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      02-15-2020, 11:23 AM   #1
DgjoX6M2016
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Radar Detector Thoughts

I'm considering a radar detector as we have a lot of highway driving coming up. Also would like to have decent usability around town (fairly rural/suburb).

What is everyone using, if you do? Experiences or advice?

Valentine 1 advertises in The Roundel. It's also what the Cannonball Run M5 used (amongst a host of other things).
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      02-15-2020, 11:41 AM   #2
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I've owned multiple Valentine 1's over the past 10 years. They work very well when they are supposed to.. What i mean by that is when there is a real threat it alerts plenty in advance. The issue is you have to deal with the 10000000 false alerts in between the real alerts. Your brain begins to tune them out, or you end up turning the volume all the way down.
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      02-15-2020, 12:03 PM   #3
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I have V1 and disabled the X and K bands leaving just Ka and laser. From my experience, it seems like most cops only use Ka and laser (lidar) on the roads in CA. Everything else is mainly false alarms. Actually, I think stationary radars use K band but not worried about those.

Last edited by EuroCarFan; 02-15-2020 at 01:29 PM..
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      02-15-2020, 01:28 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cnebrask View Post
I've owned multiple Valentine 1's over the past 10 years. They work very well when they are supposed to.. What i mean by that is when there is a real threat it alerts plenty in advance. The issue is you have to deal with the 10000000 false alerts in between the real alerts. Your brain begins to tune them out, or you end up turning the volume all the way down.
Get the blue tooth adapter plus the JBV1 app, you can custom program the V1 and make it incredibly powerful, making false alarms a thing of the past.
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Last edited by Sophisticated Redneck; 02-15-2020 at 01:34 PM..
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      02-15-2020, 01:31 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck View Post
Get the blue tooth adapter plus the JBV1 app, you can custom program the V1 and make it incredibly powerful, making false alarms a thing of the past.
First I've heard of this. Can you elaborate on how those things can make it more powerful and make false alarms a thing of the past? Does it filter out false alarms or does it just turn alerts for certain bands off?
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      02-15-2020, 01:37 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EuroCarFan View Post
First I've heard of this. Can you elaborate on how those things can make it more powerful and make false alarms a thing of the past? Does it filter out false alarms or does it just turn alerts for certain bands off?
Yep you can custom program it to ignore specific frequencies and by location. So for example, there is a Walgreens by my house that always used to set mine off. I programmed it to ignore that specific frequency geo fenced in that exact area.

Also you can setup custom alerts to for specific frequencies, for example I can tell just from the frequency if its Highway patrol or a local cop as they used different bands in most parts of AZ. Its a very powerful tool.

Here is a link:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....jbv1&hl=en_US

what it can do:

* Simultaneous display of frequency, signal strength, and direction for all located radar threats
* Voice announcements of box/band/frequency and direction of new radar threats, so you can keep your eyes on the road longer
* Alert hold times for easier identification of brief alerts
* Tracking of distance traveled or time elapsed since threat first located
* Real-time graphs of signal strength and orientation over time
* Alert snoozing to ignore a specific frequency regardless of location for up to one hour
* Background operation provides alerts in an overlay on top of any other application
* Alert logging with reports by day, time, and alert
* Display of logged alerts to Google Maps (requires Internet access)
* Profiles for V1 settings and custom sweeps
* GPS-based lockouts of known false alerts (including Laser), while alert is displayed or later from your living room or office
* GPS-based profile overrides can change V1 settings automatically when you travel into or out of geographic areas you define
* GPS-based marking of red light cameras, speed cameras, and anything else (Note: JBV1 includes a database of red light camera and speed camera locations for the USA and Canada only)
* Mark warnings show type of mark, distance to mark, and precise bearing to mark
* Fine-tuning of lockouts for optimal location, radius, and frequency tolerance/drift
* Silent Ride automatic muting based on speed and, optionally, speed limits
* Auto dark mode keeps V1 display turned off when no active alerts are present
* Displays GPS-based digital speedometer and compass
* Optional weather radar images on alert screen background
* Displays critical V1 settings so you won't forget which bands are enabled or disabled
* Configurable frequency boxes with In-The-Box and Out-of-The-Box muting options
* Automatic time- and GPS-based lockouts
* Automatic application start on detection of V1connection or V1connection LE
* Multi-window compatible
* Backup/restore to/from Google Drive of database, settings, profiles, and sweeps
* Optional command and control of TMG a-15 Laser Defense Systems, with alert logging
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      02-15-2020, 01:47 PM   #7
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That's pretty cool.

Is this the Bluetooth unit you're referring to, V1connection LE: https://store.valentine1.com/Store/#20232

That link refers to a V1connection app which I think is different from the JBV1 app in your Google link?
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      02-15-2020, 02:41 PM   #8
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V1 says out of stock. Will have to go another route.
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      02-16-2020, 01:15 AM   #9
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V1 has been out of stock for over a year. Many rumors and speculation, but that’s just bad business. One of the current best is the Uniden R7. My friend recently switched from a V1 to the R7 and was impressed with how much further the R7 detects. I’m waiting for this:

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      02-16-2020, 01:37 AM   #10
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I have the Escort Max 360 C and after having owned several V1's, I can say the escort is slightly better and more advanced. The user interface, the app, the auto updates, etc etc.

That said, they're all worthless. In CA where I drive, all LEO's use lidar. Any detector can detect lidar but by the time it detects it, the officer already has a read on your speed.

This is another reason I went with the 360c. You can integrate the Escort laser shifters. Plug and play. I have not installed mine yet, but the idea that you can install the shifters and they work through the detector is mighty sweet.

If anything, the detectors are second cool. People who aren't in the car game get in and say ooooo and aaaaahhhhh. Is that worth the $700? Sure why not!
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      02-16-2020, 06:47 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ekological View Post
V1 has been out of stock for over a year. Many rumors and speculation, but that’s just bad business. One of the current best is the Uniden R7. My friend recently switched from a V1 to the R7 and was impressed with how much further the R7 detects. I’m waiting for this:

That's too bad, had no idea they were out of stock for so long, I picked mine up about s year and half ago. Plenty of like new on Amazon, otherwise the R7 does look pretty comparable.
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      02-16-2020, 06:54 AM   #12
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I believe the Uniden R7 is the top detector on the market at the moment. Check out the many settings/options on this link for a breakdown. https://www.vortexradar.com/2019/04/...adar-detector/

I’ve had it since Christmas and love it, so long false alarms!
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      02-16-2020, 07:11 AM   #13
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But what about Vazha's comment on lidar? Are detectors even worth it now?
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      02-16-2020, 07:29 AM   #14
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Uniden R3 here for two years now. Fantastic and when combined with Waze, makes things much more aware. I havent had any tickets.

Get a Blendmount and MirrorTap for a clean install.
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      02-16-2020, 07:48 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KCTiger View Post
But what about Vazha's comment on lidar? Are detectors even worth it now?
I think that depends greatly on where you live. Here in Phoenix, Lidar is not very common so detectors are still very much worth it.
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      02-16-2020, 11:08 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck View Post
I think that depends greatly on where you live. Here in Phoenix, Lidar is not very common so detectors are still very much worth it.
This^
I turned off K and X bands on my R7, it’s a gamble I’m willing to take.
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      02-18-2020, 07:21 PM   #17
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I also have an Escort Max 360 with Escort Live app. State troopers use Ka up and down all of NY, and NJ. Does the trick. Very early detection on Ka. False alerts are from X and K, but not too bad. When I hear Ka, I tap the brakes. Speed camera detection also very useful in the DC area. I just suction cup it front and center, and I only use it on road trips. Have another suction cup in other car. No tix ever, at least since college pre-radar.
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      02-18-2020, 11:09 PM   #18
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Uniden R7 is great.

Supposedly this summer they will have gps-auto-lockouts. Assuming the lawsuit is taken care of.

Checkout vortex radar on YouTube or the web. They have maps of the USA and what bands are used in what states.

Also, has good comparisons of the various detectors.

It seems the Escort 360 and Uniden R7 are at the top of all the lists.

My wife thought buying a detector was a waste. She had a road trip and took it along. When she got home she apologized and said that she is buying one for herself. The range on the R7 is crazy long.

As an ex-cop, I had no idea that detectors had that long of range.
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