Laser/radar

[Buck]

I am considering the V1, anything else I should look at.......Mackin, "low flying" guys......

[a64pilot]

Buck,
IMHO if you can afford it The V-1 is the best :D

[Kennedy]

I have the Escort Passport 8500? and like it fine. Just rode in a truck with a V1 and it was kinda cool to see the direction. It reacted the same as mine at the same corner "falsing" off of automatic doors.

I think the V1 is kinda cool, BUT looks like something out of the 80's. If they'd give it a face lift...

[SoCalDMAX]

I've had Whistler, Cobra, Uniden, Bel, Escort...

Now I use a V-1. I appreciate its sensitivity, selectivity, direction display (front/rear/sides), signal strength (led bar graph) and ability to count emitters(up to 9). It will tell you which emitter is most critical and which direction it is at all times. The direction, type and signal strength will flash alerting you to the most critical emitter.

I have yet to receive a ticket since I got it (knock on my hollow wooden noggin) and have been hit with Laser twice, but I slowed before they got a stable reading.

My only gripe (minor): when stopped at a light behind a GMC (Envoys?) sometimes the laser warning goes off from their high LED brake light. But that's not the V-1's fault.

Regards, Steve

[sdaver]

V1 FOR ME

[DMAXDiva]

V1's the ONLY one for my toys...been runnin' one in the DMAX for nearly a year now, and just had a new V1 hard-wired into the Z06 along with the concealed display...wouldn't roll without 'em! ;) :D :cool:

DMD

[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: DMAXDiva ]</p>

[Silver Bullet]

V1...enough said.

[403turbo]

Gotta go with the V1.........if you get a ticket with anything else you'll regret not having it.

The hard wire kit is cool....I have mine wired into the delayed accessory power...its on for a while after I kill the switch and comes back to life when I use remote keyless or open the door.


The V1 has saved my a$$ several times....I won't be without it ever again.

[Holeshot]

V1 V1 V1 do I have to keep going V1 smile.gif

[mackin]

I have had Escort Passport Whistler Gull etc,etc......

None compare to the VI ...... I got nailed with radar and laser with the other brands....Never once had the Laser signal go off....With the VI,bam like a Christmas tree it lit up, of course you know it's to late at this point, so it works people, luckily I wasn't speeding.....

It has saved me all ready via radar a handful of times....


Couple hints for ya.....

One, never leave your radar detector on the dash when the officer approaches and expect a break.....This should be a no brainer.....Yes I have done it,blinking too.....

In addition, when the officer approaches, be polite and when he asked do you know why I pulled you over, never respond with, DUH !!!!!!

:eek:

Don't fly low without VI on board !!!!!! !!!!!!!! Public safety announcement,Buckle Up it's the law .......

MAC :D :D :D

[K1XV]

I own two V1 units (have three vehicles). I bought one of the originals when they first came out about 10 years ago, without the laser detection. I was able to have it upgraded and laser added. Then, another upgrade was possible, and when I compared the cost of an upgrade to the cost of a new unit (about $125 less than the cost of a brand new, up to date unit), I decided to spring for a new unit, as I figured that way I could have an up to date unit and a 1 generation old unit for my "slow" vehicle, a early 1980s Mercedes turbodiesel (yes, I own two diesels now with the addition of the Duramax!).

Knock on wood, since getting the V1, have never been ambushed. I refuse to drive without one, as it makes me feel vulnerable. When you add up the costs of fines and insurance surcharges, saving one ticket will probably pay for the unit. All others, in my eyes, are toys.

Ray

[Kennedy]

FWIW, my Passport has detected lazer, no problem. What surprised me is that recently it was in WI and it LOOKED like a county squad up on the overpass!


I bought based on the findings at www.radartest.com I'm considering a second unit, and would really like to see the V1 step out of the stone age look.

One other thing the Passport has is an indicator on the lighter plug and a push button that cancels the noise until the next threat comes along. I use this frequently when near automatic doors etc...

[sixl]

V1 for me if it ain't broke don't fix it, never change perfection. The look of the V1 does not help the way it works tongue.gif

[Forced Induction]

Does anybody have the remote location option for the V1 to help conceal the unit?? If so how does it work? I am thinking about the V1 or the 8500, but I like the remote idea for the V1. They both seem to be great so I'm sure either would work fine.

Thanks Again,

Jason A.

[Kennedy]

Here's the article that sold me:

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

[SoCalDMAX]

John,

I'd heard somewhere that a radar shootout was skewed, maybe it was that one, maybe not.

The V1 does mute if you depress the volume control. It also has 2 volume controls - initial and continued emitter, so you can set those however you like. It has 3 modes of operation, I think they control logic and false detection thresholds, but IIRC it's not a change in sensitivity.

Sensitivity is a good parameter, I'm not saying others are not as sensitive, but the info I get from the V1 allows me to know which direction to look out of the vehicle and spot the emitter vehicle before we are within visible range. All of the others I've owned became useless as soon as there was more than 1 emitter. I was driving by a mall with 4 X bands, when a Ka came up the V1 immediately got my attention. From the directional arrow behavior, I knew exactly where each emitter was.

Regards, Steve

[NutNbutGMC]

Active jammer. 'Nuff said.

[Toddster]

Whats an active jammer 'nuff said ? :confused:

[mackin]

Having owned a Bel 950 , to clarify this is the one I traded up to VI that gave me NO laser hit when ticketed..... :mad:

Now in wife's car......

Also not saying that test is skewed but saying=&gt;By far the largest and heaviest unit tested isn't correct.....

It may be a taller profile giving optimum sensor angle and signal contact but that's it....

To say the VI is the heaviest of the bunch is way off....Those that own one know they are feather light....

The 980 in the test is the same chasse as the 950 I owned and is heavier then the VI and only slightly taller.....

So one has to then draw their own conclusion to the validity of the total comparison to which is better....

VI as out performed for me then any other pile of detectors I have lying around.....Radar direction, bogie counter,upgradeable,you won't be disappointed.....


MAC

[ 02-07-2003: Message edited by: mackin ]</p>

[Alli-max]

John....

The guy who wrote the article, Craig Peterson, does NOT get along with the owner of Valentine. Goto the Val website and there is actually an article explaining it! He (Craig) wanted to do some work for V1, and they said no thanks, we need no help. So, that article was written with a HUGE slant to it.

As for the remote to the V1... I mounted mine to the top of the enterance to the gauge cluster (the black piece of the benzel on the top side). Ran the wires to the V1 through the A pillar and mounted the detector above the rearview mirror. The ONLY thing the remote blocks is the reading at the extreme top of the speedo, 55 mph. :rolleyes: But the entire needle is visable.

[Holeshot]

I swear officer I WASNT speeding!!! Its a diesel dually come on how can it go that fast!! you musta been looking at that import next to me!!! LOL!!! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

No seriously the V! has so many features check out the web site. It has Mute at 2 different levels, display dims for night driving, and has 3 different sensitivity modes. Best of all you can hardwire it in. I personally have the remote display but ive seen it ad you can stash that thing anywhere (like right by your speedo lol).
That things saved my a** a bunch of times!! Just look at my name, can you say stoplight to stoplight dragracing smile.gif Anyone intrested on whipping up on some imports?? lol

Later
Tony

[mdrag]

mackin,

I'd bet the comment on the heft of the V1 was directed at the older V1 units. The current V1's are much lighter and about 1/4" thinner - I have two V1's and recently upgraded the oldest unit.

[NutNbutGMC]

^...toddster. Active jammer is a way to send back a signal to coRnfuse the cops. Do a search on Google. Any detector only tells you that you're had, or dang lucky. A jammer is not a detector. Illegal too, but so is speeding.

[Toddster]

Thank you for clearing that up for me GMC...Oh, and when the hell did speeding become illeagal ? Now, there has to be two pals on the site that own a Passport 8500 and a new style VI so we can get an honest comparison/road report. Come on we're talkin' $300-$400 plus clams here !

[RVGuy]

I also own the V1 and wouldn't even consider anything else. Before purchasing the V1, I owned several Escort products. They were fine but not as feature equipped as the V1.

Here's a question for everyone: Who here ever owned or knows what a Fuzzbuster was???????

:cool: :cool:

[NutNbutGMC]

^....Fuzzbuster? ... Nut raises hand... Detectors are a false sense of security. Each to their own. I have a jammer and it's da stuff. Walks right over other signals, just as it is supposed to.

As for this topic and previous discussions:
http://forum.62-65-dieselpage.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=000026

[NWDmax]

My hand is going up.
Blake :D

[DMAXDiva]

Well Jim, I'll admit it too...I remember the FuzzBuster, though many, many brain cells were lost around that same time... :rolleyes:

I vaguely remember driving to a Boston concert with that clunky FB on the dash of my old '75 Dodge PowerWagon...or maybe it was that Kansas concert...no, I think it was The Doobie Brothers...yeah, that's it! :D

Hey Nut...where ya been?

[ 02-08-2003: Message edited by: DMAXDiva ]</p>

[TxDoc]

I went to the page on the radar detector test, referenced above and read their review on laser and radar jammers:


http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=6000

They said, regarding laser jammers, " It's a tall claim to be able to jam both radar and laser from a single small box, since these totally different technologies demand completely different jamming techniques. But we gave RMR's expensive jammer its due and made multiple runs against all eleven radar and laser guns on hand. The results were in keeping with past tests of RMR jammers: none of the radar and laser guns had the slightest difficulty in clocking the jammer-equipped vehicle. And at no time did the Black Widow indicate that it was being hit with a radar or laser. The control module did continue to reliably produce its light show, however."

"Now we know why there are no brackets for the jamming transceivers: for all the jamming they were doing out there on the road, they could just as easily have been left in the FedEx box."

And, on radar jammers, I read some things I didn't know before- that active jammers only cover X and K bands, and do not work against photo radar units. They do not work against ka or lasers.

Searching on, I ran across this information:

LEGALITIES
"Jammer makers know customer testing of their product is next to impossible. It's doubtful if you would approach an officer and say, "Officer 1 just bought a radar jammer. Would you turn on your radar gun to see if it works?" In court petitions made to the Colorado Attorney General's office by customers complaining jammers bought didn't work, they were told the Attorney General would not hear cases from citizens purchasing products designed to break the law. Jammer makers offer money back guarantees and speeding ticket reimbursement incentives to purchase. Read the fine print and discover how difficult it is to collect.The best statement on legalities was made by John Reed, senior engineer, Federal Communications Commission, Technical Rules Branch when he was quoted in the El PasoTimes (2/25/97); "both active and passive jammers are illegal and punishable with fines and, in some cases, jail time. Manufacturers as well as jammer owners are culpable. You cannot interfere with radio signals; that's what it comes down to." The fines can be quite heavy, up to $75.000 and/or one year in the federal stammer. Some states ban any type of jamming device-Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma. There are no federal laws prohibiting jamming of laser."

Just out of curiosity, what radar/laser jammers have you found that work?


Here is the page I was looking at, and the text:
http://www.ca-automotive.co.uk/test3.shtml
Jammer Wars


You've seen the ads... "make your car invisible to radar and laser." Sounds like a good deal. Right? It's been almost two years since a major evaluation of radar and laser jammers. Much has changed. New jammers are on the market and new digital radar guns have been introduced. Jammer makers have come out of the closet with ads appearing in Readers Digest, USA Today and every mail order catalog in your mailbox. Speed Labs wanted a new field evaluation... a different approach. This time jammer makers, police agencies, and radar gun manufacturers were all invited to participate.

They all showed up on the pure microwave desert of West Texas. All except one. Although stating the day before the "El Paso test in the El PasoTimes, "El Paso based Rocky Mountain Radar said they would attend...," they did not show. Everyone else was there including the Associated Press, NBC, CBS, ABC, the El PasoTimes, the El Paso Police Department and jammer makers from Chicago, Denver, Seatle, and even Winnipeg, Canada. All radar/laser gun representatives were at the ready with old analog and new digital radar guns. Both laser gun makers were present and accounted for. Speed Labs provided five staff members including one consulting, degreed RF engineer with thirty-five years military radar/laser experience at the super-secret White Sands Missile Testing facility.

In addition to the El Paso testing in February 1997, the entire battery of jammer testing was replicated in Fort Worth in April with Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers operating their radar and laser guns in their vehicles. Jammer makers always try to shoot the messenger when it comes to evaluations. It's difficult to refute the state police's ability to operate their own radar and laser guns. We tested again in May 1997 comparing performance at different elevations and humidity levels and assessing performance in cars compared to large profile trucks. All three field tests were documented on video tape and appeared on ten television news segments and numerous newspaper articles.

LEGALITIES
Jammer makers know customer testing of their product is next to impossible. It's doubtful if you would approach an officer and say, "Officer 1 just bought a radar jammer. Would you turn on your radar gun to see if it works?" In court petitions made to the Colorado Attorney General's office by customers complaining jammers bought didn't work, they were told the Attorney General would not hear cases from citizens purchasing products designed to break the law. Jammer makers offer money back guarantees and speeding ticket reimbursement incentives to purchase. Read the fine print and discover how difficult it is to collect.The best statement on legalities was made by John Reed, senior engineer, Federal Communications Commission, Technical Rules Branch when he was quoted in the El PasoTimes (2/25/97); "both active and passive jammers are illegal and punishable with fines and, in some cases, jail time. Manufacturers as well as jammer owners are culpable. You cannot interfere with radio signals; that's what it comes down to." The fines can be quite heavy, up to $75.000 and/or one year in the federal stammer. Some states ban any type of jamming device-Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma. There are no federal laws prohibiting jamming of laser.

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE JAMMERS
There are two types of radar jammers - Active and Passive. Active jammers sense radar's center frequency presence and transmit back a doppler shift telling the radar gun's computer in one millisecond you are going 0 mph and in the next millisecond 600 mph. The VRCD active jammer received many glowing evaluations from Car and Driver, Automobile, Autotronics and seven other magazines in its ability to jam X and K band radar guns. The VRCD is no longer in production but replaced by the identical RCD made by Phantom Technologies. The scientific principle of the VRCD and RCD is sound and effective. It is, other than releasing thousands of pieces of metal chaff from your car, the only real way to jam radar. Passive jammers claim to mix a modulated FM chirp, not return a strong RF microwave signal to radar guns, thus achieving legality. You won't find this theory in any electrical engineering text book. Try the funny pages! They also claim to return a "special infrared beam with noise" to laser guns, whatever that is.

TESTING PROCEDURES
We assembled an arsenal of radar and laser guns including both digital and analog models. Radar gull representatives police officials, engineers, and Speed Labs staff operated the guns in accordance with established police procedures for range and mode. Vehicles were targeted at the typical aiming points of radar and laser guns of 1/4 mile as marked by cones. Radar guns were operated in the instant-on and constant-on modes. Each jammer was given three runs at each radar band X, K, and Super-wide Ka (a total of nine chances on each band with the three test sites). The same applied to laser. Test vehicle were fitted with so-called laser plates that cover license plates claiming to prevent a laser ticket. Active laser jammers. i.e. Laser Echo, K40's Laser Defuser Plus, Laser Light, and Phantom Technologies' Laser Zapper were evaluated. Passive radar jammers included Rocky Mountain Radar's Spirit, Phazer, Phantom and Phantom Technologies' Mirage 2001. The only active radar jammer was Phantorn Technologies RCD. Texas State Trooper being taped using Kustom Pro Laser If on lest vehicle.

The old Interceptor was not tested, being no longer in production. Each test vehicle was manned by a driver and observer. Video documentation was made of all activities. All test vehicles were in radio communication with the radar and laser source. The results were witnessed by more than fifty people. The field evaluations were conducted over a four-month period covering nine days. Effectiveness of counter measures was assessed in a rural setting near El Paso, and two urban environments, Fort Worth and Houston.

CONCLUSIONS
Field testing concluded that the RCD was effective against analog radar guns, but had no effect on the new digital guns. All passive radar and laser jammers failed to have any effect what-so-ever on any radar or laser gun. You would do as well by putting a pet rock on your dashboard. Two active laser counter-measures; K40's Laser Defuser Plus and Lidatek's Laser Echo were very effective in jamming both laser guns. They both provided total frontal coverage on multiple laser gun aiming points, i.e. license plate or headlights. K40's entry gets the nod as it jammed both laser guns from 1/4 mile down to the laser gun's position. Both devices have in-cabin speakers warning drivers of laser's presence.

Laser Light did confuse the Kustom Pro Laser II for a limited time but the LTI 20/20 Marksman didn't know it was there. The only thing Laser Zapper zaps is your pocket book. Within the normal targeting range of laser guns, 1/4 mile, no license plate cover had any effect on the laser gun's ability to get a quick speed reading. T 3's Technologies T 3 Alpha plate did reduce maxi um targeting range of the laser guns. No device provided any protection for large profile vehicles, 18 wheelers. Speed Labs' results add confirmation to previous evaluations by Car and Driver, Automobile, Autotronics, Corvette Fever and others while providing new results, on new products, and new radar/laser guns.

"Make Your Car Invisible To Radar and Laser." Sounds like a good deal. Right? Wrong! An investment in a quality radar detector like a Valentine One or Bel 855 Sti is a much better choice. Speed Labs has produced a 1 1 /2 hour video titled Jummer Wars covering this field testing. The tape also looks at, radar detectors, new radar guns, and how radar and laser work.

[fredw]

i need a radar detector,three tickets in last month,(photo radar) love the duramax, have read lots of good things here on the V1, as well on car and driver about it, but the other 5 radar comparisons all used the v1 as well and placed in second to fourth, with a big disavantage being the price, in canada it is a hassel to get a v1 compared to the esscort 8500 what won the other 5 comparisons and took second only once two v1, they are at our local future shops for a lot cheaper, and seam to due a better job, so my question is, why do all you folks stick up for your v1,are they a better detector, then what people say, are you just commited to them because you payed so much, and feel they just have to be better, has any one run with both on the dash and seen better results with the v1, i will be buying three in the next week from your results, basiclly buying one for free if i buy the 8500, thanks fred