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Radar/laser detectors

post #1 of 41
1/18/08 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
Do these things still work, in light of the advances made by the highway patrol side?

Way back when, the Valentine 1 was the only one to get; still the case?
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post #2 of 41
1/18/08 at 7:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Checks View Post
Do these things still work, in light of the advances made by the highway patrol side? Way back when, the Valentine 1 was the only one to get; still the case?
Yes, and Yes. My V1 saved me countless times when I went on long distance trips, particularly on I-90. Since I got it several years ago, I've yet to receive a ticket. In my most recent trip home for the winter break, I was probably a target for probably a half a dozen times. In one instance, the cop came from behind, I picked up his signal well in advance and slowly moved over. He later blew past me and caught the sucker that was in front of me, who obviously was driving naked. That said, a V1 is useless with some common sense. There are jurisdictions out there with laser detectors, but it's very rare that you'll encounter one. You can get a laser jammer, but IMO the return on investment isn't worth it.
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post #3 of 41
1/18/08 at 7:30pm
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Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
...That said, a V1 is useless with some common sense.
I assume you meant that a V1 is useless without some common sense. If so, I agree with everything you said. Add to the mix the customer service and unlimited discounted future upgrades on V1 units and it's hard to make the case for other radar detectors.
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post #4 of 41
1/18/08 at 7:49pm
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Originally Posted by dah328 View Post
I assume you meant that a V1 is useless without some common sense. If so, I agree with everything you said. Add to the mix the customer service and unlimited discounted future upgrades on V1 units and it's hard to make the case for other radar detectors.

Yes. You pick one, a V1 or your common sense. They're useless together.
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post #5 of 41
1/21/08 at 11:23am
I'll second the vote for the V1. I've had mine almost ten years now (ticket-free).

That said, I'm seeing a consistent failure by the V1 to detect the new Genesis radar guns currently being employed by the Pennsylvania State Police. These guns are rather controversial -- not for their radar stealth, but because they have been known to track stationary objects at 70 mph. I believe the guns are not consistently reliable but the PSP won't admit they made a mistake in shelling out big bucks for the Genesis guns.

In the meantime, my V1 still works when I'm outside of Pennsylvania (e.g. Delaware) so I'm still loving my V1. Just hope they can work out the issues with the Genesis guns soon.
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post #6 of 41
1/22/08 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
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Originally Posted by Ace Rimmer View Post
I'll second the vote for the V1. I've had mine almost ten years now (ticket-free).

That said, I'm seeing a consistent failure by the V1 to detect the new Genesis radar guns currently being employed by the Pennsylvania State Police. These guns are rather controversial -- not for their radar stealth, but because they have been known to track stationary objects at 70 mph. I believe the guns are not consistently reliable but the PSP won't admit they made a mistake in shelling out big bucks for the Genesis guns.

In the meantime, my V1 still works when I'm outside of Pennsylvania (e.g. Delaware) so I'm still loving my V1. Just hope they can work out the issues with the Genesis guns soon.

I do get the sense that the Valentine people work the new technology a little harder than the other people, trying to come up with solutions.

Curious, do you hide your V1 when you're passing a cop, or just leave it on the windshield? I would think that it would piss them off to see it, even if you weren't speeding by the time they clocked you.
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post #7 of 41
1/22/08 at 5:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Checks View Post
Curious, do you hide your V1 when you're passing a cop, or just leave it on the windshield? I would think that it would piss them off to see it, even if you weren't speeding by the time they clocked you.

I mount my V1 on the top part of my windshield so that, if I flip the visor down, it is hidden behind the visor. Because it's close to the roof of the car, it doesn't stick out. In order to do this, I run my power cable in the lining and down to the fuse box, where I get my power. Obviously, using the regular power cord to the car's cigarette lighter defeats the purpose as there will be a cord going straight up to your V1.
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post #8 of 41
1/22/08 at 5:29pm
I mount my V1 high too, except on the passenger side of the rear view mirror so it doesn't obstruct my view. I do this to give it the best possible visibility and range. However, if my passenger puts down her visor, the detector doesn't work so well.

California CHP seem to be cool with it. I was once stopped for expired registration stickers, and the first thing the officer did was gesture to the V1, and said "You weren't speeding. Your registration seems to be expired."

--Andre
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post #9 of 41
1/22/08 at 5:55pm
There are two types of radar. Radar and Lidar. If I'm not mistaken, it's pretty much a myth that Radar detectors work and they are illegal everywhere. Even if they do work, by the time you are zapped, the detector is probably too late.

Lidar is detectable and jammable.

Here is a good link for more info. Officer.com
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post #10 of 41
1/22/08 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tck13 View Post
If I'm not mistaken, it's pretty much a myth that Radar detectors work and they are illegal everywhere. Even if they do work, by the time you are zapped, the detector is probably too late.


This is wrong. Radar detector is illegal in only Virginia and DC (in the US, I don't know about other countries). As to your claim that it doesn't work, try spending some money on a decent one instead of those $50 Best Buy piece of crap. If my V1 didn't work, I'm sure I'd be a few grand poorer by now.
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post #11 of 41
1/23/08 at 12:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
This is wrong. Radar detector is illegal in only Virginia and DC (in the US, I don't know about other countries). As to your claim that it doesn't work, try spending some money on a decent one instead of those $50 Best Buy piece of crap. If my V1 didn't work, I'm sure I'd be a few grand poorer by now.
Sorry, you are correct. I think I was talking about radar JAMMERS not radar detectors. Radar jammers are illegal on a Federal level because you would need a license (from the FCC) to operate one (+ they don't work...).
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post #12 of 41
1/23/08 at 10:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tck13 View Post
Sorry, you are correct. I think I was talking about radar JAMMERS not radar detectors. Radar jammers are illegal on a Federal level because you would need a license (from the FCC) to operate one (+ they don't work...).

Well if they don't work IRL, explain to me why they work in the movies, huh?


Got ya there!
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post #13 of 41
1/23/08 at 2:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkNWorn View Post
I mount my V1 on the top part of my windshield so that, if I flip the visor down, it is hidden behind the visor. Because it's close to the roof of the car, it doesn't stick out. In order to do this, I run my power cable in the lining and down to the fuse box, where I get my power. Obviously, using the regular power cord to the car's cigarette lighter defeats the purpose as there will be a cord going straight up to your V1.

You sound like a hardcore leadfoot! Are you using the remote display unit?

I can't find the webpage now but someone had done a hidden install on a Porsche where it was enclosed in a box with openings to look front and back and a discreet display unit down by the instrument panel. Pretty stealth.
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post #14 of 41
1/23/08 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HomerJ View Post
You sound like a hardcore leadfoot! Are you using the remote display unit?
Haha...I'm not using a remote display unit. There are some pretty cool V1 mods that you can get, particularly for BMWs (I used to have a 330Ci, my brother now has an M3). You can get a rear view mirror that has built-in LEDs specifically for V1s. There's an endless amount of mods you can do with a V1. Now, I don't have a need to use it much now despite of my lead foot because my current car is a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I'll be back in the fast lane again once I graduate from law school.
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post #15 of 41
1/23/08 at 3:29pm
With the ability to record who borrows books from what libraries to learn how to make bombs and who buys too much cough syrup in attempts to crack meth labs, I always wondered why the Feds didn't just record who bought radar detectors and have that show up when they ran the license plates or DLN of the person who bought them?

That never stopped me from buying a radar detector, just a thought.
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