Valentine One Installation- Official Advice

[Guest]

I would trust the Valentine 1 far more than an Escort. Eight years with Val.1 = no tickets. Only tickets for any of us was when using Escort. Two drivers same vehicle with Escort = one ticket each.Valentine 1 is really excellent radar detector if you pay attention to it.

 

[OB_Utah Rider]

jcchen, I have the same problem with my V1. The laser goes off for no reason on my Busa, but it's fine in my truck. I mentioned in another message that the voltage I was getting at the connection was less than the 12V optimal value and I won't connect it directly to the battery. My solution...I turned off the Laser detection. It's easy to do. You can find out how at the V1 website. I don't view laser detection as a big priority as it isn't common in my area and hard to avoid even if it is detected, not too mention worthless in my current mounting position under the rear seat. I may end up moving it if I find I lose too much front coverage. I know there is a reduction, but I don't know how much. The cops in my area seem to be putting away their toys when I'm out looking to test the range.

 

[OB_Richard]

Telephone technical service from Val 1: my spurious laser-detection signals were from low voltage fluctuations, which they say is a common motorcycle problem.

They strongly advise wiring directly to the battery.

I'd used the brown wire accessory terminal under the right front dash panels, and had consistent problems.

 

[OB_JohnC]

I have a V1 in my Vette, and the more I ride the Busa, the more I think I should have one there too. Where do you mount it? Do you use a headset? Remove it when you park?

They're right about the low-voltage triggering the lasar detector. Happens in the Vette once in a while. Power in the Vette is anything but a constant too.

JohnC

 

[OB_jcchen]

I HAD a V1 and am now battling the company about a refund. They insist that since it has been (barely) thirty days since I got the unit, they want to charge a $50.00 restocking fee. However, nothing in their website or the owner's manual says anything about this 30 day policy. What bullsh_t.

I got the V1 as a Christmas present from my wife. It triggered low voltage false alarms in my Camaro, although I didn't know what was wrong at the time. At the recommendation of V1's customer service reps, I sent the unit for repair (cost of postage and insurance $10.00). Unit came back with the same problems and I called again - NOW they tell me of the low voltage problem. So I sent the unit for a refund. This all happened in mid-Feb. No offer of alternate solution (i.e., hook up to battery to get rid of low voltage problems) - no forewarning that this has happened in other vehicles. So the money grubbing corporate a-holes at V1 now want to charge me $50.00 to get just part of my money back.

I don't care if they make the best dam_ed product in the world. If they don't notify consumers about "hidden" warrantly clauses and they don't forewarn folks about problems they KNOW about and have ADDRESSED in the past, they are not a company worth my business. I will never ever consider the V1 again. Escort, here I come.

 

[OB_Richard]

JohnC: Everyone seems to have a favorite place to mount their V1.

I hang mine from the suction cup mount near the front of my Zero Grav Double Bubble. I can see the detector's lights, and all of my dash-panel instruments except the clock.
Even with ear plugs and a full face helmet, I can hear the V1's alarms at up to 70-80 mph.

 

[201mph]

For my two cents- Car and Driver tested radar detectors last year and as some of you know the Valentine One beats them all, But... the original passport they tested beat every other brand, and even Cincinatti Microwaves NEW passport in X,K and I think KA (photo radar). They claimed that they determined that the room given up to the lasar sensing units in new units caused a tradeoff in sensitivity to the "old fashioned" traditional types of radar. The bottom line was that if you live in a state that doesn't use Lasar then buying an old passport was the best coverage for the cheapest price by far. Thus, there is always a busy market in Passports on auction houses like E-Bay and they sell for 25-75 dollars. They were well over $300 new.

 

[OB_jcchen]

I can't argue that the V1 seems to have some of the best radar numbers out there. I guess my problem is with the company. They obviously are aware of a problem with operation of the laser detection in their unit on some vehicles. Despite this, there doesn't appear to be any effort to correct this in a unit that is far and away the highest priced in the market. At $400/unit, they should be able to address this problem somehow - even if its a warning or some other type of notice that the problem EXISTS!! Something like "V1 is a sensitive instrument, blah blah blah, and because of voltage dips normal to some vehicles' electrical systems, blah blah blah, you may experience false laser alarms blah blah blah!!" But NO, V1 would rather hide the problem and not tell customers. BAD customer service. Couple that with the "hidden" warranty limit of 30 days or get charged a fee equal to over 10% of the purchase price to return the unit and you've got a company that does NOT know how to treat customers. Would you put up with a computer that got glitchy because of "inconsistent" household current? Or put up with a manufacturer that charged you money to return the computer after thirty days because of a problem they KNEW existed? Seems kind of ridiculous and maybe even border line illegal.

I've already challenged the charge on my credit card with my bank. I can only hope that with this additional pressure, V1 realizes their error and refunds my money. Sigh...

ps: regarding Escorts - I've never gotten a ticket with my Escort 2600. Now I've had an offer from Escort to upgrade to a 4500 ($200) with a $50 rebate for my old unit. May end up going that route. Thanks all for the responses.