Not to start any controversy, as I love my SC 430 very very much, but did anyone else notice that the dealer-installed passport radar detector kinda sucked? I mean, it picks up cops at a pretty short distance for me. I got zapped by a state trooper going 16 over with a laser, and the radar went off when I was parallel to the cop. Now knowing that this car is perfect, I'm guessing I probably don't know how to use the radar to maximize its benefits. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

VJ

 

genearch,

Were you referring to the K-40 that comes with both front and rear sensors? As far as I know, the Valentine comes with the front mountable unit, and a remote display unit.

Based on my understanding, trying to avoid laser is pretty tough. If your radar has picked up a laser signal, chances are pretty good, that the cop was aiming for a section that was real close to your car.

My valentine works quite well, but again, if the cop is sitting there waiting with instant-on radar, your radar may not catch that signal until you are right there, within a smiling distance from the cop.

That's one reason I still watch out for the speed trap zones.

 

http://www.lidatek.com


Better than the k40 jamming system. Used with a Valentine 1, it is the best setup period. Jams for just a few seconds, long enough to go from 90 to 55, then turns off so the cop doesnt get suspicious. Very nice.

 

If there using laser then they have you know matter what if your speeding. Only takes a split second to get the reading off your car when aimed and its too late to brake to slow up.

 

I forget who, but someone here has a v1 with the remote display on their visor, or they were thinkin of doing this.

On my old SC, i had a V1 and it had a sensor in the front lower part of the car and a rear sensor in the window... ithink it might have been aftermarket sensors though. The remote was installed in my ashtray.

The V1 is the best in the market, better than the passport 8900 or whatever number it is.

 

Those phony radar/laser jammers don't work! Don't waste your hard earned money on them pleaseeeeeeeeeeee. They may work in conjuction with something else like aluminum foil plastered to the front of you car sort of like a bra. :eek: :eek:

 

There is a dealer option in the SC for a Passport radar detector? It's remotely mounted right? Is it (based on) the 8500? I haven't used the Valentine but my Passport 8500 is AWESOME.

 

I stepped up from an 8500 to the V1. Night and day difference. The 8500 is just a toy in comparison. The V1 is well worth the extra $$ not only in terms of increased range, (It seems to warn a lot sooner on the dificult stuff like over the hill, around the bend, etc.), but overall situationaly awareness. You know where the radar is and when you've passed it and how many radars there are. There have been a few recent encounters where the V1 kept pointing ahead even after passing the cop, on my 8500, I probably would have pressed on after seeing the first cop.

Also, on the laser thing. Its true, once they pull the trigger on your car, you're toast. But with laser, the cops usually aim at just about anything, and will pull the trigger several times per minute. On the V1 this will sometimes give you a couple cars warning in advance of them zapping you.

If you're the only car on a deserted road and he's hiding and waiting, the only salvation would be either passive jamming (hope that he pulls the trigger and hits some non reflective surface, cloak your car - things like covering head lights with a front end bra, removing the front license plate if allowed, etc. Anything to reduce the reflection of light.) Supposedly some vehicles with a very small frontal area like vettes are extremely difficult for laser operators to lock on, especially if the car has some passive countermeasures. Infrared lighting confuses the guns a little and fog lights and high beams can shorten the effective distance of the laser. Active jammers as discussed above can also help.