Radar Detectors???
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
I find it curious that you are rejecting Valentine right-off-the-bat.
The president/owner of valentine was one of the principle engineers at Cincinnati Microwave on the development of the original "laptop" escorts, the ones with the yellow beaconed sonar
I remember it used to beep and provide good radio detection and ranging of the police cruiser, as they were all running "always on" radar at full microwave broadcast.
IF you look closely, you will see that both companies still operate out of cincinnati.
West Chester, Ohio (Escort) (Suburb of Cincinnati)
and
Blue Ash, Ohio (Valentine One) (Suburb of Cincinnati)
My preference would be Valentine 1.
The president/owner of valentine was one of the principle engineers at Cincinnati Microwave on the development of the original "laptop" escorts, the ones with the yellow beaconed sonar
I remember it used to beep and provide good radio detection and ranging of the police cruiser, as they were all running "always on" radar at full microwave broadcast.
IF you look closely, you will see that both companies still operate out of cincinnati.
West Chester, Ohio (Escort) (Suburb of Cincinnati)
and
Blue Ash, Ohio (Valentine One) (Suburb of Cincinnati)
My preference would be Valentine 1.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Lake Placid, FL
V1 all the way. I have had two in 12 years or so and an update or two when needed from V1. Never a failure. It does its' job perfect. Instant on radar is well err nothing beats it anyway. If you are going to spend over 250$ for a detector just go ahead and save yourself the time of taking it back to Walmart, and order the V1.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
get the 8500 x50 all the reason mentioned here plus it can be upgraded at any time just send it to escort and the software programming can be upgraded plus it is the best you can get for only 330 mine tagged a cop for me about 5 miles out on a flat streth of highway thank gor i had it plus its got the new POP feature and all other laser and radar features
< Samantha...my Co-Pilot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 768
Likes: 11
From: Fallon, Nevada
I have an older Escort 8500 and a newer 8500 X50...both work well and the X50 has been detecting a lot of POP mode radar around my location...being used by the Nevada Highway Patrol as of late. I am pleased with both.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 853
Likes: 0
From: northern,california
I have the escort 8500 and it has saved me from getting a few tickets. While we are on the subject, does anyone use a mount that goes up above the rear view mirror with the electrical conection? I hate the cord winding down around the dash. I also would like to free up the 12v outlet for other stuff.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
Im getting the power wire installed next tuesday for $35. The power wire kit was $30. I too hate the look of that stretch cord. I have the 8500.
Does anybody know where I can get some Suction cups?
Does anybody know where I can get some Suction cups?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,610
Likes: 2
From: Northwest, Arkansas
The escort and the Valentine are the two best out there and have been for a long time. I have used and am using the escort 8500 and really like it. On flat land it will pickup better then 5 miles away and even in the hills it will give me enough warning to know Ole smoky is out there before I can see him. The bel is good but I don't think the hold up nearly as well as the escort.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by David1990
I dont want a V1 because I can get a better deel on the Bel and the Escort.
Mike Valentine, who I've met at the Dayton Hamvention, built the Escorts but went off and formed his own company after Escort didn't go the way he wanted (or so I understand). He knows his stuff.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cincinnati Microwave was the manufacturer of the original Escort/Passport detectors. Valentine was the technical guy there. The company split up and Valentine went on his own. Car and Driver magazine periodically does the most objective testing out there. V1 continues to lead the pack. A few years ago, V1 came in first and an original passport came in second even though it had a 0 in the laser testing because it did not have that feature!
Another nice feature of the V1 is that it can not be detected itself (VSG technology). This is important if you drive in a state like Virginia where detectors are illegal.
I use a twenty year old Passport in Maryland but am getting ready to buy a V1 now that MD is going to more laser.
Another nice feature of the V1 is that it can not be detected itself (VSG technology). This is important if you drive in a state like Virginia where detectors are illegal.
I use a twenty year old Passport in Maryland but am getting ready to buy a V1 now that MD is going to more laser.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,610
Likes: 2
From: Northwest, Arkansas
IN most tests the V1, Passport and Bell are all leading the pack with all three coming in top place depending which report you read.
The passport and bell also have stealth technology that renders them undetectable by radar guns. Pretty much a standard feature anymore.
As for picking up laser, well they will all three do that but really all that it is doing is to say "you've been caught"been hit with it a few times and every one of them woul dhave been to late if I had been speeding.
Really boils down to user preference, you can't go wrong with any of the 3.
The passport and bell also have stealth technology that renders them undetectable by radar guns. Pretty much a standard feature anymore.
As for picking up laser, well they will all three do that but really all that it is doing is to say "you've been caught"been hit with it a few times and every one of them woul dhave been to late if I had been speeding.
Really boils down to user preference, you can't go wrong with any of the 3.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Laser detection is a waste
Once you have been hit by the laser, your are busted. It is not like microwave, that paints the entire sky. Your car may be hit and detected by a laser beam, and it may not even hit your detector.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by aladin sane
Once you have been hit by the laser, your are busted. It is not like microwave, that paints the entire sky. Your car may be hit and detected by a laser beam, and it may not even hit your detector.
Back in the early 80s, the police radar was on full microwave broadcast ALL of the time. I had one of the CB sized cincinnati microwave escorts back then, and it was like having a sonar in your vehicle.
By now for sure, all agencies have AT LEAST migrated to "instant on". Although true that you may get lucky by picking up a stray reflection and getting a chirp so you can slow down---generally, the dtector going off is a "pull over" command.