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Valentine One - Compatible w/ Avalanche?

T

tafirehawk309

Full Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2003
Messages
31
Location
Denver, Iowa
New Av owner of 2003 Av WBH. So far, love the vehicle!!! However, have a question re: using a Valentine 1 radar detector w/ Av....

I put the V1 in the Av and it worked fine for a couple of days, then suddenly found it giving off false warnings of laser radar. Tried over several days, still same outcome. Called V1, they suggested I send to them for diagnosis.

V1 said they found nothing wrong during diagnostics, called me for more details. Explained what happened. They were going to test over the long weekend, then if they found nothing send it back to me.

Got the V1 back today, appears to be a new V1 unit. I have heard nothing but great things out of them re: customer service - the good news.

Now the bad news - put the V1 in the Av, right away it gave off false radar warning. When talking to the V1 tech, he asked if I had GPS. I do have OnStar and XM Satellite radio. I believe OnStar can locate stolen vehicle - correct? So, am now wondering if OnStar is the signal the V1 is picking up.....?????

Anyone out there have ideas?

Thanks for your help!!!!!
 
I've had a Valentine one in mine for several months now, no problems, but mine is an '02, and I do have onstar
 
I have had my Valentine hard wired in my AV since the first weekend after I brought it home. Have it mounted above and to the right side of my rearview mirror. Do not get any more false alarms than the usual grocery store door openers.

I do not have onstar, but had the detector in my prior car with XM with no problems. GPS should not affect it since it is a receiver and should be compliant with FCC regs- but maybe the cellular phone portion of the OnStar is causing you a problem. If it is an analog phone, it may use some of the near frequencies.

The only problem I have is those tailights on the Trailblazers and Envoys. They cause a false laser alarm. The black-out ones on some 2003s do not cause this problem

Just some thoughts.
 
I have an '03 with on star and xm and My valentine one has been in since the day I bought the car and I have had zero false alarms.
Does your false alarms happen in your driveway only or does this happen while driving down the road? It could be the xm wave bouncing off metal or something like that causing a problem but you would think that other people would have problems too. Needless to say the V1 is the best detector on the market.
 
Castle_Rock_AV said:
If it is an analog phone, it may use some of the near frequencies.
Click to expand...
Confirmation: OnStar is indeed an analog celluar phone.

-- SS
 
If you want pull the two onstar fuses on the truck out and see if it gives you a false signal. IF it does not go off then you know that your onstar is the problem. If does go off then something else is triggering it!

WVUSQUATCH
 
tafirehawk309:

I have an 03' Z-71 Avy w/ ONSTAR and XM and have had no "non-normal" false alarms (E.g. - just grocery store, bank, etc.) with my V-1. I did the hardwire mod as well.

Maybe the interference is a secret GM tracking device designed to see if you use the vehicle contrary to warranty? LOL

Or even better, I see yours is a naked Avy, maybe my cladding helps to absorb stray signals as well as stray rocks. LOL

Anyway, my V1 works great, no issues. Good luck with your issue.

Regards,

SpottyJ
 
Are the false signals happening in the same places every time? Many cities are installing camera's and detectors that cause your detector to go off. My Escort goes off every day on the way to work at the same location :E:, this has just recently started happening.

Just a thought, may not be the cause though....
 
You will recieve false laser warnings with the V1 when a Trailblazer, Avalanche, or a few other vehicles with a 3rd brake light similar to the AV or the Trailblazer are in front of you.
 
Thanks for all the feedback. As a test, put V1 in Durango tonight and had zero false laser alarms in over 2 hours of driving.

In the Av, the V1 gives the false reading in various locations, nothing consistent. We live in the country, it did it sitting in the garage right away.

I am going to try in the Firehawk tomorrow, see what results I get.

Again, it is only the laser warning and how often it does it is not consistent....?

Will keep you posted.

Thanks!
 
From the Valentine 1 web site:

Laser False Alarms

Red neon, from stores and occasionally from brake lights of other cars immediately ahead, can imitate the characteristics of speed laser. Solution: Move away from source.
 
Hold on a second. When you say "false alarms" what exactly do you mean by that?

I've got two V1s, one in each of our vehicles. We've been using them for years and they are without a doubt the very best radar/laser detectors money can buy (my opinion based on lots of experience and others' experience with other brands).

V1s will give you LOTS of X-band warnings. If that's the false alarms you're talking about then you're getting the typical warnings induced by door openers at fast food and 7-11 stores and red neon signs, etc. Lots of equipment uses X-band so it will false on you. If you want to disable X-band on the V1 you can (forget how but read your manual and you'll see it there). You can always press the control knob once when you're getting alarms - it will quiet the unit temporarily.

My V1 is hard-wired into the overhead console and it sits just beneath the rearview mirror. It's never in my way and it's not that easy to see from the outside.

Good luck with your V1. It's a great investment and will pay for itself the very first time it saves you from a ticket.
 
Any road construction or building construction near the road where you are driving? They could be using a spinning laser level which I guess could set off the laser detector? Just a thought.
 
Some newer cars in front of you with LED brake lights will set off the laser alarm.......AVYs being one of these vehicles

Where is yours mounted? maybe you are getting reflections when you hit your bnrake pedal that set off the laser........Try moving to different location ...most mount high in the center either next to or under rearview mirror.

What else have you added to inside of truck? NEON or anything with red lights?
 
I move my Valentine 1 from Av to Impala ss with no problems. Everytime I get hit with laser I will find the source in a few seconds hiding in the bush thinking he is slick :2:
 
Your windshield could be causing some light sources to refract or reflect differently causing the V1 to think it's detecting laser. Mine falses regularly on laser; sometimes in regular places sometimes not.
 
I have my V1 mounted to the left and above the rearview mirror with the remote unit mounted on the steering column. I also have Onstar and XM. No problems at all. Laser is a very difficult signal to false but it can happen. Even if it does false it sure is the best unit on the market!! If you haven't checked out the remote unit it is worth a look.
 
I have a Passport right now that I think is dying, just because it will give me false signals in X, K, and Ka bands, it is non-consistent. The radar detector has been in my family for about 8 years. I was used in a GMC 2500 Suburban, Lincoln Navigator, Ford E350 Van(Ocassionally) and my Avalanche.

I am planning on getting a V1 soon, but am wondering what the problem might be.
Thanks.

-James R. :cool:
 
Have been running the V-1 for a little over 5 years and love it. I do know if you have someone near with one of the cheap detectors such as some cobra's and whistlers they have set mine off. checked it when i pulled up behind a freind to just make sure i wasn't going mad.
That is good info passed on about the new brake light systems giving a false on the laser side. Will be watching for it
Zeeya
 
After having used my V1 in my S2000 for 4 yrs... I now use it in the AV... it has worked exactly the same. Same erroneous response to Envoys and trailblazers... same falseing to any grocery store in town(K band). I also move it to our Odyssey.... same results. Also my AV is loaded with everything except XM.

By the way as someone mentioned... you can turn off the K band if you are sure there are not any police depts. with the older equipt.

Other than that... I have never found a better detector. Or a more informative one.
 
I have the remote unit as well... it is kind of funny to have the V1 go off and then slow down and watch everyone pass you... cause they can not see your V1 go red!!
 
Are the Valentine One's worth getting? Where is the best place to get them? I havent seen them in any stores.
Thanks
Romeo
 
IMHO they are one of the best radar detectors out there.
You can only buy the V1's direct as they do not sell thru any stores or chains that I am aware of, although you can get them off of eBay but they are usually selling close to the retail price of $399.00.
Here is the link to Valentine One http://www.valentineone.com/home.asp

Hope this helps ;)
 
Anyone have any experience with laser blinders? They actually jam the laser signal, so it appears to the operator that a misfire has occurred, allowing you to slow down and turn it off so a speed reading can be made, thus not drawing any additional attention to your vehicle. From what I have read, they are legal. Unlike radar jammers, because jamming a radio signal is prohibited by the FCC. Laser is controlled by the FDA.
 
7of7 said:
Anyone have any experience with laser blinders? They actually jam the laser signal, so it appears to the operator that a misfire has occurred, allowing you to slow down and turn it off so a speed reading can be made, thus not drawing any additional attention to your vehicle. From what I have read, they are legal. Unlike radar jammers, because jamming a radio signal is prohibited by the FCC. Laser is controlled by the FDA.
Click to expand...

I've read a review of a K40 unit that said it was worth it, but you have to nail the brakes hard to scrub the spped before the laser finally locks up.
 
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