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Posted by: Krieger914 Jun 11 2009, 09:47 PM

I drive a lot for work in rural and city areas. Windy and hilly areas. Marin to Eureka, Ca and the cops are swarming like I have never seen before everywhere collecting money to keep their departments afloat. I missed one speed limit change on the road to Eureka, and there has to be some 40-50 changes on the 3.5 hour drive. I was doing 71 in a 55. Whatever, I have to pay this time, but I need some advanced warning for activity in the area. I don't think I need the luxury or expense of situational awareness with arrows that Valentine offers for $400. I know that many law enforcement use that instant on crap. Whats effective that can give me a heads up that is reasonably priced and where do I buy? Also remotely mounted would be cool. Thanks

Posted by: Joe Owensby Jun 11 2009, 10:42 PM

You may want to consider one of the upscale GPS units that has information on speed limits. It can be programmed to notify you if you are speeding. Not sure about how much you could actually depend on the radar detector.

Posted by: zymurgist Jun 11 2009, 10:49 PM

Valentine One. Once you own one, you will never be happy with any other radar detector. It has arrows to tell you whether the signal is ahead or behind you. They also stand behind their product.. it is repairable rather than cheap disposable units. They offer a remote mount, but I don't have any experience with that as I move the detector from car to car. It's money well spent IMO.

Posted by: Rand Jun 11 2009, 10:52 PM

Valentine One.

I have never heard of another unit better for the money.

Posted by: rick 918-S Jun 11 2009, 11:17 PM

Any of the jammers actually work? I had one several years ago that got ripped off with my two detectors. I never replaced them.

Posted by: dflesburg Jun 12 2009, 05:09 AM

I have met Mike Valentine and his wife.

Super super nice man, he even owns a 914-6. It used to belong to Jim Shardt who once owned Dayton Wire Wheels.

Valentine One.

Posted by: evan Jun 12 2009, 07:20 AM

just got the top of the line Escort 9500IX and so far it is great! Gives me speed cameras and red light camera visual and voice alerts. Pretty good distance and with the Red light cameras it displays the distance. Good on x and k bands. Also big big also!!!!!!>>>> it shows small arrows for the direction of the red light cameras and speed cameras. left, right, forward, backward ( i think) and inbetween direction ie: 12 o'clock, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 o'clock, etc.

Posted by: Van914 Jun 12 2009, 08:01 AM

Duane,
Mike not longer owns that car. It is in Michigan not I saw it for sale last year in Altanta. It is now silver. Someone here on this site now owns it. Mike's new 914 is this yellow one. This was at Mid-Ohio. The nice thing about Mike is yes he is a very nice man and he drives his car! He took my wife around the track for the ultimite E ticket ride.
Van914

Posted by: dflesburg Jun 12 2009, 08:07 AM

If thats the yellow one I saw at Porsches 2 oxford last year it was a Carrera GT. Thats kinda like a 914 I guess... LOL.

Posted by: Van914 Jun 12 2009, 08:14 AM

Here is the picture. That is Mike in the Helmet.

Posted by: Krieger914 Jun 12 2009, 09:09 AM

so ho much did the Escort 9500IX cost?

Posted by: zymurgist Jun 12 2009, 09:11 AM

Awesome 914!

Posted by: Project 6 Jun 12 2009, 09:36 AM

I have two Valentine's. One for the work truck and one for the Porsche. I've only run into Laser once. I was going down hill and towing at the time. I was under the speed limit.

Most cops are lazy and use the always on Ka band radar. Laser requires you to aim and trigger. Not much defense from that.

The GPS idea sounds like your ticket....having a computer scream "slow down" might help....

Posted by: StratPlayer Jun 12 2009, 09:58 AM

Heres a site with some decent reviews on radar detectors.....

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

Posted by: turboman808 Jun 12 2009, 10:42 AM

Laser Jammers work but have to be hardwired into the car.

Laser needs to hit a reflective surface and anytime I have been hit by one it's from the front. They aim for headlights or front plate. 914 with a chrome bumper is in real trouble. Hell maybe a laser jammer wouldn't even work.

I don't have my car back yet but with a kevin groot front bumper and headlights in the turnsignals and no front plate there isn't much for them to hit with the laser(or so I hope).

I have a valentine 1 and keep hearing really good things about the passport. I should get that as well. Probably get the blinder laser jammer system once my car is finished.

Posted by: mikerose Jun 12 2009, 10:42 AM

Andy, I pretty sure they are using Lindar you did not have a chance.

Posted by: jhadler Jun 12 2009, 12:37 PM

Apart from the fact that they're generally quite illegal, the laser and instant on type systems are not very sensitive to being jammed...

-Josh2

Posted by: RobW Jun 12 2009, 01:14 PM

Odd but true... ever since I took up Autocrossing, I don't speed in street 914s.

Posted by: ddanque Jun 12 2009, 01:49 PM

I have the remote for my Valentine one, it's great. my only beef is that the LED indicators for the type of signal is had to discern at night. So my remote is retrofitted with color LED, so I can easily tell KA and laser from the others at night and during the day. I didn't modify the main unit incase it craps out and I have to send it in for repairs/upgrade.

I have V1 hard wired and mounted between the seats of my mr2, the remote is on the dash. As my 914 hasn't been on the road for awhile. So no tickets in the 914 yet.

Denny

Posted by: Dr Evil Jun 12 2009, 01:57 PM

Denny! Your alive

Posted by: Krieger914 Jun 12 2009, 03:51 PM

I was on that review site last night! I'm thinking GPS may be the way to go. I always aim to go over the limit 5 mph and that has never been a problem. GPS alsoworks for intersections with red light cameras. What the heck is Lindar?

Posted by: jhadler Jun 12 2009, 04:15 PM

I think you mean LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).

It uses the same technology that's used in laser range finding, but it's sending a train of pulses instead of one, and measureing the change in return time between the pulses to calculate speed of the object they're reflecting off of.

Someone mentioned jamming, and while it's theoretically possible, it's highly impractical, more than likely illegal under more than just a few statutes, and likely quite hazardous as well.

-Josh2

Posted by: kwales Jun 12 2009, 05:29 PM

And I never worked with a bunch of military radar jamming specialists that built their own detectors that analyzed the signal and sent back whatever they wanted.

One guy liked his to send out a 45 MPH signal, another liked his to send back 0 MPH, and the third guy liked a signal that said minus 60MPH.

Posted by: jhadler Jun 12 2009, 05:42 PM

Radar would be technically easier to jam than Lidar, as you can more easily implement an omni-directional source at high power. And unless it's a directional broadcast (meaning you not only know where the source is, but can aim at it in enough time), you'll need a pretty decent amount of power to get the radar gun to ignore its own signal.

I knew someone who built a couple radar jammers about 20 years ago. His was just a white noise generator, but it wouldn't have been hard to project a false signal.

It's a bit harder with lidar though...

edit: not that it's not possible, anything's possible with enough investment of brainpower and money. But is it really worth it?

edit^2: And that's where my comment about jamming was directed. Lidar, not radar...

-Josh2

Posted by: RoadGlue Jun 12 2009, 07:39 PM

Jeff - I use a Tom Tom GPS unit regularly. Great little bugger, but a lot of the rural roads and highways (even the Novato Narrows) are missing the speed limit info in the GPS's database. You might research a bit more to see which GPS has the most complete speed database.

Posted by: Elliot Cannon Jun 12 2009, 08:55 PM

This is kind of a losing battle. Especially when the auto insurance companies make sure law enforcement groups are equiped with the latest and greatest speed detecting equipment available.

I always heard great things about Valentine. Try calling them though and ask what changes and/or imrovements have been made in the last 10 years or so. Or, like my Son likes to tell me "you can always drive the speed limit". Ha!! Kids. What do they know?

Posted by: Max914 Jun 12 2009, 09:21 PM

I'll add my vote for the Valentine One. I've had mine for about 3 or 4 years now and won't even consider anything else.

The bogey counter (their words, not mine) together with the arrows can save you when the cop that just passed you is not the one using the radar. Add in the fact that Valentine One stands behind their product, can repair it if needed, and offers upgrades when they make an improvement just adds icing to the cake.

Oh, and did I mention that the Valentine One uses a power cord with RJ-11 connectors at both ends and that is wired the same as a plain old-fashioned telephone cord? This means that if you want a longer or shorter power cord, or one in a different color, or your original one is somehow damaged, your replacement choices are virtually unlimited.

Four hundred dollars might seem like a lot of money for a radar detector, but in the long run it's really a bargain. The V1 will last for years and over its life will probably save you more than $400. IMHO, buying a cheap radar detector is just like buying a cheap motorcycle helmet. With a motorcycle helment, you spend however much your brain is worth; with a radar detector you should spend how ever much your peace of mind (and your driver's license) is worth.

Posted by: Project 6 Jun 13 2009, 01:16 AM

As I mentioned....Elly-utt....cops are lazy. I drive the LA to SF route on a regular basis....I only saw laser ONCE. In freaking Gilroy and he hit me going down hill at 48 in a 55. Stoopid rookie....new toys get used and they keep going back to the always on Ka band radar.

Boycott Geico, that douche bag Gecko pays for radar guns and gives them to rural mouth breathing donut eaters....

8 years I've had a V1....well worth the $$$....

Posted by: computers4kids Jun 13 2009, 10:26 AM

If you have an iphone, Trapster has a free app that's worth a look.

Posted by: Krieger914 Jun 14 2009, 10:32 PM

I love the idea of GPS, but where I drive it probably isn't current like Randy says. I should check more. The Novato narrows is very heavily traveled and it isn't in his system. I am starting to believe that the donut eaters are lazy ka users. Sounds like there is no protection for laser unless it is pointed directly at the unit. So looks like maybe the best choice may still be a V1.

Posted by: mikez Jun 15 2009, 09:34 AM

Laser can be detected on scatter from a ride getting beamed in front of you....while Speeding...not just being inattentive, best to have a sacrificial crewmember out front.

Posted by: Krieger914 Jun 15 2009, 07:43 PM

I just did "the drive" from Santa Rosa to Eureka. As best as I can count there are 35 separate speed changes on the route, not counting any of the recomendations for reductions on turns. No ticket today. Thanks for the laser scatter info Mike. I never like to be out front or fasteston these roads.

Posted by: mikez Jun 15 2009, 07:53 PM

Your welcome....I've had quite a few tickets in my day. I've beat 90% of them. Know the enemy....after all, it's mostly revenue enhancement.....