I bought a gadget

"yitznewton" (yitznewton) 10/29/2015 at 09:39 • Filed to: valentine one

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...to keep my dashcam company.

I’m not an egregious speeder, and I haven’t gotten stopped in over 15 years; but I’m thinking of switching to something more conspicuous like an S2000 or ND Miata, so I figured I’d try this out.

There’s a guy Vortex on RDForum who does a lot of research on detectors, and personally runs a V1. He has a “tune” of settings he recommends, which is what I loaded to start with. It disables X-band detection entirely.

The company only sells direct, and they often have some returned units which they sell for 10% off — that’s what I got, plus the Android Bluetooth dongle for flashing new settings.

On my morning suburban commute I got one laser strike, though I didn’t see anything around. I’m happy that this will at least hopefully give me a better picture of speed enforcement activity in the area.

CalzoneGolem > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 09:42

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You can also get a better idea of security systems and which traffic lights detect you’re there without the plates under the road.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 09:42

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Go big or go home.

Ash78, voting early and often > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 09:49

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I will never, ever, ever be able to get Dr. Valentine’s head shot out of my brain. This thing graced the pages of every in-flight magazine from 1988 until the present day. I image he’s 300lbs with a bushy white beard now. STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT, YOU CREEP!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/29/2015 at 09:54

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Is that even legal?

yitznewton > Ash78, voting early and often 10/29/2015 at 09:58

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yitznewton > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 09:58

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Same half-grin

Agrajag > Ash78, voting early and often 10/29/2015 at 09:59

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Found a picture.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 10/29/2015 at 10:00

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Radar detectors usually aren’t.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Ash78, voting early and often 10/29/2015 at 10:00

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Every car magazine. You couldn’t read a car review without seeing that raised eyebrow.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/29/2015 at 10:03

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As far as I know there are only 2 states where having one is illegal. One of the being Virginia because Virginia. I think the other is Ohio but I could be wrong. Everywhere else they are fair game. Jammers on the other hand are illegal

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/29/2015 at 10:09

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In the US, radar detector’s are only illegal in Commercial Vehicles. (of course they2 exceptions are that they are illegal in Virginia and DC, hahahaha, sorry Patrick George)

Radar jammers are illegal country wide

laser jammers are illegal in: California, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Virginia

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 10/29/2015 at 10:10

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See my response to SidewaysOnDirt to see where they are legal and illegal.

I’m not into them, have an old one in my trunk I don’t use, but I like to know the laws, and I have a very inconspicuous vehicle right now. No one expects a gray Mercury Milan to be doing 85 haha

Rico > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 10:13

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How much? I’ve thought of getting one of these, never been stopped but I sometimes push the limit.

atrombs > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 10/29/2015 at 10:20

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VA and DC. I have a cheap one I take with me for road trips. Plug it in as soon as I’m across state lines. It has saved me once, so it’s already paid for itself.

yitznewton > Rico 10/29/2015 at 10:30

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Regular price is $400, so $360 if you get a returned unit. Android dongle is $50, there’s a free app called YaV1 which is good for configuration. Ground shipping was extra.

Tripper > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 10:33

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My father got me a V1 for my high school graduation in ‘03, I’ve had it updated a few times but it still works great (everywhere but my home state)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/29/2015 at 10:57

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Only Virginia and DC? Wow. I could have sworn that they are (or were at one time) illegal in Florida.

functionoverfashion > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 11:01

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I’ve had one in every car I’ve owned since 2002. In fact, the same actual one. You gotta hard-wire it to ignition switched power, so it comes on automatically. I’ve also always found a nice slick place for a remote mute button. Currently right by my shifter, although I plan to move it up into the shift knob itself. I can provide some more guidance if you wish to go that route...

On the K-band thing, I would have disabled that except that my local police still use it. But it is basically un-usable on the highway with all the radar-based systems on cars these days. Laser, I find that certain cars set it off. Audis, certain Infinitis, some others I’m sure. I disabled that because of a few cars I pass every day on my commute.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/29/2015 at 11:02

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I used multiple sources before posting. AAA’s website and wikipedia. I guess some states have been known to say it’s “obstructing your view” and can give a ticket for that, but you probably pissed off the officer on your own if he wrote that ticket.

I know they’re often “frowned upon” but Virginia and DC are the only illegal state and district from what I can find.

There may have been more states in the past, but I guess someone pulled the “Communications Act of 1934” and outranked the state’s rulings on them.

yitznewton > functionoverfashion 10/29/2015 at 11:54

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I got a 4-way lighter plug adapter for now; dashcam plus V1 plus phone charger. I just loosen the plug in the outlet when I park (VW has an always-on accessory outlet).

It’s totes clunky; not sure if it’s worth hard-wiring anything at this point, since I’m dreaming of changing cars by spring, but that would be nice if I get something long-term.

yitznewton > functionoverfashion 10/29/2015 at 11:56

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Do you leave it mounted when you park?

functionoverfashion > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 12:41

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I do; it’s waayyy up by the headliner and you can barely tell it’s there form the outside. Small disclaimer: I live in an area where I leave the keys in my car at my house, and I could probably do the same at work.

functionoverfashion > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 12:44

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I think it’s worth it, it’s far less visible to all when it’s hardwired. However, I also run a remote display, so combined with the remote mute button, I can tuck the unit way up by the headliner.

I set up a whole harness to do all this that I keep transferring from car to car. So I just move my fuse tap over to the next car, then run RJ-11 wires to wherever I need. It typically takes me about an hour. I bought the hardwire adapter from V1 so I can run the unit and remote accessories more easily. You do still have to split the acc. side to get a mute and display on there at the same time. But again, I did it once and I just move the unit from car to car. I did it once to my mother’s car for just a week-long road trip!

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > yitznewton 10/29/2015 at 13:19

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Always a good choice, I run one as well. X band disabled and a few other settings switched up. Love it and its saved me quite a few times.