Still the Benchmark Maker...

The Valentine One was first brought out in early 90s. The unit featured X, K and Wideband Ka. For its time and still, it was King of X and K band pickup. Ka Wideband, thought featured, was in middle of the pack of detectors.

Now this Valentine was a almost splitting image of the Escort DSP detector when Mike Valentine was ending his time with Cincinnati Microwave (aka Escort.) The Valentine performed equal or slightly better than the Escort DSP.

The Valentine One, has been through technically 5 changes since its' debut. (1) The first intro model was just X, K and Ka wideband. (2) In 1994-95, when laser was becoming more popular, the next step was adding laser which made the unit a 1/4 inch thicker. (3) In 1995-96, SuperWide band was added to the unit. (4) By 97', the Valentine went through a full change, Band IDs were added, plus Ka Superwide band was improved making Now the industry standard. (5) By 2000-01, the Valentine became smaller (1/4 thinner), added Ku band, and now improved Ka Superwide even more.

Now what has been failed to be mentioned by others,
Valentine has been doing a marketing ploy. What Valentine does is they keep up with current threats. Only when something becomes BIG they then make changes to their platform. Meaning, Laser has was introduced in the early 90s, and when it becomes more popular in early 94-95 then they made changes to their unit, Same thing happened with the upper Ka band (35.5GHz Talon). The Valentine provided protection here but on the lower side than the Bel 970LR but still better than the basic detectors. When the threat of Talons came on the market Valentine changes their unit again to protect their buyers. This is how they stay in business, plus this insures new buyers and older buyers an upgrade to the detector owners from $45-300 (newer-older units).

When purchased "$400" big ones, you get many accessories that many high class detectors offer. A visor mount, windshield mount, hardwiring cables and uplink (for hidden display), cigarette power plug, straight power cord, spiral power cord, and additional suction-cups. What is not offered is a carrying case to hold these things; I bought a Targus camera case to hold it ($10.)

The 2002 Valentine One tested, has "one" of the most yet simple features that a detector should have. It provides, all radar/laser band IDs, signal strength meter, and distinct Audible alerts. In addition to this, the Valentine incorporates an additional rear radar/laser pickup, band deletion, multiple signal display (bogey counter), auto-dim, "now" Ku band, and Arrows.

The Bogey Counter provides up to 9 total signals to be announced to the operator at one time. The unit signals the operator which threat is more severe at that time (police, non-police or false) with flashing arrow and Band ID. When that other threat is received, there is an alternate alert (even muted) that a provides the operator knowledge of a threat around. This tells the driver you may not be clear a threat (ambush) that would cost him.

The Auto-Dim is only unit offered on the market today by the Valentine. There is a front sensor and rear sensor that picks up light sources and automatically adjusts the light levels on it. This is nice to have so you don’t have to touch the detector plus it provides linear adjustments. This Linear adjustment is like 6-5-4-3-2-1, 6 bright- 1 dimmest. Where Escort 8500 provides 4 bright 3 dim 2 dimmer and 1 dark mode.

The Valentine One can be programmed as previous Valentine units post 97. Like the Escort and Bel 970/980/985, you can eliminate X or K or Ka or Laser pickup. This is highly useful for states that no longer use X band radar units. This in turn decreases false presence of picking up non-police radar. The Valentine, when programmed, can turn on Ku band for international areas that use Ku photo radar. Further programming can be done to the Valentine; this is obtained on the official Valentine site, as well as to program band deletion which is not in the owners’ manual.

The Valentine has been and still is immune to the Vg-2 Interceptor Radar Detector Detector (RDD). The latest RDDs out, can pickup the Valentine. They are the Spectra RDD (Canada) and the Stalcar RDD (Australia). Both are the same unit, but filtered slightly because of different Cellular and Electronic Magnetic Fields used.

The Performance of the 2002 Valentine is Top Notch. Barely anything is available out, that I personally tested, just touches or not even comes close to the Valentine One (not tested the Bel 985). I have put this Valentine One up again the Escort 8500, Bel 970 LR, Cobra 9560, and Whistler 1675.

Comparing to Top Performers: (Bel 970LR and Escort 8500)

The Bel 970LR provides strong numbers. Only against the Talon (35.5GHz) did the 970LR just match the 2002 Valentine or just fell by a tenth of a mile. On K band both provide early warning but the Valentine pulls earlier by ½ - ¾ in full straight roads and marginal 1/8 to ¼ in corners. X band no contest, Valentine hands down.

The Escort 8500 falls more than the 970LR in receiving Talons, around ¼ - 1/3 mile average and can be up to 2/3 mile straight roads. In K band, the Valentine killed the supposed "Worlds Best" Escort 8500 by 3/4 mile straight and roughly 1/8- ¼ mile in corners. X band the Valentine is king and will always be king.

Rear performance, nothing can touch the Valentine One, unless you put another top dollar detector in the rear window.

Numbers:
. . . . . . . . . . . City . . . . . . Hwy
X band . . . . . . . 0.5-1.2 . . . 0.5- 3.5 mil
K band . . . . . . . 0.4-0.9 . . . 0.5- 4.0 mil
Ka band . . . . . . 0.3-0.6 . . . .0.3- 2.5 mil

Laser 25% better chance over any windshield mounted units.

Now the drawbacks to the Valentine;

Auto-Dim is a very useful feature at dusk to night. The problem… when even a small light source touches the sensor, the unit becomes brighter. This is especially bad when detecting a threat, the an officer and everyone can see it on the windshield.

Another problem, though small, is volume. Yes the Valentine is loud , it needs another 5-7 dBL level increase. Only the Bel 950/960/970/980/985/990 and Uniden units have one of the loudest audible warnings on the market.

A big concern now is the new threat of the Spectra RDD in Canada and the United States. This unit has been around for a year now and no current update to avoid detection. And also MPH’s POP III radar gun, which Valentine states to have problems in switching on and off, but still a threat!

Finally a text display, to provide other informative information that even $100 dollar detectors provide.

Now the main question is...is it worth the $400?
I sure think so!! This detector is less than the speeding tickets that drivers get when using cheaper detectors, and provides earlier response even to the Worlds Best (www.radartest.com) detector. The Arrows are a big plus. Yes, you should have a good eye on the road, but at night you cant see that officer behind a bush taking your speed.

This unit is a excellent driving tool to have, not a License to speed,