alright. I have V1 for 5+ years now and now i m starting to question my V1. There are few "Your Speed" signs (traps your speed and display but nothing more so it doesn't matter you speed or not) in this area and my V1 sometimes it will go off but very weak, sometimes it will fully go off, and sometimes absolutely nothing.

so now i am planning on upgrading my V1 to....??? dunno yet. what should i get? just get another V1 that's brand new or go with escort 9500ix? I really don't mind v1's false (automatic doors) alarms as long as it detects police officers. i been doing research on both models and can't make up my mind. any suggestions?

i do realize escort's GPS capabilities will come handy when i travel to area that i do not travel often but i love v1's directional arrows and majority of people are saying v1 is more sensitive that escorts 9500ix.

 

Why don't you send the V1 in for tuning? It probably needs it if it is 5+ years old. You can enter your serial on the VR site to see if you'd gain anything from having them upgrade it as well.

Selecting a RD is a very subjective matter. Escort offers a 30 day return period. If you're interested in the 9500ix try it out and decide before the 30 days are over. Only you can determine which fits you best.

It's not going to detect police officers. It's a radar detector, not a cop detector.

 

I have the Passport ix. It does a good job of filtering false x bands which is the main reason I went with it instead of the Valentine. I don't know which one is more sensitive. My Passport detected K band about 2 or 3 miles out on flat freeway, and it's saved my bacon a few times when LEO's on motorcycles are shooting K or Ka band way behind me.

Like the previous poster: It's personal preference. I'm sure your Valentine is very good, and both are worth the high price (mine's paid for itself already ) But I like my detector to be quiet unless it's a real radar signal.

 

They're all real radar signals. They might not all be police radar...

 

^^^ Well said

 

LIDAR is the new threat, obviously the cat and mouse game with radar is at a stalemate. Laser is a bitch and jammers are seriously effective, why would many states outlaw them to protect their primary cash crop?

 

Check the valentine website if its been 5 years since you bought it there is most definetly an update for it by now.

 

Just drive with the valentine in highway mode all the time. If you are driving in city mode it wont be as sensitive. I have the 9500, even tho it automatically adjusts from city to highway using my speed, i still leave it in highway mode all the time. Picks up those silly "your speed" signs well ahead.

 

That's a really vague statement that isn't totally true. The different modes behave differently and there's not a blanket reduction in sensitivity. From the OP's comments the unit definitely needs a tuneup.