I like the arrows but less false alarms made me forget them.

You can turn off the red light and speed trap notification.

 

Thank you to everyone for your feedback. I'm not sure I ave been convinced of 1 vs. the other, but it sounds like I can't go wrong with either. I'm leaning toward the V1 because of the directional support.

If anyone could post Jammer photos, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You in advance.

 

After trying several of the better units, I put V1s in every car I drive. No agencies use X-band or K-band around here so I keep them off and now the only false alarms are from cars with laser-based cruise controls. The arrows help define the situation and allow me to adapt more efficiently.

Ultimately, the best unit for you may depend on where you drive, what bands you may encounter and your weighting of the false alarm vs. directional arrows scale. If you could combine the AI of the 9500ix with the arrows of the V1, the choice would be easy, but until that happens these threads will continue.

 

I've had both brands. Never understood why the arrows are important. If I get an alert, I hit the brakes. Apparently some think it is best to first look at the arrows, then look in the direction of the arrows, then hit the brakes.

While sometimes the arrows told me that it's the magic door openers at the supermarket I'm driving by on my right, the Escort doesn't go off there any more because the 3rd time I went by that supermarket it decided it was magic door openers and have locked that GPS location and frequency off. However, if a cop is sitting there too, because of the different electronic signature of the radar gun, the Escort will alert me.

Escort sends me an email every 2 weeks with the states that have updated red light camera and fixed speed trap locations. If it's one of the states I frequent, I plug the 9500iX into my laptop and in 3 minutes it's updated. I get an alert 500 feet before red light cameras and 1200 feet before speed traps. I can also do firmware updates that way.

Finally and best, I can hit the Escort's mute button as I go by the front entrance to a school and manually set an alert. Then, 500 feet before I go by that school each time thereafter I get an alert to remind me to slow down to 20 MPH.

Can your arrows do that?

Oh, and I think several have already said it's a better detector?

 

Valentine still the best,no matter what!Sonny.

 

In my experience, the arrows can provide a wealth of useful information once you learn to interpret them. Let's say your driving down a fairly busy 2-lane highway and get a weak short hit on the Escort followed by a bit stronger short hit then again a weak hit. This pattern repeats several times as you continue on. Where I live, that could be a CHP on an perpendicular road cycling his radar on and off trying to catch an oncoming vehicle, but totally irrelevant to you because he is a couple of miles to your left or right. Or the CHP could be traveling the same direction as you a mile or more back shooting the oncoming traffic as he follows a big rig. Again, no real threat to you. Or he could be behind the big rig in the distance coming toward you and you will be his primary target in less than a minute.

With the V1, you know where he is and if he will soon be in a position to read your speed. And that is why sometimes the arrows are very important.

 

I have had the exact same experience with my V1 and got caught because I had too many false alarms and was not really paying attention anymore. Reviews of the 9500ci are not always very good, but it has worked PERFECTLY since I had it installed. The laser jammer -if legal in your state- is a must have, and I love the fact that the 9500ci comes with jammers at the front and the back of the car. I have had frustrated cops who shot me (with their laserguns) first from the front... and then in the back! Sorry guys, but speed traps in a straight line, with no traffic, dry weather and no 'superspeed' is just another type of city tax

 

From my experience driving with others, my escort 9500 detected faster. But I do find that the arrows would be useful *after* hitting the brakes to see where the bogey is.

But from what I've heard, Mike Valentine's patent on the arrows expired this past spring. So theoretically there should be new Escorts coming out at some point with the same arrow system but I have yet to see anything.

 

Also California has traffic monitors on the side of the major freeways that cause the K band to fire all the time. I like how the 9500 has a GPS chip built in and lets you mark these spots and turn them off (note it notes down the exact frequency so you're choosing to ignore a particular frequency at a particular GPS location as opposed to locking out the entire area).

 

I still have both. I find the side arrows on the V1 very useful. If it's from the sides, I push harder on my right foot.

I agreed. You can't say one is better than the other. They both have their strengths. It is all down to whether or not you find the arrows useful. For me, I'll take the arrows over the range on the Escort. If only Escort can also do arrows

 

Have been using the 9500ix for almost a year now....I used to use it in my C63 coupe.
It's pretty quiet in the city, which is a nice thing. Very nice range too.

 

I too have tried both. Normally I am a 9500XX user but every once in a while when I get a new car I try the V1, and every time I have ended up sending it back to go back to my 9500XX, some are IX and come are CI, depending on the car. In the S5 and the 911 I used the CI, in the Mustang and the truck I used the IX. They still use lots of X band around me so the V1 just drove me crazy, the GPS feature IMO out weighs the arrows, but that is just my opinion.

 

And I agree 100% with you on your signature and the sunroof. The rattling drives me NUTS!

 

I'm with RNL. I have the Passport 8500xi or whatever it is with the laser shifters. Only one ticket in 12,000 miles and I drive it like I stole it. There are some false alarms of course but what system can filter all of those. The laser shifters alone have saved me multiple times.

 

I've been a v1 user for over 10 years and haven't had to replace one. Been saved more times than I can count and hardwiring one takes less than 20 mins. I've never personally used a escort system simply because never needed to.

A v1 and blinder jammer combo is almost 99% bullet proof so if your area uses laser frequently you may want to look into a blinder also.

If you need a v1 send me a pm. Got more than one during the holidays and may be listing it soon