Valentine V1 vs. ?

[Ryan]

I'm getting a new radar detector in the next couple of weeks...I've had cheap shitty ones in the past so have decided to go all out and get top of the line (second hand tho).

I've heard only good stuff about the Valentine One, anyone know of any other models that beat it feature-wise? Any downsides of the V1 apart from the fact its ugly?

Cheers, Ryan

[Guest boostcut]

the top of the line belltronics are better as the v1 arnt picking up some of the new bands the speedcameras are working at now as theyre designed for american markets.

just wat ive been told by a nerd d!ck smith mate so hold off on the flammage, cheers

ps why are we not allowed to say d!ck smith? its a guys name for fuk sakes!

[Ryan]

Good point I'll keep that in mind. Might compare prices between the Bel and V1.. Any idea what the top of the line model Bel is that's equal to the V1?

[DRFVDR]

the V1 is designed for left hand drive vehicles so the screen(arrows and threat indicator) point in wrong direction

but other than that they not bad

[Guest boostcut]

 Ryan said:

Good point I'll keep that in mind. Might compare prices between the Bel and V1.. Any idea what the top of the line model Bel is that's equal to the V1?

its about 1200 haha.

[Ryan]

Sorry i meant what is the model number of the top of the line Bel

[Ryan]

I'm guessing the XR model? http://www.dse.co.nz/dse.shop/4a1babdd00844bd02740c0a87f3b06e7/Product/View/A5319

[Guest boostcut]

yeah thats the lil bugger.... real good radar. pretty steep tho

[Ryan]

Sounds pretty good alright, but holy sh!t the price..!! Only one on Trademe i think??

[Johnnynz]

Bell XR STI is the best radar going IMO.

Just keep in mind no radar makes you bulletproof. If your speeding and the cop does his/her job right he/she will get you.

[Ryan]

So the Bell XR STI picks up the new speed cameras? Using Pulse K or Plus K band or something..?

[Johnnynz]

Dont have one myself but I do a lot of travel and borrow a mates when I can as I dont want even absent minded stupid tickets in the company car.

Still hasnt missed a beat for me on Highway mode. I cant remember if thats K or Ka. Coudlnt tell you if I have encountered the new speed cameras, just that it has picked up every cop I have seen on the open road in the last 20,000 kms+.

[Ryan]

Sweet, yeah cops usually used the Ka band but I've heard about a new band being used (not sure if by cops or just speed cams?)

[Guest STiEVO]

beltronics ftw handsdown. my mates got the v1 and it picks up other shit like petrol stations. my bel has never gone off except for camera or policeman.i had it for a week and it hadnt gone off, i thought it was a dud i rang the shop i got it from and he told me i hadnt come across a cop yet lol .

.and it comes with the hard wire kit and its descreet as. but remember your radar is only as good as the laziest fuzz. i got snapped on the desert rd last year as i got the top of a hill and he turned his radar on .

[subieboy]

 STiEVO']

beltronics ftw handsdown. my mates got the v1 and it picks up other shit like petrol stations. my bel has never gone off except for camera or policeman.i had it for a week and it hadnt gone off, i thought it was a dud i rang the shop i got it from and he told me i hadnt come across a cop yet lol .

.and it comes with the hard wire kit and its descreet as. but remember your radar is only as good as the laziest fuzz. i got snapped on the desert rd last year as i got the top of a hill and he turned his radar on.

My V1 has never given false alarms (to my knowledge) either...

[quote name='DRFVDR said:

the V1 is designed for left hand drive vehicles so the screen(arrows and threat indicator) point in wrong direction

Designed and built for left hand drive = Yes

The arrows however aren't affected as u]left is still left, right is still right and front is still front and back is still back[/u]...

The only thing that is affected is the direction of the sound output, this can be fixed by buying the remote sound module... or simply just not worrying about it...

[Guest STiEVO]

i must admit the arrows are pretty cool however not needed really as if it alerts you it alerts you.

[subieboy]

 STiEVO said:

i must admit the arrows are pretty cool however not needed really as if it alerts you it alerts you.

Its also cool because it weighs a ton (compared to others) and can maim or kil birds or small rodents when thrown hard enough... ;D

***Just kidding***

[newsuba]

Nothing wrong with V1 for NZ, aside from the fact it's probably the #1 nicked detector.

It WILL pick up all frequencies used by NZ police (Ka, K).

BUT the latest BEL (and maybe its Escort twin) is a better detector in every respect (performance, ergonomics).

[Guest]

If your Serious about getting a decent radar get the Bel XR STI. Had mine for around a year now. It's awesome. Easy to program when needed. looks good and does it's job every time. I've owned a uniden,escort & a Bel 950. Once you've used the bel XR STI youll never look back .

If you're buying brand new use http://www.radardirect.co.nz/ . Should be able to get a better deal than dick smith . However if you know people that work at repco/Dick Smith hit them up

[Ryan]

Sweet cheers guys,, hey Dean what do you mean when you say you 'program' it? I'll be going for the Bel XR.

[Guest]

 Ryan said:

Sweet cheers guys,, hey Dean what do you mean when you say you 'program' it? I'll be going for the Bel XR.

It's got quite a few functions compared to the previous Bel 950. Mainly just programming different bands. I only have K band on if I'm traveling long distance to pick up those new camera vans.

However it also has a function where it can remember specific bands "when programmed" such as the k band coming from your local petrol station. You can program the radar so it won't go nuts each time that band comes into range, it will just flash once then continue scanning. Not so useful now but as k band continues to be used by police this function may become useful in the near future.

[Guest]

Good choice by the way ;D

[Scoobydoo]

Yep I'm also a Bel STI user, and although I've never used a V1, I'm very happy with the STI. I haven't turned the K Band off, but by all accounts the new speed cameras are using that now, so I just put up with all the false alerts.

[SILNCR]

Have been using Valentine 1 radar for over 7 years now and for the last 2 years have switched to BEL STI XR.

I tested both of them at the same time with a dual socket power point...

BEL STI XR took the win and i tested them over 2 weeks full time...

Gave alot more warning than the v1...

About the new speed cameras on a diff band... I sure think they are as i have driven past a couple of vans in the last 2 weeks and radar did absolutley nothing... Which SUCKS!!! ???

[wildturkey]

V1 if u wana know where smokey is......cruzn up behind u.....comin towards u.....to the left or right of u hiding on side streets........u do wana know where he is right? lol.

V1 and Beltronics STI Driver are still top of the range detectors around the world. STI Driver is pretty much invisible to police radar detector detectors (in countries and states where radar detectors are banned)......so if you think the law in NZ is gona change to ban radar detectors.....STI driver way to go.

The new digital cams in vans run on a weak K band signal that most detectors can't pick up until ur practically on top of the van. They are having some problems right now with their accuracy. You mite have seen the write up in the Dom a while ago lol. Seems they have been clocking some vehicles at twice their actual speed and issuing tickets lol.

If u enable K band ur gona pik up all sorts of crap like sliding doors, garage doors etc... I did it on my V1 and the damn thing was just going off all the time around welly so I turned K band off.

The main frontline weapon for smokeys in NZ is still KA band in cruzers and hand held laser guns........so V1 or Bel still a great choice and even some of the other brands are fine as well.