V1 vs Passport 8500 testing

///PCH · #1 (**permalink**) 06-14-2002, 03:10 PM

This is a bit long, but not too bad.. more results / posts will come as I have something to report....

Anyway,

My friends car is in the shop for the next week and he has no use for his V1 radar.

We both drive the same roads and his v1 and my 8500 have proved quite useful on a daily basis.

I now have both setup in my car and have tested for 2 days.

My 8500 is direct wired in the top center next to my rear mirror.

His v1 is in the cig lighter and centered in the widow and low (to keep it out of my line of sight, but still high enough to have a good spectrum view).

The first day there was nothing to test them on, clear of enemy radar signals

Every 15-20minutes or so his v1 would throw a false signal to the 8500 .. Ka band 1 notch.. for a half second...just a weird quirk i suppose.

Other than that they are behaving well.

After 4 days I'm going to switch their positions and see if that changes anything (v1 up top.. 8500 low...)

Enough background...Now onto the report!

On the second day (today) they got to prove themselves. By the 3rd cop I passed and none using any radar and I am beginning to think that the 2 detectors were breaking each other...

Im crusing down a stretch of road with 2 cars in front of me in the right lane and passing them slowly on the left.

blink... blink.. .the V1 picks up a ka band at 1 notch...

blinkkkkk v1 gets louder with 3 notches..

BLINKKKKKKKKKK KABLINKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! both radars go screaming with full bands of Ka.. up ahead i see the cruiser on the right side of the road..

The v1 picked up the signal a good.. 2-3 seconds before the 8500... starting with 1 notch.. then 3.. then full.

Both went to full at the same instant, it just appears the V1 was picking up the radar in standby mode...(trigger not pressed).

That 2-3 seconds could be very important as you all know... so I'd say the score is 1-0 for the V1.. but nothing too drastic...

That's my first report, I'll see what else happens through the next week.

So far both are working how i figured they would, with the v1 being a bit more sensitive and picking up stray signals here n there...

///PCH

Iwannadinanm3 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-14-2002, 07:40 PM

Excellent, i'll stay updated, i asked before about a test like this, side by side in the same car, powered on at same time, etc... and a lot of people told me that they'll interfere with each other, i dunno though, anyways, keep updating cuz i'm very interested

Quote:

Originally posted by ///PCH
This is a bit long, but not too bad.. more results / posts will come as I have something to report....

Anyway,

My friends car is in the shop for the next week and he has no use for his V1 radar.

We both drive the same roads and his v1 and my 8500 have proved quite useful on a daily basis.

I now have both setup in my car and have tested for 2 days.

My 8500 is direct wired in the top center next to my rear mirror.

His v1 is in the cig lighter and centered in the widow and low (to keep it out of my line of sight, but still high enough to have a good spectrum view).

The first day there was nothing to test them on, clear of enemy radar signals

Every 15-20minutes or so his v1 would throw a false signal to the 8500 .. Ka band 1 notch.. for a half second...just a weird quirk i suppose.

Other than that they are behaving well.

After 4 days I'm going to switch their positions and see if that changes anything (v1 up top.. 8500 low...)

Enough background...Now onto the report!

On the second day (today) they got to prove themselves. By the 3rd cop I passed and none using any radar and I am beginning to think that the 2 detectors were breaking each other...

Im crusing down a stretch of road with 2 cars in front of me in the right lane and passing them slowly on the left.

blink... blink.. .the V1 picks up a ka band at 1 notch...

blinkkkkk v1 gets louder with 3 notches..

BLINKKKKKKKKKK KABLINKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!! both radars go screaming with full bands of Ka.. up ahead i see the cruiser on the right side of the road..

The v1 picked up the signal a good.. 2-3 seconds before the 8500... starting with 1 notch.. then 3.. then full.

Both went to full at the same instant, it just appears the V1 was picking up the radar in standby mode...(trigger not pressed).

That 2-3 seconds could be very important as you all know... so I'd say the score is 1-0 for the V1.. but nothing too drastic...

That's my first report, I'll see what else happens through the next week.

So far both are working how i figured they would, with the v1 being a bit more sensitive and picking up stray signals here n there...

///PCH

rambino · #3 (**permalink**) 06-14-2002, 11:35 PM

I got a V1... Best dahm thing i ever bought... I dont lend it out or anything... Its saved me sooo many times.. Not been caught on hi-way with it yet.. ... Its got my Vote By far... Plus it tells you the Number of Radars hittin you.. incase a cop hides behind onna those dahm Signal signs that shoot K at you.. .. and i alwayz know weather or not the cop is behind me or ahead of me.. or on the opposite lane.. its the best.. thats all i can say.. no other like it... plus i believe its almost 200 more than the passport... they got some technology... and we used it in virgina where its illegal too.. and not once were we noticed... its leak free.. so that quirk musta been a quirk..

V1's Rule
rambino

wfu em drei · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2002, 02:31 AM

I also have the V1...very good piece of equipment. I've often wondered whether or not I spent too much money for a radar detector when I could've spent $200 less and gotten an Escort or something. I don't know whether it's just my luck or what, but I hardly ever see cops around now that I've got the V1...but the few times I have been cruising on the highways and seen one using radar, I've got him way before he's got me. The directional arrows help a bunch so you know if you're coming up on something, or it's behind you, or if you're currently passing it. I must admit, when it's on all alert mode, there's a lot of X band noise. I mostly keep it on the first level logic (small "L") and that helps. I'm guessing that it's kept me from a couple hundred dollars in tickets after having it for 1 year. I recommend it highly for anyone willing to pay $400.

///PCH · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2002, 05:33 AM

This is kind of fun seeking out the radar putz on the road

Just have to drive conservative.. how would it look to get a ticket with 2 radar detectors!!!

Most of the drive was clean till the end again. Coming down a long hill...

The 8500 hit a 3 notch Ka for a good 2 seconds.. the V1 stayed silent...

Too strong to be a quirk false read from the V1.

1/2 mile later i see a card carrying radar jockey pulling off the road and digging into his foxhole. He must have pressed the trigger once to test his setup. I was close behind a big van so maybe the signal only reached the other detector.. Not sure..

But thats 1 for the 8500.

All tied at 1 so to speak. about a good mile, mile+ down the road it appears the cop got his first IRS customer.

blink blink.. the V1 shows the back arrow (very cool!) and does a 2 notch and then 4 notch strong Ka band.

a good 3 seconds later as the V1 is getting louder the 8500 starts going off with a high value as well.

The rear antenna on the V1 really show'd its reason for being there.

Thats 1 for the V1... 2-1.

Not sure what this weekend will bring, but on monday I'll be switching their positions and i'll have more to report.

Also.. the V1 is in "L" mode for whatever that means.. the X band does go off (i have my 8500 X disabled) but i dont want to go messin with my friends lifevest so to speak.

///PCH

Solokron · #6 (**permalink**) 06-16-2002, 10:51 PM

The # of signals, location, and consealed display by far makes the V1 #1. I love mine. Saved me twice so far.

SC Dinan M3 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-16-2002, 11:00 PM

V1 all the way. best $400 ever spend on my car.

Tahoe M3 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 06:55 AM

great thread. I need to replace my old Bel so I will be watching for more. So far it sounds a lot like the V1 ads claim.

Paddy Mack · #9 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 08:34 AM

Nothing but praise for the Valentine. I've received 2 tics since I got it.....and each time I got pinched, I wasn't using it. Driving a hellrot red, cops will pull me over for being less than 10 over.....even in a 45 zone.

Now, I take no chances.

You get what you pay for - the V1 is no exception.

Rambino - know which states are legal vs. illegal on usage?

PCH - the 'L' has to do with the mode you're in. I don't know what level the Passport is set on but if it's full open w/no filter, then you're limiting the V1 to a more 'refined' mode where it's filter is on and not picking up everything it would as soon. It's been many years since I read the owner's manual and taken mine off of all transmissions mode (A) so I don't perfectly remember.....push in the main volume knob and it will go to the different modes. Think there are 4 in all.

Fun reading. Still, most of us know how this tale will end.

Paddy Mack · #10 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 10:59 AM

Found a few things out.....should be of help to a few others.

There are 3 modes:
In the (A) 'All-bogeys' mode, all bogeys will be reported as soon as they are detected.

In the 'logic' (small L) mode, x-band bogeys the computer judges to be non-threatening will be reported at the muted volume (that's the 2ndary button off of the main volume that can be moved up and down). If they become threatening, the audio will upgrade to the initial volume before you are in range.

In 'advanced logic' (big L) mode, x-band bogeys the computer has reason to believe aren't radar won't be reported at all - this most useful in metro areas.......guess this is the ultimate city mode.

Exceptions are Virginia, which bans detector use, and nearby Washington, D.C., which bans possession. Canada is much less friendly toward civil liberties. Detectors are banned everywhere except British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Stan · #11 (**permalink**) 06-17-2002, 12:05 PM

Over at the valentine1 web site, there are directions on how to program the unit beyond what is found in the owner's manual. In my part of CT, X-band is long out-of-use except for automatic door openers at stores and burglar alarms. So I disabled it since that was where you find most of the falsies. On the latest version you press and hold the mute button and then turn the volume to on from the off position. After 5 seconds all lights come on and stay on. One tap on the button gives the serial number, which shows you if you are up to date along with what options can be programmed per the chart on the Valentine site. Another tap gets you to the programs. For each a forward (up) arrow means on and a rear arrow (down) means off. X band is the first item called "1", Press and hold the button for a few seconds and then the up arrow extinguishes and the down arrow illuminates. Turn it off and you will retain settings. The start up test gives you clues as to what's up. The other features are things like on / off of the other bands, when alerts go off versus signal strength, Euro radar bands, a K band falsie portector, etc. In my case running big "L" mode with x-band disabled gets me near zero falsies. So I keep the volume turned up so that I can slow down fast when a real peril is located. The arrows are reassuring when you get used to them. HTH.

On your test, it might be better to run each detector alone (other one off, and off the windshield) and gage distance to say one of those speed you're going signs.

Stan

///PCH · #12 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 04:37 PM

I forget what day I'm on already hehe.

On Monday I also switched their positions.. so the 8500 is in the center low and the V1 is in the top right/center.

The usual spots where I pick up a k band were like normal, both going off, etc.

The weekend was pretty quiet and Monday was non-existant.
In fact, on the way to work on monday I saw 2 cruisers nose to nose and the 2 radar jocks were sitting on the hoods of their cars drinkin coffee and talkin! No radar, no nothing, just using the tax dollars to the best of their ability

On the way home today i finally found some prospects.

Just about flew out in front of a moto-fuzz, but he had other plans and zoomed ahead.

I'm crusing in mild to light traffic, the V1 is occasionally squaking about an Xband (annoying but i dont wanna adjust it).

Then wham! The 8500 gives off a Ka band... 1/2 to 2/3s notches, about a second or so later the V1 also catches it and that was the end of it.

Half mile down the road the radar did its work and there is a black civic being pulled over.

Thats a point for the 8500..

Thats twice that the 8500 has picked up a large Ka spike before the V1 and usually only on quick trigger pulls by the cops.

The first time the 8500 was at the top right, so the position (like i figured) does not affect the radar sig (both positions have great field of view).

So it's tied up 2-2 i think (been a long day), but I have to say i still give the V1 the edge at this point.

Although the auto mute on the 8500 is great! 1 feature the V1 should have!

///PCH

///PCH · #13 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 04:42 PM

Good idea stan, but those detectors are few and far between.. there are some photo radars around, but they usually give you a signal from a great distance.

It appears that with constant signals, getting stronger as you approach, the V1 picks them up much faster, but with immediate and short-term signals, the 8500 picks them up first.

I'm thinking that maybe the soft-logic in the 8500 keeps a new signal under wraps until it reaches a certain intensity. Ie its attempting to determine if its a false signal, etc. Whereas the V1 goes off on just about anything.

///PCH

Stan · #14 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 05:05 PM

>>>Although the auto mute on the 8500 is great! 1 feature the V1 should have!<<<

Can you describe this mute a little more? I wonder if some of the mute adjustments you can program into the V1 would be comparable.. Some of the settings appear to affect reponse versus signal strength changes. There are more settings than I thought.

>> Good idea stan, but those detectors are few and far between.. there are some photo radars around, but they usually give you a signal from a great distance<<

My town (Ridgefield, CT) has their own speed-you're-going rig which they set up in different places all the time. It's K band if memory serves. One night I tested different V1 modes by looping and driving back and forth for about 10-15 minutes.

I actually don't care about range as much as some. As long as I get a warning in time to slow down I'm fine. I mean getting a 7 mile warning on the highway could be quite a few minutes in advance of when you need to do something. I hate falsies though. Eventuall;y I think the industry could go GPS cuz that way you can turn off known local falsies ala that Uniden model.

Stan

///PCH · #15 (**permalink**) 06-18-2002, 07:20 PM

when you first get the signal the tone is loud (especially when you have it turned on to max). After about 4 seconds it cuts the sound down to almost nill, just enough so you can still barely hear it.

Hence you dont have to reach over and hit the mute button because in the next 5 seconds the signal will probably be gone anyway.

///PCH