Factory Window Tint & Radar Detection

by **badjura** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:05 pm

I am in the market for a V1 detector and was reading on their website about factory window tint and how it can affect how well the V1 can detect signals. I wonder if the factory green tint on my 02 will be a problem? Apparantly you should keep it from being behind the blue band as well..which i didn't know using my older Bel. I only had my side windows tinted further, which also would be a problem if I had done the back window..
see here:
http://valentine1.com/lab/Previously6.asp
Couldn't dind any specific threads on this ...

by **Jackass-Jeff** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:34 pm

richard has his on the blue band (02) with a solargard tint on the sides and rear. It works GREAT. They LIE =P

by **Jai_Jai_Binks** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 9:11 am

When i was getting my tinting done on my solara (wanted that mirror like tint), the dude that did it told me that because its got a metallic lining it could reduce the strength of the detector!

by **mlimin** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 1:43 pm

I have solar gard silver tint and V1 radar, no problem at all

by **Eddiman** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 5:15 pm

man im telling you get an escort 8500 !! its the best

by **AzN_DrAgoN48** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:46 pm

i have an 8500, would the dot matrix of behind the rearview mirror affect the detection? can i also place it in the top left hand corner?

by **Mudd** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 8:44 pm

The only type of tint that will affect radar detectors are the metallized tint, which is typically the best stuff out there. I guess the new ceramic-based stuff that's out there is supposed to be a little better than the metalized stuff and keep out more heat.

Also, V1 is THE best detector out there. This is not opinion, this is fact backed up by several independant tests by highly regarded facilities, as well as personal experience. Do a basic google search. It's there. The Escorts are great too, but there's 2 types of radar detectors out there; V1, and everything else.

by **Jai_Jai_Binks** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 9:15 am

Mudd wrote:Also, V1 is THE best detector out there. This is not opinion, this is fact backed up by several independant tests by highly regarded facilities, as well as personal experience. Do a basic google search. It's there. The Escorts are great too, but there's 2 types of radar detectors out there; V1, and everything else.

V1 was the one that set the bar for other detectors...recent tests however prove otherwise...(check out motor trends best r/detectors)they have proven that Escort 8500 beats V1.

by **Yanks0114** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:22 pm

agreed jhbatia. Check radartest.com

by **AzN_DrAgoN48** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 8:54 pm

hey yanks my radar won't stick to the dot matrix behind the rearview... and i placed it in the top left hand corner. will it affect the detection?

by **Stock Solara SEV6** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 2:01 pm

The V-1 is the BEST radar detector out there. One caution, before you buy a used one, check the serial number on the V-1 website to see what version of software/internal hardware it has. It could be an old model that would cost big bucks to get it updated to the latest version.

by **Yanks0114** » Sat Feb 28, 2004 7:35 pm

AzN_DrAgoN48 wrote:hey yanks my radar won't stick to the dot matrix behind the rearview... and i placed it in the top left hand corner. will it affect the detection?

Nah you shouldn't have a problem with that.

by **Slappy_G** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:58 pm

Sorry to turn this into a radar detector argument, but if you believe the Escort 8500 to be the better detector, you are wrong. While the 8500 has a slightly increased X band range, almost all traffic radar today is K or Ka. In addition, the 8500 cannot tell you the direction of the signal, since (like every other detector) it has one radar antenna.

The Valentine One however, has 2 independent radar antennas that allow it to tell you if the radar is ahead, behind or sideways. As esoteric as the feature may sound, once you've used it, it is VITAL.

I'm not saying the 8500 is a bad detector - far from it. But, if you want the BEST there is, get a V1. Heck, buy one of each and test for yourself, then return the loser.

by **Eddiman** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:00 pm

In response to Slappy G's comment....im gonna have to dissagree with you. I honestly think the Escort 8500 is the best, having two antennas/sensors doesnt really matter, or the arrow it doesnt matter. Its how sensitive the device is what matters.

The arrow feature is nice but once you get a definate signal wouldnt you want to slow down anyway ?

The Escort falses the least between the two dectors, and people may say that car and driver has rated the V1 high while the fact of the matter is it is only car and driver and Valentine themselves that rate it much higher.
Several independent tests have rated Escort much better than the Valentine....the V1 is a good dector yes but not worth the 400 + dollars....

The V1 is upgradeable and so is the Escort 8500 plus on top of that if you have 300 extra dollars you buy add ons such as the laser shifter (another great escort product) which you just add on/plug into your Escort.

The X band feature is obselete, and with the Escort you can disable that feature, and by doing that you are slightly increasing the sensitivity of the device. For instance in texas all the cops use just k and ka.

My friend and I before buying a dector both researched both the Escort and Valentine.....by going with the Escort you are gettin the best value

by **Slappy_G** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 8:43 pm

Eddiman,

You have articulated your point well. As we have both stated our opinions, I'll stand down from the usual escalating argument thing...

In the end, my question is really how much they help, since I'm in Ohio and there are a lot of areas that use strictly laser. And let me tell you, that's a pain in the buttocks.

As the saying from B5 goes: "Understanding is a 3 edged sword. Your side, their side, and the truth."

Factory Window Tint & Radar Detection

Factory Window Tint & Radar Detection

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