I think there are a few issues here. The first one is how pertinent is side / angled Ka detection - period?
We all know that radar must be aimed within a certain angle of the target vehicle in order to avoid substantial cosine effect. The Golden Eagle has an alert for "Harmonic Distortion", which is what Kustom calls it when the return signal is obviously out of whack (to the radar's computer). I know because I have used the GE with both K-band and Ka antennas (mostly Ka).
Regardless of the Ka frequency, an off-axis shot is very difficult for a RD to pick up period. Yes, I also own a V1 and yes I have been disappointed at times on the detection range of off-axis shots. HOWEVER, it's also true that in each of these situations I was never threatened by that particular radar beam.
So, an important question is... does off-axis detection matter??? Would I like to know there is a LEO nearby shooting radar? Yes, of course. But does it really matter if that radar is not targeted in my direction?
First, to clarify my point... are we talking about "across the road" radar placement or "off-axis" radar? There is a substantial difference in terms of importance. I'll clarify my definition of the above.
By "across the road" I mean when a LEO has positioned their radar gun so that it sweeps across the road at a relatively wide angle. The LEO knows that due to the cosine effect the vehicle speed reported will be lower than actual speed, but this does afford a decrease in range for RD's. The reason for the decreased RD detection range is that the radar beam is not aimed head-on at oncoming traffic. A good, high end RD will pick up scatter PROVIDED that there is something reflective in the path of the radar beam which creates scatter. This could be other vehicles ahead of you, a concrete wall, a building, etc.
The disadvantage of an "across the road" speedtrap is that the officer has very little time to take a speed reading and make a judgement call. Which vehicle is speeding? Or which vehicle is going the speed being reported by the radar unit? That can often be very difficult when the officer only has 2-3 seconds to make that call (or maybe less... I've seen some bonehead speedtraps).
Now, by "off-axis" what I meant above is let's say that you are approaching an intersection, and there is Ka radar being used on a street perpendicular to the one you're travelling on. As you approach the intersection, you get a quick blip, then nothing, and then suddenly a high strength alert as you are crossing the intersection or perhaps on the other side. This is not the V1's fault. It's because the width of that radar beam is so narrow. And again, if there's nothing (or not much) in terms of objects to create scatter, then that's why the alerts appear that way.
There are only two ways to detect ANY radar or laser/LIDAR burst. 1) if it's pointed at your detector/jammer; or 2) scatter.
In terms of being pointed directly toward you, both radar and laser beams are wider the further away they are from you. Thus, they are easier to detect up to a point. Then beyond a certain point (which varies for each device), the beam spread becomes substantially larger yet weaker at the same time. That's where a good detector pays off in terms of sensitivity. A good detector will sense these very weak signals when you are well out of the effective range of the device. The other significant factor is how well your RD detects scatter.
Same thing with laser / LIDAR. A good laser jammer needs three essential components in order to be effective (sorry not trying to get off topic here, but thought I would throw this in). 1) Good detection of incoming threats; 2) good screening / software programming (e.g. not going off due to sunlight, oncoming car with laser cruise control, etc.); 3) strong return fire (i.e. laser diode).
Back to the V1.... The V1 has outstanding laser detection. I would say it's one of the best if not the best in terms of RD laser detection. However, that is not worth diddly because you're most likely to get an alert after you've been had versus any warning from scatter. Furthermore, every Infiniti or Lexus coming toward my car with laser cruise control triggers mine into alert, not to mention the infamous Chevy Trailblazer 3rd brake light. As a result, I have since turned off my V1's laser detection and now rely on my LPP, which is of course much more useful in that regard anyway.
Another problem with using an RD for laser detection is that the optimal placement of the RD is up high and the optimal placement for laser detection is down low. Given the distance between the average vehicle's front license plate and the top of the windshield, it's a wonder that any RD would alert to any laser encounter.
The V1 has always been first and foremost about maintaining "situational awareness," and I still believe that the V1 is by far the best tool for that. If it is not reporting a bogey to you, and that bogey is truly not a threat, then how is that a problem? IMHO, the V1 is doing it's job. It is not bothering you with something that is not important.
Anyhoo, that's my (long winded) $0.02, based on much experience using all of the above equipment (from both sides of the radar/laser gun).
RN