[flash]

you sure that wasn't laser? that's how they target those - they are very focused beams, whereas radar is approximately a 15 degree wide band (that's why the car mounted units still work well) - radar sees the largest object, and is not specific about material or reflective capabilities



if it was laser, then you are correct - if they lock onto you, you are almost certainly screwed



on the subject of placement, high is best - pointing slightly off to the right (toward the curb) is also better - making sure nothing is between the antenna surface and the "target" is the real key - metallic window tint, windsheild antennas, and windsheild wipers are not helpful, and easily obsure the antenna - the low mounting was almost certainly a problem

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[gryphon]

I can second almost everything Flash has said about radar detectors. My Valentines have been invaluable to me for many years. I hard wire them into every car and never drive without them on.



One additional point is that, at least in Arizona, many cops are lazy and leave their radar on continuously, whether they are checking speeds or just cruising. This has saved me from several tickets, unrelated to speeding, such as a rolling stops, illegal (but cautious) u-turns, etc. It's never a bad thing to know that a cop is nearby.



Tom

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[gryphon]

Flash and/or Stephen. Why did you choose the RX65 over the more expensive Sti Driver?



Also, I note that the RX65 is about 40% heavier than the Valentine One. Is the suction cup mounting well designed and secure?



Does the RX65 use the same telephone cord polarity so won't need to rewire my vehicles?



Tom

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[flash]

STi driver was not out yet - i know zip about that one



no issues with the suction cup - i move it from car to car and have not yet had a problem - wetting it first is the key



telephone cord? i just plug it into the cigarette lighter

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[gryphon]

Bob, I spoke to Beltronics after I posted the questions. Apparently the Sti driver just adds stealth mode for truckers, states where detectors are illegal, etc. (Just my two cents, but I would NOT want to be a trucker and get caught with a radar detector, which violates a Federal law.)



Tom

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[kodomokid]

[quote name='Chris Vais' post='39855' date='Aug 13 2007, 02:00 PM']I've been tracking this post for some time now. I don't own a radar detector, never have. I've been driving since 1963, mostly in California with the exception of my military service time. The last speeding ticket that I received was in 1967. I picked my younger brother up on his last day of high school and punctuated the event by executing what was a the time a really nice burnout in front of the school. Unfortunately there was a cop up a side street that I didn't see. I got stopped in Alameda, where I live a couple of years ago, but the officer told me that I had such a clean driving record he didn't want to mess it up so he wrote me for a seat belt violation.



I did have a problem in North Carolina when I was stationed there. The local Sheriff used to set up a "Yankee Trap" outside of the main gate. If you drove a car with a "Yankee" plate on it you would be stopped for some violation real or imagined. If you drove a foriegn car ("a PORCH") as I did at the time with California plates on it, why you were immediately assumed to be a "comminist" pinko, hippie, war resister, even if you were in full uniform, and a prime candidate to be stopped. I along with a few others took exception to this treatment and complained to the Commanding Officer who then ordered up a "two dollar" pay day that took care of the problem in short order.



Driving in California, even on I-5, I make it point to never be the fastest guy out there and I don't "work" the traffic. There are no shortage of fools driving SUVs, vans and the occasional "rice rockets" at well over 80 mph that make excellent radar targets. Besides, the Interstate Highways in California are in such poor repair you really are at risk of your life if your driving too fast. I do drive my 968 fast, at times very fast, but only in locations and at times where I know that I can do so without putting anyone at risk and without attracting any unwanted attention.[/quote]





To punctuate your point, I've also noticed an alarming amount of garbage on the freeways in the Bay Area. I don't know if it is just me or what. I sometimes feel like I'm driving an obstacle course. When I drive in Washington near Seattle, I don't see as much debris on the road.



Interesting thing, this weekend I was driving home on I-5 in Washington, and a state patrol was parked on the side of the road. He only looked like he was using a speed gun. But my detector never gave me a signal at all. I have an Escort 8500. Few miles later though, I started to pick up a pulsing KA. For 2 miles at least. Then it stopped. But then I saw a state patrol pulling someone over a mile or so down the road. So I guess that sometimes you have to get used to the way the signal is picked up. Not all of the time will it be a continuous alarm. Never really gave it much thought before this.

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[perbal]

Not to beat a dead horse, or detector, but years ago (make that years and years ago) when radar was just starting to be used and I was driving a Healey, I would swear that I really did "drive under the radar" (sometimes with the windshield down) because it was so low and the radar was usually mounted high on the door post. Anyway, the reason for the post. I drove a client's F430 up to a concours a few months ago and he had a hidden detector with the display built into his rear view mirror.



Perbal

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[ds968]

I just bought another detector for the 968 ( Escort "Passport" Solo S 2 ). Cordless, because the cord on the previous detector was driving me nuts, but I'll still probably use it on longer trips in one of the other cars

I hope this Escort works as effectively as the Beltronics one.. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]

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[gryphon]

I think that most of the comparison tests have shown that cordless units give up some performance to corded ones. It is actually quite easy to hard wire your detector into a 968 which leaves only a tiny pigtail behind the mirror. Be sure to find a switched power source however.

Tom

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[flash]

yes to both - just did the hardwire in the 968 - very nice - will be doing it in the other two cars soon - i already bought the kits

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[ds968]

<!--quoteo(post=70370:date=Apr 13 2009, 12:43 PM:name=gryphon)-->QUOTE (gryphon @ Apr 13 2009, 12:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It is actually quite easy to hard wire your detector into a 968 which leaves only a tiny pigtail behind the mirror.
Tom<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

problem with that small, yet visible ( to others ) " pigtial " : some a-hole will break your window, or even worse cut your cab's soft top, knowing the chance your radar detector, or GPS, or whatever other portable unit is probably in your glove compartment .. call me paranoid, but having had a colleague's $ 7,000 soft top destroyed because someone wanted his $ 200 iPod from the car, I even wipe the suction cups marks off the window to erase any trace
that something's ever been there.. overly cautious perhaps , but it is what it is..

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[jlm968]

<!--quoteo(post=21024:date=May 15 2006, 05:39 PM:name=whakiewes)-->QUOTE (whakiewes @ May 15 2006, 05:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->This may not be pertanent to YOUR radar detector decision, but here is my input.

I have had tons of radar detectors, and have used about every other one I haven't owned. Tickets with Bel Solo and Solo 2. Tickets with 850 and X50. Never had a single ticket or 'scare' with my V1; PERIOD. The 850 was very nice, and was a great buy at only a hair over $200, but on several occasions failed to pick up radar from behind and to the side. For traps miles ahead, it was wonderful, but from behind in which I got a ticket it did nothing. It did nothing until I could visually see the cop, and at the point it was to late. Solo/Solo2 was just as great, and the fact you don't have any wires is nice. The same though, except my Solo ticket was going over an inclined bridge, cop going other way clocked me at the peak of the bridge. This isn't saying that he just wasn't using his radar, but it was just X band, which isn't any KA instant on. Very disapointing! Using my V1, I averaged 104mph for 130 miles with no ticket or scare in my M3. The nicest features are the very clear readouts, the bogey counter, and the directional arrows. Also its very nice to be able to have it hardwired with the kit they include.

Not that you need to buy a V1, but I just have learned to trust nothing else. I also run a Uniden Bearcat BCT-12 just for tracking information. On many occasions I have been able to avoid an accident or speed trap by using it. If you have imagestation, here is a sample. I don't have any other hosts that I can use. http://www.imagestation.com/video/view.htm...878050&dl=1

Wes<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I'm not an expert on these devices. Just wanted to add that Mike Valentine, whose company makes the V1, is a big Porschephile and had a sweet Carerra GT at Mid-Ohio last summer, and he wasn't pussy-footing that car like it was a garage-queen, either!

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[flash]

dan- i have no suction cups anymore

one thing to keep in mind is that these things outdate themselves in a year or two - technology keeps changing - a good detector comes out - then better radar or laser comes out - then a better detector............

you have to stay on top of the shoot out matches on these things - i did that over 2 years ago when i chose the rx65 pro over the V1

i had a chance ot play around with the valentine and i have to say that my V1 experience was less than stellar - way too many falses for my tastes - it was very sensitive and picked up everything, but it also picked up a lot of nonsense and i had a hard time "filtering" it out in real use

it also does not have the updateable GPS features i am looking for to see the speed traps and red light cameras before i get there, which is why i just bought the gx65 - even the rx65 did not have that, and it was newer than the V1

i'm sure they will update the unit soon though - that is a pretty old unit - also my personal tastes on these things is as subjective as anybody else's - what i like is not necessarily what somebody else would

to date nobody makes what i would really like, which is a single unit that is detector detector invisible AND has GPS AND has both front and rear sensors

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[gryphon]

Dan, I don't disagree with your opinion, but I think many thieves are opportunists that break in and steal what they see. Hence the popularity of removable face plates from sound systems. Breaking in and then also breaking in to the glove compartment, which also may be locked, only to find nothing more than box of Kleenex must be a bit discouraging.

Beyond that about all you can do is choose lighted parking spaces and avoid parking in high risk areas.

Tom

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[cosimo]

Flash, I have to agree the V1 does pick false signals. The signal for a radar is very distinguishable. I have mine hardwired into the ignition and is placed above the rear view mirror. The problem now is the speed cameras. Your ideal unit GPS, radar and front and rear sensors would be great. No doubt someone is working on it. There has been a rash of car break-ins
in this area. Police are warning motorists to clean the suction cup marks from their windshield. Jeesh now I've got to carry Windex with me.

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[94nine68]

I'm not sure why you guys have that many false alarms with the V1, as it is adjustable. As for it being outdated, I find that hard to believe as they will update the software used in the V1 if you send it back to them, so you can always have the latest technology available. I pity anyone who doesn't own a V1. I use it constantly, whether in the 968, or the Lightning or Saab 9-7x Aero. Just drove through Virginia with it on the passenger seat, not even in the window-as the are "illegal" in Va, and it picked up every radar trap on my route. Agree or disagree, I don't care, but I'll never go without it.

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[gryphon]

I owned three V1s until last year and because of their age the upgrade cost was prohibitive so I decided to shop around a bit. One of my major dissatisfactions with V1s has always been size and weight, which are more than most competitors. (I know, Mike Valentine claims that he would make it smaller if he could. He would also have to completely redesign it.)

I ended up with three BEL RX65 Pros. Before I made my final decision I drove with both the BEL and V1 side by side on the windshield. (No, they did not interfere with one another.) Overall the BEL had far fewer false alarms and both had about the same sensitivity in most situations. But surprisingly the BEL was more sensitive to stationary photoradar, which uses a very low signal strength. Initially I did miss the V1 arrows but found it pretty easy to get used to a audible signal instead.

Tom

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[94nine68]

<!--quoteo(post=70642:date=Apr 21 2009, 12:16 PM:name=gryphon)-->QUOTE (gryphon @ Apr 21 2009, 12:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I owned three V1s until last year and because of their age the upgrade cost was prohibitive so I decided to shop around a bit. One of my major dissatisfactions with V1s has always been size and weight, which are more than most competitors. (I know, Mike Valentine claims that he would make it smaller if he could. He would also have to completely redesign it.)

I ended up with three BEL RX65 Pros. Before I made my final decision I drove with both the BEL and V1 side by side on the windshield. (No, they did not interfere with one another.) Overall the BEL had far fewer false alarms and both had about the same sensitivity in most situations. But surprisingly the BEL was more sensitive to stationary photoradar, which uses a very low signal strength. Initially I did miss the V1 arrows but found it pretty easy to get used to a audible signal instead.

Tom<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Upgrades are maxed at $100. You couldn't buy anything for that price. Its not like a laptop which would be outdated in a year. It takes a few years for radar technology to be updated anyway, so you would still be ahead of the game. I like my insurance on the inexpensive side, since everything I own is a performance vehicle.

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[flash]

i did all the homework on these before i bought the RX65 over the V1 - it won in almost every shootout test that was applicable in california

i now have the GX65 because i really wanted the gps alerts - knowing where they are BEFORE i got there is better than being told by the detector that i just got a ticket- many of the traps are now using pop and no detector will help you if it is relying on the signal and not gps - arizona is a good example of this one

i'm not slagging the V1 - it's a decent unit, and many people swear by it - it's still rated in the top 5 by most reviews - having worked in radar and radar avoidance design, i know why it is both good and not so good - there are certainly less effective detectors out there - i merely want more than it can do, and hence my recent purchase choice

side note - by all current information, the V1 is NOT invisible to the detector detectors now being used - it was only good against the first generation units, but those have been replaced in most service areas and the V1 has not been upgraded - if you happen to get nailed in virginia by someone using one, prepare for jail time

there are currently only 2 units out there that are invisible to all detector detectors on the market, but neither of them have GPS

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[94nine68]

<!--quoteo(post=70661:date=Apr 21 2009, 04:26 PM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Apr 21 2009, 04:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->i did all the homework on these before i bought the RX65 over the V1 - it won in almost every shootout test that was applicable in california

i now have the GX65 because i really wanted the gps alerts - knowing where they are BEFORE i got there is better than being told by the detector that i just got a ticket- many of the traps are now using pop and no detector will help you if it is relying on the signal and not gps - arizona is a good example of this one

i'm not slagging the V1 - it's a decent unit, and many people swear by it - it's still rated in the top 5 by most reviews - having worked in radar and radar avoidance design, i know why it is both good and not so good - there are certainly less effective detectors out there - i merely want more than it can do, and hence my recent purchase choice

side note - by all current information, the V1 is NOT invisible to the detector detectors now being used - it was only good against the first generation units, but those have been replaced in most service areas and the V1 has not been upgraded - if you happen to get nailed in virginia by someone using one, prepare for jail time

there are currently only 2 units out there that are invisible to all detector detectors on the market, but neither of them have GPS<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The Bel rx65 is not invisible either. It is to the vg2-as is the V1, but the spectre RDD will pick them both up. They both have pop detection as well. Personally-I'm not sure what the gps has to do with detection. Yes, if it registers a radar signal and stores it, thats fine, but when the radar is no longer there, it still alerts you, so isn't that a false alarm. The key is to not be the lead car in a freight train of speeders. Picking up stray signals is usually the key. If you are in the middle of a pack, its pretty hard to be singled out by laser, although some radar does lock onto multiple signals, and display individual speeds, but usually in that case, the signal is so spread out, you will have picked it up at a distance.
What I don't understand, is can the vg2 actually determine which vehicle has the detector? and by what right would they have to search your vehicle if you stuff it under your seat?

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