Side by Side Comparison of: Cobra vs valentine one

I absolutely love this device. It's pretty pricy but it's worth avoiding hundreds of dollars of speeding tickets if you're driving a lot. Keep in mind that the radar detector will only detect radar. Not police cars. So if you ever drive pass a cop, that just means he doesn't have his radar on. However, it's got a very long range and will tell you where it's coming from.

Its a great product. I love the easy display and the professional aesthetics that don't look cheap or campy. I hope that this company can continue to innovate.

Very reliable detector. The V1 has never let me down.

I will make this short.I'm not gonna pretend I'm some expert in radars. I'm not. However, I am an expert in always speeding and getting caught. I bought this for my roadtrip from Long Island, NY to Toronto, Canada. I was travelling between 70-100 mph the majority of the way. This radar picked up 4 cop cars from literally a mile away shooting their radar gun in our direction. Two of which were hiding in near undetectable areas in the bushes which any normal person would not see till it was too late. It' saved my from 4 tickets alone. This doesn't even include how many times it picked up cops riding the opposite direction on the highway with their radars. We would all get excited when the radar went off and try and spot the cop and see if we could do it with our naked eyes from the initial alert. It wasn't possible till close range! THERE IS NONE BETTER!

Great detector with high end performance, but buy it directly from Valentine! It's sold here on Amazon by people who buy it from Valentine and then turn around and resell it at a profit. If you buy it here, you'll get no warranty and you'll pay more than full price. The only reason you'll want to do that is if you live in an area Valentine doesn't ship to (anywhere outside of the U.S. or 3 provinces in Canada: BC, AB, and SK) so you'll need to pay someone else to get it for you. People who recommend and review detectors online may link you to Amazon because they can make an affiliate commission, but as a buyer of a V1, it really is best to get this product directly from Valentine.Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's dive into the detector. :)So the V1 has been around for ages. It's been updated many many times throughout the years. The detector is best known for having arrows to help you locate the source of the threat. The arrows really are helpful in practice. It helps you figure out if the police car you just passed is the only threat or if there's another one up ahead, it lets you know once you pull onto a highway onramp and it goes off if the threat is ahead of you or behind, etc. It adds a lot of useful information to the overall experience.The biggest complaint about the V1 is the false alerts and that's usually brought up by people who are running older versions of the V1 and/or haven't taken the time to properly program their V1. Out of the box it can be one of the chattiest detectors out there (but better than it used to be). Properly programmed it can be one of the quietest. To get the best level of performance and the most advanced level of false alert filtering, here's the trick:Pick up the Android or iOS bluetooth module from Valentine and pair the detector with your phone. If you run Android, you can download YaV1. If you run iOS, you can download V1Driver. To unlock the full performance potential of the detector you'll want to disable Ka guard and load in custom sweeps through your phone. Because the V1 lacks a GPS chip, you can use your phone's GPS and the appropriate app to help the V1 learn where your stationary false alerts are located and as you drive around from grocery stores and shopping centers and speed signs, and the app will then begin automatically muting your false alerts so your detector will get quieter over time. Look up "YaV1" or "V1Driver" on YouTube. I've got tutorials and walkthroughs to guide you every step of the way and show you exactly how to program and set up your V1. It will make a huge difference.In terms of performance, a factory stock V1 will run on par with or better than the Escort Max, Max2, or Max360, and when properly programmed, it will give you longer range than those detectors.The V1's most direct competitor now is the Escort Max360 (Escort Max 360 Radar Detector (Black)). Compared to the Max360, the V1 offers better performance and arrows that change direction almost immediately. The Max360's performance is a little lower and the arrows are slow to change direction, but it includes a lot more features all integrated and under the hood. The V1 can do a lot of things the Max360 can do, but you'll have to pair it with your phone and run additional apps like YaV1, V1Driver, or Waze so it requires additional devices and setup. The Max360 is more plug-and-play and easy to use out of the box. If you're willing to do a little setup, go for the V1. If you want something that's totally plug-and-play, the Max360 is a good option. I own and use both. I prefer the V1 for when I want to know every single detail about what's going on around me while I prefer the Max360 for a simple and more chill experience.I think the Max360 is better suited for the general public while the V1 with an app is better suited to the techy enthusiast.In terms of laser sensitivity, the V1 is the best radar detector on the market. It is a beast at detecting laser. Unfortunately its laser filtering isn't that good so it'll false to many modern cars with laser-based collision avoidance systems. Common examples includes Mazdas, Infinitis, and Volvos. It's for that reason that you may want to consider turning laser detection off. Even if it does detect laser, it's little more than a ticket notifier in practice. For laser I'd recommend running laser jammers alongside whichever radar detector you get. For jammers take a look at the AntiLaser Priority. Best jammers on the market.In terms of design the V1 is a bit dated. It's older, yes, but it's a very effective design. It's simple and even angles the display slightly towards the driver. The arrows, signals strength, and number of signals are all easy to read. I do wish that it had different colors for the different bands so you could more easily differentiate between K and Ka bands at a glance, for example. (I've modded my concealed display with different color LED's for this reason. You can also make it easier by running a phone app.)If you want top end performance and you drive mostly on the highway, take a look at the Escort Redline Escort RedLine 0100025-1 Radar Detector and the Beltronics Magnum Beltronics 015007-6 STi Magnum Radar Detector. Those detectors lack arrows but they offer even better performance and range so they make for detection monsters on the highway. Those detectors also feature immunity from detection by radar detector detectors so they're good choices for drivers in Virginia and Washington D.C. The V1 is detectable by RDD's.The V1's mount is one of the best around. Rather than one connection point in the middle, you get three connection points for a very solid and sturdy mount. The mount itself holds onto both the right and left sides of the detector and it has a rubber pad on the far end to press against the windshield. This makes for a nice solid mount that's also very easy to adjust. One of the best in the biz.On its own the V1 is alright. You get good performance out of the box but not the best filtering. You can buy Savvy to get low speed muting (Savvy plugs into your car's OBD-II port to read your speed and then your V1 plugs into it), but the best option is to get one of the bluetooth modules from Valentine, pair it with a phone, and set it up that way. You'll get MUCH more functionality this way. Check YouTube for all the information you could want. ;)

I love everything about this radar and it is of high quality which important to me. The mount is very solid, comes with plenty of cord (coiled or straight) and works like a charm!I upgraded from an Escort Solo S2 and I happy so far

I like it

Other then too many false alarms, I would say that this is one of the better radar detectors you can buy.

needs to get used to it, however it does it's job.

Works well so far. I ordered what was listed as a new item but what arrived was used or at least inboxed and shoved back in the box with most of its packaging gone. Everything is included as far as I can tell but it is not a fresh unopened unit that I paid top dollar for. I could have saved money and just ordered the used one if that was what I wanted.

The actual radar detector works great. It picks up radar at a significant distance, can detect radar to the side and behind you. I would have rated it a 5 except for the fastener design. The radar detector fastens to the windshield with a couple of dime store suction cups. It is usually fine once it is up there but when you remove the bracket with the suction cups from the window and replace it, it takes a minimum of 10 tries to keep it up there. I read the directions, did all of what they said to do and it still doesn't work well. It comes with a second set of suction cups, which we tried...no better. I am very frustrated with the fact that I paid $500.00 for an excellent product and the manufacturer didn't take time to design an effective mechanism in which to keep it in place; something that would have cost pennies more.

All parts needed were delivered and only spent $80 on installation. We're in S.F. Bay Area and it goes off constantly, so probably best for road trips as it's ultra sensitive. Bur, haven't done the updates. Was highly recommended and it performs great as it picks up and displays signals from all directions!

I would give it 5 stars because it is the best detector out there - hands down. BUT dealing with customer service is not such a pleasant experience. Hang up and call back if necessary until you can talk to the younger lady when she answers, otherwise "they" will spend all day being rude and telling you it's your fault. I am considering another detector only due to customer service. There is no reason these should be so expensive anyway. When I pay $400+ for something and it doesn't work right I want someone willing to help. I've used V1 for over 10 years and I know when it isn't right. You should also know that when cops change radar types you must upgrade which is only a little cheaper than a new one. So you can count on that every few years.UPDATE: They sent a replacement and it worked. So it was not my "plug" as the woman at V1 insisted.The units have always run hot but I now suspect them shorting my electrical system. My battery has gone dead several times after leaving the unit on. It runs hot but the woman that answered the phone at V1 said "it's supposed to be hot." Yea, right.I imagine I will change detectors next year.

Valentine is correct when it says it has range. It is correct when it claims that you get a full sweep from front to rear. It is also correct when it says that it will identify more then one threat. Most of all it is correct when it states the unit picks up everything....It does pick up everything, and it will drive you crazy with false alerts, if you use in in a populated area. This unit is best suited for driving in very rural areas. It even picks up X bands in areas that the police had not used X band in years. I also hate that you need to pair it with a mobile telephone for better control. Thats just crazy. I know they are trying to keep the unit simple, but it needs some filtering control and lock outs. Might even have to really get radical and get GPS on the unit..you think? With all the small towns getting speed cameras and cutting back on patrol cars with radar units...not a bad idea.

This is a review of the Valentine One (V1) vs Escort iX vs Escort Max 360 Radar Detectors.When I graduated high school, I remember saving up for my first radar detector, a Beltronics-something. Back then it was that or Uniden or Cobra. After graduating College, I was able to afford the new gadget on the block, a Valentine One. (This was pre-Laser days) I don’t remember the price, but I’ve noticed they haven’t really changed their prices since the Laser model became standard for the last 15 years or so…For close to 20 years, I haven’t looked over the fence, ever. My first V1 non-laser model, I sold to a friend so I could buy a new Laser model. My current V1 I’ve had for over 12 years and upgrade the firmware as needed.After a recent 1,500 mile road trip from LA to DFW, I decided to look over the fence after the V1 proved to be almost useless. For a couple of hours, a new Escalade in front of us constantly triggered K-band. There were probably 95% of falses with only a couple of real “saves/bogeys” in the entire 25 hours we were on the road. (No, my V1 did not have the latest Junk K fighter, but I will explain the price differences later)The next day I bought the top of the line Escort Max 360 with the directional arrows, which I assume fell out of V1-patent life after 10 years. The next week, I had an 8-hour driving trip from Dallas to Houston and back. The Escort Max 360 is BRILLIANT and made me a believer and a convert. A few weeks later, Amazon Vine offered up an Escort iX for me to try and of course took them up on their offer. Simply put, for my first time, I fell in love with an Escort.What’s in the Box:==================Escort wins hands down – you get a nice carrying case, a super strong (Garmin-ish) windshield mount, and a SmartCord cigarette adapter that includes a Mute button and remote alert display. (For the iX, your smart cord includes a USB slot for charging an accy) Both Escorts will auto-mute based on strength. Both Escorts have Bluetooth built-in and the phone app is free.Valentine (as memory serves me from 12 years ago) – you get a sunvisor mount and a suction cup mount, and you get the cigarette adapter. You have to pay extra for the carrying case, remote display, low speed auto muter (Savvy), and there’s no Bluetooth, you have to buy the V1Connection. Phone app is free, but to use it, you need to buy the V1Connection (see Pricing section below).Real-World Pricing (MSRP)==============Escort costs more, but it comes with more things standard that you have to buy for the V1. Here’s a breakdown:Escort Max 360----------------------$649 MSRPEscort iX------------------$499 MSRPBrand New V1---------------------$399 MSRP, but to make it closer to the Escort, you will pay extra for:$29 Carrying Case$69 Savvy low speed auto-muter$39 Remote display$49 V1connection to your smart phone-----------Real-world price is really $585 to be more comparable to the Escort.*MY* Actual V1 Costs---------------------------------$399 – I already paid that many years agoNow, to get the Junk-K fighter and Traffic Filter, I would have to pay an extra $269 to get it! Then…$29 Carrying Case$69 Savvy low speed auto-muter$39 Remote display$49 V1connection to your smart phone-------------------Real-world out of pocket for me is $854! Naysayers will chime in and state that *really* the difference is $269 vs $649; I either spend $269 and get Junk K Fighter and Traffic Filter and hope it does the job, OR I spend $649 and sell the V1 to recoup costs. But some of you just want the best, regardless of price, so let’s just go with that.Size:======Escort iX wins for its relative “more slim” footprint. The Escort Max 360 is a behemoth! See my uploaded customer images. The V1 is still the same V1 since the laser model was introduced ~15 years ago. The Max 360 is longer, fatter and taller than the V1.Performance and Relevance:========================Escort wins for its more peaceful and reasonable daily driving experience.Back in the 90’s, Valentine One would always win every magazine test and everyone flocked to it. They would show the graphs and sure enough, the V1 always stood out with the best performance and detection.Perhaps I’m just 20 years older now, but I have come to realize, who cares if the V1 detects a K-band signal 1.3 miles away, about ¾ of a mile sooner than the Cobra or Bel or Passport. 1.3 miles is a long time, but your memory-attention-span when you’re driving is about as long as a stoplight. Have you ever been in a school zone going 20mph and then come to a stoplight? 95% of the time, when the light turns green, there will be a car that just guns it, sees the next School Zone sign and then slams on the brakes again because they just forgot they were in a school zone.The V1 range and detection might actually be a bit much to the point that I’m constantly muting it, because it is constantly going off. I find myself speeding again because I’ve muted it so much.The Escorts, both Max 360 and iX seem to be almost identical in performance. Instead of the loud brapping of the V1, the Escorts will announce what band is detected verbally and has easier to read strength meters. This is far better than the super small dot on the V1 next to the Band designation that is hard to determine unless you’ve memorized the various sounds. In fact with the white lettering and the slightest glare on the V1, you really can’t see the lettering at all and while driving, it is harder to determine if the Band-designation-dot is higher or lower than the Ka, K, or X band row.Furthermore, the Escort is quicker to smart-mute itself, while the V1 is still going bonkers. The V1 does have a couple of mute options but you have to pay extra for that, such as a remote mute button, a remote display, Savvy – low speed auto-muter, etc. The Escort has a remote mute & remote alert indicator on the SmartCord power adapter. Both detectors feature ‘bogey’ counts of the different radar sources.Features:==========If there’s ONE section you read in this long review, it is the following:I would buy the Escort simply because of its GPS and GPS marking of known false alarms like grocery stores and stationary “Your Speed Is:” units. Today, the Escort has made the V1 technologically obsolete; there… I said it! The Escort has leap-frogged over the V1 in terms of technology. From Bluetooth connectivity to GPS to traffic system database and a filter for traffic monitoring and collision-avoidance systems.On the V1, I am one firmware revision under the “Junk K Fighter and Traffic Filter”. To get it, I will need to spend $269 to upgrade. I already paid $399 for the detector and more for accessories. I already had to sell my non-Laser model because you can’t firmware-update to the Laser model. You can add the Junk K Fighter and Traffic filter, but you’ll pay for it. You can add Bluetooth, but you’ll pay for it.Fine, some of you will flame me for criticizing something I’ve had for 12 years with various firmware upgrades, but I’ve already paid the $200+ upgrade before and to make it the latest that’s another $269. But the one thing no V1 upgrade currently offers is this amazing GPS-marking on the Escorts.In daily driving, there are a couple of grocery stores that will always trigger the V1. With both Escorts, you can simply mark and ignore those stores! There’s also a “Your Speed Is:” radar unit that is constantly-on in my neighborhood. I’ve already marked that one to be ignored. All you have to do is press the Mute button 3 times and it GPS marks that location and false alarm and it is saved! This ONE FEATURE makes it worth the jump to an Escort.Band selection--------------------On the V1 you have to do the hokey pokey maneuver to simply turn off X-band. On the Escorts, there’s an actual “Band” button to press and you can choose from Auto, Auto with no X-band, Highway, etc modes. Very slick and easy for anyone to do.Then, there’s the crowd-sourced database that has Red-Light Cameras, speed traps etc that you can update. Even my own small town is included, which accurately alerts you of a Red-Light camera intersection as you approach. The V1 has no ability for that and does not contain a GPS so therefore cannot display your speed or alert you if you’ve exceeded a certain speed.Both Escorts, when paired with the Escort app, you can see the speed-limit displayed on the detector itself, plus the GPS always shows you your actual speed.Overall, ALL of these features that come standard on the Escort makes it the more-livable, more peaceful and less-stressful radar/laser detector to own and use every day. On another 8 hour trip to Houston and back, I used the Escort on the way down and the V1 on the way back. I wanted to throw the V1 in the trash in the end. This might be like the old Subaru STi vs Mitsubishi Evo comparison. The STi (ie. Escort) is the one you want to live with and drive everyday, but the Evo (ie. V1) might be quicker and have slightly better performance, but it is a bear to live with every day.Phone Apps===========Escort wins hands down. With the Escort app you can easily configure various user settings and preferences, very well done UI. You can even set an “overspeed” alert so that if you exceed 75mph, it tells you that. This actually helps me to speed less and be more mindful of how heavy my foot has become.The V1 Phone App, it is really just another display and you can save profiles. It shows you the exact MHZ of the radar frequency being detected, but how does that help me? What is the difference to me of 176.131 mhz vs 198.314 mhz??On the V1, you have to hold the control knob while powering it on, do the hokey pokey and interpret the small display to change preferences. With the Escort, I can change the LED colors from Blue to Amber to match my dashboard, amongst a dozen other user settings all from the phone app.Okay, but which Escort is best??==============================So maybe now you’ve ruled out paying $399 for a new V1 or $269-289 to firmware upgrade your current V1 you already paid $399 for in the last 10 years. Do you choose the Escort iX or the Escort Max 360?Escort Max 360 vs Escort iX - Differences--------------------------------------------------------------I’ll make the statement that in my testing, the Escort iX and Escort Max 360 are almost identical in performance. In fact, when I drove up to a Red-Light camera intersection, the “There is a Red-Light Camera in 1000 ft” voice came on at exactly the same time and it sounded like a stereo on both Escorts. (The V1, I had to mute because it was still brappping from the grocery store I pass everyday, while the Escorts remained quiet because I GPS marked them and it saved that in the detector)I might say the Escort iX has slightly longer range performance, but then again, is that relevant? Who cares if the iX warns you at 2000 feet and the Max 360 warns you at 1800 feet? What matters is, what do you want to live with everyday and which one can you confidently rely on, versus muting it every few seconds. Both Escorts are livable, happily and daily.So the MAJOR difference then, is that the Max 360 has directional arrows and the iX does not. That’s about it. The Max 360 is about $150 more than the iX. ($650 vs $500 MSRP). So the question is, are the Max 360 arrows worth $150 to you? Well, if the arrows gave you more confidence and made your commute more livable, then sure. If, instead of not knowing where to look with the iX that you ended up getting a ticket because you had a brain freeze and didn’t slow down, would the extra $150 for the arrows have been worth it? Probably. (Okay that was the weakest point, but all I could think off…) Update: Just today, I turned left at a light from my neighborhood and the Ka went off and the Max 360 kept pointing backwards. In my rear view mirror, I could barely make out the black Police Tahoe approaching the stop light. I was glad I had the Max 360’s arrows. If I had the iX, I would have to wonder if the cop was behind me, on a side street, in front of me, etc the entire time. The arrows are absolutely worth it for me.And yes, while composing this review for over 3 weeks, I had all three detectors installed in the same car at the same time, I think people thought I was an undercover private investigator with all those suction cups on my windshield. It is tough to say which consistently had the better detection/performance because the V1 would win some, the iX would win some and the Max 360 would win some. I also drove around with only one installed at a time to rule out any device interference before finalizing this review.OVERALL:==========If you are a person who wants simply, THE BEST, and money (and size) is no object, then sure of course you will buy the Max 360.Based on my ~20 years with a V1, the V1 is a true 3-stars compared to the Escorts.The Escort iX would be a solid 4 stars.The Escort Max 360 would be a solid 5 stars. Both Escorts use the same technology and have the same features, the only difference is that the Max 360 has the Directional Arrows for an extra $150.The Escort Max 360 is what a car-guy wants to use in the daily driver. The Escort iX is what the car-guy buys for the wife’s car that you, the car-guy, will occasionally drive, but the wife will live with if you direct-wire it. Giving her the leftover V1 will either cause a divorce or she chunks it out the window and screams at you for mounting it in her car. This is the only time your wife will love an Escort more than a Valentine.

Disappointed that it's not the most current version but still a great detector.

a little too sensative, but better then any other radar ive ever had truly better then the escort pro max2

I used to have a Belkin and although this is an upgrade, I was expecting more. As expected, it works very well in flat areas with not many buildings around but since I live in the city, it is not as usefull. The price here on Amazon that I paid was also a little over $100 than the actual Valentine website.

I'm very frustrated with my V1. When I bought it, it was marketed as the best detector on the market (they still say that) and "would never be obselete" because of upgrades, etc...Well, now it is unusable, and very obselete (according to V1 website) because it cannot be updated, has to be upgraded instead - for 'only' $300Why is it unusable? Many new SUVs have kband lane change sensors so anytime I am within a mile and a half of a new Audi, GMC, Chevy or several other SUVs that K Band alert never goes off and always shows between 2 and 6 Bogeys.Forget even trying to use it in the city, it never stops alerting, ever.On the other hand, I have the Escort Passport x50 and the beltronics that are also several years old, in both of these have built in traffic sensor rejection which eliminates these false alarm alerts, these also cost quite a bit less.So, while my frustration may be primarily because of an obsolete product, a lot of the frustration is also with the company and the way they are requiring upgrades when the product was marketed as an updateable product.Will I miss the arrows, bogey count and independent volumes? Probably, but not at the high cost or the added risk of buying this again.

If you go to the V1 website, it asks you to upgrade your Radar/Laser Detector for over $280. They say it is because of the new blind-site warning systems in newer model cars. Well, I have one of those cars and the V1 works just fine without the upgrade. No need to do this at all!

I bought one of these and I thought it was great. It was so sensitive that it picked up EVERYTHING - every little sign, other radar detectors, you name it - and miles away at that. That's why I was shocked and disappointed when I got a criminal speeding ticket while using it. If the police are using "instant on" technology, then you're busted. After paying the fines and increased insurance rates for 5 years, I put the Valentine One away and slowed back down. I almost went to jail that day. The cop was really pissed and I was really scared.

The truth about this product: don't use it to feel invincible, use it as a "that-was-nice-to-know" device.I bought the Valentine One new from the manufacturer's site. This little baby works great on radar systems. Including the annoying radar systems that have nothing to do with law enforcement (e.g. automatic door openers). However, you have to assume that everything is a bogey, so you may find yourself needlessly slowing down a lot when driving through commercial areas.In the off-chance that there is an actual police bogey with radar, it works great. This thing will start beeping and give you plenty of time to slow down. The bogey may be far away, around a corner, on the other side of a hill: it doesn't matter. This product will work exactly as you would expect.However, if the police has a laser (most state troopers do now), this thing is COMPLETELY useless. Long story short: I was feeling invincible because I had this. A cop pulled me over going 96 MPH. He was parked in darkness, straight ahead. If he had been using radar, it was the perfect situation for this thing. But it did not register at all. Now, I have to go to court to fight a $299 speeding ticket (plus an increase to my insurance).In conclusion, this is supposed to be the Cadillac of detectors, but it is still useless against laser. Therefore, you should not use it as an excuse to go as fast as you want. Just use it to keep a careful eye out. Still go the speed limit. Trust me, its not worth getting caught. In my mind, the noise it makes, and the annoying false alarms are not worth even having it, if you follow my recommendation.

Good detector but extremely expensive to own. I have owned one for the past several years, in fact I own two. Have had to update a couple of times due to problems, can't really remember what the problems were but I do know this.....just updated one of the units and it cost me $303 to get the latest technology!! Could have bought a new one at that price. The next one I buy WILL NOT be a Valentine. I just saw where I could but the Escort, that is highly rated, and get 3 years of updates for only $39. Now that is more like it.Escort will have my business in the future.

It was a solidly built product that seemed more sturdy and more sensitive than the Escort Max or the Escort 9500ci, but unfortunately the Valentine One is wholly inappropriate for city driving, as it falses way too much.As such, despite the poor quality control that Escort radar detectors suffer from, their GPS lock function makes it more bearable of the two.I returned the Valentine One after trying it and deciding that Escort was a petter product.

THIS COMPANY CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS COMPANY IS FAILING NOW! Do not purchase items from this company any longer, I will not, they used to be good, but I hear the owner is not taking as much care as he used to and his app developers have moved on with their lives.1. The radar detector itself is good, but the suction cups are flimsy. You must buy another device with better cups or to hang under your mirror.2. The Android app developer is not longer providing updates, he has provided the code to other developers, still no updates.3. The iOS app has updates but costs 10.004. Many many K false alerts in the city5. Customer service is HORRENDOUS. I purchased a bluetooth adapter online (website needs upgrade so that tells you how much care they take to update their products and apps) and paid for 2 day shipping. Really I was very excited to get this product up and working etc. so I make the purchase and receive and email asking for a serial number to register my product etc. and thanking me for the order. I didn't have the unit in my house, it is in my car so I did not have it handy. Nowhere did it say on the website or on their initial email that I needed a serial number otherwise they will not send out the order.A week goes by and no item in the mail, I write to them, and they have not even processed my order! Telling me that I needed to provide them with a serial number? What?You can't even log into the website to check you order status.I did not steal this item I bought it used from amazon, yes I can provide them with a serial number, but I refuse to because 1. this is not the way you do things and 2. they never told me and it is nowhere on the website that unless i did not provide a serial number my item will not be shipped.This used to be a great company I hear, love how far they've gotten, it is commendable, but this day and age you need to step up your game. There are many other radar detector co's out there that have caught up and surpassed this one, do your research because I relied only on their past reputation when I purchased this product, I had no idea about their current state.

pretty sure it was a knock off, or a refurbished it was constantly going off. Never had an issue with the other two V1 I own for my other cars.

There is a reason this detector comes with a relatively short warranty. When it works it works well but unfortunately when it fails a few days after the one year warranty expires you must pay to ship ($11) and repair ($45)Customer service is the worst ever. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Arrived defective and Valentine One's response was to have the customer pay to ship it back. I didn't pay almost $500 to get a defective unit and then pay more money to get the unit working. After much arguing and even a Better Business Bureau complaint against Valentine,I had to have the charge removed from my credit card as a last ditch effort. The accused me of theft. Nope! Just wanted what I ordered in a working state. That's when I switched to the Escort 9500ix and haven't looked back.

The Valentine radar detector that shows the direction of the radar signal was great with the original unit. The new one I received failed immediately and had to be sent to Valentine under warranty. Instead of sending me a new unit they stated that they soldered a faulty connection on the unit and then sent it back to me. It worked for one day and then failed again to power up.7 weeks after buying the new radar detector I find myself with a broken one and it will be another 3 weeks to get the repaired unit repaired again and back in my hands, based on the time for the first repair to be done. I have absolutely no confidence that the re-repaired radar detector will be reliable so I will be buying another brand for my car.The lack of customer service and warranty support from Valentine makes it not one I would recommend buying.

While they sell a quality product, they're customer service is by far the worst I've ever experienced.To make a long story relatively short, I bought a new Valentine1 along with the SAVVY option (sold as the Grand Touring Package) that allows you to plug the V1 directly into the diagnostics port on the car. A few days after installing it, my car battery was dead. After searching around the web I found a number of postings from other users who had the same issue going back over nine months.Called Valentine and was told to ship it all back for a refund. Apparently it arrived 32 days after purchase and they would only take back the SAVVY not the V1. I explained all about the battery in my brand new car being drained and they just didn't care.I asked to speak to the head of Customer Service - they refused to get on with me. I asked to speak to Mike Valentine who also refused to get on the phone with me. Not only that, but i was told that they would no longer sell me any products. Can you imagine a CEO who won't talk with a customer and threatens not to sell them products any longer.Anyway - American Express took care of me and credited back the charge and there is now a warning about SAVVY being incompatible with Mercedes and a few other car brands.They make a good product but I will never buy another product from them and will chuckle to myself when I hear that they're no longer in business. I'd suggest you look elsewhere - they don't deserve your business.