Valentine 1 Gen2 Firmware Update 4.1039: What's New and Why It Matters

Introduction

The Valentine 1 Gen2 has received a new firmware update, version 4.1039. This update is primarily designed to improve photo radar detection and add additional muting capabilities for companion apps. For owners of the V1 Gen2, this update brings several meaningful changes that expand the detector’s capabilities and refine how it handles false alerts.

Who This Update Is For

This firmware update is relevant for anyone who owns a Valentine 1 Gen2 and uses it in areas where photo radar systems are common. It is also useful for riders and drivers who want more control over how their detector handles muting and app integration. If you regularly encounter photo radar cameras, or if you use a companion app with your V1, this update is worth installing.

New Photo Radar Detection: Gatso RT4

The first major improvement in this update is the ability for the V1 Gen2 to detect the Gatso RT4 photo radar system. During development, Valentine found that certain Audi and Porsche vehicles can trigger Gatso falses on the V1, similar to what is seen with other detectors that can detect photo radar systems.

Because of this, Valentine now recommends running the photo verifier or the filtering option for photo radar detection, especially if you encounter 2013 to 2016 Audi models or 2015 to 2019 Porsche Macans or Cayennes. This applies whether you are driving near those vehicles or driving one yourself.

New Intersection Management Filter

Valentine has also added a new filter called the photo radar intersection management filter. This filter is designed to reduce false alerts at intersections where radar is used for traffic management or railroad crossings rather than speed enforcement.

The challenge is that the detector cannot tell whether the radar is connected to a speed camera, because the radar transmissions look the same either way. If your detector has been alerting to the Drive Safe 3D, Drive Safe 3D HD, or Echen Radar systems, you can enable the intersection management filter. The detector will still detect these signals, but it will mute them altogether.

Previously, you could turn off radar detection for those three types of radar, but you would still receive K-band alerts. This filter instead enables detection of those systems while silencing the alerts. Valentine notes that you may still get an initial blip of radar, especially for strong signals, before the filter kicks in. This is a practical way to quiet the detector at intersections that use photo radar without speed enforcement.

Expanded Photo Radar Coverage

The update also expands coverage for the Eken and Redflex systems. For the Redflex NK7, Valentine found that the frequency range they were sweeping was too narrow, particularly on the lower end. This could cut off detection of some NK7 units when the frequency drifted low. With this update, the frequency range has been widened so the detector can scan a little lower and reliably alert to these units.

Additionally, the V1 Gen2 now has the ability to detect the Ultimate Pro and Redspeed photo radar cameras. These will still alert as the Eken system, but the detector can now recognize them and provide alerts accordingly.

Improved App Muting Controls

The update also includes changes to the Bluetooth communication protocol that apps use to connect to the V1. These changes add additional muting controls. Apps can now tell the difference between when the detector has been muted due to logic muting, such as logic mode muting weaker signals, and automute, which triggers a mute after a couple of seconds.

The detector can now tell the app why it is being muted, and the app can override the automute and unmute the detector if necessary. The ESP protocol has also added support for the Gatso, so the detector can tell the app that it is detecting the Gatso rather than another photo radar system.

These changes give app developers more control over unmuting the detector, since the apps now know exactly why the detector is being muted.

How to Install the Update

To get this update, you need to update the V1 Connection app, the free app that Valentine provides for both Android and iOS. Once you update both the detector and the app, all the new settings will appear in the app so you can configure the detector the way you want.

Buying Advice

The Valentine 1 Gen2 remains a strong choice for drivers who want a radar detector with robust photo radar detection and flexible app integration. This firmware update adds meaningful improvements, particularly for those in areas with photo radar systems. The expanded frequency range for the Redflex NK7 and the new intersection management filter are practical refinements that reduce false alerts without sacrificing detection capability.

If you already own a V1 Gen2, this update is a straightforward way to get the most out of your detector. If you are considering a new radar detector and photo radar detection is a priority, the V1 Gen2 with this latest firmware is worth serious consideration.

Conclusion

The Valentine 1 Gen2 firmware update 4.1039 is a focused update that improves photo radar detection, expands coverage for several systems, and gives companion apps more control over muting. For existing owners, it is a worthwhile update that enhances the detector’s usefulness in real-world driving conditions. For prospective buyers, the V1 Gen2 continues to be a capable and well-supported radar detector.