Has Valentine Lost Ground to the competition?

[VOI9 ASP]

According to the article I just read at http://www.speedzones.com/ it looks like the Passport 8500 X50 is the new king?

The “Top Dog” of radar detectors in the Over $300.00 price category goes to ******’s X50 for the following reasons. It was the only detector to report constant on and instant on radar over the hill at the 2 1/2 mile cone. It consistently alerted to MPH’s Bee III POP mode. It was one of only two of the six detectors tested to be invisible to the new Spectre III RDD and it tied in the Long Ranger test alerting at an astounding eleven miles from the radar guns. The X50 also lends itself easily to interfacing with motorcycle defense systems with external audio.

 

[Casey]

Great read!
Even though my wife bought me a V1 for Valentine's Day!

I might have to check out the X50, as instant-on is a major concern. But after reading that info, seems as thought the X50 was better in many catagories.
The Benefit to V1 is the directional arrows.

Oh, decisions, decision!

 

[Randy]

Skimmed the article, and I'll have to go back over it in more detail. Upon first glance, though, I didn't see anything in the "top" detector that would override my preference for the V1 arrows, which I really use and would not want to do without.

And, since Valentine has the patent on the arrows, we're not going to see them in another detector anytime soon. So, I hope that Valentine improves the detector so we don't have to worry about making these decisions.

 

[NOTV8]

My V1 has proven it self time and time again. I would not try anything else but another V1. Then again.... not.

 

[Paul Hawker]

This detector war has been going on as long as the Zaino vs. Meguiars wars.
Many of these "tests" have a bias. Thousands of detectors are purchased based upon "comparison tests" but the tests rarely agree with each other as to which one was best. Some manufacturers will even hand special tune, and blueprint an optimized detector if they know it will be going to a comparison article.

****** Vs. Valentine each have there own following, and both make good rigs. I use the Valentine when the cord is not a problem, and an older battery powered Passport when traveling.

 

[GTS Bruce]

MY V-1 is getting the POP update as we speak. GTS Bruce

 

[Randy]

I use the Valentine when the cord is not a problem, and an older battery powered Passport when traveling.

The old corded Passport was recently tested against the current crop of detectors, and found to be more sensitive than all but one or two. The only problem is that the old Passport doesn't detect Ka band. I continued to use my old Passport on my motorcycle (primarily due to the great sensitivity AND the earphone jack) up until 1997, when I detected the CHP using Ka band. It got retired that day.

Isn't the cordless one called a Solo? All of the battery-powered units got fairly bad marks, as I recall.

 

[rcdice]

I just ordered a new V1 today. Why?

If you read the article, the V1 and Passport are actually very close in many respects. The testing was done in June of 2004. The major ding against V1 was its "POP" detection. Just got off the phone with them. They upgraded that technology in November of 2004 and are upgrading previously sold units FOR FREE. The V1 was the only unit to detect laser from the rear. Car and Driver did comparisons last year using the same data as presented in the Speed Zone test. They rated Passport at 94.9 and V1 at 94.8. Pretty damn close. The Passport also seemed to get extra points because it comes with a ear piece for motorcycle users. Doesn't apply to me.

In the end, the Passport is said to be much "easier to use". That is basically because it doesn't give you anywhere near as much information as the V1 such as directional arrows, bogey counter, etc. If I wanted easy to use, I wouldn't have bought a Viper.

New V1 on the way.

 

[Toby]

useless info...both V1's and ****** made in good old Cincinnati!

 

[Mike Adams]

NO arrows I will not even try

 

[Qualitywires.com]

Arrows rule!

 

[Paul Hawker]

Just drove in a 6 Viper convoy back from Western Zone Rendezvous. One of the cars had a older ******. It recorded lots of false warnings. The driver was having a hard time keeping the pace, as the detector kept going off, even though the Valentines were silent, and no Radar was observed.
I understand the new escorts are improved, but for some reason I have come to trust my Valentine more. (I also have a Passport, but usually leave it at home).
The arrows are really handy. Sometimes radar comes in from the sides, such as from commercial establishments alongside the road. Arrows from the front mean slow down. From the rear means move over and blend in. From the side is usually not a threat, (but it could be).

 

[superdavz]

I have never owned a V1, I have the Passport 8500 X50 and I'm not sure I like it. The other day I was going down our local highway and there was a cop with the laser picking people off. My Passport 8500 X50 never went off, not once! They didnt get me but they got the guy behind me.

 

[venom1]

well Im sure everybody know's this allready but the President and CEO of Valentine 1 actually in the designer of the ******. thats why I think both detectors are so close in comparison. I 2 have a v-1 and would never buy anything else. Venom1 2000gts

 

[Got_Vnum]

I should be getting my X50 tomorrow. Im sure its a pretty even match up with the V1. Nice thing about the X50 though, the readout comes in your choice of red of blue LEDs. Never really liked the casing/look of the V1, but agree that the arrows are nice.

 

[Rocket65C]

I got picked off by a motorcycle cop while driving my Viper a couple of days ago on I-30 in Ft Worth, but for some strange reason I was going the speed limit. I was in the left of 3 lanes by myself. The V1 never beeped until I crested the hill and saw the cop aiming the gun at me. Then, the laser alert went boinkers, a sound I don't normally hear in my neck of the woods. I don't think the ****** would've done any better. The laser is a tight, narrow beam. BTW, the guidelines for the police are to be within a quarter of a mile when using the radar gun. Both the ****** and V1 have a range over flat ground (as tested near El Paso) of 12-14 miles! I don't think there is any advantage of sensitivity of one over the other. The arrows, though, make the V1 King of the Hill in my book.

 

[Got_Vnum]

I got picked off by a motorcycle cop while driving my Viper a couple of days ago on I-30 in Ft Worth, but for some strange reason I was going the speed limit. I was in the left of 3 lanes by myself. The V1 never beeped until I crested the hill and saw the cop aiming the gun at me. Then, the laser alert went boinkers, a sound I don't normally hear in my neck of the woods. I don't think the ****** would've done any better. The laser is a tight, narrow beam. BTW, the guidelines for the police are to be within a quarter of a mile when using the radar gun. Both the ****** and V1 have a range over flat ground (as tested near El Paso) of 12-14 miles! I don't think there is any advantage of sensitivity of one over the other. The arrows, though, make the V1 King of the Hill in my book.

With no front plate he'd be lucky to get you even at a quarter mile. Lasers dont work so well on sleek cars with no plate and small headlights. Now an H2 or Escalade with a nice shiny chrome grill...thats another story.

 

[BobK898]

Laser is a very well defined, narrowly dispersed beam. You don't get a wide beam being shot down the road as you would with the older radar beams thus being able to detect them even if the gun is not directed at you. Because of the tightness of the laser beam, you will only detect laser when it is on you and by then, it is too late.

 

[GR8_ASP]

Laser is a very well defined, narrowly dispersed beam. You don't get a wide beam being shot down the road as you would with the older radar beams thus being able to detect them even if the gun is not directed at you. Because of the tightness of the laser beam, you will only detect laser when it is on you and by then, it is too late.

Maybe, but I have escaped (twice) when I applied the brakes post haste when the alarm went off. Not sure if I detected it before the laser could get my speed (by distance) or if my rapid, and I mean full ABS type of rapid, braking messed with the reading.

 

[prm06]

I am on my second V-1, the first one was stolen. The V-1 has saved me many times and I wouldn't even think about purchasing anything else.
Also the V-1 can always be updated.
Valentine 1 gets my vote!

 

[Dohhunter]

I got busted by a Spectre II with my V1, he detected it.

That was fun times.

 

[Casey]

I just got my V1 a couple days ago.
Wow, the best radar detector I have ever had. The arrows ROCK!!

I will have it hardwired in my Viper when it returns.
Seems to work great, and it should cause it's pretty big!

 

[GTS Bruce]

Hey Dohhunter.I hear some of the Ontario guys keep a usless cheap flea market detector under the seat to make a switch to and hand over to the lawman. GTS Bruce

 

[Dohhunter]

See, now THAT would have been the smart thing

 

[ROCKET62]

I just ordered a new V1 today. Why?

If you read the article, the V1 and Passport are actually very close in many respects. The testing was done in June of 2004. The major ding against V1 was its "POP" detection. Just got off the phone with them. They upgraded that technology in November of 2004 and are upgrading previously sold units FOR FREE. The V1 was the only unit to detect laser from the rear. Car and Driver did comparisons last year using the same data as presented in the Speed Zone test. They rated Passport at 94.9 and V1 at 94.8. Pretty damn close. The Passport also seemed to get extra points because it comes with a ear piece for motorcycle users. Doesn't apply to me.

In the end, the Passport is said to be much "easier to use". That is basically because it doesn't give you anywhere near as much information as the V1 such as directional arrows, bogey counter, etc. If I wanted easy to use, I wouldn't have bought a Viper.

New V1 on the way.

POP Upgrade NOT Free! Would cost me $55 for the POP upgrade.

 

[ArlyDude]

Well it better be good, since I just laid down my $404.87 Today!!!

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

V1 saved me yesterday going north over the Grapevine. CHP was in the center (between So. and N lanes) around a curve. Was cruzing 85-95 in my RAM SRT QC, the V1 Ka went off strong I braked and a couple seconds later there he was. The V1 has saved me many times.

 

[Vipera Russelli]

Just got off the phone with them. They upgraded that technology [POP] in November of 2004 and are upgrading previously sold units FOR FREE.

Actually, it's only free for units sold within the last couple months. The upgrade pricing is graduated depending on when you bought your V1, and could be as much as $279 if you purchased way back in 1994. I purchased mine in 2002 and will be sending it in for the upgrade. V1 rules. I couldn't live without the arrows. Not now. I'm hooked.