Xialater

the double pane glass made it impossible for me to get any results with the detectors I used.....

chris8l

As others will say the V1 is the only way to go. V1 tells you not only signal type and strength, but also how many signals (radars) and where they are (front, back, side -- it indicates the direction of the strongest if there are multiple signals to choose from).
Rush hour traffic cruising along at 75-80, cops and all, and no problems -- 75 on a virtually empty freeway and you get a ticket because "speeding is unsafe"?!?!? It is a bogus and additional tax in states like MA, which is why I have one.

WClark

And you are right, detectors are pretty useless as a defense against them. One of my favorite speed traps switched to them recently and the motorcycle cops have taken to using them from new spots where a patrol car hasnt room to park.

A8-911-Odyssey

I've owned WAy too many other brands. Cobra, Escot, Escort Passport cordless, Bel, sigh..I forget them all.

I got a V1along with my S4 purchase three years ago. It was hard wired from the moonroof power. I sold it along with the car to get an A8. I had my brand new V1 two days later.

Simply put they are way ahead of the others in range, bogey count, and direction.

The first ticket it saves you covers the high price of the V1.

Now I'll go buy some stock in that company.

LEHIII

I too have been a V1 fan for a number of years and have two of them. However, my 97 A8 has the warm weather package which precludes the use of windshield mounted V1. I contacted Valentine, but they do not make a unit with remote sensors.

After looking around, I discovered the Passport SRX from Escort at http://www.escortradar.com. It took about 4 hours to install in my car, but it has been an excellent unit and it claims to send a "shifted" laser signal back - rather than just letting you know you've been caught by laser.

I am not an engineer, but I can tell you that when my V1's have detected laser, I was warned but still got a ticket. I have been warned about laser by the SRX multiple times - and have not been ticketed in the A8 yet.

Wrt to the radar range of the units, I do not find the range on the SRX to be as long as the V1 but it has been more than adequate for the 40,000kms I have driven in the past year. This has included four trips from Toronto to NYC as well as Toronto to Orlando and back.

It was a little tricky to install. The front radar sensor is the largest piece to find a home for but I was able to pop out the lower driver side grill that covers the attachment point for the tow hook and install it there on a custom bracket.

For the two front laser detectors/shifters there isn't much space behind the grill, but I was able to make a couple of brackets to mount them just above the radiator.

The trickiest installation moment was mounting the rear license plate laser detector/shifter and then running its wire from the trunk lid to the front passenger footwell, but it can be done with patience and a fish! Of course you must use aluminum for the brackets and I used stainless steel fasteners - not the ones supplied with the SRX.

I got my unit with the optional speaker and voice announcement and it works very well. I love the auto mute feature (which the V1 does not have) and the flexibility of mounting the SRX mute button. I live in Toronto so stealthiness is critical with this type of device!

Although the Escort web site lists a ~US$1,500 dealer installed price, I called a few of their dealers close to me and was able to get the unit for US$900 and did the installation myself.

Lauren

ryoung

.
I don't suppose that you have some pics of the installation?

LEHIII

Unfortunately, I do not have a digital camera. However, a neighbor does have one I think so I will see if I can get a couple of shots.

KenK in TX

For the archives, check my picture poster...has Bel 975R install pics.