CLLOFF

I have been using the Valentine V1 for over a decade now. I have one in each my Corvette and truck. Both are the latest upgrades. A few months ago I took a new job in downtown Denver. The false alarms are killing me. It hard to not ignore them or turn the volume down. 15+ each way. Its also a distraction to keeping hitting the mute button.

I'm thinking of switching to a Escort 9500ix.

I know both a good products and there are others out there too.

I'm looking for opinions from any folks that have first hand urban experience with both the V1 and Escort 9500ix to please provide any significant pros or cons. I'm interest in false alarms vs. range vs. risk of blocking out a real threat.

Thanks in advance!!

dshamrick

You can go into programming mode and change some of the settings on the V1 to reduce the false alerts you get.

Personally, I like having the directional arrows along with the counter.

A few weeks ago a small group of us were coming back home from Bowling Green using some surface streets to bypass road construction. We were in a small town and as we went past the local police station my V1 lit up like crazy. It was very comforting to know that once we got past the station the arrows only showed signal behind us.

I don't know of another detector out there that would have provided that "Piece of Mind"

I have seen for myself, and have read several stories where local LEO stationed themselves near a known false signal and got move than one person with a detector working. FYI, the counter hit 3 as we went past that station that day.

I too hate the false signals, but I would still rather have 100 false signals as long as I get the one true one that saves me time and money.

YMMV

barduch

Two V1s here. I also like the directional feature. They have more than paid for themselves many times over. I have not seen any red lights in my rear view mirrors since purchasing the V1s.

By the way, is it just me or does your heart literally skip a few beats when you do see those red lights in the mirror?

SCcues

You might want to add the Passport Max to your comparison. I did some research and the V1 was a strong consideration for me, but after comparing all the features I decided on the Passport Max and I'm very happy with it. I have it installed with a Blendmount in my car and it comes on when I start the car and turns off when I shut the car off.

The unit has a data base for traffic cameras and when it detects radar it tells you what kind of radar it is. When a signal is detected it gives the alert and then mutes the sound (which I like a lot), but keeps the signal strength on the display until the signal is out of range. The unit will store signals (like stationary door openers) and the third time it picks up a signal in the same spot it won't alert you any more unless you tell it not to store signals. These are just a few of the features for this unit in default mode.

I don't want to sound like I'm talking you out of the units you are considering, but the Passport Max is the latest Escort model with a lot of features.

Rockyravoli

I am trying to decide between the 9500ix or the MAX; from all me research the Max is a better device but many say it washes out in sunlight and since I have the Targa roof most of my driving is without the top. Have you experienced not being able to read it in sunlight. Much appreciate your advice on this. Also read that it wasn't advisable to plug directly into the mirror outlet; do you agree with that?
Thanks

myfunz

I have the 9500ix it has a learn feature for false signals as well as red light and speed camera features.

scnhra

I have the Max. Got it in December. I had not had a detector for over 10years so this was a neat to have thing. I installed it with a blend mount and a permanent smart cable from escort. I love the thing. I forget that it is there till it goes off and you better be for slowing down if it does. I live in Houston and it only takes a couple trips to a location to learn all of the false alarm areas and block them out. I also like the screen. It tells you what type of radar and displays speed limit as well. Hook it up to the phone and you get it all through the speakers in the car.

stp357

Since the OP is a V1 owner, he may have received this from Valentine. It comes from owners of the units telling how the V1 saved them.


"I was in my supercharged Trailblazer SS, followed by my daughter and son-in-law in their Jeep SRT8, heading east on I80. We'd just crossed into Ohio from Indiana.

Each of us has a detector attached to the bottom of our rearview mirror, an Escort 9500 for him, V1 for me. The women were talking between cars on two-way radios.

V1 said "brap," just one syllable, then about a mile later it said "brap brap." My wife on the radio said "possible speed trap ahead." My daughter told her husband "my dad's V1 just went off twice." He said it was a false alarm because "our Escort didn't go off."

I slowed to 72 and the Jeep passed us saying he'd take the lead. Then I got another "brap brap." Now we are three miles down the highway since the first warning. The Jeep is about a quarter-mile ahead when my daughter came on the radio to say "Oh, sh#@, I think we are getting pulled over."

We waited at the next rest stop. Maybe 15 minutes later my cell rings, son-in-law calling to say he will follow us the rest of the trip.

His Escort went on eBay when he got home and he ordered a new V1. Oh, by the way, his 9500 never beeped once. The LEO told him that radar detectors won't detect his gun because it's too fast. Boy, do I have news for that trooper."

Supercrewbear

I've had a 9500xi for about 3-1/2 years and love it. I especially like the ability to add my own warning locations - I drive through a speed trap town area (that's not in the Escort database for some odd reason...) so I have it alert me when I get to the town's city limits - that way if I'm not paying attention it lets me know. We don't have any speed or stoplight cameras in my area but when I travel to unfamiliar places it is very handy. We do have lots of door openers and such that give false alarms - it's nice for it to automatically learn those and then not alarm on them. You have to buy a subscription for the weekly database updates but it's cheap - about $35 for three years. I just had to buy a new subscription a few months ago. I originally bought my 9500xi shortly after buying my '10 GS - I haven't had a radar detector in 15-20 years but decided I was going to get caught "playing" sometime... I also have the Blend Mount and an Invisi-Cord powering it from the mirror. Looks "factory" and you never have to think about it - I typically only update the database once a month or so (even though there are weekly updates) or just before going on a road-trip somewhere.

Good luck!

Rons65

I had the 9500ix for a few years and now it is in my buddies Duramax - I bought the new Passport MAX and after having many detectors over the years the MAX is the best to date! The 9500ix is great, but I like the features and less false alarms with the MAX.

I have the Blend mounts in all my vehicles and I just take the MAX to the car I am driving! Works great.

As for the Valentine, I had a V1 a few years ago - great detector, but for me in town it was a nightmare of false alarms that could not be filtered out. I found the 9500 and now the MAX are much quieter and still have the protection you need.

Good luck on your decision!

Ron

Rockyravoli

Ron
Do you get much washout in the sun with the MAX?

CLLOFF

I will check out the max.
My V1 are very good, I'm not arguing that. They have saved me many times.
But with so many false alarms its getting hard to react.
I'm spending 80% of my time near the speed limit as the arrows are always on in my normal urban commute. Which kind of defeats the purpose. If you know what I mean.

TerryL

Running my V1 on full 'L' Logic mode eliminates lots of false signals. I have it on but don't need it in heavy traffic areas because I don't speed in heavy traffic areas like "downtown" in any town. Mine is used to protect me..at speed.

not08crmanymore

Had both.The arrows made all the difference for me.Nothing compares to it out there. V1 is it.

carjo

"Situational Awareness." The term used by fighter pilots and Mike Valentine (V1 inventor & manufacturer) to describe the ability to detect threats. It was also the main reasoning behind my decision to go with the V1.

As far as I know, the V1 is the only detector on the market to determine and display the number of individual radar signals it is receiving AND to identify their location (front, rear or side) that the radar signal(s) are coming from - thus enhancing the operator's "situational awareness." Yes, the V1 is extremely sensitive and seems to give a lot of false alerts. I deal with these by turning the audio alert off when passing through areas where there are lot of "falses." I typically drive through many such areas repeatedly (like on the way to work, etc.) and I know where these areas are. In such areas I pass stores with alarm systems or homes with garage door openers that can set off the detector, and I don't think it's a big deal to turn the detector sound off until I'm in the clear. Besides, those are not areas for fast driving anyway.

Better safe than sorry! Remember, the reason to use a detector should be to help you comply with the law...and avoid tickets.

peter pan

I have had my 9500ix since they came out and it is awesome, if I was to replace it I would get the new Max

SCcues

Mine is plugged into the mirror and stays there with no issues. I haven't experienced any wash out in the display and the display color can be changed to a few different colors if one color doesn't show up well with the top off maybe one of the other colors would look better in sun light. The software and data base can be updated with your PC over the internet to keep it as current as possible also. It also adjusts it's signal strength in Auto Mode based on how fast you are going automatically! I think it's a pretty neat unit and mine saved me from a >10 mph over the limit ticket the first day I installed it in the car!

Tmac7balla

Another thumbs up for the Escort Passport Max . The V1 and Max were my top two picks. I ended up deciding on the Max for three main features.

1. Bluetooth Compatibility: With the smart cord accessory you can link the detector to your phone via bluetooth and have the alerts sound through your speakers in your car. For me this was a plus since I enjoy listening to music at a descent volume (Focal KR2's components and a kicker L5 12' Subwoofer) not having to worry about not hearing a detector go off gives me a piece of mind. The alerts via bluetooth are not an annoying beep as well. When the Max goes off depending on the alert it will say "radar detected". Not a huge thing , but just a personal preference.

2. Escort Live Application: With the slim chance that your radar does not pick up a speed trap you have a better chance of avoiding it if someone with the "Escort Live App" reported it on their system. The application is defaulted to automatically push alerts you encounter to the Escort servers. Escort Live is more of a redundancy to help against those times where your radar might miss a law enforcement officer. For example lets say a cop a few miles a way is set in a speed trap using laser. With little to no way to detect laser in enough time to slow down before being clocked this small app could make a big difference.

3. GPS: This one is pretty self explanatory. So I will mention just the one aspect that is not widely known. With the setting on "Auto" the Max will adjust the range based off of the speed your vehicle is moving. Depending on the speed of the vehicle it will determine if the Max will act as if it is in the city or highway.

Quick thoughts and rants on the product
The max is EXPENSIVE. To get all the features of the device it adds up quick. $549 for the detector. $100 for the bluetooth cable. $20/ a year for the app. $20/ a year for the red-light camera database. The "Waze" app is a good alternative to the escort live app. Waze also has a much larger user base which increases your chances of been notified of a live cop that was spotted. The screen brightness can be adjusted to help see in direct sunlight. When not being near my car for more then a day I have to reconnect my phone to the bluetooth connection. The auto connect function could use some work. The buttons light up helping you see them better in low light. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

LD85

I have a 9500ix that I bought new last year in July or so, I can find the receipt, it is @ one year old exactly, I have the Blendmount, Mirror power connection for it too, turnkey, box and papers etc

I would trade cash and my 9500 for an equivalent newer V1

Just shoot me a PM if interetested

not08crmanymore

You know you can program the V1,RIGHT? You can turn off the x band ( or is it the k band?) that is probably causing the false alarms.Read the manual or go to their website for instructions.A guy posted a how to video on here many years ago too.Not sure if it's still around on this forum somewhere. P.S..Why would you even need it turned on it downtown Denver??