de_renner
09-27-2004, 02:28 PM
In the last month I’ve made two trips across the breadth of PA into Ohio. The first trip I was accompanied by the new Passport X50 and I used a Valentine One on the second. Up until these excursions I have never used a radar detector before. I will detail how I now feel about both products if anyone cares.
Passport X50:
Positives:
I used this detector in Highway mode. It is VERY sensitive. It gives a warning well in advance.
Expert mode is cool. It tells what its tracking.
Automatically reduces volume after bogey contact.
Negatives:
It doesn’t show you where it’s tracking. (Arrows)
Silver case sticks out like a sore thumb.
Valentine One:
Positives:
I thought the arrows would just be a gimmick, but I like ‘em. They are useful.
Negatives:
It doesn’t seem as sensitive as the X50.
It doesn’t automatically mute or reduce volume after first bogey contact. It’s annoying; you have to keep pushing the button.
To me it’s a toss up. Either detector is good. It is also important to note that while I did drive in excess of the posted speed limits (as I usually do) neither detector “saved my ass”. All the patrol cars I saw either, had someone stopped, drove right by me, or where just sitting there perpendicular to the road (meaning not using laser). All the radar warnings I picked-up where, k or ka band, from the multitude of ‘Your speed is …’ signs littered on the PA Turnpike.
In my lifetime of driving (16 years) I’ve gotten three speeding tickets; paced, VASCAR, and laser. As I’ve said, I never used a detector before and don’t know if I’m going to now.
Passport X50:
Positives:
I used this detector in Highway mode. It is VERY sensitive. It gives a warning well in advance.
Expert mode is cool. It tells what its tracking.
Automatically reduces volume after bogey contact.
Negatives:
It doesn’t show you where it’s tracking. (Arrows)
Silver case sticks out like a sore thumb.
Valentine One:
Positives:
I thought the arrows would just be a gimmick, but I like ‘em. They are useful.
Negatives:
It doesn’t seem as sensitive as the X50.
It doesn’t automatically mute or reduce volume after first bogey contact. It’s annoying; you have to keep pushing the button.
To me it’s a toss up. Either detector is good. It is also important to note that while I did drive in excess of the posted speed limits (as I usually do) neither detector “saved my ass”. All the patrol cars I saw either, had someone stopped, drove right by me, or where just sitting there perpendicular to the road (meaning not using laser). All the radar warnings I picked-up where, k or ka band, from the multitude of ‘Your speed is …’ signs littered on the PA Turnpike.
In my lifetime of driving (16 years) I’ve gotten three speeding tickets; paced, VASCAR, and laser. As I’ve said, I never used a detector before and don’t know if I’m going to now.