Help With Best Radar Detector for Preventing False Alerts

[MochiEater]

Which radar detector best handles false alerts for the X5?

OK, so I just took delivery of my 2017 BMW X5 40e. I have an older Valentine One 3.826. The V1 is unusable because of laser and K band false alerts from the car's sensors. I am in suburban NJ so I don't encounter laser much, so I shut it off. But the K band is a problem. What is the best radar detector solution for me?

The X5 has the following options:

Drivers Assistance Package/Plus - Blind Spot Detection, Collision Mitigation
Active Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go
Night Vision w/ Pedestrian Detection

I think the K band alerts are from the Blind Spot Detection. Does anybody know what the laser comes from? It still alerts when the car is sitting in the garage with everything off.

Anyone have a new V1 with Traffic Monitor Filter and Junk K Fighter?

[ano0oj]

Not sure about NJ, but in TX - K bands are pretty much useless because every bank/grocery/store sets it off. I only keep Ka and L on. Not sure which sensors you are about, but after I disabled K band there was a significant reduction in false alerts.

[buckeyewalt]

I had the same issues with my V1 and sent it in for an update. It took about a couple of days and they sent it back and almost all of the "junk" stuff is gone. I think the upgrade is under $100.

Yes the upgrade works!!

[Joemarino]

I have an Escort Max 360, and it does a good job. One great feature is to lock-out locations... so when I drive by the grocery store, it knows to keep quiet.

Hope this helps!

[Xeno]

I suggest you go to RDF for such questions to hear from experts: https://www.rdforum.org/content/

I had to upgrade my V1 when I went from an E70 to an F15. I am very happy with the V1 'junk' filter as I cannot turn off K where I live. It also helps to have an app like V1Driver (iOS) or YaV1 (android), both of which require the dongle. I like V1Driver because I can run it in the background and get alerts on my Apple Watch.

I also have a 360 and a RL. I use the RL for open road trips and the 360 for the daily commute. The RL is the king of distance but even when used with EL one can have problems with BSM of select vehicles especially large trucks.

The 360 does an average job with BSM but the range is not adequate if I/O is common where you live. The V1 as configured above is better on all fronts from BSM rejection to range. Currently neither my V1 nor 360 alert to anything from my own F15.

The RDF will also introduce you to good windshield detectors like the Randenso and the ultimate setup known as Stinger.

[iconoclast]

I am in the same situation as you (OP)... The V1 used to be the cat's pajamas and the thing to use however in our area it has essentially become useless except for townie patrols or speed traps in rural areas. Majority of the Troopers have much better equipment in our area than ever before and the only thing that really works is a laser jammer or lidar jammer. Back in the day the LPP was great but I believe they no longer offer support and may be out of business and the overseas folks have been raving about Blinder. The K40 has always worked for me but I have not installed one on any of my most recent vehicles. If and when I decide to install one I would consider either of those. Anything else is a waste of time and looks very outdated in modern vehicles. (I prefer the stealth installation from the exterior and simple led for notification. I have no desire to know where or the beam is coming from or why I just want to avoid a ticket. The V1 and the like will only alert you and if it is a Laser and it's alerting you then you most likely already been tagged for speeding.)

[Xeno]

The OP asked about radar detection not lidar which is a different discussion all together. For windshield radar detectors, RL and V1 do the best for picking up scatter but only in conjunction with passive measures like EL or Waze. However, no windshield detector can match true anti-lidar devices.

The reports supported by videos on RDF show the virtues of all the detectors that seek a balance between falsing and range. The V1 scores well all around when properly configured, but is no match for the Stinger. The question of directional arrows is also fully discussed on RDF including documented reports of 'saves'.

[iconoclast]

there are options where you can purchase a detector and jammer in one. best of both worlds.

[Xeno]

MochiEater I just now saw that you already posted your query on RDF on 10/26/16

Sorry that I did not catch this earlier but I returned home from Inner Mongolia about midnight Friday night. When I reviewed posts on Saturday, I had not checked all my favorite forums.

I did notice that on RDF that while they mentioned V1Driver anad YaV1 they failed to spell out that the primary advantage of these programs is V1 custom sweeps. You can actually do CS through the detector itself or the free V1 app (both iOS and Android) but it is much easier with these other apps that bring the V1 into the 21st Century.

[iconoclast]

What does this "new" V1 do that the old one did not?
http://www.valentine1.com/

[Xeno]

To get positives and negatives, I would encourage you to look at related forums on RDF including but not limited to the following:

https://www.rdforum.org/forumdisplay.php?f=16
https://www.rdforum.org/forumdisplay.php?f=177
https://www.rdforum.org/forumdisplay.php?f=159
https://www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=53488

I have already highlighted aspects of the new V1 as I use it: best BSM rejection (over my 360 and RL) with junk filter especially when configured with custom sweeps and either V1Driver or YaV1 (links above show how incredible these apps are) that gives the best of EL like marked stationary falses; accurate and helpful directional awareness; alerts sent to Apple Watch; V1 Driver gives more information than 360 even with EL; range - especially with CS - second only to my RL and more reliable than my 360; V1 installed with blendmount (under rvm) makes for a professional look not easily visible outside with appropriate front windshield tint; although not stealth like the RL, the V1 is hard to be detected in places like VA; and so on.

Note, I run two windshield rd at a time: V1 + 360 commute; V1 + RL for open road.

I am still recovering from 8 days in Inner Mongolia so this the best I can do my memory.

[MochiEater]

After getting some help on RDF I've decided to take a step by step approach. For less than $300 I'm upgrading my old V1 to the latest version with TMF and Junk K Fighter and a host of other upgrades. I'll see if that's an improvement before going down the road with YaV1 and other upgrades. My old V1 was probably 5-6 years old so not exactly cutting edge.

I figured out what the laser alerts were. The in grill FLIR camera for Night Vision sets off the laser alert on the old V1. It does it even when the car is turned off and sitting in the garage. Weird.

I'll report back when the new V1 arrives.

For those in the audience following along at home, here is the RDF thread:

https://www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=56723

[alphaod]

I have a Max360. Either it never gives false alerts now or somehow my windshield tint is blocking radar.

[MochiEater]

So I received the latest V1 yesterday (3.8952) and I'm pretty impressed. Out of the box it no longer falses on K band and is not set off by any emissions from the X5 - except FLIR. The Night Vision camera still sets off the laser alert. Strangely even during the daytime when I have not switched on the Night Vision, it still alerts to laser once in a while. At night with the Night Vision on it alerts constantly. So I just turned laser alerts off on the V1. I rarely encounter real police LIDAR. Most of the time the alerts are from other cars' tailights and cruise control. Not a big loss.

I'm going to use this stock V1 for while before contemplating playing with band segmentation and custom sweeps.

[Walthamite]

I had a V1 for the longest time along with the regular updates, worked well until cops use LIDAR and V1 will not block it for you..

I have a K40 in mine, with Laser Defuser in the front.
It was pricey, but well worth it as I've been saved by it for atleast 3 LIDAR instances... Key is to hit the brakes, turn off K40 and drive like nothing ever happened. If the cop decides to hit the front end with LIDAR again at a different spot you are done....