Radar Detectors

[ATLIEN]

Quick question for you all. I’m running an old Valentine One that I purchased back in 2004. It still works albeit with the typical false alarms from todays advanced telematics systems.

There’s obviously a new version but wanted to check and see what’s the consensus amongst the m3 faithful? The new V1 or are there better options?

[kawstik]

I've been running a Uniden R7 for a year and a half and love it.

I prefer it to the Valentine, which is what I 'upgraded' from.

[e90_503]

If you have an android phone, check out the JBV1 app. It supposedly breathes a lot of life into the old V1.

I personally used V1 driver for iOS and it was “fine”. Definitely helped with the false positives and had a gps learning system that paired with the Bluetooth dongle.

[DrFerry]

I still run a V1 today and have done since they came on the market after Cincinnati Microwave (makers of Escort and Passport radar detectors in the 80s, 90s and the 00s) were bought out and Mike Valentine started over again with the V1. It's been a reliable tool for me - though I will admit once radar based lane detection and blind spot monitoring were introduced into cars by the major auto makers, the V1 would false alarm all over the place.

My latest V1 is a ~2017 gen 1 vintage (I think). I had to upgrade it after leaving my old one in a rental car at the Detroilet airport. I had to kiss it goodbye, BUT my current V1 is better at filtering false alarms on "City" mode than the older one. Logic mode does seem to learn certain grocery store locations false alarms due to those stores using automatic opening radar (X-band) sensor doors.

I used to joke sometimes with business colleague car passengers that if aliens ever landed they would think radar detectors were designed to find grocery stores with automatic doors. Anyway, the latest V1gen2 is a huge step up improvement over the V1gen1 in range sensitivity - and now comes with a bluetooth App plus upgradable software (firmware) from Valentine.

My next one will be a V1gen2.

Here's a link to the JBV1 app for older V1s but it's Android OS only. Interesting comments at the bottom of the page..
https://www.vortexradar.com/2020/03/...ted-with-jbv1/

[pbonsalb]

For a while, Valentine would upgrade the old V1 for a fee, but it is no longer doing that. It will give you a credit towards a Gen2. I have one old V1, one upgraded V1 and one Gen2. I don't think an un-upgraded old V1 is competitive today with the best detectors. The best detectors are the Uniden R8/R7/R4, Escort 360C, the Valentine V1Gen2. The Valentine Gen2 is probably still the best.

Use Waze or some other traffic software with input from users as to police presence.

Laser is probably ALP.

[egebhardt]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Laser is probably ALP.

Good post. What is ALP?
I Googled it so I can imagine a dozen things but what did you mean?
thanks.

[DukeofAlexandria]

Uniden R8 or a Redline 360c; both expensive but both worth it.

If you live in a state you need RDD protection then it’s going to have to be the Redline 360c or the Valentine 1 gen 2. Without this, you’ll get in even more trouble.

-Duke

[pbonsalb]

ALP is anti laser priority, I think. Not cheap and not a simple install. It has been on my list for a while but I still don’t have it.

Car and Driver tested 3 popular detectors last year.
https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...BoC0a4QAvD_BwE

Waze is great and free. I don’t drive on the highway without it.

[ghostofsenna]

Can someone compare the Valentine 1 to the Uniden R8?

[Merlin_83]

Long time V1 user, solid - sent back twice for firmware updates and testing. Then........bought the Valentine V2 - WOW! World of difference - excellent long-distance detection - it alerts even when motor cops have their radar guns in 'idle' or stand-by mode - hands down the Valentine V2 in my experience is such a great product


Cheers,
Merlin

[Evo13]

Check out vortex radar on YouTube. He has tons of comparison/review/in depth videos. I still rock my valentine V1 and run it along with V1driver, iOS "equivalent" of JB1V1 but not as powerful. However, I'm definitely thinking of upgrading to the V1G2.

[ccdies79 M3]

I want to get a radar detector soon, but I don’t want that cord hanging down from the detector to the cigarette lighter, is there a way to wire it directly to the power wires where the map lights are ? Maybe there’s a thread on this some where? Thanks

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

I want to get a radar detector soon, but I don’t want that cord hanging down from the detector to the cigarette lighter, is there a way to wire it directly to the power wires where the map lights are ? Maybe there’s a thread on this some where? Thanks

Yes.

-Duke

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by DukeofAlexandria

Yes.

-Duke

Ha, brutal.

ccdies79 M3

Wire tap power via rear view.

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Ha, brutal.

ccdies79 M3

Wire tap power via rear view.

I’ll just google it, lol. Thanks

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Ha, brutal.

ccdies79 M3

Wire tap power via rear view.

Lol!

I mean, they all have the wire tap kits given with most of them at this point, at least my Valentine v2 and uniden r8 did.

-Duke

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

I’ll just google it, lol. Thanks

All the kits come with (or you can buy from the manufacturer) a power tap kit for like $10 extra dollars. More expensive units come with the kits already like I mentioned ha!

-Duke

[ccdies79 M3]

Originally Posted by DukeofAlexandria

Lol!

I mean, they all have the wire tap kits given with most of them at this point, at least my Valentine v2 and uniden r8 did.

-Duke

Yeah I got that,,, thanks,, but was wondering what wires to tap into inside the over head console, should not be hard to figure out, just 2 wires, I’ll get it. Thanks

[ccdies79 M3]

https://youtu.be/V9GZTcgIFoE


For any body else wanting to know how to hard wire up a radar

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

Yeah I got that,,, thanks,, but was wondering what wires to tap into inside the over head console, should not be hard to figure out, just 2 wires, I’ll get it. Thanks

You just route it down and into the fuse box. I mean….I wouldn’t put it to those wires. I would put a fused link into it and allow for the system to turn it on and off as needed.

But if that works for you, then all good.

-Duke

[ccdies79 M3]

https://youtu.be/mncMv4rIaxo




Okay thanks,, I’ll do it that way then,, Next time I’ll look it up on google or YouTube myself before I ask on this fourm site. Sorry for any inconvenience

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by ccdies79 M3

https://youtu.be/mncMv4rIaxo




Okay thanks,, I’ll do it that way then.. thanks,, Next time I’ll look it up on google or YouTube myself before I ask on this fourm site. Sorry for any inconvenience

We were just messin with ya.
But the manufacturers have the best instructions usually on how to directly hook these into your existing system.

Just like dash cams, most manufacturers have instructions for battery hook ups, direct hook up to fuse box, etc.

-Duke