Jimbo

Anyone have experience with cordless(battery powered) radar detectors?

pharding

Before buying the Valentine 1, I did extensive research on the subject. Cordless radar detectors do not perform as well as corded radar detectors. The Valentine 1 is the only way to go. I am also getting a laser deflector installed.

beewang

Save your money of the cordless passport Jimbo. You have to have a cord to get REAL protection.

I have my V1 Hard-wired and it is really easy DIY project. Takes 3 minutes to do it (and another 5 mins Looking at the wires and pat yourself on the back)

beewang

jksanford

I agree with Phil. The cordless are not as good as the corded. My personal preference is the Escort 8500, but the Valentine is also an excellent choice.

The hardwiring is not difficult, and several of us have posted instructions with pictures on this forum (somewhere).

I may consider the deflector. I was in Ohio last week, and have never been lasered so much in my life. Couldn't believe it.

Phil, what is your take on brand for this? Any install advice?

Thanks,

james

Tim C

Here's a link to what Mike Valentine thinks of cordless.

http://www.valentine1.com/cordless/

kscarrol

I have a cordless radar detector, an Escort I believe. Don't use it that often but the range is clearly lacking. I really don't do that much interstate driving and, fortunately for me, radar traps here in New Orleans are few and far between. Last ticket I got was more than 20 years ago. When I do get on the interstate, I usually go no more that 10 mph over the posted limit. State troopers seem to give you that leeway. Now there are certain known stretches of highway where you can open it up without worrying about poilce, so I do get to let her run once in a while...

pharding

I assume you are referring to me. I am Paul Harding or pharding. I am getting Escort Laser Shifter - ZR3. It costs approximately $500 plus tax plus approximately $350 for hard wired installation.

robg

I have the Escort S2. It has worked great for me - saved me many speeding tickets - both highway and local streets. Prior to the S2 I had a corded Passport/Escort. The S2 has worked as well or better than my corded, though admittedly it is newer technology. I have never owned a Valentine so I cannot compare. Though, I would point out that when doing my research I relied on what I belived to be independent testing - not what Mike Valentine has to say about his competitors.

CRRobert

I assume you are referring to me. I am Paul Harding or pharding. I am getting Escort Laser Shifter - ZR3. It costs approximately $500 plus tax plus approximately $350 for hard wired installation.
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pharding, that is the setup I am looking at getting also in addition to the V1. The other brands I was looking at was the Blinder M-20/40, but think I will go with the ZR3 custom installed. I also think that K40 has similar hardware.

robg

Just read what "Mike" has to say about the Escort Solo S2. VERY MISLEADING. The S2 only goes into "sleep" mode if you it does not sense any movement for 15 minutes - that is, if you leave the detector on when you park the car. In my 2 years or so of use it has never gone into sleep mode while I have been driving. Sleep mode saves battery life by turning off the detector when you are not moving. And, it turns itself back on from sleep mode when it detects movement. While it is true that cordless detectors cycle on and off to conserve battery life, this is different from the sleep mode of the S2. Becasue of this, no cordless can work as well as the best corded.

Here is a link to radrtest.com's cordless test. http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleID=852 The S2 wins. I think radartest does the testing that appears in Automobile magazine.

For all you corded devottes, here is the link for the Escort - Valentine - Bell comparison. http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090 While the Valentine was considered the best in 2000, it is no longer #1.

Here is what they have to say:

The Valentine One is a highly sensitive radar detector--good enough that we declared it the winner of our 2000 Automobile Magazine shootout--but it's no longer top dog. The world has changed since it was designed in 1991. The Apple IIsi also was hot stuff that year but Apple knew better than to continue peddling the same box. They replaced it with smaller, faster, user-friendlier models packed with advanced features. But the V1, with growing gaps evident in its performance envelope--not to mention a minimalist feature set, quirky ergonomics and stiff price tag--seems locked in a time warp and the competition has clearly passed it by.

I do not work for Escort. I am not Valentine bashing. I just have never understood the almost fanatcical devotion Valentine owners have to their detectors.