The Feb. issue of Automobile Mag. compares detectors. "The winner of our last test, the V-1, is still very strong, especially in laser and X-band, but it was trounced by the slightly cheaper Bel and Escort models in Ka-band, which is growing in popularity with radar police just as qwickly as X-band is waning" I AM A RADAR NOVICE, but it seems to depend on what the local cops use. I wonder about the importance of direction and number of "Bogeys" the V-1 offers. It seems to A RADAR NOVICE that you would slow down when the alarm sounds, regardless of direction or number. Valentine rejected GB request by gregstevens. I am considering Escort.

 

Sime, it works just fine... I often take it off when parking in questionable areas but I've always gotten solid hits, front and back. Just yesterday I caught a CHP using radar on the 101 which he wasn't suppose to.

 

huh? You mean there are actually rules that cops are supposed to follow?

 

There are some other threads that discuss their findings in detail. I believe the Automobile Mag test was done by the same group responsible for the biased and factually incorrect writings on radartest.com. Some of the common mistakes in both articles are things like ignoring the rear laser and radar detecting capabilities of the V1. Also they incorrectly state that the V1 is not user programmable.

IMHO The V1 is a great detector, although maybe a little overpriced.

 

cdelena,

Yup... in CA on the main highways like 101, 280, etc CHP isn't allowed to use radar to gauge your speed and it can't be used against you in a court of law. Technically they have to pace you for "x" amount of distance, I seem to remember it may of been 1/2-1mile. However that doesn't mean they can't use it to know who's doing what before they pace.

They of course can use radar on other more rural highways like 1 or it's bypasses and another rule of thumb is usually radar signs must be posted.

City cops however can use it when they want but they don't have the jurisdiction really to pull you over on the freeways if you're speeding, that's for CHP.

Wierd huh?

 

I bought the V1 after reading numerous comments and love it. Two flaws: first flaw is that you cannot dim the readout, so I consider the remote display a must. (At night you feel like everyone in the world sees it when it goes off.) Second, is that the unit is so heavy, I can't get the clip to stay put on my visor. I currently have mine on the top of the steering column. The wiring to the fuse box was simple, I used the one on the web site, but made a female to female cable to hook from the box to the wire on the unit. I bought another hardwire kit to hook it up on my wife's Oddessy for the vacation trips.

I don't care what you have, if you run up on a cop with instant on and you're the only one on the road...as my ten year old says...you're busted!

 

Chuck-

After all the positive V1 feedback I took the plunge today and ordered mine! Got the remote despay to. Sounds like the way to go to me. Should be here this week. If you'd like to take a look when it gets here just let me know!

 

Good choice, Mack! You won't be disappointed, I promise!

Hey, also, don't worry about looking for my glasses on the Parkway any more. I didn't find them in my car, but I'm not saying they aren't there either!!

Thanks a ton for driving out to see if they were there...! I really appreciated that, but I don't think I had to twist your arm too hard since the Dragon 'just happened' to be en route to the Parkway!

Seriously, thanks...!

 

Greg-

The pleasure was all mine!!!

 

Mack,

Thanks for the invite! I'll bet you feel just like me driving around in a "Ticket Me First Yellow"

Give me a call when it gets here and I'll come over. I'd be glad to help with the install if you plan to do it yourself. Are you going to hide the power cord like loki's installation or use the supplied acessory power plug ?

Chuck