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trust in radar detectors

8500 x50 ftw i have one and only got one ticket and that was due to the cop seeing me with his own eyes i was going much much faster than what he judged
 
98TredSVT said:
so would it be smarter to buy the 8500 x5 or the v1 for the money?
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V1. both are comparable enough in sensitivity, but the counter and arrows on the V1 make it indispensible.

But, NO detector beats common sense and the Mk. 1 eyeball. They should always be used together, and never depend completely on any detector.
 
btw, I got my V1 used about 3 months back for $400, it was the latest version, and came with the optional $60 remote display, and a custom fitted mounting plate for my E46. Used, up to date V1's go for $350-375 generally. Beware anyone selling them new for less than $400, because Valentine doesn't offer discounts on them.
 
they come with what you need to hard wire them.


I got mine used for $300 with the remote display from a then local CEGer
 
Hmm, I've always thought about radar detectors, but as I read in Wiki, LIDAR uses lasers? This is what you guys are referring to with the "lasers" term? Then I guess a radar detector wouldn't do much for me seeing as all three times I've been pulled over for speeding I got nailed w/ LIDAR...
 
zorrex said:
Hmm, I've always thought about radar detectors, but as I read in Wiki, LIDAR uses lasers? This is what you guys are referring to with the "lasers" term? Then I guess a radar detector wouldn't do much for me seeing as all three times I've been pulled over for speeding I got nailed w/ LIDAR...
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Radar detector is a catch-all term these days, as LIDAR, or laser, as it is commonly known, detection has been included in these units for over 10 years.

Before that, it was a separate unit. I have a 1984 Escort Passport that detects X and K bands with remarkable acuity, and a separate laser detector from about 1991 that attaches to it. I don't use them -- I run the Cobra -- but wouldn't be beyond it. It would be best in a car from the 1980s -- better ambience.

9725_1.JPG


 
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While I'm at it, here's a shot of the detector that started it all, back when Mike Valentine was at Cincinnati Microwave. The Escort Radar Warning Reciever.

da28_1.JPG
 
actually if you call valentine....and if they have one...a returned one that is. You get a 10% discount. Because they do the 30 day money back thing...sometimes they have them
 
yeah man all you need to hardwire an escort or a v1 is a phone cord (thats if you want to retain the cigarette lighter for another car). if you dont want to retain the cigarette lighter all youll need is a female cigarette lighter plug and then go ahead and hardwire that.
 
From memory, though, the "phone line" that the V1 uses is not identical to what you'd have on your Bell Trimline phone, say, in the kitchen. Its a bit wider, but looks very similar.

If you're hardwiring, just splice into something hot and ground it properly. You'll be able to choose whether you want the detector to be constant on or not by selecting a hot wire that is dependent on or independent of KOEO / KOER. I use the cigarette lighter, and am so used to Ford making that a hot setup regardless of ignition that I'd be inclined to splice into something that was always on.
 
The Five-Oh! said:
uhhh, the cig lighter is a constant 12v regardless of ignition.
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Right you are, sir! But he's looking to hardwire, and there are plenty of circuits in the car that are not hot when the ignition is off. Conversely, there are also several that are, so it's dealer's choice, so to speak, when hardwiring, which is the matter in question here. Anyone knows that a FoMoCo cig lighter is constant-on. However, some of the shirttail Fords, like the Aspire and Festiva before it, may not be, as they're Kias.
 
How long do you think it would take to drain my battery with my phone charger plugged in the cigarette lighter? I always leave it in.
 
98TredSVT said:
How long do you think it would take to drain my battery with my phone charger plugged in the cigarette lighter? I always leave it in.
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Four or five days if its cold out, and even then, it's a maybe. Unplug it if you're leaving your car at the airport. Other than that, you'll be fine. :cool:
 
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