valentine one owners...
06-08-2011, 06:35 PM
#2
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Look at the age and version. They update it all the time, it just gets better and better. They will do trade-ins also, perhaps he was gonna trade his. That is a good price even if it is older, just be aware of what you are getting.
06-08-2011, 06:58 PM
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I have a Valentine and love it, been using it for about 6 years now and still haven't updated it. I even travel with it for the rental cars. Saved me more than i can even remember.
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06-08-2011, 10:14 PM
#10
Even if it is an older version, you can always send it into Valentine to have them update it to the current version. If you want, you can ask the seller for the serial number on the back and i think there may still be a place on the website where you can enter it in and it will tell you what updates are available. But I had mine for about 6 years without and update and it still has yet to fail me.
Just remember, any radar detector is effective if you use your common sense in conjunction with it!
Just remember, any radar detector is effective if you use your common sense in conjunction with it!
06-09-2011, 07:21 AM
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The only way you would get nailed at over 6000 feet is if you were the only one on the road and the cop got totally lucky.
To the OP, I have 3 V1's. one for every car and to this day, I have yet to get a speeding ticket for radar. I've had my first one since 2000.
That being said you have to drive smart with it. In houston the cops are using more and more Lidar and the v1 is worthless to that. Have to get a LI for that.
Lots of info on the internet about these. Good luck with the decision. If you do buy it, send it in to Valentine for a tune up, it's only 49 bucks and they will make sure everything works properly for your model.
06-09-2011, 09:48 PM
#14
That's a bunch of bs.
The only way you would get nailed at over 6000 feet is if you were the only one on the road and the cop got totally lucky.
To the OP, I have 3 V1's. one for every car and to this day, I have yet to get a speeding ticket for radar. I've had my first one since 2000.
That being said you have to drive smart with it. In houston the cops are using more and more Lidar and the v1 is worthless to that. Have to get a LI for that.
Lots of info on the internet about these. Good luck with the decision. If you do buy it, send it in to Valentine for a tune up, it's only 49 bucks and they will make sure everything works properly for your model.
The only way you would get nailed at over 6000 feet is if you were the only one on the road and the cop got totally lucky.
To the OP, I have 3 V1's. one for every car and to this day, I have yet to get a speeding ticket for radar. I've had my first one since 2000.
That being said you have to drive smart with it. In houston the cops are using more and more Lidar and the v1 is worthless to that. Have to get a LI for that.
Lots of info on the internet about these. Good luck with the decision. If you do buy it, send it in to Valentine for a tune up, it's only 49 bucks and they will make sure everything works properly for your model.
06-09-2011, 10:23 PM
#15
As mentioned previously they will update the software for a nominal fee ($50 or so if I remember correctly). As far as Lidar, I don't know of much defense against them. I've only been hit with Lidar on surface streets as all the Highway Patrolmen her use the Ka band. Not to say that it's not out there, I just haven't seen it YET. I was watching a show about "dangerous highways" on TV and they were on a stretch of highway 15 inbetween Las Vegas and Southern California and they had Lidar on TV and it was kinda depressing watching them point and shoot and then send a different officer already in his car running after the car. I don't know how they could have one officer Laser the car and the other issue the ticket, but it was depressing to see that THE MAN has the upper hand. Ok, pointless rant FWIW I'd buy it. I have yet to hardwire mine in my V, but on the last car I had I took an old telephone cord and figured out which were the hot and ground and found a key on engine off power source with a small inline fuse and much easier than using the cigarette lighter for power. I'm thinking when I do get the itch I will look at using the dome light for power as long as it is constant power and does not provide power after the car is locked.
06-09-2011, 10:53 PM
#16
Aaron, pull the big power connector out of your Onstar mirror. It's only on when your car is running.
Use a multimeter to find +12V. I think that ground is standard black, but the hot wire is some weird color and may vary between model years. To tap into that power source, you should be able to pick up a pack of needle-like wire probes (they look like the needles you use to inflate a basketball) for a couple of bucks at Radio Shack that can be clamped to the +12V/gnd wires on your stripped power cord. Just jam those two needles into the back of the mirror's power connector, and use a piece of electrical tape on the back end to keep them from working their way out.
Use a multimeter to find +12V. I think that ground is standard black, but the hot wire is some weird color and may vary between model years. To tap into that power source, you should be able to pick up a pack of needle-like wire probes (they look like the needles you use to inflate a basketball) for a couple of bucks at Radio Shack that can be clamped to the +12V/gnd wires on your stripped power cord. Just jam those two needles into the back of the mirror's power connector, and use a piece of electrical tape on the back end to keep them from working their way out.
06-09-2011, 11:01 PM
#17
Thanks ^^^. I just got the V a few months ago and just did a bunch of maintenance and now have the time to wire it up. I can figure out the wiring, but it is always eaiser when some one else has figured it out for you. When my wife rides with me I always hear the BRAP BRAP of the detector and point the DPS officer out to her about a 1/2 mile away and it drives her nuts until she can see them.
06-10-2011, 07:19 AM
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Have you ever used a LIDAR unit, im guessing no. Lasers that you are able to look through a ranegfinder with and put the damn crosshairs on the car you hit and only transmit the laser when you push the button. I could pick a car out of an interstate that was bumper to bumper and tell you your exact speed and the distance i was from you when i got your speed. Do a little more research before calling BS.
http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...ht=range+lidar
range of 4000 feet. tops with a 12 foot beam! i want to know where your gonna get a 1.25 mile straight shot on a car with a clear line of site and nothing inbetween the car and the laser during the light's travel path, as well as know it's exactly that car since the beam is going to be over the lane width. At the distance your saying it's going to be over 18 feet wide. they are not effective to 6000 feet. I'll agree with you that they could get a reading on something, but no way will that stand up in court.
Last edited by Domsz06; 06-10-2011 at 07:32 AM.
06-10-2011, 07:20 AM
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As mentioned previously they will update the software for a nominal fee ($50 or so if I remember correctly). As far as Lidar, I don't know of much defense against them. I've only been hit with Lidar on surface streets as all the Highway Patrolmen her use the Ka band. Not to say that it's not out there, I just haven't seen it YET. I was watching a show about "dangerous highways" on TV and they were on a stretch of highway 15 inbetween Las Vegas and Southern California and they had Lidar on TV and it was kinda depressing watching them point and shoot and then send a different officer already in his car running after the car. I don't know how they could have one officer Laser the car and the other issue the ticket, but it was depressing to see that THE MAN has the upper hand. Ok, pointless rant FWIW I'd buy it. I have yet to hardwire mine in my V, but on the last car I had I took an old telephone cord and figured out which were the hot and ground and found a key on engine off power source with a small inline fuse and much easier than using the cigarette lighter for power. I'm thinking when I do get the itch I will look at using the dome light for power as long as it is constant power and does not provide power after the car is locked.
06-10-2011, 07:37 AM
#20
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True... once you hear the "laser" alarm it's usually a complementary sound that you're getting pulled over... lol However, up here where I live the sheriff’s dept. just started using the laser gun so it did save me once due to poor aim or inexperience on the cops part...