I have been using V1s since 1992 and I am on my 4th. I recently had it installed high to the right of the rearview mirror. Optimum place for it - both for its antennas and viewing the visual warnings. I also has the Valentine bluetooth component installed that allows you to program the V1 from your smartphone and create profiles.

The only times I have gotten caught speeding with the V1 over the years is when I was just plain ignoring it. I recently got stopped and got a warning from the cop but I should have listened to the V1. Then I decided to research the bands used in my area and programmed the V1 to only meet these threats.

I drove around one night for about 50 miles and never had a false alert or saw a cop in an area filled with strip malls. The next morning it went off around where I had been stopped. It kept going off for 2 miles or so with the rear arrow on. I paid attention this time but could not see a cop behind me. I slowed down and within another mile a cop comes into my rear view mirror. Sweet!!

The next day I was on I-75 and got hit with a Laser gun. Given that you can program the V1 to eliminate false alarms when it does go off it is worth paying attention to.

 

It all depends on where you are and the roads you drive.

The 9500ci and the beltronics are the same unit. The beltronics is slightly better as it has some new tech in it that hasn't yet been folded into the 9500ci yet. For built in radar, these are the best. The k40 calibre sucks. Horrible. But the k40 rl360 is not bad from what I hear.

For on dash, toss up between v1, escort redline, and escort passport max. Range is best on the redline. Max has the most features. V1 has almost as much range as the redline but has the arrows which I prefer.

But if you are in a state like California, radar detectors are getting useless. Local cities still use K and Ka band, but highway patrol is using laser now. Sure they leave on Ka while they drive around, but all CHP I have seen in the past few years on the side of the road have been using laser for speed enforcement.

For that you will need a laser jammer. Laser Interceptor is good and was the best for a while but others I believe have caught up like the ALP.

Hope this helps.

 

I'm running a stealth V1 and Laser Interceptor set up. V1 arrows are integrated into the rear view mirror with both the V1 control **** and LI kill switch under the handbrake. All the work done by Gus @ Technik1 in NYC. Super clean install. Great shop!

Never really thought much about the arrows until a rear arrow indicator saved me from an unmarked cruiser approaching from behind. I became a believer after that incident!

 

FWIW I have never (yet) done an integrated installation but I have hardwired V1's in two cars and am a big fan of those. They have saved me countless times -- I commute on PCH thru Malibu and Santa Monica where enforcement is very aggressive some days/times. Zero911 is right that in SoCal laser is becoming widespread and Ka is the only radar band you don't just basically ignore. The roadside speed signs are a huge hassle here. The newer V1's have a feature setting that is supposed to reject those stupid signs more intelligently, but it is not working well for me.

 

Right because its either infront or behind you. There are some legalities to a legit radar hit usually under 500 yards. and a cop on a side street miles away that access the road you are on... well its **** on a bull. If you let him get to your side before you start slowing you deserve it.
the Bell/escorts are giving SICK range warnings giving you the time to react. i have seen 7.5 miles for 7 band in the desert. Its a stationary constant on K band and i have measured it many times. At 50% on the K bar its 2-3 miles away.
I have gone from KA alert at 101mph to 75 against a state trooper on a head on... he stared me down as i passed him.
I am running a redline, so the STR or ci will do you even better.

Arrows are cool but in advanced modes the Escorts show you what you need. And with a little time with the unit you will be able to tell where and what is shooting you

 

You dont want to do that. They are using those to lull the RD owners to sleep. One of these days you will have a CHP with a laser next too it. Those "your speed " signs are there to nail commuters that ignore them. Like I said they will have a real cop sitting up or down from it and crush you

 

I recently bought one, and the hardwire takes about 20 mins to do. The installed units are all, IMO, too expensive for their performance.

The general consensus that I gathered from browsing the radar forums would be that bel(=escort) and valentine one are the best to look at. Between which of the two is better is a discussion right up there with iphone vs android.

If you want minimal false alerts, get the 9500ix or the escort "max" (the latter of which is too expensive and not necessarily "proven" better from what I can tell), as these have gps memory of false locations. This was critical to me given my wife's hatred of radar false alarms. A better value and pretty much the same is the beltronicx gx65.
If you want the maximum possible range and invisible to cops get the escort redline.
If you want your arrows get valentine one.

So which one is right for you is a tossup. When the above detectors range up to $250-500 and installed is approaching $2k, why not just get a hardwired portable radar and a used exhaust? Just saying.

 

From what I have seen and read, your redline has better range than the STiR/CI so hold onto it

The arrows really don't help you much. But I still love them on my V1 -- only because for whatever reason, knowing whether the cop is in front, behind, or going in the opposite direction (front->side->back) just gives me a peace of mind. again, logically doesn't help but it satisfies my curiosity. LOL

Well to be fair, Valentine's mantra is anti-GPS for the reason you stated above. That's why after all this time V1 still doesn't have GPS. Escort on the other hand has been pushing this feature on their Passport line.

With regards to lull, it depends on where you are. Here in California those "your speed" signs as well as the highway traffic speed sensors every few miles on the highway are in K band. The CHP uses Laser. Different systems so hiding really isn't possible. I just disable K band as I never speed on local streets. Ka band just alerts me to CHP that drive around with their Ka on.

Radar won't help you here in California. Without laser protection you're toast.

 

I'll chime in. I'm an Escort/BEL dealer and they are excellent and well made. Unfortunately, their radar is NOT 360 degrees--there is NO rear radar..not even an option to add a rear receiver. I wish I could add rear...then it would be the perfect system, especially now with their new gen PRO laser defusers (now supplied by Laser Interceptor). I'm still surprised how few are aware of this weakness. They're driving around with half a radar system, relying on bouncing (delayed) radar waves from road signs and cars' number plates ahead of them (if there is a car or sign ahead) when the police are often on the side or behind.

So the best set up (I've done over 300 installs in 15 years) is still the proven 360 degree V1 radar paired with Blinder laser defuses or LI.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...-intended.html

We just completed a 991 turbo S Cabrio. Many pics on my site: www.technik1.com

 

technik1 i will be calling you tomm thank you all for the help

 

Where is it NOT covered? Because I get hits from the rear and sides all the time. http://radartest.com/redline-valentine-one-review.asp

Yeah V1 generally does better on the REAR only but for some reason I see dealers push V1. Even when the escort crushes the V1.
Another point is that while 2 miles from the rear is a cool number the closing speed is slow enough that you will have plenty of time to slow down before the PD closes within a mile.

Is there a bigger margin on the V1 than bell?

 

Sorry, I was referring to the installed Escort 9500ci and BEL Stir Plus since their front radar receiver is mounted in the front bumper. There is no rear receiver available to install on the rear bumper. Not the windshield mounted units.

There are no dealers for V1, it's factory direct only. Yes I push the V1 and have it in my personal turbo and Range Rover. I think it's still the best over all system.

 

I needed one that cant be spectre'd. So the redline it is. I can tell you about how far the Radar is from the "advanced signal screen" You cant go wrong with either I dont think, unless RD's are illegal in your state. Then its Bell/escort

 

gus is right. i've purchased over 10 V1 and no discount on those guys unless you get lucky to score a refurb.

Gus does the blinder laser install which i verified with my cop buddies that it works. Just make sure you don't get shot at the front license plate. Cops are trained to aim at the front plate.

Gus reuses the v1 arrow with the blinder and the install is clean. I just wish i had the rear sensors as well and a switch so i can use them for backup sensors

Sid

 

Point is there are other detectors that score better than the V1 over and over. Arrows are cool and useless.
IN my case I needed one that is undetectable. Dont want it confiscated.

Do research on the laser stuff before you buy, there is one gun that no one can beat yet.