Well after reading all of these posts... decided to hardwire my V1. Found out I was wrong in my previous post, found the adapter that hardwires in and allows connection to the accessory jack. At 1st I was going to wire it in to the map light on the windshield header... realized how easy it would be to wire it into the fuse box and then run the included black satin wire around to it, works great except it is doing something strange now... it beeps like it has picked a weak signal... but the display does not illuminate at all, while testing for loose connections(another excuse to drive around) I was very impressed with the fact it picked up a police car swatting in the median while a block away on a parallel road. When I turned and went down the street that intersected the 2, it went semi nuts... but when I stopped at the corner ... now 2 blocks away from his location and at 90 degrees to the police car... it lit up like christmas... still had no idea where it was except the display had changed to the side arrows... I then knew to be careful.
Anyway as far as the front plate...it is in the trunk. Anyway now that I have it wired... next is the concealed display.
as for jamming LIDAR (an earlier question), two devices will jam the LIDAR all the way to the gun. One is the K40 laser diffuser and the other is the "Laser Blinder." I'm not sure who makes the 2nd device. www.speedlabs.com has a videotape where they tested these jammers and about 5 others and the K40 and Laser Blinder scored highest, jamming all the way to the gun on both types of LIDAR devices. As for "V1 versus K40," the V1 is a radar detector...against LIDAR you are DEAD with it. Period...any radar/laser detector is simply toast. The K40 diffuser is a laser jammer, not to be confused with a simple detector.
jimntexas - you bit hard on that hook. He had no right to your detector. Difficult as it might have been given this trigger happy cop's aggressive posture, it would have saved a few bucks to have told him that you had no detector. He wasn't going to have cause to search your car; basically he was threatening you into doing something incriminating, i.e., admit the use of a detector and he wanted the power cord for courtroom purposes in case you disputed its use. Since it's no points & only like $30 or so, I figure since you didn't get shot, you came out ahead. Figure that with the TV cameras in cruisers, plus the preponderance of witnesses in your car, he wasn't going to do anything stupid anyway, but hey, you never know.
Hi all... just got my remote display for the V1, can't decide where to put it. Really wanted to put it on the area behind the steering wheel, but offset to the right. However the included velcro stuff, causes it to stick up to high. So I stuck it under the rh edge of the dash... it works well there but with my hands at 10 an 2, it is covered. I may try some different double_sided tape and put it back on the area behind the wheel... anyone else come up with a good solution. This thing seems too perfect for making into a mirror!
I went to the K40 site and they have a radar/laser detector. They have it priced between 700 and 1100. They also state that the unit also detects where the radar is coming from. I am curious if this unit is that much better considering it costs twice more then the V1.
hey! heres some news for ya....... in texas , no frnt plates required but....... when in texas remember that if you are pulled over for ANY reason period, the law enforcement officer has the right to search your vehicle under any premis. he WILL detain you in jail until a warrant is issued for the search of your vehicle. being a border state, texas is hard fast about this rule. if they dont find anything you will be released to go on your way with no possible recourse against the officer or the municipality. probable cause in this state is officer discression. beware!! it does suck, but for safety sake you should cooperate..........i know this from personal experience. dont mess with texas.
I've seen lots of discussion on the V1 and K40 getting me up to the last posting, but what about the el cheapo detectors?? I have been sporting a Home Shopping Channel Early Warning laser/radar detector for the last few years. I get one about once every two years. Work like a champ. NC Troopers use X band and I can spot them a mile away. Local police use K band. Biggest problem I have is the other cars coming by set of my detectors KA band. I used it in VA while in Navy (different detectors) for over 12 years and never got a ticket. Left it in on trips back and forth to my parents in the Mountains of NC..never got roused. Drove right buy them while they were transmitting and they didn't pull me. $400 for a detector is high, probably worth it, but then My "less than $100" Early Warning, even picks up signals put out by emergency equipment (although I've never had it go off)..just a little plg for the El Cheapo. Not everybody can afford the big rigs.
Well the V1 will not false near as much, giving you a higher confidence in the signal it does put out... and it cannot be detected by VG2,(system police use to sniff out radar detectors) which is also a good thing. The V1 should last for years and it can always be upgraded with the latest and greatest tech. I would not think the El Cheapo can match the amount of information given by a long shot... the ability to track multiple bogeys(radar sources) and give direction... front back or side... made it worth it to me.
You find X band in lots of rural jurisdictions where they buy hand-me-downs from more modern departments.
You also find them in Virginia, where it's illegal to own radar detectors. Since nobody has a detector, they don't have to worry about it being easy to detect.
Kinda tough to go into the physics of probogated electromagnetic waves here, but long straight stretch of road with curve leading to and away = a pretty good chance of getting a reflected signal if they are transmitting. Course I do have 22 years in radar operation and repair and 4 years electronic countermeasures training which alows me a little more than an educated guess as to where the signal is good or bad. I routinely get mile warnings because I can sort out what is a door opener at wal-mart from an x band SHP radar. I have never had a Laser alert in NC, but that's not to say that some of the bigger juristictions are not using them. Virginia was worst state for gunning with x band. The road out of Norfolk on a friday evening was a long lonely one. I'll probably by a V1 but It'll take a lot of justification. 'Sides, I'm not talking 30 over the speed limit here prob'ly 5 to 10.
My girlfriend just gave me an Escort Solo for my birthday. I'm wondering what people think about it. I'm considering getting the Escort Passport 7500 for added range and sensitivity. I want the best, but don't really feel like dishing out $400. I will if I have too, but there's gotta be something close for less... I hope!?!? If not the Escort Passport 7500 what other units are the next best after the V1.
PS. I also heard that you shouldn't bye radar detectors from Best Buy, surprise, my girlfriend bought the Escort Solo from Best Buy! Where is a good place in MA to purchase a unit. By the way, I would love to have something where I could hide the cord in my cherry red '99 Acura Integra...
I just got my new silver Infiniti I30t and I'm having a tough time keeping it under 75mph. I'm in the market for a new radar detector (looking at the V1) and wondered if anyone had any experiences with their I30 and the performance of their detectors. Also, I'd welcome any feedback on using one with the back shade up, putting it on the visor or dash, etc...
Why do you want to drive with the back shade up using a V1. Don't you think that would distract the rear protection on the V1 to work, as with a tinting would do?
Someone settle this for me.... I'm constantly told that radar detectors are illegal in CA, and that I shouldn't use it. If they're illegal, how come they're sold in every major department stores here? That's like Rite-Aid selling crack or something. Someone settle this!
I recently got a Uniden 360-degree radar/laser detector ($50) and it's been great. Probably saved me from a few tickets. Just recently, the K-band warning went off, which is unusual on city streets, so I slowed from 55mph to 40mph.... then within 5 seconds, a cop appeared out of nowhere! I didn't think the radar detectors work, but I'm a believer now.
Anyone know why the radar detector detector invisibility is an important feature? If radar detectors are legal, why does anyone care if the cops know you are using one? Or is this feature for VA and other illegal states?
There are only two jurisdictions in the United States where you can't legally use your unit. Virginia and Washington DC.
That is...VA, not CA.
Aside from those two jurisdictions, the stealth feature (radar detector detector prevention) will prevent your detector from spraying spurious signals out to confuse other radar detector users on the highway. Older models caused such "pollution".
Otherwise, why make Smokey aware of your presence...just in case you may inadvertently be one MPH above the limit?
ok thanks guys. I will keep using the radar detector, regardless of what others say.
Maybe you guys can help me with another non-radar question.....last night, while I was driving in the desolute highway of a desert, several semi's and cars, coming in the opposite direction, kept hi-beaming at me. The first time it happened, I thought "what a jerk!" but then it kept happening, so I'm wondering if it's some sort of a secret highway code...... if anyone knows, spill the beans, please! I'm going nutz trying to figure this out.
BTW, I had my headlights on (low beam), so I'm sure it's not to remind me to turn it on.
Well hondabro the K band going off in towns is not unusual in city streets if the street has any shopping centers. Especially Walgreens and Eckards, they use K band on their automatic doors now. Also new stores with automatic doors seem to start using the Kband. I think you just got lucky. But on the other hand maybe you didn't? Nevertheless, if you only had 5 secs to slow down imagine if you were goign 95mph or something and the K band went off on your radar? Now in 5 sec you will have traveled about 700ft or 233 yards. In other words, with the amount of speed you were traveling at you had time to stop but with a higher speed you may not be so lucky after all.
95mph????? I like to speed, but not crazy. Heck, I don't even do that on the freeway. Well, I did do 100mph, but that was for a few seconds, on a dare.
I think you're insinuating that the 5 second warning was too late, which means my radar detector isn't so great. But, what if the cop just happen to turn it on 5 second earlier? Not even Valentine 1 (the best) would detect a cop's presence if the cop dosen't turn on the radar. And no radar can save you if the cop uses instant-on directly on you.
I doubt that the k-band signal was from a shopping center (there's one about 2 miles away) since it was early Sunday, which means they were closed. Plus, when I pass supermarkets, shopping malls, etc. the x-band signal always went off.... don't remember the k-band ever going off. That's why I was extra cautious when the k-band went off. Any how, it's too much of a coincidence that a cop happened to show up right after the k-band went off.....
Does anyone have experience with any of the beartracker scanners? - from what I have read, it seems that these potentially could be very useful in addition to a radar detector, as these units are supposed to be able to pick up highway patrol vehicles equipped with certain secondary radios. I'm thinking about getting one, and any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
It's not worth it man. I remember when I drove past 2 cops and the darn thing didn't even go off. Not to mention the beartrcker picks up signals 3 miles in diameter. Which means the cop can be not even a threat to you and you are worried for no reason. If you want you can get one but all I got to say is that it is only useful and fun to listen to emergency calls and at times peoples phone conversation. Oh by the way having a scanner is illegal. Unless you have a permit to do so.
You probably better off saving your money on the scanner & use it to pay your speeding ticket if you're going to rely on the scanner for speed trap locations. Most PD don't advise dispatch of where they are setting up a speed trap. Only after the get a vehicle stopped would they advise dispatch of their 20
Thanks for the input about the scanners! My second question is regarding the use of radar and its potential reduction with certain windshields. I am buying an acura CL-S and apparently it has some type of "heat rejecting green glass", and I have been unable to find out whether it conatins metal or something else that would significantly block radar detector function. I suppose in the end it wont stop me from getting something like the V-1 anyway, but I sure would like to know if it would still be effective in signaling detection with enough lead time. Any experience would be appreciated!
I've avoided radar detectors for about 2 years now. I always thought they were distracting, annoying and never worked most of the time anyways. But after reading a few posts here, it got me thinking again. Sounds like the Valentine brand is the way to go. My question is, where can you purchase them at good prices? I have'nt seen them in any commercial stores. The only places I've seen them is in some car stereo shops at ridiculous prices of over 500 bucks!! What's a good place to buy them online at?
I've owned two of Uniden's Beartracker scanners, and they are fine units for what they are. They are nowhere near as good as a quality radar detector, but when you live in Virginia you don't have many other options.
The BCT-7 which I currently own has paid for itself in avoiding tickets, but it has its own share of problems. Since the Beartracker units look for the relay signal from the car to the handheld unit, if no broadcasts are occuring during the time you are within 3 miles, you are SOL. It really is a random chance thing, but in busy jurisdictions there is a transmission roughly every five seconds in my experience.
There is also the problem of high-density areas where you will pick up the signal from a cop five blocks near the highway you are travelling on. You get a lot of false signals. But you do get signals, which is better than nothing.
That and scanning is a pretty interesting hobby. I have heard some outlandish stuff on my scanner while driving. Local police and EMS are usually more interesting than state police, but you occasionally get lucky. One of my favorites was on December 24th a couple of years ago. I heard a dispatch telling all units to be on the lookout for a fat man in a red sleigh, last seen heading North...
And scanner laws vary from state to state. Saying that they are "illegal" is incorrect.
Thanks for the link clappingmonkey. I just finished reading some of the pages on their website and I'm just about sold. My only worry is in case they come out with an upgraded detector. I just talked to one of there sales reps and he said the last significant upgrade was in 1997. My guess is, they probably have a totally redesigned detector coming out. I would hate to pay 400 bucks and get stuck with an older model. Any advice on what to do?
I should probably just suck it up and buy the darn thing before I get snagged out on the road huh?
my understanding is that v1 doesnt play the upgrade game. i think they will continually improve their existing detectors and if they do come out with new features, the existing detectors can all be upgraded.
I have a V1 direct wire and concealed display. I could tell you a "saved me a ticket" story for every dollar I spent on it. You and your insurance rates will be glad you got it.
There are a lot of cheaper alternatives out there. My $50 Uniden radar detector works great too, as I have tested it extensively during 500 mile trips across the "war zone" (La to Vegas). It has given me several full blown alerts (cop in close proximity & able to gun me!).... which within seconds, there would be a cop with a victim pulled over for speeding, on the side of the road. So, I know this thing works!
-------------------- blane,
I guess that's one possibility. But it's interesting that they didn't hi-beam the guys in front of me. Others have suggested that maybe the headlights on Lexus' are too bright and resemble a hi-beam.....
I thought about it a little more last night, read the new posts this morning and I made up my mind, I'm getting one.
I figure with the way speeding ticket prices are here in CT (an 80mph ticket in a 65 zone is about 250 bucks) and with the current insurance rates (I'm 23yo paying 2200 a year with a descent record), a 400 dollar investment for the best radar detector out there really is'nt much. I drive roughly 30k miles a year, mostly highway miles, so I'll definitely be using it alot.
Thanks to bhelper and everyone else for the sound advice. I too have decided to get a V1 detector when I take delivery on my car in a week or two. I got a reasonable deal on a BCT-12 scanner, and I plan on getting this as well. Call me paranoid, but I plan on doing alot of city and highway driving in NC, and I'll need all the help I can get! Once tested, I will give what feedback I can. Thanks to all!!
You're very welcome. Please let us have the feedback about the BCT-12. I passed on that one because of a lack of programmability, and I have always wondered if I didn't make a mistake.
How useful are they? In all seriousness, I used to have one in high school and would listen to the police dispatch reports because they were so funny. But if you're driving long distances, don't different precincts and states use different frequencies? How do you "know" which one to tune in to?
The BCT series of scanners come pre-programmed with state & local police frequencies. When you cross the state line, you tell the unit what state you are in, and it only scans those frequencies (and possibly others, depending on the unit).
It used to be that you could pick up a booklet in Radio Shack that listed all of the emergency frequencies in all of the states. They probably still carry them.
Yes, obtaining those frequencies isn't difficult. The issue I had with the BCT-12 is that while it did have the latest list of frequencies by state, it did not have the capability for you to add new frequencies like the BCT-7 did. The implementation of the BCT-12 is closer to a radar detector, and the BCT-7 is closer to a hobbiest scanner.
With the BCT-7, I could set it to scan specifically in one area of the spectrum (say, 39-50MHz, if I remember correctly) and listen for cordless phones.
You can't do that with a BCT-12, if I understand the unit correctly.
I have reviewed the V1 website and have a few questions. Does it have VG-2 protection? Can the display be dimmed? Will the rear detector work with the gold-type film on the Lexus RX-300 rear window? Thanks for your thoughts.
The display is autodimming; there is no manual dimming.
And unfortunately, if the gold-type film on your Lexus is metallic (which it probably is), then it will not work through the rear glass. Moreover, the locator circuitry may be confused by it. It will probably still work fine for the front, but your rear detection range will be zero.
I got 3M metalized tint on all my windows except for the front and the radar works fine for me for all detection. Well the range on it is diminised by 25% or so, but that is still sufficient enough for me to warned. It saved me a couple of times. So it's your risk to buy it and try it out. V1 folks told me that the metalized tint on my car might confuse the car and it may not work properly but I took the risk and got it anyways, I mean after all I can take the tint off. Well hope it works for you and you can too enjoy the benefits of being a V1 owner.
What the BCT series of scanners does is that it looks for the signal between a police car and the handheld units that the cops wear on their belts. The handheld units don't have enough power to reach the dispatch office by themselves, so they broadcast on a separate frequency to the car. The trunk mounted unit relays the signal using the better antennas and operates off the car battery. It works in reverse, too. The dispatches are received by the cop car, and then relayed to the portable unit on the belt.
This is the signal the BCT looks for, and the range is about 3 miles on a good day. When it detects one of these signals, a warning light flashes and an audible tone sounds from the unit. The tone quits after about three seconds, but the light stays on for a minute after the last detected signal.
The unit will also sound off with whatever signal it picks up, too. So you can hear what the cop/dispatch is saying. I had a particularly memorable incident where my BCT-7 went off and I heard a state trooper complaining to home base that the cars were bunched together too tightly and he couldn't get a clear shot. He also mentioned exactly where he was. 20 seconds later, we came around the corner and saw him right where he said he was.
Comments
Anyway as far as the front plate...it is in the trunk. Anyway now that I have it wired... next is the concealed display.
jimntexas - you bit hard on that hook. He had no right to your detector. Difficult as it might have been given this trigger happy cop's aggressive posture, it would have saved a few bucks to have told him that you had no detector. He wasn't going to have cause to search your car; basically he was threatening you into doing something incriminating, i.e., admit the use of a detector and he wanted the power cord for courtroom purposes in case you disputed its use. Since it's no points & only like $30 or so, I figure since you didn't get shot, you came out ahead. Figure that with the TV cameras in cruisers, plus the preponderance of witnesses in your car, he wasn't going to do anything stupid anyway, but hey, you never know.
cuz im planning on getting the v1.. and how much is a good price for it?
You also find them in Virginia, where it's illegal to own radar detectors. Since nobody has a detector, they don't have to worry about it being easy to detect.
PS. I also heard that you shouldn't bye radar detectors from Best Buy, surprise, my girlfriend bought the Escort Solo from Best Buy! Where is a good place in MA to purchase a unit. By the way, I would love to have something where I could hide the cord in my cherry red '99 Acura Integra...
thanks for the help!
I just got my new silver Infiniti I30t and I'm having a tough time keeping it under 75mph. I'm in the market for a new radar detector (looking at the V1) and wondered if anyone had any experiences with their I30 and the performance of their detectors. Also, I'd welcome any feedback on using one with the back shade up, putting it on the visor or dash, etc...
Thanks! PJ
I recently got a Uniden 360-degree radar/laser detector ($50) and it's been great. Probably saved me from a few tickets. Just recently, the K-band warning went off, which is unusual on city streets, so I slowed from 55mph to 40mph.... then within 5 seconds, a cop appeared out of nowhere! I didn't think the radar detectors work, but I'm a believer now.
Anyone know why the radar detector detector invisibility is an important feature? If radar detectors are legal, why does anyone care if the cops know you are using one? Or is this feature for VA and other illegal states?
There are only two jurisdictions in the United States where you can't legally use your unit. Virginia and Washington DC.
That is...VA, not CA.
Aside from those two jurisdictions, the stealth feature (radar detector detector prevention) will prevent your detector from spraying spurious signals out to confuse other radar detector users on the highway. Older models caused such "pollution".
Otherwise, why make Smokey aware of your presence...just in case you may inadvertently be one MPH above the limit?
Maybe you guys can help me with another non-radar question.....last night, while I was driving in the desolute highway of a desert, several semi's and cars, coming in the opposite direction, kept hi-beaming at me. The first time it happened, I thought "what a jerk!" but then it kept happening, so I'm wondering if it's some sort of a secret highway code...... if anyone knows, spill the beans, please! I'm going nutz trying to figure this out.
BTW, I had my headlights on (low beam), so I'm
sure it's not to remind me to turn it on.
95mph????? I like to speed, but not crazy. Heck, I don't even do that on the freeway. Well, I did do 100mph, but that was for a few seconds, on a dare.
I think you're insinuating that the 5 second warning was too late, which means my radar detector isn't so great. But, what if the cop just happen to turn it on 5 second earlier? Not even Valentine 1 (the best) would detect a cop's presence if the cop dosen't turn on the radar. And no radar can save you if the cop uses instant-on directly on you.
I doubt that the k-band signal was from a shopping center (there's one about 2 miles away) since it was early Sunday, which means they were closed. Plus, when I pass supermarkets, shopping malls, etc. the x-band signal always went off.... don't remember the k-band ever going off. That's why I was extra cautious when the k-band went off. Any how, it's too much of a coincidence that a cop happened to show up right after the k-band went off.....
Those other vehicles you mentioned in post #289 were trying to signal you that there was a speed trap in your lane up ahead.
My question is, where can you purchase them at good prices? I have'nt seen them in any commercial stores. The only places I've seen them is in some car stereo shops at ridiculous prices of over 500 bucks!!
What's a good place to buy them online at?
thanks...
spyder98
The BCT-7 which I currently own has paid for itself in avoiding tickets, but it has its own share of problems. Since the Beartracker units look for the relay signal from the car to the handheld unit, if no broadcasts are occuring during the time you are within 3 miles, you are SOL. It really is a random chance thing, but in busy jurisdictions there is a transmission roughly every five seconds in my experience.
There is also the problem of high-density areas where you will pick up the signal from a cop five blocks near the highway you are travelling on. You get a lot of false signals. But you do get signals, which is better than nothing.
That and scanning is a pretty interesting hobby. I have heard some outlandish stuff on my scanner while driving. Local police and EMS are usually more interesting than state police, but you occasionally get lucky. One of my favorites was on December 24th a couple of years ago. I heard a dispatch telling all units to be on the lookout for a fat man in a red sleigh, last seen heading North...
And scanner laws vary from state to state. Saying that they are "illegal" is incorrect.
I just finished reading some of the pages on their website and I'm just about sold. My only worry is in case they come out with an upgraded detector. I just talked to one of there sales reps and he said the last significant upgrade was in 1997. My guess is, they probably have a totally redesigned detector coming out. I would hate to pay 400 bucks and get stuck with an older model.
Any advice on what to do?
I should probably just suck it up and buy the darn thing before I get snagged out on the road huh?
i have a v1 and it seems to work fine...
There are a lot of cheaper alternatives out there. My $50 Uniden radar detector works great too, as I have tested it extensively during 500 mile trips across the "war zone" (La to Vegas). It has given me several full blown alerts (cop in close proximity & able to gun me!).... which within seconds, there would be a cop with a victim pulled over for speeding, on the side of the road. So, I know this thing works!
--------------------
blane,
I guess that's one possibility. But it's interesting that they didn't hi-beam the guys in front of me. Others have suggested that maybe the headlights on Lexus' are too bright and resemble a hi-beam.....
I figure with the way speeding ticket prices are here in CT (an 80mph ticket in a 65 zone is about 250 bucks) and with the current insurance rates (I'm 23yo paying 2200 a year with a descent record), a 400 dollar investment for the best radar detector out there really is'nt much.
I drive roughly 30k miles a year, mostly highway miles, so I'll definitely be using it alot.
thanks for the feedback everyone...
spyder98
It used to be that you could pick up a booklet in Radio Shack that listed all of the emergency frequencies in all of the states. They probably still carry them.
With the BCT-7, I could set it to scan specifically in one area of the spectrum (say, 39-50MHz, if I remember correctly) and listen for cordless phones.
You can't do that with a BCT-12, if I understand the unit correctly.
Or you could go to www.perconcorp.com and search by city, county, state etc... for your area..:-)
Like it so much, just bought a new V1 and am going to have the original one upgraded..
The display is autodimming; there is no manual dimming.
And unfortunately, if the gold-type film on your Lexus is metallic (which it probably is), then it will not work through the rear glass. Moreover, the locator circuitry may be confused by it. It will probably still work fine for the front, but your rear detection range will be zero.
This is the signal the BCT looks for, and the range is about 3 miles on a good day. When it detects one of these signals, a warning light flashes and an audible tone sounds from the unit. The tone quits after about three seconds, but the light stays on for a minute after the last detected signal.
The unit will also sound off with whatever signal it picks up, too. So you can hear what the cop/dispatch is saying. I had a particularly memorable incident where my BCT-7 went off and I heard a state trooper complaining to home base that the cars were bunched together too tightly and he couldn't get a clear shot. He also mentioned exactly where he was. 20 seconds later, we came around the corner and saw him right where he said he was.