More on Radar Detectors
Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego
This morning I learned of a website (radartest.com) that has a comparison of the Bel 980, Excort 8500, K40 SS3000, and the Valentine One. Lots of info there! On a 100 point rating system the Escort 8500 scored 97 points and the Valentine One 77. I have been interested in purchasing a detector, yet the more info I gather, the more difficult the choice becomes. From the past postings (read that as Search) it would seem that this group favors the Valentine One; but the survey , if it is truly independent, indicates there are better choices. Anyone running with the Excort 8500?
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Sheridan
I believe this site has little credibility. Here's two sample previous threads which both compare radar detectors and also compare radar detector review sites.
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...?threadid=11806
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...p?threadid=5995
In my opinion, a much less prejudiced site than http://www.radartest.com is http://www.speedzones.com . It also rates the Passport 8500 and the V1 very high.
I would not give up the directional indicator on the V1
for anything. Here's my sequence: hear detector, apply brakes, observe direction arrows, spot radar source.
Barry
[Edited by Barry WY Silver/Black '01 on 05-03-2001 at 01:49 PM]
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...?threadid=11806
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...p?threadid=5995
In my opinion, a much less prejudiced site than http://www.radartest.com is http://www.speedzones.com . It also rates the Passport 8500 and the V1 very high.
I would not give up the directional indicator on the V1
for anything. Here's my sequence: hear detector, apply brakes, observe direction arrows, spot radar source.
Barry
[Edited by Barry WY Silver/Black '01 on 05-03-2001 at 01:49 PM]
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 9,210
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From: WA
Originally posted by Barry WY Silver/Black '01 I believe this site has little credibility. ..
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Darnestown
I've got a V1 and the directional arrows are great. It's a little bulky though. There are others out there that are not as bulky.
Cdelena
I finally understand your moniker. I just came back from a business trip to Dallas and the roads were atrocious. What's happening to all those royalty payment Texas collects on high oil and natural gas prices?
Cdelena
I finally understand your moniker. I just came back from a business trip to Dallas and the roads were atrocious. What's happening to all those royalty payment Texas collects on high oil and natural gas prices?
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,762
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From: Sheridan
Chris, here are some of my objections to http://www.radartest.com
On their main page where they compare features, they IN ERROR state that the V1 is not user programmable and does not have X/K/Ka band defeat. This is incorrect. The V1 has 32 programmable features including X/K/Ka band defeat.
The V1 has autodim and the chart says it doesn't. The V1 has light extinguish if you use the accessory display, but the chart says it doesn't.
On the same feature comparison, they accurately relate that the V1 does not have a digital signal strength indicator. However, it DOES have an analog signal strength indicator. One could call this a matter of preference (like the digital speedo on the S2K), but certainly not a lack. I don't ever remember reading an complaint about a competing roadster's analog speedo, for example.
For the sensitivity tests, radartest.com found the V1 to be the most sensitive on X band. It found the Passport 8500, the Bel980 and the V1 equal on K band. On Ka it found the Bel and Passport equal (40,000 feet sensitivity) and the V1 significantly behind at 25,000 feet sensitivity. These were on the straight away test.
8500 X 31K feet K 27Kfeet Ka 40K feet
980 X 31K feet K 27Kfeet Ka 40K feet
V1 X 40K feet K 27Kfeet Ka 25K feet
Compare this with speedzones.com which found:
8500 X 1.2 miles K 1.5 miles Ka 1.9 miles
980 X 1.5 miles K 1.7 miles Ka 1.7 miles
V1 X 1.4 miles K 1.6 miles Ka 1.8 miles
In my neighborhood, city police and sheriff's dept use a lot of X and a lot of K. Wyo HP uses Ka. I don't think the numbers above would lead me to choose one over another.
The radartest.com compares the three "around the curve." Now Chris, I'm no engineer, but I've got some radio experience and I've NEVER read anybody compare radio receivers' sensitivity "around the curve." The receiver doesn't care if it came from "around a curve" or from "straight away" Whereever it came from, it comes "straight" into the detector, and its signal strength obeys the inverse square law. That whole "around the curve" is pure BS.
On laser detection, radartest.com gave a range and an off angle test, but gave no points for off angle. The V1 is the only one with "off angle" reception of 40 degress from laser. Look at their graph showing the V1 far better than the others and then notice that the data in that graph contribute nothing to their point score.
The ergonomics comparison is very subjective.
Finally, Peterson gives the V1 NO CREDIT for having a rear facing antenna and giving some idea of from where the threat comes. Most purchasers of the V1 like this. It is more and more common for law enforcement officers to time from behind.
In summary, Chris, there's a lot of info on both sites, but I don't think I am the prejudiced one. I think Craig Peterson is.
Notice in my posts, I have always said that I think the V1 and the Passport are the current two best. I think each will do an excellent job. I think Peterson is WAY OFF BASE stating that the Passport is far superior to the V1. It would be just that the V1 whups the Passport 8500.
No flame meant for you and no offense taken. I just really believe that Peterson is 3/4 bs or has some axe to grind against the V1. The Passport 8500 and the Bel 980 are both great detectors. So is the V1. Why bash one?
http://www.speedzones.com has a new comparison project in the works. It should be on the net around the beginning of June. I really look forward to it. In the mean time, caveat emptor.
Best to you, and thanks, Chris, for your help on the other threads about amplifers etc.
Barry
On their main page where they compare features, they IN ERROR state that the V1 is not user programmable and does not have X/K/Ka band defeat. This is incorrect. The V1 has 32 programmable features including X/K/Ka band defeat.
The V1 has autodim and the chart says it doesn't. The V1 has light extinguish if you use the accessory display, but the chart says it doesn't.
On the same feature comparison, they accurately relate that the V1 does not have a digital signal strength indicator. However, it DOES have an analog signal strength indicator. One could call this a matter of preference (like the digital speedo on the S2K), but certainly not a lack. I don't ever remember reading an complaint about a competing roadster's analog speedo, for example.
For the sensitivity tests, radartest.com found the V1 to be the most sensitive on X band. It found the Passport 8500, the Bel980 and the V1 equal on K band. On Ka it found the Bel and Passport equal (40,000 feet sensitivity) and the V1 significantly behind at 25,000 feet sensitivity. These were on the straight away test.
8500 X 31K feet K 27Kfeet Ka 40K feet
980 X 31K feet K 27Kfeet Ka 40K feet
V1 X 40K feet K 27Kfeet Ka 25K feet
Compare this with speedzones.com which found:
8500 X 1.2 miles K 1.5 miles Ka 1.9 miles
980 X 1.5 miles K 1.7 miles Ka 1.7 miles
V1 X 1.4 miles K 1.6 miles Ka 1.8 miles
In my neighborhood, city police and sheriff's dept use a lot of X and a lot of K. Wyo HP uses Ka. I don't think the numbers above would lead me to choose one over another.
The radartest.com compares the three "around the curve." Now Chris, I'm no engineer, but I've got some radio experience and I've NEVER read anybody compare radio receivers' sensitivity "around the curve." The receiver doesn't care if it came from "around a curve" or from "straight away" Whereever it came from, it comes "straight" into the detector, and its signal strength obeys the inverse square law. That whole "around the curve" is pure BS.
On laser detection, radartest.com gave a range and an off angle test, but gave no points for off angle. The V1 is the only one with "off angle" reception of 40 degress from laser. Look at their graph showing the V1 far better than the others and then notice that the data in that graph contribute nothing to their point score.
The ergonomics comparison is very subjective.
Finally, Peterson gives the V1 NO CREDIT for having a rear facing antenna and giving some idea of from where the threat comes. Most purchasers of the V1 like this. It is more and more common for law enforcement officers to time from behind.
In summary, Chris, there's a lot of info on both sites, but I don't think I am the prejudiced one. I think Craig Peterson is.
Notice in my posts, I have always said that I think the V1 and the Passport are the current two best. I think each will do an excellent job. I think Peterson is WAY OFF BASE stating that the Passport is far superior to the V1. It would be just that the V1 whups the Passport 8500.
No flame meant for you and no offense taken. I just really believe that Peterson is 3/4 bs or has some axe to grind against the V1. The Passport 8500 and the Bel 980 are both great detectors. So is the V1. Why bash one?
http://www.speedzones.com has a new comparison project in the works. It should be on the net around the beginning of June. I really look forward to it. In the mean time, caveat emptor.
Best to you, and thanks, Chris, for your help on the other threads about amplifers etc.
Barry
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 904
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From: Athens
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Barry WY Silver/Black '01
[B]Chris, here are some of my objections to http://www.radartest.com
On their main page where they compare features, they IN ERROR state that the V1 is not user programmable and does not have X/K/Ka band defeat.
[B]Chris, here are some of my objections to http://www.radartest.com
On their main page where they compare features, they IN ERROR state that the V1 is not user programmable and does not have X/K/Ka band defeat.
