It may also be a difference in what you call a "false." I pick up a lot of stray signals with my V1, so much so in big cities that my "city mode" involves placing my V1 in the armrest. I really only use it on highways, and I don't even bother with X and most K band signals.

I had a V1 Moment of the Month while back, but they took out the second and third cops that I passed in the same 5 hour trip. I got two laser warnings (which i successfully didn't get pulled over for) and a Ka warning from a cop who was literally hiding behind (15 ft or so) some large bushes. Never would have seen him if my passenger hadn't craned his head way back to take a look...

 

I only know of one way to define a false alert from a radar detector... any alert that isn't a result of a speed detection device.

 

This is interesting. You have the complete opposite opinion. We may have something goofy going on with one of the detectors. I can't imagine that Valentine would have put in new features that make the falsing worse, but you never know. My 8500 drives me nuts, and I pretty much ignore IT. So there's probably more to this picture that neither one of us knows about. Yeah, I could put the 8500 in city mode too, but I don't really appreciate being right on top of a cop when I get the notice, it's happened too many times.

PS: I had the original Passport, before they attached numbers after them, and when they were still designed by Mike Valentine, and they were still Cincinnati Microwave, not Escort. Used that detector for 15 years, always worked pretty well, so I was a Passport fan - until I got the V1, that is....
Also had a 4500 and a 5000.

 

I'm sorry, but the English minor in me is coming out...

Caught in your own trap! By defining a "false" signal as any alert that isn't a result of a speed detection device, you're limiting falses to random radio interference from strong transmitters, other radar detectors, etc! Your definition would include things like radar-operated doors, motion sensors for lighting, and other items that are designed to...detect speed and motion!

Sorry, I couldn't resist. :bigsmile:

I would consider a "false" to be something that wasn't designed for radar speed detection period, including other radar detectors. This leaves (as Mike Valentine talks about in some of his tech articles) super-heterodyne receivers operating in these bands, outputting weak resonance signals. X-band, I believe, shares an operating range with some CB radios. On this note, there is a way to turn down the sensitivity of V1, and its well-documented if you'd like to do it (check their website)...

Gernby, I know you're a telecom guy, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'm only a lowly car engineer.

 

Went from a 9 month old Valentine to a Bel RX65 Pro... no comparison. Valentine gave me so many false positives it's ridiculous. Glad I didn't hardwire it.

 

Isn't Bel a 3rd teir brand?

 

Yes, I believe Bel is always rated bellow the V1 and Passport X50, but its supposed to be a great radar detector as well.

 

Nope... those of you operating under that misconception should head over to radarbusters, radartest or speedzone and get educated. Actually the RX65 Pro beat out the Valentine and tied the x50.

Whistler and Cobra are tier 2 brands. Bel is far from a tier 3. Also some brands have more than 1 grade of product... what you see in radioshack or some other retail outlet isn't necessarily their best product.

Here's how your top of the line supposed tier 1 did against the supposed tier 3 top of the line detector...
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=100542

Here's how the x50, RX65 Pro and Valentine 1 did...
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

Radar Roy... excop and one of the more respected people out there on detectors
http://www.radarbusters.com/products...onics/rx65.asp

"BEL RX65 Pro Radar/Laser Detector
The BEST Radar Detector Radar Roy has ever tested!"

and here's some more info for you to digest... look at the individual test results, over the hill test is interesting...
http://www.speedzones.com/

Not saying that the detector I ended up with is the best... but it pays to educate yourself and form your own opinions on information rather than operate under unfounded assumptions.

 

I've had detectors from Bel, Whistler, Escort, and Valentine. As far as quality and sensitivity goes Valentine is easily the best IMO, but it falses way too much. Escort doesn't seem to match Valentine in those areas, but the reduction in false alerts makes it my favorite (even though I don't have one). The "flagship" models I've had from Bel and Whistler were crap IMO. Of course, it's been 10 years since I've owned one from Bel or Whistler. That's why I consider them a 3rd teir. Well, I guess another reason is because they are the ones that you can buy at Walmart.

I've read many articles about radar detectors, and many of them say that the radar related web sites (radartest, etc.) are owned and / or supported by the radar detector manufacturers. Basically, research through those sites isn't reasearch at all.

 

If you read the methodology... the testing is consistent and appears to be based on realistic operating conditions. If these sites are owned by radar detector companies, why is it that Valentine won a couple years ago, x50 last year and this year the RX65 Pro?

The whole research bias argument could be said for every product on the market... computers, software, cars, electronics... maybe Lexus bought a huge amount of advertising from C&D before the review. Where do you draw the line? What makes the radartest review less valid than... C&Ds IS350 review? What review should you believe? Where do you go to find "reliable" reviews?

As to the whole walmart comment... you can buy escort, cobra, whister, bel etc... at "bargain" locations so the whole tier 3 comment also applies to the escort if that is how you "tier" products.

Based on my experience, you can't buy high end Bels, Escorts or a Valentine at discount stores. Tiering in technology is typically associated at the component/manuf level, not where you can buy something which is just good business strategy.

Provide me with a link or two about tiering and testing that refutes the information I provided. Definitely open to more information.

One other thing to note... Bel has nearly the exact same internals as the x50.

Anyway this is OT. Again, I'm glad I got rid of my V1 and didn't hardwire it, too many FPs and I've had great luck with the RX65 Pro so far.

 

Can't vote in this poll, because I've used a wireless Escort S2 for over three years and love it.

Why?

I can move it from car to car, it looks good (unlike the clunky third world looking V1), gives far less false signals than the V1, is usually just as sensitive based on many caravan trips with other V1 equipped cars and my 30 day free test of the V1, and NO hard wiring issues. The S2 is also less expensive.

Bottom line...they are both excellent pieces of equipment.

 

With all these discussions about which works better, I got the biggest question. Which works best against LIDAR? I've been shot by LIDAR TWICE in two different cars, two different areas on two main highways in socal. My car with the V1 went off just when the cop already shot me, and my ex's car with a passport 8500 x50 it went off after I was shot by LIDAR.

I heard shifters are the only way now, and they are a little more smarter than jammers, according to the cop that pulled me over.

 

For everyone's summary, Bel bought Escort out, and their RX65 Pro is your Passport 8500 X50 with minor differences - mostly accessories.
As for the Radar Roy, well, I see the "money" section of his website - that speaks for itself. Valentine1 does not have reseller network.
I am trying to find a source of the comparison between the radar detector where the "reviewers" do not lead you to "click here for the best price we offer on the product" mantra.
I am in the market for a Valentine-1 or 8500 X50/Bel RX65 Pro - still can't decide, but I need to have a speeding ticket prevention device not a speeding ticket notification device.
Seeing as the police force is using laser radars more and more nowadays none of the choices will work for your pocket w/o active laser jamming/shifter devices - added cost, and legal issues.