HardHitter

Looking to get a radar detector and I have done a search and come up with some of the best detectors.

Escort Passport 8500
Valentine V1
BEL RX65

All three of these are around $300+ and I was just wondering what people thought of these? I read a lot of people on here using the Escort 8500, how do you like that?

I like how the Valentine has the arrows, but I read a thread that one was saying it doesn't make that big of a difference.

I've heard nothing but great things about the Escort 8500.

The BEL RX65 has a new XU signal that will be used in the states pretty soon from what I hear. All I would need to do is activate it, where as the Escort I would have to send it in to get it updated. This also has voice saying Ka band etc.

For all the others, does it say anything or do anything on start up, because one of my friends says something when you start the car up, I don't know what radar he has though.

All thoughts and experiences would help! Thanks!

staticlag

valentine one is the only way to go.

Lol, the person who says the arrows don't make a difference probably hasn't ever even used a V1. It is the arrows that makes the V1 better than those other two.

8 is enough

I have the V1 it is great. Arrows make a huge difference. When I go to the Ft. Worth meet, everytime i drive on 35, my radar detectors goes off and the arrow points behind me. And everytime this highway patrol car starts coming up and I slow down. I know the guy is behind me I know there is no trap ahead. V1 is amazing.

HardHitter

Hmm, just a question, the radar only goes off when the cop has a radar out right? So do cops usually ride around with their radars on or what? Because it won't detect a cop if they are behind you and just driving right? Their radar has to be on in able for the radar to pick it up correct? I can get the Escort Passport 8500 X50 for about $200 locally, slightly used, but it looks to be in good condition. I don't know which radar to go with...

RX8rider

Having previously owned the Escort 8500 x50 and now I own the V1 unit, I can honestly tell you that the V1 unit is the clear winner. The arrows and bogie counter DO make a difference, and the V1 seems to have slightly better sensitivity. I've also found that unlike what other's report, V1 doesn't false any morw than the Escort did. V1 in my opinion is well worth the extra money

8 is enough

yes radar has to be on for it to work.

2 months ago my V1 kept going on and off, as i drivng down 190. The arrow pointed infront of me. I decided to slow down, and low and be hold over the next hill there was a cop gunning people. He was turning his gun on and off. Saved my ***.

HardHitter

I think I've decided on going with the V1. I've seen it on their site for $400, but are there any other places where I can buy it for cheaper? I see a lot on ebay, but I'd like to buy brand new, also I have heard that any kind of tint on the rear window will ruin any kind of radar coming from behind, is this correct cause I have a 30% tint all around.

Also, I heard there is a new band called the Xu band coming into the US pretty soon. According the the BEL RS65 (I think that's the model number) it already has it and all I need to do is activate it. Will I be able to send the V1 in to upgrade it or how will that work and does it cost money to upgrade it/send in.

RX8rider

Are you sure that you're not getting confused with KU, which is use in Europe? If so, I haven't heard of that coming to the US but I beleive that V1 can be programmed to detect that too.

truemagellen

V1 and the Escort 8500 x50 are not designed to handle KU and will not be...it requires a complete hardware upgrade

Bel RX65 and the Bel995 are the only units prepared to handle the new signal coming to US shores the end of this year

btw the tint does not block radar it block laser

and in many parts of the country if you don't have a laser jammer in addition to a radar detector you are driving blind anyway

I'm installing a Blinder xtreme laser jammer in a month or two

tiggerlee

I've seen this too. But the cheapest price I saw for the M-20 was $350. Just how effective are these?

truemagellen

it will jam to point blank range for many laser guns it is the best

as for better pricing a certain vendor may be carrying it soon

tiggerlee

Cool I'll stay tuned. :D

truemagellen

You are confusing laser speed acquisition technology and radar tech.

Laser jammers are legal in most states (3 or so do not allow them...MN, Washinton DC and another one). The are light based and not regulated by the FCC.

Radar jammers on the other hand are regulated by the FCC and jamming Radar is most definitely illegal and virtually impossible to do on a civilian car...besides there are many frequencies that you would need to jam.

As for the debate between 'Active' and 'Passive' radar jammers...well there is no debate for two reasons.

1. Jammers are totally illegal...and would get you a nice felony
2. So called 'Passive Jammers' by Rocky Mountain Radar, known by many names ('the scorpian' is one) is a TOTAL SCAM. Their homebrewed tech was tested to have increased Radar speed acquisition device's effectiveness by creating an antenna to field the signal!!! 'Inserting and FM chirp with the rebounded Radar signal' is a bunch of hogwash.


So the conclusion:

To be properly protected for all Radar and Laser threats you MUST have a proper Radar Detector and a proper Laser Jammer...as of right now there are three great options for Radar detectors and only one great option for Laser Jammers.

Radar Detectors:

1. Escort 8500 (X50 or non-X50 it doesn't matter much both are stellar)
2. Bel RX65 (virtually the same as the 8500 since Bel owns Escort but the Bel unit has KU protection which will be in radar guns by the end of the year)
3. Valentine 1

Laser Jammers:

Blinder Xtreme M-20 or M-40

RX8rider

The V1 unit can be programmed to detect Ku band signal if desired...

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp

Report #3
How to reprogram V1...
If you really want to.

You can change V1’s programming to meet special operating requirements

How To Change V1 Programming

On V1s with serial numbers ending in 0600 or higher, a flashing red LED just to the right of the Bogey Counter during the sequence above indicates that Ku coverage has been activated.

truemagellen

what does that have to do with KU detection?

you can't reprogram a Radar detector with no KU detection to have it...it is simply not in the hardware to obtain that frequency...with a hardware upgrade, maybe

but the addition of KU is a fundamental change in Radar technology...adding a new frequency is like adding a new PCI card to your computer for a specific task...there is no way you can accomplish the task with your current PCI cards and there is no hardware emulation possible because the task is dealing with entirely analog signals

jefferrari

http://motortrend.com/features/consu...r_buyersguide/

there is an article recently from motortrend

Baller

Valentine V1 is the best, I have had all of them and as said the jammers are a complete scam.

truemagellen

RX8rider I stand partially-corrected! The recently released Valentines carry Ku protection...straight from there website but earlier models do not have the protection:

I travel a lot in Europe. Will V1 work over there?
- R.K., New York

Yes, with a few caveats. K and Ka bands there are the same as in the US, so all V1s (after a few very-early models) will work as good there as here. Ku band is found in Netherlands, Belgium and sometimes the UK (but not in the US). We've recently added Ku coverage with serial numbers ending 0600 or higher. Earlier V1s do not cover Ku.

What the Europeans call X band is sometimes different from the X band used in the US. So even the latest V1 could have this one blind spot.

Back to Ku for a moment, current-production V1s have coverage on that band installed but not "activated" as they leave the factory. For do-it-yourself instructions on activation, see www.valentine1.com/lab/mikeslabrpt3.asp elsewhere in this site.

truemagellen

please specify that Radar Jammers are a complete scam.

a good laser jammer is most definitely NOT a scam.

RX8rider

Take a look at the web page I listed earlier. I may be misinterpreting the table, but it seems to me that V1 is factory equiped to detect Ku (it's in the hardware), it's just factory disabled. However, it can be enabled by the user if desired.

Baller

Radar detectors are the best thing since sliced bread, however myself and Road and Track mag. plus a bunch of others have tested (really tested) and todays jammers are no more than flashing lights. In order for a jammer to work it must act like todays ECM (electronic countermeasures) in a aircraft, first it must detect the radar then send out the appropriate signal all in a blink of the eye. This requires a fast computer and a lot of power.

I bought a couple of jammers and got ripped off, all of the experts agree that car jammers are not effective at all.

The V1 is very good at detecting however, the best in my humble opinion.

truemagellen

as I posted above in my 'I stand partially-corrected posted' thank you RX8rider for the info...greatly appreciated:

V1's website: We've recently added Ku coverage with serial numbers ending 0600 or higher. Earlier V1s do not cover Ku.

Back to Ku for a moment, current-production V1s have coverage on that band installed but not "activated" as they leave the factory. For do-it-yourself instructions on activation, see www.valentine1.com/lab/mikeslabrpt3.asp elsewhere in this site.

truemagellen

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I miss typed!!!!!

I meant Radar Jammers are a complete Scam

Laser jammers are most definitely not

please don't confuse Radar and Laser Jamming...entirely different entities

Baller

I also misread, I do not know about Laser jammers at all, in Nevada they do not use laser so I have not worried yet.