Thanks!
Yeah it surprised me too, to be honest.
It is definitely material. In the case of instant-on, if the LEO is hunting, I usually get a "chirp" from the V1 before the LEO is in visual range when the LEO has tagged someone else. If that alert happens to be Ka band, I always slowdown immediately, because I can say with near 100 percent confidence that there's a LEO up ahead. By the time that signal registers on the Max2, it has been up to 10-15 seconds later, depending on how actively he's using his radar. Under some conditions, even when the signal has been steady, there have been times when the V1 was chirping away with increasing intensity while the Max2 wouldn't let me know until I was 1/4 mile away (which usually means you had better brake now).
Ok.. I have both new V1 and Max (prior to Max2).. V1 and Max tie on Ka most the time. Within fraction of second. One out of ten Max beats V1 by several seconds. And Max picks up pulse, or instant on Ka better than the V1 when LET are hunting down the road. Both on highway setting.. With full logic, and auto, about half the time, Max beats V1 enough to make a difference.
With K band, in highway and full mode for both, V1 seems to be better 70 percent of the time.. Insane false alarms when not in logic mode. In full logic mode, Max beats V1 for first alert every time when it is in auto mode (or any mode) For the GPS.... I warned folks in this forum and others back in 2014 of the resurgence of K band threat with brand new digital K band radar. Our county and state was one of the first to deploy in mass. The Max has not once done what was described. As a matter of fact, it has alerted K band when I thought it was a false area, but was not. And in one case the smart meter showed the frequency different than what entered by me as a false prior into the database (door opener not in its database Imlicked out manually). It knew the difference. The V1 will show 2 radar when this happens. But so will the Max (one grayed out from my block entry, and the active cop). In the built in database, never had it not warn me when cop was lurking at same GPS coordinate. Yet blocked out false signal.
There are so many false alarms with K band around here, it is total annoying with V1 even in full logic mode. Yet, with cops also using at least half K band now, that presents a problem.
The new K1 does seem to block out Audi radar, unless pop is turned on.. Then I have found it will sometimes pick up radar from other cars.. I have not experienced either detector false on my 2015 or 2012 radar... Oh, I own two V1 and two Max... Both V1 were upgraded to new version. Handed me new units over the counter it their HQ. I run both sets.. One in each Genny. Wiring is a mess for now.. At some point will fix that. Especially if I feel compelled to run both. Which I do at the moment.
Once I got my upgraded (new) V1s going, as a V1 cultist since day one V1 was introduced, there was a renewed comfort using the location arrows to back up the Max. For now will run both in both cars.. Wife got so frustrated with the falling on the V1 she abandoned it. She uses nothing and makes sure she drives where she does not get a ticket. The other vehicles she drives, no need.
The Live app is essential. And I like that both manual AND dectector reports on Live. Shows the difference. And gives more data with the reports by other detectors. More Intel to has situational awareness. Waze is all manual operation... So, combining it with V1 is only a stop gap for me. One I will not take..
The Newwest Max mount still is not as simple as setting the V1 against the glass and its suction cups.. But the Max mount has advantages. Last longer on the suction cup, easy to refresh with a simple wash, no need to carry extra suction cups like with V1. However, either one using the Blend mount makes them killer. For now, I alternated who has the mirror Blend mount between the cars.. I like the Max windshield mount better because it will mount the unit just below the tint line, yet the mount is above the tint band and is very solid sticking. Not hard core, just a preference.
I believe the laser overall V1 has best off axis detection.. But, mixed results.. Max has done fantastic a few times with great warning lighting up cars ahead of me, and the V1 was silent the whole time until I came into their view to light me up to check speed. I need to invest in the laser shifter for both cars.. Expensive.. But reported effective. And I like how it can be integrated into the Max.
My heart is with V1 and Michael Valentine. He (and Jim with him at Cincy Microwave) has been the stalwart in the industry. Got to know them while doing some light duty SCCA stuff. He can be accused as blue blood in the media. But, over time he has listened to the customer, and been very innovative.. for now, I need the Max and Live to survive and thrive... This combination is a better threat management package. Period. As a pilot, my planes did not rely on one set of avionics.. Including diversity of brands (and designs) for some primary instruments, nav systems, and communications. So too, this is what I do now. Both V1 and Max systems.
IF I have the time,and see the detector reported cops on Live, who look like they are in a kill box patrol, I will avoid the area.. I do not want to end up with some numb nuts, gunpowder fed, steroid fed, jack boot communist military style trained cops deciding I am the guppy with the colorful tail (not speeding), they feel compelled they need to pull me over... And as much as I move around, I have been seen as a random colorful guppy passing by their eyes... Including the Stingray equipped battle wagons they have attempting to illegally intercept all of our cell phones within their range. None of their business. I and millions of other have just bout had enough of these drones. Vote Libertarian. Your only chance to escape the Matrix agents 😎
I agree with those that choose to use two systems for now.. Yes, eccentric and expensive.. But for the power drivers who will do what is possible to avoid LEO, it is the only way to go..
In the decade this will all not matter. If the thugs and tyrants in .gov have their way, all autos will have chipped license plates, chipped cars, chipped subscriptions to access roads.. And this will include using this to determine speeds... Like the transponders in toll roads that are used to calculate speeds of traffic, AND individually (but they have not yet issued tickets for this. Yet). Plus mobile devices already give out our location and speed to the carriers and traffic reporting systems (like we use in our cars with a subscription).. One day soon, we will have to have faked out (illegal by then) transponders (RFID NFC or whatever), and be off grid with mobile devices while taking our right to "free travel between and inside the states". But, save this paragraph for another debate another day... Know this, unless people stop them, we will be telling old war stories about the days of radar wars to our grand kids.. And as Patton character in the movie Patton said, have to admit that during the war against our liberty, we "shoveled Shft in Louisiana" when asked (by our grandchildren) what did we do about the march against tyranny 😜
History lesson, and prophet of the potential future over.. 😇