No, the V1 isn't junk, but it can find junk for you...
Has this happened to anyone else???
This has happened twice now. As I am driving along, the V1 gave me a single, strong "k" warning, followed by three ascending beeps, followed by a "J" flashing on the display . This was on the newest of the V1's that I have (I have three), and has the POP detection.
I read through the manual, but didn't find anything on this "J" warning, so I called Valentine Research.
They told me that the "J" stands for "junk". Once the detector determines that the signal came from a junk detector, it displays the "J" and then eliminates the warning.
At first, I thought it might be some sort of new detector being used...
postscript: This is probably off topic, but since most people here use the V1, I thought I'd post it here...
91 M5 Alpine White II, Silver Gray 3/90 production
17x8/17x9 M system with PS2, 20mm touring roll bar; Ground Control Coilovers; EAT Chip, CD43; bmw/nardi blackline steering wheel, 3.8 Cam Gears
08 535i / 6 speed
Space Gray; Gray; Sport/Premium/Nav
00 M5 Ti Silver; Imola/black sportiv --Sold
Engine:
Supersprint Headers, Dinan CAI kit and MAFS, Throttle Bodies, Cams, Ported heads, Exhaust, Custom dinan software, Evosport Pullies, Dinan clutch and lightened flywheel; Ignition solutions plasma coils
Suspension:
Dinan Stage 3 with front and rear Strut Tower Braces, Beastpower Sway bar brackets, Dinan Wheels with 275/285 PilotSport, X5 Thrust arm bushings, Stoptech 355mm 4 piston front, 355mm 2 piston rear brake kit, Dinan 3.45 diff
Interior/Misc:
Eurodash, updated steering wheel, Bluetooth retrofit, Sirius Retrofit, hardwired V1, Widescreen Mk4 nav, M audio retrofit, Ice Link, BSW Stage 1 speaker upgrade, bmw towbar
Mine isn't new enough to have the junk warning, but I've experienced spurious emissions from other people's junk detectors many times. Often it will give you a strong signal, then nothing, and may do this in cycles as you either approach their car to pass or they are coming up on you. I've gotten used to the output of the V1 in these situations, but it does send a scare up the spine at times.
Thanks for the input that there is now new programming for the V1...probably time to send mine in for an update.
__________________ Current stable:
2001 M5 LeMans Blue/Silverstone
Dinan: springs, Konis, rear sway bar, monoball bushings, and exhaust
Ground Control camber plates
Stoptech front brake kit
Brake ducts opened
TC Design brackets
OE 9.5" rear wheels all around & 275/35-18 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec for street
275/35-18 BFG R1 & Nitto NT-01 R-comps for track
2003 330i ZHP 6MT Imola Red/Black Alcantara
2006 330i sport 6MT Electric Red/Black
2001 Audi S4 6MT Silver/sport Alcantara
1996 Volvo 850R wagon
Mike, I'm not sure when this new mode was added. I got this particular V1 in May '05. The one before that came in Aug '04, and it doesn't have this mode.
There is nothing in the manual or on their website (that I could find in my brief browsing) that says anything about it...
I was receiving false rear signals from my V1 so I sent it to Valentine and they said that it was fine. They blamed the error on my Navigation screen. Apparently if you aim the V1 toward the Navi Screen it thinks that there is a strong laser targeting you. Anyway, they upgraded the firmware and since then I get at least 1-2 “J” signals per week. I think that it’s pretty cool because when your flying down the road and you get a full radar alert you would normally loose concentration and end up wearing away at your rotors. Instead you get the full signal for about a second before it changes to a blinking “J” followed by silence....Ahhhh-fficeffice" />
Off topic: Does anyone have a slim cradle that would fit the M5 for a Razr V3 Cellphone???
Apparently if you aim the V1 toward the Navi Screen it thinks that there is a strong laser targeting you.
DC187,
That is correct. When member pkarmouche and I were updating the software on our StealthOne units, we found that pointing the V1 at the NAV display give a full laser alert...
The problem is that every now and then I still get a full Laser signal and I don't know if there really is a cop or if my Nav Screen somehow found its way to my V1. I don’t know if there are any east bay V1 owners who notice that the V1 goes insane on I580 West. The second I get on that freeway I get a full “KA” and “K” warning with large numbers on the bogey counter. At first I thought it was busted but I know it’s not because it happens every time I go on that freeway. I believe that it could be do to the highway patrol bugging that highway. I find that I get false signals on the 24 freeway as well. I really think that these false signals are due to highway patrol because I heard on the radio that they are trying to target large amounts of speeders on the two freeways I mentioned. It’s nice that they announce these so called attempts so that those of us who like to test the power of ///M can keep an eye out….
The problem is that every now and then I still get a full Laser signal and I don't know if there really is a cop or if my Nav Screen somehow found its way to my V1. I don’t know if there are any east bay V1 owners who notice that the V1 goes insane on I580 West. The second I get on that freeway I get a full “KA” and “K” warning with large numbers on the bogey counter. At first I thought it was busted but I know it’s not because it happens every time I go on that freeway. I believe that it could be do to the highway patrol bugging that highway. I find that I get false signals on the 24 freeway as well. I really think that these false signals are due to highway patrol because I heard on the radio that they are trying to target large amounts of speeders on the two freeways I mentioned. It’s nice that they announce these so called attempts so that those of us who like to test the power of ///M can keep an eye out….
There have been posts about this in the South Bay and it has been discussed in the SJ Mercury News quite a few times. I don't know if it is the same thing in the East Bay, but it sounds similar. A company is putting up traffic monitoring radar to "enhance" the 511 system. The same thing is happening on 280 now. Here's the thread: Wall to Wall Radar Signals on 280 in NorCal!
Where do you have your V1 mounted that it's pointing at the NAV screen? I've had the "J" reading 2 or three times since I got the new version with this upgrade.
__________________
Steve
'02 M5 LeMans Blue:
Active Autowerke CAI/brake ducts
Supersprint Headers and cats
SuperSprint exhaust with X-pipe
Evosport custom 3.45 diff. with 30% lockup and 2x dynamic lockup
UFMotorsport intake air temp sensor relocation
Powerchip Gold (SS header/cats version)
Ignition Solutions plasma coils
Dinan Stage III suspension
BeastPower sway bar brackets
Dinan front strut tower brace
Stoptech Custom Silver Big Brake kit (fronts)
RMS short shifter
Rogue Performance transmission mounts, Royal Purple Synchromax fluid
Llumar window tint (35%)
Where do you have your V1 mounted that it's pointing at the NAV screen? I've had the "J" reading 2 or three times since I got the new version with this upgrade.
I mounted mine to the left of the rear view mirror. The V1 is just below the blue on the windshield. This in my opinion is the best place for it because it gets a clear signal from the rear and all you have to do is glance up when you get a signal (a true Head Up Display). When I had it above the dash in the middle of the car, passengers would always notify me of false alarms. Since it's been up top passengers don't even realize it's there-
. This was on the newest of the V1's that I have (I have three), and has the POP detection. 
ffice" />
Linear Mode
