This is the #1 reason why i love my V1. It tells you where to look for the radar source. Knowing if something's in front, behind, or on the side makes a world of a difference. If I drive by a cop, my radar arrows will confirm him in front...then on the side...then behind. Sometimes, I'll have radar go off for 3-5 minutes because the cop is 0.5 miles behind me, but driving only a few mph faster than me. Takes him a while to overtake me. Looking 360 degrees around you for that entire time sucks.

Having a numerical count is also tremendous. There's a road near me where two cops will work in unison 1/2 a mile apart. You can tell because the V1 will show 2 Ka signals. Pass one cop and you still know there's another cop ahead. With other detectors, you'll think you passed the Ka source, speed up, and get nailed by cop #2.

 

I have a Passport Escort X50, I like it a lot but it gives off WAYYY too many falses. I wish I had gone with something a little better. The new 9500i is suppose to be really nice.

 

I think it was about $450.00. I've also had a V1 and an S02 (among many others that aren't worth mentioning) and they all three offer advantages. The cordless S02 is really easy to move from car to car, and gives sufficient warning, but it's not as sensitive as the V1, 8500, or 9500. Not enough to matter though. I really like the 9500i a LOT better, because it does such a great job of minimizing false alarms. If you're not use to reading RADAR signatures by ear I think the V1 might be a better chioce, but the V1 is probably the worst of the bunch as far as false alarms go. The nice thing about the 9500i is that it effectively cuts out most false alarms without any reduction in sensitivity.

Anyway, any of the four (V1, S02, 8500, or 9500) will get the job done. V1 has arrows, 9500 minimizes false alarms, S02 is cordless, and the 8500 is (I think) the least expensive premium option. I think the 9500i may be the most expensive of the lot, but IMO it's well worth it.

 

One reason I went with the V1 is becuase its upgradable. If and when something new comes out, you can send it back to Valentine and they will upgrade it. Instead of buying a whole new detector.

 

Don't have to send the 9500i anywhere for an upgrade. Firmware upgrades can be downloaded from the Web and loaded into the unit through its USB port. I think eventually you'll also be able to download speed cam and stoplight camera databases and load them into the unit (but I already do that with my Garmin GPS).

Valentine and Escort have both been first rate in terms of customer support. Garmin too.

 

dude i would suggest the v1.... i know some people hate false alarms but what i do is put the v1 as full volume on the highway only... on the highway there arnt to many false alarms... for the most part x band is random bs boogies u dont hv to pay attention to....

The v1 has caught numerous cops sitting on the side of a road past curves waiting for their victims..... driving back from boston i average around 100 mph using the v1 alone.... the v1 saved me from geting arrested.... i caught atleast 5-6 cops with radars on....

when people talk about using radars i dont understand why flase alarms matter.... they arnt rreally false alarms... something is sending out that signal... its better to be saffe than sorry....

 

ooo yeah and the arrows r the best.... especially if u use this in combination wit a Laser jammer.....

im geting a laser jammer (blinder m45).... all you have to do is if you get hit by a laser you slow down u know where the cop is b.c of the arrows and u turn of the jammer... and he clocks u at a legal speed lol

the arrows help sooo much.... if ur going around a bend on a highway u kno the signal is coming from infront of u; etc

 

v1 is better i think

 

Or maybe a good choice if you can't afford a 9500i, or think you can't learn to read the detection signals without the little arrows.

I could NEVER go back to a V1 after using the 9500i, because the V1 is actually the worst false alarm generator I've ever seen. In the local area, if my 9500i goes off, it HAS to be a cop or other mobile RADAR transmitter, because I don't get false alarms anymore.
And frankly, that's without a doubt the biggest advance in RADAR detection since we moved from true detectors to proper receivers.

It's also nice to be able to get warnings about regular speed traps that don't use RF or Laser. V1 can't help at all in such cases, but the 9500i can.

 

Yeah and a jammer is also called a felony. I have only heard of one jammer that works for five seconds and cuts off, which is legal.