Valentine One Radar Detector w/ POP Review
Time For The Test
I initially used the windshield mount with the suction cups. I wasn't
entirely sure if the molding inside my car would obstruct the rear
radar, so I decided against using the visor mount for the time being. I
took it down the same stretch of road that I was seeing cop cars on
each morning and was able to pick up several cops on it the first week,
along with picking up those large electronic "emergency" signs they
often use around construction or areas with high traffic. I'm not sure
if those signs are checking the speeds of motorists at all or if the
radar they emit has to do with updating the information on the signs,
but to this day every time I ride by them the radar detector goes off.
The one thing you have to realize with radar detectors is that they are
designed to detect radar -- any radar -- so if you're near garage doors
that are opening, grocery store doors, or anything else that emits
radar, you will have "false alarms". Luckily the Valentine One has a
"mute button", whose volume can be adjusted independently of the
regular beep volume. This allows me to get rid of the loud beeps when
I'm approaching an area that has radar that I'm sure isn't cops.
What I Like
The directional arrows and front/rear radar were
the selling point for me. I've seen other radar detectors in action,
but this is the first I've owned and I don't think I could ever go to
anything without directional arrows. If you're entering an area with
more than one "bogey" (unidentified radar source), the Valentine One
will light up the arrows corresponding to the radar sources and blink
the direction of whichever the stronger threat is. It also has several
different modes, depending upon how much involvement you want the
internal computer to have in sorting out authentic radar threats. The
build quality is definitely what one would expect in a $400 unit and
there are countless sites and reviews that have positive things to say
about this radar detector.
What I Don't Like
Initially it was hard to fork over the
$400. To this day I still wonder if it has really saved me from any
tickets. I haven't had any *really* close calls with it and the cops
seem to be less frequently out on the roads than they were the end of
last year. Sometimes the beeps can get annoying if you live in areas
with a large number of radar-emitting sources -- but the mute button
helps make this more bearable. The only gripe I have is having to
remove the radar detector or put it out of site when I leave my vehicle
-- at this point it's pretty much routine, but I've heard a lot of
stories about individuals who have had their cars broken into because
these Valentine radar detectors are big money. Just be careful where
you park or hide the radar detector if you're in a bad area or aren't
sure -- better safe than sorry.
Overall
I'm very happy with this radar detector, although I
don't think I've seen it fully pay for itself yet.. which is why I
can't give it a perfect score. I hope that over time it will prove
itself worthy, as I travel more or go on road trips. It's hard to judge
performance if you drive the same roads each day back and forth to work
and aren't traveling on unknown roads or long distances. The Valentine
One is well constructed, easy to setup, and has features the other
radar detectors are seriously lacking. Whether or not you think
directional arrows and front/rear radar is important is entirely your
choice, but from what I have seen with this radar detector in action, I
would want nothing less. Well done, Valentine Research.
Final Rating: 4.5/5.0
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