B8.5 and newest Valentine 1 - false alarms?

[thoness]

I've seen numerous older threads about the v1 not working properly with the b8.5s due to the side assist and the false alarms that ensue. Since it has been a couple years, what is the latest news? There was mixed info about the newest version (junk k fighter and traffic filter) still having issues with the false alarms.

I'm a new owner and reluctant to give up my v1, but don't want to put money into upgrading it if it doesn't work. Currently I have pop turned off, but still have rear k band turned on (where I get false alarms now).

[14S4GWM]

You can upgrade and be fine or sell yours now and buy a newer one. I had false alarms with mine and sold it and just purchased a new one. I have no issues now.

Edit: I have no issues with side assist anymore. I do still get auto doors and such sometimes

[weaselp1]

I had the same issue with my old v1 - i ended up selling the v1 and getting the passport 9500ix - no false alarms at all with the 9500ix

[Johnson]

I just sold my old one and got the new one. I used to get rear false alerts that wouldn't stop unless I turned the unit off and back on. I didn't want to turn off rear K band either.

It's almost strange how quiet it is now. The ability to connect your phone and tweak it is really nice too.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[thoness]

You can upgrade and be fine or sell yours now and buy a newer one. I had false alarms with mine and sold it and just purchased a new one. I have no issues now.

Edit: I have no issues with side assist anymore. I do still get auto doors and such sometimes

That is way better idea. I could upgrade for approximately $100 by selling and buying new. Shame that they don't offer a more cost effective upgrade option.

[thoness]

I had the same issue with my old v1 - i ended up selling the v1 and getting the passport 9500ix - no false alarms at all with the 9500ix

How long have you had the passport? I had the 8500 x50 back in the day and it died shortly after the warranty ended.

[LYKUNO]

I recently upgraded my V1 to get the junk K band fighter. It cost ~$100 including shipping for this incremental upgrade. As I recall, when I received it back the documentation stated that the POP filter was now off (though could be reenabled by programming it. My expectation was that door openers and other non-police transmissions that caused false alerts on the K band would be totally eliminated. Unfortunately, I still get them around shopping areas from door openers. Oh well, I still love my V1 with it's arrows and long distance alerts.

[weaselp1]

How long have you had the passport? I had the 8500 x50 back in the day and it died shortly after the warranty ended.

i have had my 9500ix for over 3 years with no issues - the GPS lockout functionality (lock out false alarms) was a huge reason i bought it - i had a hard time getting away from the v1 arrows, but now when my detector goes off, its almost always a cop. I was becoming immune to the false alarms the v1 had. The v1 aesthetically is much nicer (metal housing) vs plastic housing on the 9500ix. But i moved to the 9500ix and never looked back and it has been rock solid for me since i bought it.

[thoness]

I recently upgraded my V1 to get the junk K band fighter. It cost ~$100 including shipping for this incremental upgrade. As I recall, when I received it back the documentation stated that the POP filter was now off (though could be reenabled by programming it. My expectation was that door openers and other non-police transmissions that caused false alerts on the K band would be totally eliminated. Unfortunately, I still get them around shopping areas from door openers. Oh well, I still love my V1 with it's arrows and long distance alerts.

My upgrade would be $289 for a firmware upgrade according to their description. Decisions, decisions...

[grovlet]

I recently upgraded my V1 to get the junk K band fighter. It cost ~$100 including shipping for this incremental upgrade. As I recall, when I received it back the documentation stated that the POP filter was now off (though could be reenabled by programming it. My expectation was that door openers and other non-police transmissions that caused false alerts on the K band would be totally eliminated. Unfortunately, I still get them around shopping areas from door openers. Oh well, I still love my V1 with it's arrows and long distance alerts.

Supposedly you really need to partner the V1 with the YAV1 App

YAV1 App Description Page

Take a look at the site - and check it out - but ultimately it's designed to help filter out unwanted/false alerts as well as provide an extremely customized V1 experience.

Edit: - I don't actually own a V1 - so real life experience but found the above site helpful when I was researching the V1

[14S4GWM]

My upgrade would be $289 for a firmware upgrade according to their description. Decisions, decisions...

Sell and buy new.

[4wheelpilot]

Sold my V1 about 3 years ago for the same reason...too many false alerts.
I thought the V1's arrows were a great feature but at times ended up being a distraction.

After much research, i decided on the Uniden LRD 950 which has gps with it's manual false alarm lock out feature, red light camera, etc.

[mjames]

I just disabled X and K bands, most cops use KA and laser anyway... Get no false alarms and have best range and arrows still.

[s14roller]

Turned on traffic filter and no issues...I also have blind spot detection.

[14S4GWM]

I just disabled X and K bands, most cops use KA and laser anyway... Get no false alarms and have best range and arrows still.

You might want to rethink that

http://www.rdforum.org/wiki/index.ph...South_Carolina

[LINDW4LL]

K band is still used quite a bit; I don't recommend disabling it.

I do have options 1 and J disabled (X and POP) on all of my V1s, which eliminates most falses.

[mjames]

Nope, in my county, York, they only use Ka or Laser. The majority of my time is in Mecklenburg in NC, I am just over the state border.

[scottycs]

I would enable K. In NC they only use K and KA, I have confirmed K band around Waxhaw, NC in the last year.

[DBL R]

This guy does a really good job of showing how to program the Valentine so you don't get so many false alerts.

[Elderan]

Nope, in my county, York, they only use Ka or Laser. The majority of my time is in Mecklenburg in NC, I am just over the state border.

I am in the winston-salem area can confirm I have never see them using anything but Ka in the past few years. I disabled X and K as well and don't regret it. Now if I were to go to unknown areas I would either re enable K or just adjust my speed.

I will also note that I drive from the winston area to south atlanta every few months and only once saw them use K band, but in atlanta they do use laser with they are placing a person clocking on bridges.

[VandyZ]

I still get alot of false alarms from the newest GM vehicles and new mazdas seem to set off laser often.

Anyone experiencing the same?

[sacandagaD]

I still get alot of false alarms from the newest GM vehicles and new mazdas seem to set off laser often.

Anyone experiencing the same?

Yep, along with new Infinitis and Acuras.

[VandyZ]

Yep, along with new Infinitis and Acuras.

I should add, my V1 is brand new.

[14S4GWM]

I still get alot of false alarms from the newest GM vehicles and new mazdas seem to set off laser often.

Anyone experiencing the same?

I had a Mazda behind me this morning and my laser was going crazy, first encounter with this. My V1 is a new one also.

[sacandagaD]

I should add, my V1 is brand new.

Mine was brand new last summer.

[LYKUNO]

Supposedly you really need to partner the V1 with the YAV1 App

YAV1 App Description Page

Take a look at the site - and check it out - but ultimately it's designed to help filter out unwanted/false alerts as well as provide an extremely customized V1 experience.

Edit: - I don't actually own a V1 - so real life experience but found the above site helpful when I was researching the V1

Unfortunately, Yav1 is only for Android phones, and I've got an iPhone.

[KRS Aaron]

I had a Mazda behind me this morning and my laser was going crazy, first encounter with this. My V1 is a new one also.

Yes and with Volvos too. I had a CX5 in traffic behind me yesterday that was driving me nuts.

[grovlet]

Unfortunately, Yav1 is only for Android phones, and I've got an iPhone.

Well - they do suggest just getting a cheap Android Phone (or a tablet) without service and use that to run the YaV1:
http://www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=41513
http://www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?p=703756

But I can see it being a little more of a pain - although if it solves the issue vs just dealing with it or even going with another $600 detector it may be an option.

[Thurston]

I am in the winston-salem area can confirm I have never see them using anything but Ka in the past few years. I disabled X and K as well and don't regret it. Now if I were to go to unknown areas I would either re enable K or just adjust my speed.

I will also note that I drive from the winston area to south atlanta every few months and only once saw them use K band, but in atlanta they do use laser with they are placing a person clocking on bridges.

I think this is the best advice - by and large I encounter law enforcement using Ka and when the Ka goes off I can almost be certain a cop is ahead - meanwhile K band is literally always going of on me but I keep it on because I drive in rural areas often and want the extra protection but yeah the v1 is almost unusable w/ k band always on.