Radar detector question

[Ronald]

For those that think that Escort is the best, check out the unbiased test:

http://www.guysoflidar.com/august-2007/radar-detector-test.html

Poke around the site a bit. Their sabotage was pretty interesting too.

Interesting read, the studies I read back in the day before my purchase were also 'independently' conducted.

I would possibly offer the most weight to a "PERSONAL" test where you have both detectors in the car at once... There's a way to measure it, eh? Of course the tough part there is how do you know what type of radar you're testing, and that you exhaustively tested all types of radar.... I would certainly think it possible for the V1 to pickup up one type of radar better, while the X50 picks up another better.

Either way I think we've at least established you can't go too wrong with either; and personal preference must come into play in the end decision.

As for the commentary what other detector is upgradeable [besides the V1], the answer is - the X50. Its port is 'supposedly' capable of software downloads, if I recall reading the manual correctly.

Good sources of info here i would say, no matter your preference. For me, no matter which had performed better in the study I had read (since they were rated so very closely anyways), i was going with whichever one was cheaper at the time, $100 at the time made a big difference in my decision (25% premium for the Valentine, I didn't personally think I would get 25% MORE radar detection capability of a USEFUL type, with the V1). Where its coming from is totally an "after the fact" effect. I actually rarely ever even look at my X50, after two years my brain has FULLY programmed each of the distinct sounds, and I find myself REACTING more significantly and with more braking force whenever its K or Ka band, vs less likely to be police radar X band - - the visual portion is completely secondary for me, unless I'm trying to use the tracking of multiple radar signals mode.

IJ. - - No issues, you are at risk of getting "sound sleep" if you take the time to read thru all of my long winded posts... :sleep:

 

[figgie]

man

so radar detector still detect but yet none of these companies have come up with a graphical display that triangulates based on signal strength and freqeucny (regardless if it is digital, encrypted or sweep).

Have to forgive me.

Ex military here. I seen and worked on "detectors" on aircraft and we could pin point within a foot, radar speed gun, the fundamental frequency of the oscillator INSIDE the gun and the frequency of speed detection mechanism. This was back in 1992. I know that this system has been around since 1987,

Here we are 2008 and still NOTHING like that for the automobile? Amazing.

 

[NAiL05]

man

so radar detector still detect but yet none of these companies have come up with a graphical display that triangulates based on signal strength and freqeucny (regardless if it is digital, encrypted or sweep).

Have to forgive me.

Ex military here. I seen and worked on "detectors" on aircraft and we could pin point within a foot, radar speed gun, the fundamental frequency of the oscillator INSIDE the gun and the frequency of speed detection mechanism. This was back in 1992. I know that this system has been around since 1987,

Here we are 2008 and still NOTHING like that for the automobile? Amazing.

Maybe there is a cost issue? Or that would just make it too easy for the consumer dunno.

 

[GrimJack]

I suspect it's a size issue. How large was the equipment in your aircraft?

Not sure you can get triangulation working without a crapload of delta v or two vehicles, either, unless the tech has upgraded substantially since I was in school.

 

[Doward]

man

so radar detector still detect but yet none of these companies have come up with a graphical display that triangulates based on signal strength and freqeucny (regardless if it is digital, encrypted or sweep).

Have to forgive me.

Ex military here. I seen and worked on "detectors" on aircraft and we could pin point within a foot, radar speed gun, the fundamental frequency of the oscillator INSIDE the gun and the frequency of speed detection mechanism. This was back in 1992. I know that this system has been around since 1987,

Here we are 2008 and still NOTHING like that for the automobile? Amazing.

If you build it.... they will come....

 

[figgie]

I suspect it's a size issue. How large was the equipment in your aircraft?

Not sure you can get triangulation working without a crapload of delta v or two vehicles, either, unless the tech has upgraded substantially since I was in school.

for detection.

Not that big considering.

The jamming stuff was huge AND required lots and lots of power AND COOLING.

 

[Mr. Sinister]

man

so radar detector still detect but yet none of these companies have come up with a graphical display that triangulates based on signal strength and freqeucny (regardless if it is digital, encrypted or sweep).

Have to forgive me.

Ex military here. I seen and worked on "detectors" on aircraft and we could pin point within a foot, radar speed gun, the fundamental frequency of the oscillator INSIDE the gun and the frequency of speed detection mechanism. This was back in 1992. I know that this system has been around since 1987,

Here we are 2008 and still NOTHING like that for the automobile? Amazing.

I'd say cost is the issue. People are bitching about the $400 V1 as it is. Their directional arrows are better than nothing.

 

[Ronald]

I'd say cost is the issue. People are bitching about the $400 V1 as it is. Their directional arrows are better than nothing.

yes but is it really worth another $100 extra? How important is it really to know 'where' the signal comes from... I say its overkill.

Then again I don't mind no power steering and no a/c in my car either; and its heat situation is as though the heat is always on FULL blast no matter the season (need to get some thermal blanket in the footwells i guess)....

Driving my car is a full on workout.... I get the weight reducing sauna effect at the same time as muscle pumping bicept and forearm workout - And my wife says this car is an UTTER waste? :icon_razz

 

[figgie]

yes but is it really worth another $100 extra? How important is it really to know 'where' the signal comes from... I say its overkill.

Then again I don't mind no power steering and no a/c in my car either; and its heat situation is as though the heat is always on FULL blast no matter the season (need to get some thermal blanket in the footwells i guess)....

Driving my car is a full on workout.... I get the weight reducing sauna effect at the same time as muscle pumping bicept and forearm workout - And my wife says this car is an UTTER waste? :icon_razz

it depends actually

because if we can detect the radar gun "signature" that means there is an officer with a radio to his home station in his car. Put those two together and there is ZERO doubt that it is a LE. One without the other might be an LE but not on "patrol". Hell a 1mile radius is more than enough resolution on the ground for this. More than enough ample time to slow down from the fastest speeds and not get caught

 

[Justin]

I use an 8500 x50 along with a ZR3. Works for me.

Radar detector threads always seem to get people up in arms about what's best.

 

[Fuzz420]

For those that think that Escort is the best, check out the unbiased test:

http://www.guysoflidar.com/august-2007/radar-detector-test.html

Poke around the site a bit. Their sabotage was pretty interesting too.

Ive seen this test before. In my own real world usage of both the v1 and 8500 x-50 the only noticeable substantial difference i was able to see was the v-1 rear radar was much stronger. Not to say the x-50's sucked but the v-1's was much better, but i do believe they run a separate module for the rear detector

ronald-:rofl:i feel like that some times

 

[KicknAsphlt]

for detection.

Not that big considering.

The jamming stuff was huge AND required lots and lots of power AND COOLING.

I've always had this crazy notion of outfitting a vehicle with the Chaff system I worked on, and also the DECM system as well....or something along those lines that would work for radar guns...lol.

 

[IJ.]

Mythbusters tested chaff and it did shit......

Stupid idea you'd get nailed for littering and draw attention to your self.

 

[suprabad]

...yes but is it really worth another $100 extra? How important is it really to know 'where' the signal comes from... I say its overkill.

Not only will the V1 tell you what direction the radar/laser is coming from, it will detect multiple radar sources.

I've had the V1 detect multiple signals and save me a second time. Had the V1 not told me that there were two different radar sources I would have sped up thinking I was past the speed trap, and drove right into the next unaware and got busted.

Way worth the extra $100.

 

[KicknAsphlt]

Mythbusters tested chaff and it did shit......

Stupid idea you'd get nailed for littering and draw attention to your self.

Never said it was a good idea.... :sarcasm: :biglaugh:

 

[theKnifeArtist]

It's amazing how many positive comments i've read about the 8500 here
i bought a passport 8500 x50 a couple years ago but i rarely use it. My friend thought i was crazy that i was using my cig lighter to power my ipod instead of having my detector in. I dunno, i just didn't trust it really:dunno: why i bought it? :dunno:

These days whenever i plug it in it says Service Required. boo. Once in a blue moon it'll work when plugged in. Anyone else get this?

EDIT: i all of the sudden got interested in fixing my detector and i looked online and found this self calibrate thing where you hold 3 buttons. Hey it works now! hehe. we'll see how long it lasts.

 

[IJ.]

Who cares which direction it's from?

It's not like you need to take evasive action other than slow to the limit.....:nono:

"Lookout he's got missile lock"

 

[Ronald]

it will detect multiple radar sources.

I've had the V1 detect multiple signals and save me a second time. Had the V1 not told me that there were two different radar sources I would have sped up thinking I was past the speed trap, and drove right into the next unaware and got busted.

Way worth the extra $100.

Previous post in here also describes the X50 to do the same as above - how many of each band will the V1 report at one time?

To reiterate- The X50 will report 4 X band, 2 K band and 2 Ka band all at the same time, as well as INCLUDE detailed SIGNAL strength meters on each of those 8 possible different signals at once; is the V1 that specific and detailed about its reporting of multiple signals? I couldn't derive that from the V1 user manual, although I did derive that it was trying to tell me it was the only radar detector to offer that feature, which is obviously not the case.

I agree, its a fantastic feature, regardless of which detector you're using.

I don't know that the X50 actually has two antennas for detection front/rear, but it does at least have a rear-facing portion of its antenna on the top of the detector.

I'd say for how heated radar detector threads could get, the debate here has been very cordial and more a comparison of experience and fact about each detector's capabilities.

My X50 has blinked the error message once, for which I conducted the calibrate and the issue was cured not to occur since.

Why do I sound like a Passport salesperson all of a sudden? Well either way, not the case, just a rabid biased owner is all... :biglaugh:

but in all seriousness, i think we've established you can't go too wrong with EITHER selection.

However, if you prefer to click the "smoke more pot" button on Fuzz420's signature, you'll be able to do so more effectively if you save $100 by getting the X50 instead of the V1... :biglaugh: Of course in the long run you might part with at least that $100 bucks in "criminal complaint" charges anyways, since you won't have the radar directional notification of the V1 that the cop has been following and watching you puff on that joint the whole time. :biggrinbo

 

[KicknAsphlt]

Who cares which direction it's from?

It's not like you need to take evasive action other than slow to the limit.....:nono:

"Lookout he's got missile lock"

"Too close for missiles, switching to guns"

 

[Ronald]

it depends actually

because if we can detect the radar gun "signature" that means there is an officer with a radio to his home station in his car. Put those two together and there is ZERO doubt that it is a LE. One without the other might be an LE but not on "patrol". Hell a 1mile radius is more than enough resolution on the ground for this. More than enough ample time to slow down from the fastest speeds and not get caught

Can you elaborate, i'm not sure i follow completely... What does LE stand for?

And by "signature" do you mean pick up the exact numerical frequency; i guess i don't follow what you're saying the V1 is offering that helps assure you with more certainty that it is police radar actually seeking to track the speed of vehicles vs police radar not on "patrol" but still emitting a signal. In my book, if there is a cop in the area emitting a signal; I want to know it and will slow down, even if it is a weak signal from a side street or something of that sort..... Cops are clever with their traps, sometimes they sit on overpasses and radio to another patrol vehicle further down on the highway to pick you up and ticket you.

Fuzz420 - did you use each detector in the car at the same time? Were both detectors mounted at the same 'height' off the dashboard next to each other? IE no rear obstructrions that might weaken the signal to one vs the other like a headrest or different elevation off the dashboard? Sounds like we have to give this one to the V1.... :cry: