Passport 8500 X50

I have both due to the ongoing debate of which one's better and the different opinions from different owners. I too drive in excess of 40K miles a year and it took me less than a week to leave the passport in the garage and have the V1 on the wind shield.

They are both equal in regards to false alarms with an edge going to the V1 for in city.

Range, again I would have to say equal (like Jamo said, you can't use them side by side for comparison)

Multiple threat indicator, the V1 is the only one. Not only does it tell you where they are with the arrows, it tells you how many

As for laser or instant on, they are both great at telling you you're about to get a ticket...

Radar Detectors
 

The link below is the one I used to make a decision. I went with the Beltronics RX65. You can get the best price on Ebay. Brand new in the box. The radar detector helps but doesn't make you invisible. Good luck.
http://www.radarbusters.com/

Valentine One, hands down. When I used to race NMRA, I was driving all over the country. I've had most of the "popular" detectors, and IMO the V1 is the best.

The older V1s were a bit large, but the newer models (by newer, I'm talking like 5 years now) are about as thin as most other detectors. Besides, I could care less what it looks like, as long as it works. Night useage is not a problem, because the V1 has a photocell in it that dims the display at night. They also offer a remote display option, so you have the detector on your windshield, and the warning lights elsewhere (dash, visor, etc).

As for the arrows, after having the V1 I would never own a detector without the directional arrows. By knowing where signals are coming from, you quickly learn specific patterns of both legit LEO signals, and false signals. That, in effect, made me a better driver because I could usually pick up on target areas before the detector would even go off. Plus it's just nice to know where the heck the signal is coming from. There were a LOT of times out on the interstates, where the signal was a cop in moving patrol car BEHIND you somewhere. The detector would go off for miles, because he's staying with you. With a regular detector, you'd be throwing the thing out the window, but with knowing the signal is coming from behind, you'll know with that signal pattern there's a patrol car in traffic behind you with his radar on.

The other nice thing about the V1, is that they are forever upgradable. You will never have to buy another unit. As upgrades come out, you can send your unit it for the latest features.

FWIW, you can alter the display on the Passport to show the # of threats. Just need to push a couple buttons.

I recently used my Passport while in Florida and it was unnerving driving on the interstate between Miami and Cocoa Beach, getting blips from FHPs and not knowing whether they were behind me or ahead of me. Since laser/POP detection is an even playing field (if you can detect it, you're pretty much screwed), the difference becomes directional. And that is where Valentine may have the edge. I wonder just how long they have that patent (on the arrows)?

-Dean

I have used a V1 since they first came out and before that an Escort. Got my first speeding ticket at 17 and my second at 18. Bought a detector, haven't slowed down, and have never gotten a ticket since. I like my V1 because of the direction indicator and the filtering mode. But running 90 on the interstate still means I have to be vigilant. I know where the locals usually sit and never speed excessively when I am the only one on the road because nothing protects against instant on. V1 will update your detector to keep it current with technology. I have no complaints. As my Dad always told me, keep it between the ditches.

...as I can attest.

Trooper got me last week in my Caddy with his instant-on doing 80 in a 60.

All my detector did was prepare me for the impending ticket.

Yeah, that's what I have. See above ^^^

I agree with the above comments regarding the Valentine (well, the positive ones, anyway...Jamo, my radar detector may be phugly but not as bad as your assvatar!;) ) and I think the arrows-and the numbers-are a real advantage. If the radar unit is in an unmarked car on the other side of a divided highway or behind you or down a side street it may be less of a threat than one in the median. Also, if the detector alarms and then points to some farm equipment, for example (common where I live; apparently their GPS or counting units trigger the detector), I can just ignore them and continue on my way.

But, hey...I don't doubt the Passports are as sensitive and if you want a Passport and don't care about the directional feature, I'm sure you'll be as happy with your detector as I am with mine.

I did get one speeding ticket in the last 30+ years, about a year ago, and I didn't have the Valentine in the car. I never use it in the Cobra, as I figure if I get stopped and the cop sees I have a radar detector, any chance of leniency on his part will go down the $hitter when he sees it, and there's no place to hide it. In my truck, I can hide the detector and use the "stealth" remote display. What I need for the Cobra is a detector I can put on the console with a wire to a remote sensor which can clip on the visor or the top of the windshield, but I don't think there's any such thing. Or is there...?

Lowell

Is there a detector that has a remote display for the dash and a sensor that could be mounted in the front opening of the car and the rear bumper area of the car? It could be as small as a key hole just pointing fron t and rear and completely concealed. And we need one that completely scrambles any signal sent from the instant on or laser so there can be no credible reading.

Here is another idea...why not just pay an extra $500 at registration time every year and be completely exempt from speeding tickets. No worries right? Right!

I have a special forces Army friend that had a radar blocker that they put on their camo tents in the field. It blocks all radar and makes the location invisible to radar from air or ground. He got one of them off the base and put it on the front of his car.......no stops. Problem is, the Army will prosecute you for taking them off base. He was lucky (or extremely sneeky). Don't think us civilians can get these but it's interesting that the technology is there.

Paul

They are available...and yes, they are illegal. :(

Did I say they were available? :)

The V1 has the multiple threat indicator with arrows and it helps a ton!! I've had many occasions where the arrows and threat counter told me that the cop I'm looking at is not working alone. Driving another 1/2 mile reveals the second or third cop waiting over a hill. I have had the V1 since 2001 and not one ticket!! I had passports and escorts in the past and none compare to the V1. Get the V1!

I'll add to 01yelrt"s comment - I had occasion to drive through an industrial area in town every morning. At one point I would see two "bogeys" on the left side of the road, probably from an alarm system. One morning there were THREE:JEKYLHYDE Smokey had hidden between some real estate signs, looking to make some money. The V1, with threat #s and locations saved me a ticket for sure.:)

The manufacturers of radar detectors ought to design the power imput and the mounting bracket so the unit can be easilly slid in and out without having to manually pull the cord. I used to have a Whistler with the plug port in front, so I fabbed up a bracket to hold the plug in the right position. This allowed the unit to be installed and removed with a single motion. Then, I merely put the detector in my shirt pocket. With open top cars, especially Cobras that can't be locked anyhow, it is really necessary to remove the radar detector when parking the vehicle in public. Being able to remove and insert the radar detector with a single movement is really convenient.:)