I have a question about my V1. There are a few streets around me that have these permanently-installed signs (on poles) that display speed of incoming traffic. Whenever I pass these, they always display my speed but my V1's never detect them (all three V1's in different cars). I remember two years ago they used to put up temporary devices like these on the roads (with wheels at the bases) and my V1 would detect them everytime.

Is this some new radar technology that requires us to buy some new radar detectors? Would law enforcement be using such new technology?

Thanks.

 

What setting is your V1 on? It could be such weak x band that if your V1 is on city mode it may not alert it... personally I'd be happy about that

 

Hi Terrence,

My V1 is still picking up those speed signs???

 

They are all on advanced logic. Usually my V1 is so sensitive they detect everything, I can slowly drive towards and past these things and my V1 would never even "bleep" once.

 

Same thing happened to me on Hwy 14 north of you. its K band and for a week my V1 didnt work on it. Then it started working again. I dont have a clue what happened. Really strange. I lost confidence in it for awhile. But it works fine now.

 

Yes, they're all K-Band and my Escort picks em up like a mile in advance. That's odd that the Valentine is acting strange. Not very reassuring...

 

The fact that you have 3 V1's that are not alerting, that pretty much eliminates the detector as the culprit. Those speed signs are probably out of calibration. If the signal frequency drifts outside the range the V1 is designed to detect, it wont give an alert. The signs' calibration is not important to the police because they are not using them to give tickets, so they are probably not calibrating them. If they were using them for enforcement, they would be calibrated and the V1 would start detecting them. You dont need your V1 to detect signals that are not approved for giving tickets. Other detectors will pick these signals in the frequency ranges that are NOT approved for ticketing and issue an alert.

 

No, actually it doesn't. If you've got three identical units and they're all exhibiting the same symptom then one could assume that none of the three units are working properly especially because Jack (LA)'s V1 picks up the signals. Jack (LA) did the test for you by saying his V1 does pick them up. My Escort picks them up too...Would you trust this radar detector? Not me, that's for damn sure. Never gotten a speeding ticket in my life with a radar detector and I wouldn't take the chance running with one that I don't have faith in. It's just not worth the risk.

 

I am pretty sure those are x band signals. If your valentine is set on A, it should pick them up, but L or little L will screen them.

 

Mine did not pick up the radar signs until it was about 25 ft away. I sent it back to Valentine and they recalibrated the V1 and it works great now. They only charged me shipping.

 

Every single one of them I've seen in California is K band....

 

So L8Apex just confirmed there can be issues with the V1's ability to detect the Kband signals...Not a unit I would trust.

 

I voiced my concerns too. Valentine asked how the unit was being stored? I told them it was hardwired to my wifes car which is never parked in the garage. They told me that if the temp in the car was over 100 degrees for several hours with the unit on and in direct sunlight for long periods of time (which it was) would definetly cause a calibration issue. So, now we shut the unit off and store it in the glove box when not in use. The V1 is back to normal (if not better than before) picking up laser and k bands at very long distances.

 

Per Mike Valentine...

1) The speed sign may employ an FM-CW modulation technique to sense the direction of vehicles in its field of view. This feature is used to isolate departing from oncoming traffic. The V1 does not recognize FM-CW modulation as a valid police radar signal and tries to reject it. FM-CW is allowed for license-free "Part 15" devices by the FCC. FM-CW is not allowed for police radar. There are numerous traffic-volume sensors using FM-CW spread all around metropolitan areas these days that detector owners would rather not produce an alert. Otherwise freeway driving (in Cincinnati, at least) would be very annoying. It's a good thing that the V1 rejects FM-CW modulated signals.

2) The speed sign may have drifted out of the police radar band from aging or temperature. "Part 15" devices are somewhat notorious for this behavior. Automatic door sensors and Doppler security sensors are both "Part 15" devices, too. Few automatic door sensors use FM-CW because of the added expense. The speed sign devices can afford the added cost of including the FM-CW modulating hardware.

3) The V1 in question may need for our service department to have a look at it to make sure it is operating correctly

 

Paul, I hit that same speed box once a week and experienced the same thing. I ordered a new V1 just because of that stupid box then I saw Mike's response.