[Swatman888]

Which radar detectors do you guys recommend? Valentine 1 or Escort Passport?

[LOLrance]

Theirs so many things wrong with this post / thread i dont even know where to begin.

Might want to try posting in another section since this IS the track,autox and hpd section. You might want to try searching, this topic has been BEAT TO DEATH and i really doubt you need any more info then whats already been posted.

[aztec]

Passport 8500 X50

[RaDaRkInG]

Let me help you out.


Radar/laser detectors:

http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-200...ctor-test.html

Spreadsheet of the radar/laser detector results:

http://home.comcast.net/~ccaeric6/GOL_averages_MB5.htm


VALENTINE ONE REPORT CARD


GOL Radar Detector Test - August 2005

Winner of X band detection test
Winner of K band detection test
Winner of 35.5 Ka band detection test
Winner of Ka Band 67ms POP detection test
Winner of K Band 16ms POP detection test
No Ku band detection test was done


GOL Radar Detector Test - January 2006

Winner of X band detection test
Winner of K band detection test
Winner of 34.7 Ka band detection test
Winner of Ku band detection test
No POP detection test was done


GOL Radar Detector Test - October 2006

No X band detection test was done
Winner of K band detection test
Winner of 33.8 Ka band detection test
Winner of 35.5 Ka band detection test
67ms Ka band POP over the hill detection test was done but no detector
alerted
No Ku band detection test was done


GOL Radar Detector Test - March 2007

Winner of X band detection test
Winner of K band detection test
Winner of 33.8 Ka band detection test
Winner of 35.5 Ka band detection test (SR7 was not mounted under the bumper or inside the grill as stated in installation manual)
Winner of Ku band detection test
Winner of 67ms POP detection test (K band POP and Ka band POP combined)

[Kung Pao]

I have had a Passport 8500, 8500 X50, an Escort Solo and my latest is the Valentine V1

With the 8500/X50, I never got a single ticket and have found it's the easiest to use. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't want to pay the extra $ for the added benefit of the V1's arrows. It's a VERY solid unit.

The Solo, being cordless, was obviously the cleanest looking - but I often found that it would randomly turn off while driving and that really worried me. Subsequently, I found that I never 'trusted' the Solo as much as the others I've used. Occasionally, it would also give warnings a little too late for comfort and the 'beeps' from the unit sounded retarded, like the radar detector just woke up.

Right now, I'm running a V1 and am loving it. The arrows are cool, but I've found that it actually detects radar and laser from farther away than even my 8500. However, every single convenience store with automatic door openers WILL BE DETECTED. It's the most complex unit out of all of them, and there are many different set-ups to play with, but overall my advice would be this:

Cliff Notes: The 8500 X50 is a superb unit, but if you don't mind spending the extra $, go for the V1

[Swatman888]

thanks for the advice. After researching i think that the V1 would be the best one to get

[///M3NACE]

Escort 8500 X50 is an awesome radar.

[steve02492]

I have both the V1 and X50 but now use the V1 exclusively. I started with the V1 in my 2000 528i, and then liked the styling of the X50 blue LED so I bought it for my 335i. The reviews of the X50 were very good, I wanted something with an automute feature (which the V1 didn't have), and the blue LED appealed to me. However, after using the X50 for about 6 months, it started giving me a "service required" warning that eventually drove me crazy and prevented the unit from working. I thought that I had an isolated problem, but then did a search and found many others with the same problem. In fairness it's hard to know how common the problem is, but when it happens to you, it's frustrating. I sent it back for repair (an antenna needed to be "adjusted") and in the meantime dug out my V1 again. I realized what a great detector V1 is, and how much I missed the arrows! So I'm sticking with the V1, but if you don't mind being without arrows, and if the X50 "service required" issue gets resolved, the X50 is a fine unit as well. For my money, I would rather pay a little more and get the V1, arrows and all. For those of you who don't have a V1, you might not fully appreciate the value of those arrows. It's really great knowing where that signal is coming from, especially when you're cruising down the highway, so you don't have to constantly look around 360 degrees for that radar trap (which is distracting).

[jkcali2ooo]

For those w/ the V1, what mode do you leave your detector in?

1) A
2) (little) l ... or
3) L

[Ryan@Motorwerks]

big L and I have also turned off my X band detection. But I guess no matter what I was using(A,l,L) it wouldn't matter because all those modes adjust the sensitivity of X band which I have turned off anyways...

[RaptorKTM]

i turn off X Band K Band because no cop really uses K band. K band is supermarkets, wal mart, etc, its also the signs that tell you ur speed. nothing you need to be worried about. Laser and KA band are the most important

[bartman32]

V1 rocks. Now if I just knew how to turn off bands.....

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by bartman32

V1 rocks. Now if I just knew how to turn off bands.....

Read this it will tell you how to turn off bands you dont want
https://store.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

[Hatorade]

Lets just put it this way, if you dont get the V1 later on your going to be kicking yourself in the butt because you didnt buy it.

[Carnage]

Both are great detectors. Personally, I just sold my Escort and bought a V1.