When I started looking for a better detector, I read all the tests, including the one from Speed Measurement Labs 2004 that’s touted by the other big detector maker. I wondered why the testers had all the detectors on the windshield, powered up at the same time. Mike Valentine has pointed out that this is not the right way to test, and while I’m no scientist, any high- school study of scientific process tells you to remove all variables. Speed Measurement Labs didn’t do that (why they don’t just appease Mike by trying it his way has me baffled…maybe there’s some history there).
I also noticed that owners of the other brand gave varying reviews, but there were no variations in the comments of V1 owners. So I bought my first V1.
Recently I drove from upstate New York to Georgia through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, a beautiful drive with very good roads most of the way. V1 performed flawlessly. But in Tennessee the arrows came into their own.
Traveling through some road work, I got a two count on Ka. Of course I slowed. About a mile and a half down the road there was a motorcycle cop with his radar. I passed him and expected to see a weakening signal, but there were still two bogeys—one behind that was fading and one in front getting stronger. Other traffic was accelerating, assuming they’d passed the trap. I was tempted, but I decided to trust V1. That proved to be a good decision; about a mile down the road was another cycle with radar.
Shamelessly, this radaring was happening on a wide road with excellent visibility. There was no road construction, just road-construction signs, meaning double fines for those unlucky enough to get nailed.
This one event proved to me that the V1 is the detector of choice—these situations are real, and you need the best to survive them. It’s clear to me that the combination of super sensitivity (meaning maximum range) and the arrows are a combination that can’t be beat. Thanks Mike.
Rowan Lawson
Alpharetta, GA