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Radar Detector, K40, Valentine or Passport?

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Old Feb 20, 2008 | 08:44 PM
  #1  
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Radar Detector, K40, Valentine or Passport?

I'm looking into installing a radar detector in my C. I have used passports in the past, but would like to get a K40 in this car. Have any of you had any experience with it, I'm hoping to get the full kit, with laser jammer/defuser. If you have it, how good has it been?
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Old Feb 20, 2008 | 09:06 PM
  #2  
ColoradoDriver's Avatar
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Originally Posted by aparikh1207
I'm looking into installing a radar detector in my C. I have used passports in the past, but would like to get a K40 in this car. Have any of you had any experience with it, I'm hoping to get the full kit, with laser jammer/defuser. If you have it, how good has it been?
Valentine1 provides the most useful info. No other detector tells you how many signals, where they are, and which is the most powerful.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 01:27 AM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by ColoradoDriver
Valentine1 provides the most useful info. No other detector tells you how many signals, where they are, and which is the most powerful.
+1
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 03:10 AM
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I could be wrong, but I think I read somewhere that those Gumball Rally racers mostly use Valentine1s...
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 03:34 AM
  #5  
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I have a V1 and it is the ****, stay away from the Passport. No experience with the k40 but I remember it being pretty pricey.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 04:16 AM
  #6  
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dont wanna hijack but has anyone hardwired a v1 into the w204?
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 07:24 AM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by trial0r
dont wanna hijack but has anyone hardwired a v1 into the w204?

Im getting mine hardwired next week.. plus something else thats really cool... see on your pic where it says "reset race timer"... well mine is going to say Valentine One...
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 07:26 AM
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Originally Posted by XJ9
Im getting mine hardwired next week.. plus something else thats really cool... see on your pic where it says "reset race timer"... well mine is going to say Valentine One...
HOW? WHERE? HOW MUCH? I WANT.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 07:30 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by aparikh1207
I'm looking into installing a radar detector in my C. I have used passports in the past, but would like to get a K40 in this car. Have any of you had any experience with it, I'm hoping to get the full kit, with laser jammer/defuser. If you have it, how good has it been?
To answer your question, the Valentine One is really still the best detector out there but it has one issue: It has no laser jamming, only passive laser detection. The K40 does not perform as well as the V1 but it has seperate front/rear antennas and Laser jammers and comes as a full kit. with the V1 you have to have someone weatherproof the unit if you want to remote mount it outside the car or settle for having it stuck in the windshield. You also then have to add laser jammers (like the blinder) to properly protect against Lidar.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 08:25 AM
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how much the V1 cost?
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:00 AM
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It cost like 416 with shiping. I got a Beltronics 995 it works great but I would still go with a valentine
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by got_thang?
It cost like 416 with shiping. I got a Beltronics 995 it works great but I would still go with a valentine
does it really work?
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by tanktube67
does it really work?
Valentine1 works great! I have three of them. I hard-wire them into each of our cars. Have been running them for years. One nice feature is that you can send your unit back for upgrades from time to time. I have done that through the years to keep all units current.

Last edited by ColoradoDriver; Feb 21, 2008 at 09:45 AM. Reason: typo
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 11:09 AM
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Originally Posted by ColoradoDriver
Valentine1 works great! I have three of them. I hard-wire them into each of our cars. Have been running them for years. One nice feature is that you can send your unit back for upgrades from time to time. I have done that through the years to keep all units current.
How much time it give you to slow down?
What is the distance range when detects a chp radar?
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 11:30 AM
  #15  
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I've got the V1 as well and worked well on the M3. It was hardwired with the remote display in the ashtray.

RLE just posted a DIY on hardwiring a V1 to a C. Read here
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 12:39 PM
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^I wouldnt do that myself... to many colorful wires lol. And V1 is the best, the off angle detector is awesome. Like if a cop had the gun pointed at the ground waiting to see someone fly around the corner most detectors wont hit but the V1 will tell you before the turn and before the cop raises the gun.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by ColoradoDriver
Valentine1 provides the most useful info. No other detector tells you how many signals, where they are, and which is the most powerful.
I have a Passport 8500 and have been pretty happy with it (no tickets - knock on wood). And it does tell you how many radar guns are in use and at what bands (you have to enable this in the setup).

Next one is going to be a Passport 9500 which allows you to set "GPS" coordinates at common speed traps and also allows you to block out common false signals via GPS which seems really cool.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 01:09 PM
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^Honestly sounds like a pain in the ***. GPS on a radar? you should just know common spots for cops/fasle hits. IMHO.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by tanktube67
How much time it give you to slow down?
What is the distance range when detects a chp radar?
Your question does not have a simple answer. It depends on too many factors, such as: Does the cop leave his radar on or only turn it on once he sees you and decides to check your speed? What is the terrain like? Flat or mountains? Straight for around turns?

Having said all that, neither my wife nor I have had a ticket in over 20 years! We are good drivers, but are usually running above the limit. The Valentine1 gives us the added knowledge of what is going on around us to keep us safe.

Also, since you are in California, you may find that there are just too many non-threat radars in use, such as automatic doors at supermarkets. That is not an issue where we live in Colorado.

Last edited by ColoradoDriver; Feb 21, 2008 at 02:01 PM. Reason: typo
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 03:11 PM
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Ive done my research, and as good as the K40 may be, it will run you 4 times the price of a V1. Im gonna be getting a V1 soon, and im gonna get it hardwired. If its good enough for Alex Roy, its more than i need.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 04:47 PM
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My brother gave me his Beltronics RX65 when he switched to a V1 last year. He wanted the arrows on the V1.

The Bel has been incredible and has saved me many times. Even thought it didn't cost me anything for the Bel, it's about $200 cheaper than the V1 and I think works as good.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 04:56 PM
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Hardwired V1

<<don't wanna hijack but has anyone hardwired a v1 into the w204?>>

Why don't you check the thread "Hardwiring a V1" which gives detailed instructions with pictures?

I posted it last week.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 05:01 PM
  #23  
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V1 wiring

Originally Posted by RLE
<<don't wanna hijack but has anyone hardwired a v1 into the w204?>>

Why don't you check the thread "Hardwiring a V1" which gives detailed instructions with pictures?

I posted it last week.
Oops. It's "Radar detector wiring."
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by ColoradoDriver
Your question does not have a simple answer. It depends on too many factors, such as: Does the cop leave his radar on or only turn it on once he sees you and decides to check your speed? What is the terrain like? Flat or mountains? Straight for around turns?

Having said all that, neither my wife nor I have had a ticket in over 20 years! We are good drivers, but are usually running above the limit. The Valentine1 gives us the added knowledge of what is going on around us to keep us safe.

Also, since you are in California, you may find that there are just too many non-threat radars in use, such as automatic doors at supermarkets. That is not an issue where we live in Colorado.
So what are you saying, it gives you enough time to slow down, right?

Last edited by tanktube67; Feb 21, 2008 at 07:08 PM.
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by schvamf
I have a Passport 8500 and have been pretty happy with it (no tickets - knock on wood). And it does tell you how many radar guns are in use and at what bands (you have to enable this in the setup).
All my coworkers have the Valentine1 and most of them got a ticket. According to them the V1 doesn't identify the threat soon enough of just doesn't pick it up at all. Some also complain that their V1 units get confused from trucker CB radios.
I personally have a Passport 8500 also and I've never been disappointed. It even picks up threats behind you (one time it went off and I was looking ahead to see where the cop was but it turned out he was closing in from behind me). I would not trade it for anything and if something were to happen to that thing I'd buy the same model again. All my V1 coworkers borrow it when they are going on road trips now.
Radar Roy (ex-cop; now Radar Detector connoisseur) compared most of the big radar detectors. You can read the results here: http://www.radarbusters.com/productr...onsarticle.cfm
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