One Year & Six Month Review Of My V1

[Ace Racer]

Well it is a slow night here so I thought that I would write a review of my Valentine One (AKA Valerie) and my thoughts and opinions about her.

First, before I begin me and my "girl" have a whole new level of relationship between us. This may seem scary but fear not it is all good. I am just a little weird is all.

Now moving on I have changed the programming multiple times since I have purchased my V1. Call me weird but it is like I have to try something new every 2 weeks. For example, one week I might enable X band even though it isn't used in my area. Next week I might set option 8 to mute the volume to zero. It varies week to week.

Now that I have cleared that up on to performance. Overall, KA band is my biggest threat. I have encountered exactly one real laser (CHP) threat and thankfully was only going 60 in a 55 mph zone. It was around a curve and going up a slight hill. KA hits have reached the hundreds. I have always kept option 6 up (false alarm guard enabled) and with that I have received 70 - 80 cobra (or other detectors) threats. Many people seem to have purchased cobra RD's to tick me off apparently (Joking), but I have noticed increased usage of those RD's in my area.

As far as distance I am overall pleased because for each alert and its circumstances it has proved beneficial and effective at slowing me down and allowing me multiple time to slow down (usually 5 - 10 over of the PSL). For example, one experience I had just recently involved a CHP officer parked behind a tree island (on the right hand side of the freeway) with his front antenna on (so this makes it forward facing radar at a diagonal direction). I received a half mile to mile warning with this set-up and moderate traffic.

My only K band threats are the Your Speed Is signs that are running in town. So I label them as partial threats because while by themselves they pose no threat should a CHP be watching it then we have reason for concern.

Despite my abusive ways it has held up very well for freezing and baking temps, coming off the windshield, placed in the center console when privacy was a concern. Granted there are scratches (little) but nothing big and deep.

Sensitivity I believe is still as good as from day one. I should clarify that with I believe it has not become de-sensitized to the radar bands since day one.

Overall, we are still together in our strong relationship. We say hello and good mornings every time I go somewhere. Valerie beeps in agreements and gets right to work. Eating that radar like a monster. I sent Valerie in for a tune up just before the one year warranty expired so she is good to go for a few years hopefully. Maybe at two and a half years I might send her in just to be safe but I think V1's are very durable and reliable as is my Bel Pro RX65 which I run once a month to keep it in good shape.

Well that is my review and thanks for reading!

[WellcraftDave]

Thanx for posting and sounds like as expected for how the V1's are put together. If the insides are anything like the outside.. it's one well built piece of gear. Maybe it's just me, but the on/off/vol seem's to be a little on the flimsy side.. but not a detractor.

Good report and give's me the confidence from your report to know that I'll be holding on to my V1 for a long while.

Nice to have "one" unit and not have to purchase the latest/greatest!