard from others and personally experienced both Ka and Laser in Atlanta and other areas in GA. The GSP is serious about speed enforcement.