alba
12-01-2012, 02:57 PM
I know this will only be useful to WA, NZ and Euro members, but in the interest of as much knowledge sharing as possible, I'm going to post it anyway.
After scoring a 6 pointer on the Xmas break, I decided it was high time to own one of these handy devices again. I owned a Bel Vector EU (~$700rrp) about 6 years ago but made the mistake of leaving it my car in the driveway one night and some opportunistic thieves decided I didn't need it anymore. I don't see these devices as a license to speed, but a handy tool to make you aware of your surroundings and prevent those times when you may be drifting above the limit and a smokey might be hanging about, waiting for such mistakes to fill their job sheet for the day.
Legality and detection:
Legal in Western Australia, NZ and parts of Europe (Check your local laws) and the V1 is not a "stealth" model. This means if the local laws are such that detectors are banned/outlawed, this may be detectable by law enforcement, yes there are Radar Detector Detectors. There are other detectors which are not detectable by law enforcement (search for Escort Redline) and this is what you would consider if radar detectors in areas where radar detectors were outlawed and you were willing to run the gauntlet.
The V1:
Before buying I did my due diligence on which detector was best for WA so I read several websites, viewed endless comparison videos on YouTube and tried to assess which detector is going to be the best value for money. My reasons behind choosing the V1:
metal casing - reduces false alerts and more robust than plastic casing
front and rear protection
shows number of threats
handy muting feature where it doesn't completely mute, rather turns it down to a predetermined level
Laser, K and Ka band protection
http://www.delonixradar.com.au/radar-detectors/valentine/images/valentine-one.jpg
I ended up purchasing from an eBay seller, where it was around $300 cheaper than any Australian retailer. It was delivered in 7 days, which is the same quoted time as buying off the web from Australian retailers. If you are worried about warranty, then choose your seller carefully. There's also a good range of cheap accessories available on eBay.
The package:
The detector came packed well in a foam lined box with sun visor mount, horizontal windscreen mount, cigarette lighter plug, coiled lead, straight lead, spare suction cups (the sun ruins them), hard wiring kit, spare fuses and instruction manual. The only downside of the package is that the instruction manual is a bit limited on the information around the vast options of the set up for the detector. Luckily, there are a couple of good YouTube tutorials on mounting options and menu set up. (link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nveQP_NXmkk)
Mounting:
There are several options for mounting and orientation of the detector, including hidden set ups (with remote displays, remote audio units and remote mute buttons) and also mounting the detector horizontally (native orientation) or vertically.
Normal vs Stealth:
If you don't want to worry about taking the detector in and out every time you park your car in an unsecured location, then you could mount the detector stealth, but doing so will reduce/eliminate rear protection. I won't go any further into that as I think it's a silly idea with the amount of rear capturing cameras are increasing every year. Normal mounting is just via a windscreen bracket, as high and as close to the middle of the windscreen as possible. The detector should not be blocked by the rear vision mirror, cargo cages or curtains (in the case of rape vans and shag wagons).
Horizontal vs Vertical:
Tests have shown that you can gain ~10% more range on Multanova (Ka band) warnings by mounting vertically. This involves buying a special bracket for about $25. The reasoning for the better range on vertical mount is that the unit is aligned to the vertical orientation of the radar waves of the camera and thus picks it up earlier. The range is around 400+ metres with it vertical and just under 400m as horizontal. Multanova cameras pick up your cars actual speed at 50-75m so my thinking is that if you are going that quick that you cant wipe off your speed in 300m, then you are an oxygen thief and deserve to cop a fine. I mounted mine horizontal.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/Alba76/radar.jpg
Performance:
After setting the V1 to the recommended settings for WA, I hit up the WA Revenue Raisers Alerts Facebook page to find the nearest flash for cash. Bang... Multanova, Tonkin Highway South, just past Gt Eastern Hwy exit, under billboard... It was about 9pm, so well and truly dark, perfect time for the local Gendarmes to be out trying hook unsuspecting motorists on their way south or possibly late for the international airport. After stopping for a splash of 98RON, passing Beechboro shopping centre and the servo (of course) and got no false alarms, I head down the Tonkin looking for the smokey. On my way down the highway I pass Gt Eastern Highway exit and see one of the cars waaaay ahead stab the brakes... the target nears. Next thing the V1 indicates a single Ka band alarm from the front, speed check and look at trip meter... start scanning the roadside and the alarm goes from single dot strength to 2 dots, to 3 dots and then exponentially to full strength, squealing like a Thai hooker at a table tennis equipment sale. I see the camera on the road and as I pass the detectors indicates the threat is to the side, then back, then off... I look at the trip meter and it has progress 0.3kms, so 300m plus warning. I reckon that is shit hot so I do a loop at Leach Hwy and had every intention of doing another pass but the bandit had disappeared into the night (or to the nearest Maccas).
False alarms:
During the morning drive to work it was a slightly different experience with the V1, with a drive through Morley, Inglewood, Mount Lawley and up St Georges Tce flashing endless false alarms as the shops all have their automatic door openers turned on and these are in the same band (K band) as vehicle mounted radar. The drive gave me a chance to fine tune the K band semi-mute feature and will definitely motivate me to purchase a remote mute button that can be mounted on the windscreen wiper stalk so no need to remove the hand from the wheel to mute.
Whilst detractors of radar detector technology will whine and moans about how they beep endlessly and false alarms null the proper alerts, you have to think about where and when these things false alarm... The false alarms are caused by shop/servo and office door openers 99% of the time. They only false when the door openers are turned on (eg, office/shopping hours) and as such, I think if you are speeding through those high density areas in those hours, you are probably deserving of anal rape by Bubba in the shower.
Alba's super fantastical mega awesome rating:
9 out of 10 stars
I detracted 1 star for not including the remote mute switch in the package, I reckon for city use it's mandatory.
After scoring a 6 pointer on the Xmas break, I decided it was high time to own one of these handy devices again. I owned a Bel Vector EU (~$700rrp) about 6 years ago but made the mistake of leaving it my car in the driveway one night and some opportunistic thieves decided I didn't need it anymore. I don't see these devices as a license to speed, but a handy tool to make you aware of your surroundings and prevent those times when you may be drifting above the limit and a smokey might be hanging about, waiting for such mistakes to fill their job sheet for the day.
Legality and detection:
Legal in Western Australia, NZ and parts of Europe (Check your local laws) and the V1 is not a "stealth" model. This means if the local laws are such that detectors are banned/outlawed, this may be detectable by law enforcement, yes there are Radar Detector Detectors. There are other detectors which are not detectable by law enforcement (search for Escort Redline) and this is what you would consider if radar detectors in areas where radar detectors were outlawed and you were willing to run the gauntlet.
The V1:
Before buying I did my due diligence on which detector was best for WA so I read several websites, viewed endless comparison videos on YouTube and tried to assess which detector is going to be the best value for money. My reasons behind choosing the V1:
metal casing - reduces false alerts and more robust than plastic casing
front and rear protection
shows number of threats
handy muting feature where it doesn't completely mute, rather turns it down to a predetermined level
Laser, K and Ka band protection
http://www.delonixradar.com.au/radar-detectors/valentine/images/valentine-one.jpg
I ended up purchasing from an eBay seller, where it was around $300 cheaper than any Australian retailer. It was delivered in 7 days, which is the same quoted time as buying off the web from Australian retailers. If you are worried about warranty, then choose your seller carefully. There's also a good range of cheap accessories available on eBay.
The package:
The detector came packed well in a foam lined box with sun visor mount, horizontal windscreen mount, cigarette lighter plug, coiled lead, straight lead, spare suction cups (the sun ruins them), hard wiring kit, spare fuses and instruction manual. The only downside of the package is that the instruction manual is a bit limited on the information around the vast options of the set up for the detector. Luckily, there are a couple of good YouTube tutorials on mounting options and menu set up. (link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nveQP_NXmkk)
Mounting:
There are several options for mounting and orientation of the detector, including hidden set ups (with remote displays, remote audio units and remote mute buttons) and also mounting the detector horizontally (native orientation) or vertically.
Normal vs Stealth:
If you don't want to worry about taking the detector in and out every time you park your car in an unsecured location, then you could mount the detector stealth, but doing so will reduce/eliminate rear protection. I won't go any further into that as I think it's a silly idea with the amount of rear capturing cameras are increasing every year. Normal mounting is just via a windscreen bracket, as high and as close to the middle of the windscreen as possible. The detector should not be blocked by the rear vision mirror, cargo cages or curtains (in the case of rape vans and shag wagons).
Horizontal vs Vertical:
Tests have shown that you can gain ~10% more range on Multanova (Ka band) warnings by mounting vertically. This involves buying a special bracket for about $25. The reasoning for the better range on vertical mount is that the unit is aligned to the vertical orientation of the radar waves of the camera and thus picks it up earlier. The range is around 400+ metres with it vertical and just under 400m as horizontal. Multanova cameras pick up your cars actual speed at 50-75m so my thinking is that if you are going that quick that you cant wipe off your speed in 300m, then you are an oxygen thief and deserve to cop a fine. I mounted mine horizontal.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/Alba76/radar.jpg
Performance:
After setting the V1 to the recommended settings for WA, I hit up the WA Revenue Raisers Alerts Facebook page to find the nearest flash for cash. Bang... Multanova, Tonkin Highway South, just past Gt Eastern Hwy exit, under billboard... It was about 9pm, so well and truly dark, perfect time for the local Gendarmes to be out trying hook unsuspecting motorists on their way south or possibly late for the international airport. After stopping for a splash of 98RON, passing Beechboro shopping centre and the servo (of course) and got no false alarms, I head down the Tonkin looking for the smokey. On my way down the highway I pass Gt Eastern Highway exit and see one of the cars waaaay ahead stab the brakes... the target nears. Next thing the V1 indicates a single Ka band alarm from the front, speed check and look at trip meter... start scanning the roadside and the alarm goes from single dot strength to 2 dots, to 3 dots and then exponentially to full strength, squealing like a Thai hooker at a table tennis equipment sale. I see the camera on the road and as I pass the detectors indicates the threat is to the side, then back, then off... I look at the trip meter and it has progress 0.3kms, so 300m plus warning. I reckon that is shit hot so I do a loop at Leach Hwy and had every intention of doing another pass but the bandit had disappeared into the night (or to the nearest Maccas).
False alarms:
During the morning drive to work it was a slightly different experience with the V1, with a drive through Morley, Inglewood, Mount Lawley and up St Georges Tce flashing endless false alarms as the shops all have their automatic door openers turned on and these are in the same band (K band) as vehicle mounted radar. The drive gave me a chance to fine tune the K band semi-mute feature and will definitely motivate me to purchase a remote mute button that can be mounted on the windscreen wiper stalk so no need to remove the hand from the wheel to mute.
Whilst detractors of radar detector technology will whine and moans about how they beep endlessly and false alarms null the proper alerts, you have to think about where and when these things false alarm... The false alarms are caused by shop/servo and office door openers 99% of the time. They only false when the door openers are turned on (eg, office/shopping hours) and as such, I think if you are speeding through those high density areas in those hours, you are probably deserving of anal rape by Bubba in the shower.
Alba's super fantastical mega awesome rating:
9 out of 10 stars
I detracted 1 star for not including the remote mute switch in the package, I reckon for city use it's mandatory.