Props to Valentine 1

[rookie1]

I have to give props here to Valentine. I sent my non functioning 5 year old Valentine radar detector off to Valentine with a check for $45 Thursday.
They replaced the power port, power cord, both front and rear lenses, and the volume/control knob. I got it back Today(they couldn't have actually had it in their shop more than 2 days) with all of that work done and they didn't even charge me.
I feel so much better now about spending $400 when I bought the thing.

[woaface]

After MVII if I don't have a girl I'm wasting money on I'm going to save up $355 and call in for a refurbished unit....I've been looking at at detectors for months and months on end now...If I would have had a Valentine a few months ago I wouldn't be working to save up $85 to pay a ticket now.:shot:

[dwasson]

Yep James, it's the next best thing to diplomatic immunity.

[woaface]

Yep James, it's the next best thing to diplomatic immunity.
AH! I DO know a County Mounty...but, that has yet to help me.

[hitchhiker]

I have to give props here to Valentine. I sent my non functioning 5 year old Valentine radar detector off to Valentine with a check for $45 Thursday.
They replaced the power port, power cord, both front and rear lenses, and the volume/control knob. I got it back Today(they couldn't have actually had it in their shop more than 2 days) with all of that work done and they didn't even charge me.
I feel so much better now about spending $400 when I bought the thing.
There was a thread about this previously.

The Escort 8500 X50 actually out-tested the V1 in certain situations!

The Escort 8500 X50 and the Valentine are on an equal par IMHO.

Best Regards,

David

[woaface]

Well, ya can't beat arrow's and counters!

[duhtroll]

Sure ya can, when ya couple it with a laser jammer that's integrated into the display. And the 8500 is smaller, easier to conceal, and cheaper.

-A

[rookie1]

Wasn't trying to comment on whose detector is better. They fixed my detector for free and next day aired it back to me after 5 years.

[FordNut]

Wasn't trying to comment on whose detector is better. They fixed my detector for free and next day aired it back to me after 5 years.
That's great. Somebody realizes the value of good customer service. Word of mouth, that's better advertisement than any amount of media ads.

[FiveO]

I have a Val1 in my SHO. I took it out to install it in my new MM but the previous owner left a Val1 hard wired in the vehicle :D

I wouldn't be without one...and now I have two!

[mensrea]

For what its worth I have both an 8500 and a Valentine, anyone wanna buy a cheap 8500..... The Valentine is awesome.... to each their own.

[deerejoe]

Mike Valentine (principal) and Sal Zaino of Zaino car wax products fully realize the importance of service AFTER the sale.
The service, at a nominal price for a 5 year old unit is not unusual.

Valentine, formally of Escort, has continued to give my unit service after more than 10 years of in car use...including all upgrades to the unit as they incorporate more technical advances to keep pace with the various radar manufacturers.

Over the years, and over most of America's roads, I have used all the top end units and have yet to be 'caught' unaware of pending radar with the Valentine 1 unit.

I won't leave home without it!!

[Krytin]

Sure ya can, when ya couple it with a laser jammer that's integrated into the display. And the 8500 is smaller, easier to conceal, and cheaper.

-A
Laser Jammer - this would be very good! All they use out here in Sufolk County is laser units! You need to enlighten me as to where I can find one of these.

[Dan]

The Blinder is the only laser jammer that I know works. I have a few friends who have them installed and who were among the first in the US to have them installed. They swear by them.

James, when you get your V1 (and I suggest that you get one before you get your next girlfriend) make sure to get the remote install kit. That will help you a lot. I have my V1 installed as high as possible on the windshield and just to the left of the mirror stalk. I also have the remote unit. Were I to get stopped all I would have to do is pull down the visor and turn it off prior to being pulled over. The odds would be very small that it would be noticed.

BTW - I just sent my V1 in for a refresh. I don't think that they do much more than turn the unit around with a new one. I had my V1 almost 10 years prior to upgrade. I will swear by my V1. I used to be a very loyal owner of another brand but the V1 has me for now.

Best,

Dan

[Dan]

PS: The friends that I have with the Blinders are as close as you can get to experts for this type of product. They are all in theNMA (http://www.motorists.org) and have all know more about ticket avoidance and ticket fighting than anyone I know. One is an electronics engineer. If laser jamming is what you want look long and hard at the Blinder. :)

[Murader03]

K-40 also puts our a jammer they call the Diffuser. I have it installed and I know it works also. At least it saved my butt in Ohio more than once. The locals here don't use laser much, but that could change. The K-40 along with my V1 work great.

[woaface]

James, when you get your V1 (and I suggest that you get one before you get your next friend) make sure to get the remote install kit. That will help you a lot. I have my V1 installed as high as possible on the windshield and just to the left of the mirror stalk. I also have the remote unit. Were I to get stopped all I would have to do is pull down the visor and turn it off prior to being pulled over. The odds would be very small that it would be noticed.
Whoopsie! Now it's too late should have read your post last week...I went and got me a woman! But she lives in Virginia...where radar detectors are illegal.

But they're not here, so i'm not too worried about getting caught...or, maybe I should ask why I should be? As long as I post it high up where it needs to be anyways, and take out the cord if and when I'm pulled over I'm fine right?

I've been flying blind now for almost a year and I've learned what many people don't...using your eyes along with a detector (except the detector part). I've avoided countless tickets just by watching and knowing the roads and knowing where it's possible for an officer of the law to be at any given moment.

Only once did I slip up, and that cost me dearly ($85 and 2 points on my license...which I'll pay next week). He was moving radar, coming from behind. He was going after a white Mustang and then saw me at the top of the pack. I wanted to slow down being in a truck's blindspot but I saw the LEO behind me (not realizing it was an LEO) and sped up thinking "Great, if I slow down I'll have someone tailgating me". Also to my demise, the speed limit had just been lowered...and I had yet to pass a sign saying so. Grand total came to 63 in a 40. I had slowed back down to about 50 give or take a few right before he pulled me...which is funny because I could have sworn I was only doing 5 over:D I forget what the actual clocked speed was lowered too, but he made it $85 and 2 points instead of $200 and 4. Insurance won't pick up on 2 points thank God!

Other than that, I've been pulled over once for making a U turn, which the officer I guess was just bored because he couldn't give me a ticket...no sign saying otherwise. Another time I was pulled over for going round and round and round in a parking lot...not donuts, but those round-a-bout things. Haha...we were BORED. Pizza Hut guys came out and watched us, someone even joined in for a moment. But I guess not everyone finds it amusing. Officer asked me about 6 times if I had dope or or alcohol in the car. First time I actually laughed at him...but the second and third I knew he was being serious. He said just to get out of there and not to come back. It was fun whether it was stupid or not:D

[dwasson]

I went and got me a woman! But she lives in Virginia...Was there a sale?

[duhtroll]

Escort puts out two laser jammers - the ZR3 laser "shifter" works in conjunction with the 8500, and the laser jammer runs right through the 8500's display. I forget the other product name, but it's on the escort site (escortradar.com)

And I know from experience that the laser jammer works very well. That's mostly what the Iowa State Patrol uses. (laser, that is)

That's why I bought Escort stuff - just as good as Valentine as rated by independent testers, cheaper to buy, and has a laser jammer that is designed to work with it. Right now no other product can offer that.

They have an updated 8500 out too, not sure what the upgrade is.

Thanks,
-A

[woaface]

Was there a sale?
Wait wait, run that by me one more time??? Not sure what you're getting at:D

[dwasson]

Wait wait, run that by me one more time??? Not sure what you're getting at:D

If you got a woman in VA I wondered if there was a sale. That is the best reason I could come up with to not get one locally.

[Haggis]

Whoopsie! Now it's too late should have read your post last week...I went and got me a woman! But she lives in Virginia...where radar detectors are illegal.


Not meaning to hijack your Thread. James what is Kathy going to tell her daughter now that you went out and found yourself another girl. Hope she is special, because you are going to break Kathy's heart. :bigcry:

[woaface]

Not meaning to hijack your Thread. James what is Kathy going to tell her daughter now that you went out and found yourself another . Hope she is special, because you are going to break Kathy's heart. :bigcry:
Well, this is true. I guess we'll call it a bridge before the real thing;)

[SILVERMARAUDER]

anyone know a link to get a lazer jamer that works with my V1?

[Dan]

Whoopsie! Now it's too late should have read your post last week...I went and got me a woman! But she lives in Virginia...where radar detectors are illegal.

But they're not here, so i'm not too worried about getting caught...or, maybe I should ask why I should be? As long as I post it high up where it needs to be anyways, and take out the cord if and when I'm pulled over I'm fine right?

I've been flying blind now for almost a year and I've learned what many people don't...using your eyes along with a detector (except the detector part). I've avoided countless tickets just by watching and knowing the roads and knowing where it's possible for an officer of the law to be at any given moment.

Only once did I slip up, and that cost me dearly ($85 and 2 points on my license...which I'll pay next week). He was moving radar, coming from behind. He was going after a white Mustang and then saw me at the top of the pack. I wanted to slow down being in a truck's blindspot but I saw the LEO behind me (not realizing it was an LEO) and sped up thinking "Great, if I slow down I'll have someone tailgating me". Also to my demise, the speed limit had just been lowered...and I had yet to pass a sign saying so. Grand total came to 63 in a 40. I had slowed back down to about 50 give or take a few right before he pulled me...which is funny because I could have sworn I was only doing 5 over:D I forget what the actual clocked speed was lowered too, but he made it $85 and 2 points instead of $200 and 4. Insurance won't pick up on 2 points thank God!

Other than that, I've been pulled over once for making a U turn, which the officer I guess was just bored because he couldn't give me a ticket...no sign saying otherwise. Another time I was pulled over for going round and round and round in a parking lot...not donuts, but those round-a-bout things. Haha...we were BORED. Pizza Hut guys came out and watched us, someone even joined in for a moment. But I guess not everyone finds it amusing. Officer asked me about 6 times if I had dope or or alcohol in the car. First time I actually laughed at him...but the second and third I knew he was being serious. He said just to get out of there and not to come back. It was fun whether it was stupid or not:D

I guess the girlfriend is ok if she will pay for your tickets. Otherwise, you woulda been better with a V1. :)

Using your eyes is smart, very smart. Traffic detail can be very boring (so i have heard) and an alert driver can sometimes get the better of a less than alert LEO even if the LEO has better equipment.

James, you seem like my kinda kid. It is obvious that you LOVE to drive. For the record, I don't feel that any of your antics are or have been stupid and I never have. They are what someone who loves to drive does. I just used it as an example in a prior post to make a point.

With that said, if you ever get another ticket, contact me and I will do all I can to help you out. I have been recognized by the NMA as an "Expert Ticket Fighter" so I might have some useful info.

Sorry to take this off topic.

If anyone wants a jammer that will work with a V1 just get a Blinder Laser Jammer. (http://www.blinder.dk/) No, it doesn't "integrate" into the V1 but the two work well together as a team. Check out their site.

I just posted something on the NMA list about the and the guys who have been using it a while still stand behind it. Oh, and they are all, without fail, using a V1.

Best,

Dan

[woaface]

I guess the girlfriend is ok if she will pay for your tickets. Otherwise, you woulda been better with a V1. :)

Using your eyes is smart, very smart. Traffic detail can be very boring (so i have heard) and an alert driver can sometimes get the better of a less than alert LEO even if the LEO has better equipment.

James, you seem like my kinda kid. It is obvious that you LOVE to drive. For the record, I don't feel that any of your antics are or have been stupid and I never have. They are what someone who loves to drive does. I just used it as an example in a prior post to make a point.

With that said, if you ever get another ticket, contact me and I will do all I can to help you out. I have been recognized by the NMA as an "Expert Ticket Fighter" so I might have some useful info.

Best,

Dan
Thanks Dan! I have checked out the NMA site but I don't think I'm going to worry about it for this one. Mostly I'll be out of town and too busy otherwise to take it to court, besides the fact that I was speeding.

I appreciate what you say here althought I have done the occasional dumb thing...but unlike some people I try to at least learn from that:) But are you sure it's obvious that I love to drive? :lol:

I just try to remind myself that if I pay the utmost attention to my driving, gauge what I'm doing with over all conditions, and make sure that I feel I can control my car in any given situation at that very moment...I think I greatly reduce the chances I have of a accident or ticket. This is a reason I often insist on driving over some of my other friends. Honestly, I've had to close my eyes before with someone else driving...some people I know think they're invisible, and that the worst that can happen is for them to get pulled over.:shake:

But no, April will not pay for my ticket...and she's expecting I follow up on my word and pay it next week

Thanks the support though, that was a very cool thing to say indeed! I was very interested in what the NMA site had to say...there's some pretty good stuff on there! I'll keep in touch.

BTW, you coming to Indy? :rasta:

[Dan]

I don't think so.

Best,

Dan

[Dan]

Blinder wins 2003 test. (http://www.pacificrimradar.com/blinder2003.html)

[SILVERMARAUDER]

Blinder wins 2003 test. (http://www.pacificrimradar.com/blinder2003.html)
thanks dan has anyone had experance with this blinder? looks like the one!

[hitchhiker]

thanks dan has anyone had experance with this blinder? looks like the one!

Has anyone actually installed these? Pictures...?

Thanks,

David

[duhtroll]

Not trying to diss your findings, but it would be interesting to see an *independent* review. That is, by someone that isn't selling the Blinder.

Just curious to know what's out there.

Thanks,
-A


Blinder wins 2003 test. (http://www.pacificrimradar.com/blinder2003.html)

[Dan]

I think that you will have a hard time finding someone here with one of these. If you want particular feedback on the install I can probably get it from the guys on the NMA list.

Just let me know.

Best,

Dan

[Kennyrauder]

Now does any good radar offer detectorless properties because in Ontario Canada the provincial police have detectors that detect detectors. I really need a "stealth" unit. Merry Christmas from Kennyrauder.

[fastblackmerc]

Now does any good radar offer detectorless properties because in Ontario Canada the provincial police have detectors that detect detectors. I really need a "stealth" unit. Merry Christmas from Kennyrauder.
I believe the V1 comes close to what you want. I've actually picked up othere detectors with my V1. Check out their site: http://www.valentine1.com/

EDIT

Found this on their site in the FAQ section:

Does Valentine One have "stealth?"
Is this the same as being VG2 proof?
- H.C., Idaho


The real question is, can V1 be found by an instrument called a "radar-detector detector?"
Good radar detectors, like good AM/FM radios, are super-heterodyne receivers, and they all share a common trait. They receive, but they also transmit a signal; it's called "local oscillator emissions." This transmitted signal can be found by another radio if it's tuned to the right frequency. A radar-detector detector is merely a radio tuned to the right frequency range for most detectors.

VG2 is the most famous of the radar-detector detectors.

A little history: Escort was the first X-K super-heterodyne detector. Jim Jaeger and I invented it, working out of his basement in the mid-seventies. Since then, other detector makers have taken the easy way and copied Escort's frequency scheme, which means they have the same L-O frequency. So VG2 knows right where to tune for them.

The one detector that's apart from the pack is V1. I didn't copy myself. So VG2 misses Valentine One. In our tests, Valentine One is better than all others for VG2-proofing. Our best competitors are pretty good, maybe good enough. Some others resort to a dubious strategy; they switch off their radar protection when they sense VG2 nearby.

Recently, we've been hearing of another radar-detector detector, the Spectre RDD. Used first in Canada, enforcers of detector bans in Virginia and Washington, DC, and the nationwide ban in heavy trucks, surely have this tool on their must-have list. It claims to have been designed specifically "to detect the latest state of the art stealth-type radar warning receivers." Does it find V1? Very likely, according to reports we've been hearing from a few V1 users. One participant in an internet chat room, who claimed to be a Canadian enforcer, said "I've snagged a Valentine 1 already." We've been unable to acquire a Spectre RDD for testing. Until we can do so, be advised that no super-heterodyne receiver is perfectly undetectable, and that includes V1.

And this about jammers:

I keep hearing about Jammers for both radar and laser.
Do you make Jammers?
- V. S., Pennsylvania


No. Radar jammers are illegal in the U.S. For more information, check the Federal Communications Commission… http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Compliance/Orders/1997/fcc97404.txt

Laser jammers are an intriguing idea from a technical standpoint, but we don’t make them either. Radar and laser detectors are completely passive; they’re merely receivers of signals already in the air. Jammers, on the other hand, cross over the line into electronic combat. We won’t go there.

Bad enough getting caught with a detector...... getting caught with a jammer might leave your MM in the impound lot...... and a big hole in your wallet.

[duhtroll]

Laser jammers are legal in many areas - do a search on this as we've discussed it before.

As far as being "undetectable" I have only to say this:

The same folks that make the guns are making the detectors, and so on -- endless circle here. They do what's profitable. There's a good chance that ANY detector is detectable.

Besides the obvious giveaways on your vehicle, that is. Mounting the detector low enough on the vehicle so it can't be seen also makes it less useful. The truly stealth installers make them a part of the vehicle. 'Course then it's a monetary b|tch to get them replaced for an upgrade.

It's all in how much you want to spend.

Personally, I find it unnecessary to have an arrow (V1) pointing towards the radar signal as 95% of hits come from the front and that's where the good reception is anyway. But if that makes you feel more secure, go for it.

-A

[gpfarrell]

Personally, I find it unnecessary to have an arrow (V1) pointing towards the radar signal as 95% of hits come from the front and that's where the good reception is anyway. But if that makes you feel more secure, go for it.
-A

I guess different strokes for different folks... I've got two radar detectors... the V1 in whatever I'm driving and the other one is... aw, I don't care where it is! Once I used the arrows I hate not having them.

[Donny Carlson]

I, too, was a Valentine 1 owner, and use it well I did. It was hardwired into my car, resting just to the left of the rear view mirror. Many a speeding ticket my little friend saved me from.

Then, Donny decides to trade in his Marauder, and on top of that, because the V1 was hard wired into his trade AND was thinking of something else for the new ride, he left the V1 in the Marauder and it became part of the equipment list of the trade.

I gave them the instruction booklet and V1 accessories I had (extra suction cups, etc, stuff I had). They asked me to write out a list of all mods and equipment I had installed on the Marauder to show potential buyers, and I was glad to do this. One line said "Valentine 1 radar detector hard wired into car's electrical system"

So, here comes a buyer for my old MM (Yes, it's been sold, more on that later), and the dealership faxes over to his place of employment a copy of the sheet I'd done up for them. Later, during the test drive, he asks the salesman "Hey, where's the radar detector?" and the salesturd says "Oh, it's hard wired into the car! It's HIDDEN." It was hidden all right, hidden by whoever at the dealership stole it out of the car!

The new owner called me up a couple of days after he took delivery, he asked how to operate the V1, and it became clear in no time it was missing. When he went back to the dealership and talked to my salesman, he said he'd look for it... and of course a another trip back that day he said it wasn't to be found. A somewhat heated discussion ensued with the sales manager, who insisted that I had removed the V1 to put in my SSR (not so, else why list it and why hand over the manual and acessories?). The way it stands now, the new owner is pursuing it with their GM or dealer, and he has a great document to back him up.... a fax, with their fax ID and number on it, listing the V1 as part of the equipment package on the car.

Good luck dude, go get them. And hey POST UP IN HERE!! I wanna see my old MM!

[Rider90]

Good read Donny, I'd be pissed. Live and learn, I've learned from your lesson now, thanks.

:bows: ValentineOne