subterFUSE

One way to tell is by situational awareness. If you see a speed trap and pay attention to some key information, then you can usually tell right away.

Laser speed detectors are hand-held devices that must be aimed through a gun sight like a rifle. The user will typically be on foot and must be in the direct line of travel to get a reading. Laser must be used from a stationary position. It cannot be used from a moving police car.

Here in Orlando, FL we typically do not encounter laser on the highways. Laser is more common with local police departments in residential areas. The officers stand on the side of the road and wait for cars to approach them. They target cars and when they want to pull over a driver, they simply walk into the street and use hand signals to stop the driver. These types of traps are often used in 25 mph - 35mph zones, and VERY frequently in school zones.

Radar can be used from a hand-held device but the device does not require precise aiming like a laser gun. A laser gun is usually held up to your head like a rifle because it requires very precise aim to target a single car.

Radar is much more commonly found as permanent installs in police cars. Most police cars these days have radar in both front and rear of their cars. This type of radar can be used while the car is stationary or moving. If you get pulled over by a police car that was moving when your speed was obtained, then you 100% know it was radar and not laser.

In Florida, we very rarely see laser on the highways. Most of the Highway Patrol/State Trooper speed traps will be radar used from their cars while parked in the center median.

In California, police often use laser on the highways. One method they use is to place an officer on an overpass bridge above the highway they are targeting. That officer pings the oncoming cars from above, and then radios the car description to a wolf pack of police cars that wait about a 1/4 mile further down the road.

Fortunately for us here in Orlando, our highways do not have many of these overpasses. Most of our highways are designed where the highway itself goes over the cross streets, making this type of trap impossible.


In summary:

If you see police on foot, holding a gun to their head like a rifle, then you are dealing with laser.

If you see police holding a gun away from their head, like a hand gun... then it's radar.

If the police are in a moving car, it is radar.

If they are in a stationary car with windows up, it is radar.

In fact, if the police are in a car then you can pretty safely assume it's radar. Laser would be very hard to use from inside a car. About the only way it could be done is if their car is parked perpendicular to the line of travel but also it must be in line with the line of travel. I have seen police standing outside of a parked car using laser, but not many times.

navin in KC

thank you for the reply subterFUSE. Much appreciated.

knldge

Not sure about the accuracy/credibility of this review. A quick glance at the feature list shows no marks for the Valentine, in the "Multiple Threat Display" category. The VI does in fact show you not only the number of bogeys, but also the direction of the sources.

Points for a reference card and travel case do not make a unit a better radar detector.

Dr.Aronis

Love my V1

If I'm without it I stay below limit plus 7

PeterWolf

Thank you for the up to date reference to the radar detector website.

You may note that the radar detectors have 2 crucial differences:
I did much research before buying a dual antenna escort redline:

1. K-Band sensitivity ratio 4-1 between detectors in this comparison:
this is essential to detect the low power radar guns currently in use
in a timely fashion.
2. Undetectability to radar detector detectors.

Laser sensitivity is not really an issue, if you are zapped by one it's too late.
You need the laser jammer for that one to buy you time or drive slower.
For those interested there are other demo videos about the strategies
used by law enforcement to catch the unwary speeder.

In Canada they often use plain cars with running radar and can easily get you head on.
If you do not have a radar detector there and speeding you are an easy victim.

PW

Mnstr

Just moved over to an S8 from a S63 MB and love the car so far. I ran the V1 in my 63 and know the coatings on the glass in that car were known to cut sensitivity down and create some false triggers due to the adaptive radar cruise system. Anyone know if the Audi has similar issues mine seems to false a lot

Thanks

PeterWolf

The Valentine One is a great detector, but weak on K-band sensitivity
compared to the newer Dual Antenna designs eg the Escort Redline.
You might want to try one of those models and your sensitivity issues
may be resolved.
PW

Mnstr

Spoke to Valentine today and was able to go in to the Menus via a CS rep at Valentine and was able to turn on some filtering that stops the side scan radar from false bogeys on the V1.

It's was a very fast set up and you just need to have the later version of software on your V1 which i think is 3.893 if i recall the version number when going through the set up.

Didnt get any more false bogeys

2012s4

$2400 for both. The first mod for and S8

2012s4

$2400 for both. The first mod for an S8