Radar detectors
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I would disagree with this - there was a time when that was true -- but no longer. In fact, the Valentine has been left behind. Read this link for a great side-by-side performance test.adjmcloon said:
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090
I have the Passport and have been very pleased with its performance.
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I also did some research and bought the Bel. It has some features that I needed. I always mount my detectors high, near the top of the windshield. This keeps them out of direct sunlight, and out of sight to prying eyes. I made a bracket that mounts under the overhead console. That way I didn't have to drill any holes. For power I tapped into the power to the mirror. Since it is a switched line the detector turns on and off with the engine. The Bel unit can be mounted upside down so the controls are easy to reach, and it has a feature to invert the display so it will read correctly when mounted upside down.
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I bought a Senso cordless for the Armada since my woman drives it around.
Valentine is good stuff, but we both drive normal and I didn't feel it was necessary for us. We just use it as a warning device in-case we happen to not be paying attention to how fast we are driving.
I let off my speeding and driving crazy feelings when I go racing.
Valentine is good stuff, but we both drive normal and I didn't feel it was necessary for us. We just use it as a warning device in-case we happen to not be paying attention to how fast we are driving.
I let off my speeding and driving crazy feelings when I go racing.
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Well, I had the Passport installed in my Z06 and was ticket free. I now have it front and center of the Armada and it sits high enough to get great reception. I had the Valentine back when it was getting rave reviews. Never did much for me and I ran the Valentine and Passport side by side. Passport beat it about 90% of the time. Ended up selling the Valentine and getting a second Passport for my other vehicle.
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Which model do you have? (Passport 187?)teufelhund said:
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I'm pretty sure that I have the 8500, but it may be the 7500. I'll have to check when I leave the office. If the 8500 was available in 2002, then that is what I have.
After doing the reasearch, I am going to go with that upper end Bell. It seems to be the best thing around now. So now I am faced with a problem. I went and looked at these and I looked at the equivalent bell, but in an integrated system. The system hides the sensors in the front and rear of the vehicle along with diffusers that screw up radar signals. The control unit is sleek and can be mounted in a number of places inside the vehicles. It is a perfect, finished product. The problem is the cost. Instead of the $300 range, we are now talking about the $900 range. Right now, that is just too much. I think I just talked myself out of it. I am going with the $300 one for now. I would rather put the $$$ toward a DVD and an integrated IPOD set-up.
So that is the answer.
So that is the answer.
Rx75
If you're talking about the RX 75, it's on ebay for about $500:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39765&item=5757953798&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
If you're talking about the RX 75, it's on ebay for about $500:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39765&item=5757953798&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
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The Website is bull.They rate the others higher because they can sell them. Valentine won't sell through a vendor, only direct so the vendors come up with BS tests. Car and Driver still rates valentine superior in almost every way. Also, ask any vette guy, they ALL own valentines. No Escorts. I've read countless "Dash comparisons" from them and they all come back Valentine. The Escort is good, but second. Probably 70% as good as the Valentine. The Bell is junk. Remember, the Passport was designed by the guy who improved and later sold the Valentine. Also, as the valentine improves over time, they will upgrade it for free. Not the others. This is kinda like getting a car comparison review written by a Chevy dealer. :clueless:
You raise an interesting point, and perhaps you are right on the money. But without a specific refference to a specific comparison source, the argument loses teeth. How 'bout a little evidence to refute the claims of the write-up?92TripleBlack said:
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Thanks for the info. It does make you think. The only issue I have is that it is fromm 2002. What if anything has changed since then. Now I want to check the date on that other comparison that was provided.92TripleBlack said:
Good stuff!
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The new 8500 x50 has a new antenna, but the internal electronics are still almost the same set designed my Mr. Valentine in the 80s. Bel is just junk.
The writer trys to slam the Valentine at every turn. Example: He implies that wider is worse as it blocks site. A radar detector properly installed is put right next to the rear view mirror and blends with it. Never had any site issues.
No praise for the metal case for durability. Just points out its there.
Slams it for not having a voice alert. Anyone use voice? Why?
Automute? Again, why? Put it on one of the city modes and it kills false alarms dramatically and doesn't lower sensitivity.
Remote volume adjustment. Why? Is the one on the detector not good enough or too far to reach?
No text messages. This isn't a palm pilot, its a radar detector. A bunch of lights going off is enough, especially if you are speeding and shouldn't be taking your eye off the road.
Last, no band killing or optional city modes. This is just plain wrong.
He tries to expand the price by adding the Optional Carry case and remote setup on. Who buys a carry case for their radar? Just trying to make theirs look like more of a bargain.
Criticizes for not having a tutorial mode. If you need a tutorial on a radar detector, you shouldn't be driving.
Says noises were too close together. Hmmm, cop noise is so different to me you think "what the BLANK was that?" when it goes off. And always when there is a cop, never when there isn't.
Rear antenna a "mixed blessing?" How? It is the best thing you could get in a detector. With a passport it goes off, and you have NO idea where it came from. Valentine tracks signal and tells you where it is. In front, aside, or behind. You can track a signal as you pass it to determine what made it and if you can disregard. Can't do that with either of the other detectors.
They then proceed to put it on the dash, a place no detector should be. This dramatically reduces range of detection and therefore ability to react. In this position they say the range is reduced to the rear. Holy captain obvious.
Lastly, he says its time to update it. It is updated continuously. And, you can send it back for the upgrades and have them done for FREE.
If you are into "Bells and Whistles" the Valentine isn't for you. If you want to avoid tickets, you can't beat it for under a grand. :machinegu
Hope this helps everyone. BTW, love the MG Pacman smiley.
The writer trys to slam the Valentine at every turn. Example: He implies that wider is worse as it blocks site. A radar detector properly installed is put right next to the rear view mirror and blends with it. Never had any site issues.
No praise for the metal case for durability. Just points out its there.
Slams it for not having a voice alert. Anyone use voice? Why?
Automute? Again, why? Put it on one of the city modes and it kills false alarms dramatically and doesn't lower sensitivity.
Remote volume adjustment. Why? Is the one on the detector not good enough or too far to reach?
No text messages. This isn't a palm pilot, its a radar detector. A bunch of lights going off is enough, especially if you are speeding and shouldn't be taking your eye off the road.
Last, no band killing or optional city modes. This is just plain wrong.
He tries to expand the price by adding the Optional Carry case and remote setup on. Who buys a carry case for their radar? Just trying to make theirs look like more of a bargain.
Criticizes for not having a tutorial mode. If you need a tutorial on a radar detector, you shouldn't be driving.
Says noises were too close together. Hmmm, cop noise is so different to me you think "what the BLANK was that?" when it goes off. And always when there is a cop, never when there isn't.
Rear antenna a "mixed blessing?" How? It is the best thing you could get in a detector. With a passport it goes off, and you have NO idea where it came from. Valentine tracks signal and tells you where it is. In front, aside, or behind. You can track a signal as you pass it to determine what made it and if you can disregard. Can't do that with either of the other detectors.
They then proceed to put it on the dash, a place no detector should be. This dramatically reduces range of detection and therefore ability to react. In this position they say the range is reduced to the rear. Holy captain obvious.
Lastly, he says its time to update it. It is updated continuously. And, you can send it back for the upgrades and have them done for FREE.
If you are into "Bells and Whistles" the Valentine isn't for you. If you want to avoid tickets, you can't beat it for under a grand. :machinegu
Hope this helps everyone. BTW, love the MG Pacman smiley.
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1,256 Posts
Most of my buddies who are hard core BMW Club guys all swear by Valentine and some Passport 8500.
I've been using the 8500 for about 5 years. All I can say is that it is a great radar detector. I don't care where the radar is coming from, all I care about is when I hear beeping, I slow down. I have literally avoided close to 20 speeding tickets.
Last month, I was headed up 395 to Mammoth Lakes. I was going about 75. A Lincoln Navigator pulls up to my tail and tail gates me at 75. Hello buttwipe, there's another lane you can drive in. So I start accelerating and hear my passort start beeping. I hit 90, then moved over and braked. The Navigator flew by me at over 100 and he flipped me off.
10 seconds later, a CHP flies by me and pulls over the Navigator.
I tired to flip him off when I passed by but he was too busy looking in his rear view mirror at the CHP.
Moral of the story, any radar detector is better than none.
I've been using the 8500 for about 5 years. All I can say is that it is a great radar detector. I don't care where the radar is coming from, all I care about is when I hear beeping, I slow down. I have literally avoided close to 20 speeding tickets.
Last month, I was headed up 395 to Mammoth Lakes. I was going about 75. A Lincoln Navigator pulls up to my tail and tail gates me at 75. Hello buttwipe, there's another lane you can drive in. So I start accelerating and hear my passort start beeping. I hit 90, then moved over and braked. The Navigator flew by me at over 100 and he flipped me off.
10 seconds later, a CHP flies by me and pulls over the Navigator.
I tired to flip him off when I passed by but he was too busy looking in his rear view mirror at the CHP.
Moral of the story, any radar detector is better than none.
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