Learn me radar detectors

I've got a friend who runs laser jammers and is selling his detector. 400ish. anyone interested, let me know. Ill find out what it is and why its so gawd damned expensive.

Junkyard_Dog wrote:

Osterkraut wrote: Valentine One or GTFO. The Trailblazer taillight thing is annoying, but you can send it out to get hacked to lessen the problem.

Hacking info please! +eleventy bajillion for getting the V1. For an extra $40 (per car) get the remote mount too. Lets you tuck most of the unit up behind your rear-view mirror and nobody can see the lights from behind. I have two remote mounts hard wired and switch the main unit between the cars.

Pretty sure one of the guys that does the LED color mods can do it. I never got it done, as police around here don't normally use LIDAR.

Valentine 1, it keeps the bad guys from finding you.

Uncoiled wrote: Bad guys? Come on man, they are out there trying to keep things safe for the rest of us, show a little respect.

not according to a local HP ... I point blank asked him it radar was to make us slow down (continuously transmitting) or a revenue generator (instant on, and laser )... he said a little of both but leaning towards tickets and revenue

Tom_Spangler wrote: Personally, I don't blame the individual cops for the fact that they are glorified tax collectors. Those decisions are made far above the level of the average traffic cop, he's just doing what he's told. But I do 100% believe that speed limits are set artificially low to raise revenue. I have a couple-year-old Bel 940 in my truck. Several times I've considered a V1, but just couldn't pull that $400 trigger when my $120 Bel gets me probably 80% of the protection at less than 30% of the cost. I don't speed all that much anymore, anyhow. I've also never understood the big advantage of the arrows. You get a warning, you slow down. Does it really matter where it's coming from? Flame on. I've had this discussion with V1 enthusiasts before, and I know how it's going to go.

no flames here... but the arrows work.... when your Bel goes off ...showing 1 - 2 dots, sure you slow down expecting to find a speed "trap" somewhere ahead in the next couple of miles... only the dots never go away and you never spot (or pass) the speed check.... ok now what.. is there a patrolman up ahead traveling about the same speed as you ? or is there one behind once again traveling about the same speed... V1 says behind... the dots say he can't see you, so boogie on down the road and slowly get out of range... that's just one of the advantages

I still can't figure out why V1s are the only ones with arrows. Is there a copywrite/trademark on arrows?

I always wished Valentine would make a integrated solution like the Passport SR7.

Taiden wrote: I still can't figure out why V1s are the only ones with arrows. Is there a copywrite/trademark on arrows?

Yes, I believe so.

Taiden wrote: I still can't figure out why V1s are the only ones with arrows. Is there a copywrite/trademark on arrows?

Patent.

Also look at lidar jammers, those are legal.

You'd think you couldn't patent plastic arrows with LEDs behind them.

(I know it's not that general, but still. Couldn't someone patent a radar detector that made noise?)

Valentine. And I can tell you first hand that the two primary purposes of a traffic motors (motorcycle) unit are safety and revenue generation. Traffic DWI is 100% about safety but motors....not so much.

I use a Valentine to switch between cars as well as a Passport SRX remote model in my daily driver (the current version of this is called the 9500ci, but at least until recently the now discontinued SRX was avalable at half the original $150 price).

Both are good. The V1 does false, but doesn't miss alerts and the ability to know direction is very useful.

No experience with Valentine. I have the impression that they're really good at what they do. I've had 2 Passports over the past 25 years or so & have had no moving violations. If not for the Passports, I'm sure I'd have had a few tickets. Very pleased with them. If I ever need to replace my Passport, it'll most likely be with another one.

Owned a V1. Got convinced to try an escort, sold the V1, bought the top of the line Escort at the time. Made it a couple of weeks before I sold the Escort and bought another V1.. Still own the V1, considering upgrading to the newest version...

I've owned two Passports that have paid for themselves many times over, an original 8500 and a 9500i. I really like the 9500i's ability to store false locations via GPS so I don't have to hit the mute button every time.

Taiden wrote: I still can't figure out why V1s are the only ones with arrows. Is there a copywrite/trademark on arrows?

Because Valentine's the only one that can figure out where the signal's coming from. Seems like with other detectors, it takes a while to learn to how to figure that out for yourself (example: if it only went off when you passed a big metal sign, the radar was behind you).

Taiden wrote: I always wished Valentine would make a integrated solution like the Passport SR7.

Can't comment, haven't used the SR7. Full disclosure: haven't used any detector in years. They don't really enforce the 55 inside the Atlanta city limits (they don't even look at you for 25 over), and I only cruise about 75-80 out in the sticks here (speed limit's usually 65-70, they won't even bother if your're only doing 10 over). And of course, there's a lot of lazer here. IIRC, jamming lazer is legal because it's light waves instead of radio waves, and the FCC has no authority on transmission of a light signal.

carguy123 wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote: Personally, I don't blame the individual cops for the fact that they are glorified tax collectors. Those decisions are made far above the level of the average traffic cop, he's just doing what he's told. But I do 100% believe that speed limits are set artificially low to raise revenue.

They become cops because they want the power and then they enjoy it way to much for me to lay the blame above their heads. You do the job you do because you want to.

I agree Tom, it is stupid to think that cops join for power, they have none whatsoever, they are constantly being harassed by the public, lawyer groups, do gooders, politicians, bosses and more.

As for doing the job they want to, hell they would all be after a big drug bust if they had the funding and support of their bosses, but that costs money, and doesn't make money.

The revenue that the traffic offenders produce appear to override the same things that would not be acceptable in a criminal investigation. It is far cheaper for the authority to have a cop a speeder and issue a citation than it is to prosecute a thief, conduct the investigation, preparing a brief of evidence, proceeding through the court system and finally if found guilty the thief is awarded a 12 month bond.

There is no doubt that traffic is all about the benjamins, but that has nothing to do with the enforcement officer and everything to do with local politicans who lie and break laws by posting illegal speed limits and creating speed traps in safe areas.

The blame is completely on the system not the individual.

That said, there are some really stupid individuals with very bad attitudes.

If speeding tickets didn't involve an increase in insurance rate I would have no problem ponying up for a ticket every now and then.

lots of v1 love, but it was disqualified in my initial post as it isn't sold locally. I bought an elcheapo cobra used on friday. it does have decent reviews though.

Well, I'm from the school of cruise control. Don't speed, you don't get caught.

Much cheaper than a radar detector. My .02 cents.

For internetautomart the V1 isn't sold locally normally unless used as it is mail order so unless you have to pay cash or see/touch it it is mail order for most everyone. If you are out of country that's another issue.

Having owned an original Escort, Passport and newer passport, two Unidens and two versions of the V1 I believe the V1 has enough advantages to be worthwhile if you need and use it properly and enough. That doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of good detectors that can be useful and fulfill many users needs just fine for less money.

Good points made on LIDAR as it most times is just an indication of getting stopped soon but not always. A LIDAR jammer( think laser park pro parking assist device and the like) is probably the best defense along with a good detector.

As for speed and red light cameras a GPS or GPS equipped detector is a weakness the V1 has but there are options. Those who run properly set up( not shortened amber light) red lights deserve a ticket and are idiots who hurt and kill more people then speeders alone. These cameras however are contracted out by city/county entities to private companies who push or demand in the contract to adjust amber light times and has nothing to do with the police officers individually. Cops that focus on speeding too much are misguided,misinformed,lazy or just going after the low hanging fruit for the most part and are either looking for drugs and other crimes that may result from a legitimate stop for speeding or doing less for real safety then they can if they focused on distracted driving,careless/reckless, following too closely, running red lights or stop signs and drunk/drug drivers. However that said cops aren't bad for enforcing the law even on speeding. It is the law and if you break it take it like a mature adult and don't cry or make excuses when you are in the wrong and they are doing the job they are paid to do. Work with NMA(National Motorist Association),local and state gov etc.. to change things as well as fighting tickets for something you didn't do.

one thing to keep in mind ... if you're going to speed, (radar detector or not) try not to be the fastest car on the road.... and if the traffic is extremely light ... slow down... there's probably not anyone out there in front of you to catch the officers attention ... so you don't have any chance of spotting an instant on radar when he's "shooting" someone else... and like with laser, instant on WILL get you ....