I heard about the valentine its like in every car and driver magazine is that the one where it tells you where the laser is coming from and has the little arrows, my bro just got a radar jammer would like to see how that works out!

 

I've got a cheap cobra, well it was 150. when I bought it a few years ago, I see them now for 99. bucks, I have literally driven now from one coast to the next, it does pick up some extra crap every now and then but it has NEVER failed to do its duty, it gets a thumbs up, I am sure those other models work great and might look at one if the cobra craps out.

 

I dunno if your just interested in a radar detector... but a friend of mine has that Fazor 2... that jams the signal.. and I've been in the car with him going about 85.. right passed a cop... we saw the cop with the radar gun up... as we went passed... looked like he was shaking it... lol I guess it comes up that we're going like some rediculous mph.. but it works.. I think its like $160

 

ok a couple thing to address...
1) - personally i would not go with a radar jammer. they are notorious for failing. yes they can work and go off at everything. a radar is a safer (legal as well) bet.

2) - yes the valentine 1 is good but head to head with he Beltronics Vector 995 or Bel pro rx64 or escourt x50 it had less detection range from all sides and it had less features such as when you drive though the city you can set it not to detect automatic doors. also the valentine 1 used to be the best. since then the above listed radars have surpassed it in performance

3) i used to have a 150$ dollar cobra and now i have the Vector 995 from bel. and i notice a monumental difference in every aspect of performance.

4) +1 dont buy a cheap 1 it will end up costing you more since when u get a ticket

5) i bought my bel. 995 from circuit city it had an electronical malfunction. no questions they handed me a new 1. i think it was 300$ (worth every penny, im 16 so 1 ticket= no car for a long time)


phewwww.... ok im done now

 

hrmmm, ive had no experience with those other ones... ill be forced to buy one after my turbo install lol, so i may give them a shot

 

Yeah, the Beltronics is what I use and it is very accurate and you can cancel out all the doors etc.. But don't buy a wireless one they are not as powerful and will dissapoint you. Another cool feature of the Bel is the voice alert.

 

+1 i forgot to mention the lack of detection range on the wireless. only go wireless if you have to. ford so conviently mount a 12v plug right there so why not. also reguardless of what anyone says MOUNT IT LOW ON THE WINDSHEILD!!!

 

I bought a Whistler ($130) online (can't think of the model number, I can look it up if your interested) because it was cordless. It was either that or Bel had a cordless. However, when I did the research, the whister had a little better performance. I have satellite radio filling my power outlet and also wanted to easily be able to switch between vehicles.

I have used it through the winter and the only thing is that when the batteries are cold, the damn thing shuts off on it's own until they warm up. Now that the weather is warming up, it is not a problem.

I'm not a believer that you have to spend 3 to 4 hundred bucks to get good radar protection. Are the ones mentioned better, of course they are, but mine has very good coverage. The battery life is pretty good too. This was my biggest concern buying a cordless, however, I drive 1 hour each way to work and the batteries will last a good week before needing charging.

The unit also comes with a cord if you want to use it so you wouldn't have to put up with the battery thing like I have to. Oh, I saw the unit for sale at COMPUSA stores if you have one of those around you.

 

I did the research online and in independent testing the top three are: Beltronics Pro RX65, Escort 8500, and the Valentine 1.

Now...out of the three I chose the Beltronics. Here is why: Escort bought the company (cincinatti microwave) that makes the internals for both the Beltronics and Escort. They are the SAME internally!! The beltronics has a brighter RED display as opposed to the blue escort 8500. In all areas except laser the beltronics won on two different independent websites (and even then the Valentine was the winner). I don't recall immediately which sites...but I can research again tomorrow and let you know. The beltronics can pick up Ka band (used in 97% of the country) at over 27000 feet away. That's over 5 miles away. Believe me it can too! It also picks up Ku band used in Europe in case you ever went abroad (and being in the military..that is always a possiblity for me). The Beltronics comes with a nice remote type power plug that lets you adjust volume and mute and has LEDs that flash when you have the detector in "Dark" mode.

Check it out at: Crutchfield

 

i beleive my radar (vector 995 Bel.) is above the valentine in performance. but +1 wombat i would have got the pro but mines almost as good and i didn't have to pay for it so works for me.