Selecting a Dedicated Android Phone for YaV1

  • By

  • January 22, 2016

  • January 22, 2016

  • 3 mins to read

If you’re looking for an Android phone for YaV1, here’s what you need to know.

First off, it’s pretty straightforward. Most any modern Android phone should work just fine with the app. What’s generally recommended to do is to get an inexpensive prepaid phone and simply never activate it. Your YaV1 phone does not need internet. You download the app at home over WiFi and when driving, the phone only needs GPS (free) to know where it is and Bluetooth (free) to communicate with the V1.

You will need to purchase the V1C (V1 bluetooth module) for Android to pair your V1 with YaV1 as well as have a new enough V1 (version 3.892 or newer). Note: There’s two versions of the V1C. There’s the Android-only V1C and the V1C LE which was originally designed just for the iPhone but now is compatible with Android as well. However, YaV1 is ONLY compatible with the Android-only V1C so you’ll still want to get the V1C and not the V1C LE.

Once you buy the phone, there’s no monthly costs after that. Here’s a list of prepaid phones you can buy from Amazon. Currently I’m using the LG Optimus Exceed 2. It is inexpensive and works perfectly. It has a standard 4.5″ screen which is just right for me plus it’s rootable which isn’t necessary for YaV1, but it allows me to control the phone a bit more for other things. Newer phones are always coming out though so really any modern phone should work fine, but this is what I’ve been using for a while.

If you want to use any apps on your phone that require internet service (ie. Waze, Google Maps, etc.), if you have another device that has data service and you can enable tethering on it, you can use that device to give your Android internet service via WiFi and now your Android can get internet access too.

(YaV1 does have some features that would require internet access such as viewing your logs on Google Maps, but these are all just secondary bonus features. The app itself is designed to run without needing internet.)

As far as cell phone mounts, most any universal mount should work fine. I’m using the RAM X-Grip mount and it works great as a nice strong mount. You’ll see the Exceed 2 featured in my cell phone mount review too.

Finally, once you get your phone, here’s the tutorial to help you get up and running quickly.

Enjoy! 🙂

This website contains affiliate links and I sometimes make commissions on purchases. All opinions are my own. I don’t do paid or sponsored reviews.

Click here to read my affiliate disclosure.

Vortex

Permanent link to this article: https://www.vortexradar.com/2016/01/selecting-a-dedicated-android-phone-for-yav1/

30 comments

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  1. Hello Vortex
    Thank you for another installment of basic training.
    Can you tell me please if this same phone would work if using ALP Connect ?
    The goal would be to have a separate device from my i-phone handling the ALP.
    BTW I have the ALP GPS module

    Any advice you can offer would be thoroughly appreciated

    All the best

    Edward Cucurello

    1. Yep, you can use the same phone for ALP Connect as well. 🙂

  2. Question… So I currently use my Iphone for Waze, could I use an inactive phone such as the one you show to use waze?

    thanks

    Rob

    1. Sure. You just need to give it internet access somehow such as by tethering off another phone that has data service active.

    • Kal on February 14, 2016 at 11:41 am
    • #
    • Reply

    Hi there,
    I have an older V1 and to upgrade it plus the bluetooth adapter, total cost would be approx $200. My question to you is would I be better off with doing that vs getting the Uniden LRD950 which I can get for approx the same or a bit less.
    thanks and your website is very informative!

    1. It’s not better or worse. Uniden is more integrated, offers longer range on 34.7 but worse on other frequencies, adds RLC alerts, and it’s quieter overall. The V1 gives you arrows, more control, and it’s what you’re familiar with. It really depends on what you’re looking for. The Unidens are also almost gone so the prices are going up too. If you want one, it’s just over $200 now, but still a better deal than the $300 it’ll be shortly.

  4. Do we need the v1 android adapter to use with the LG Optimus? what is the cable that you have coming out of the Optimus in your video? is that a power cable or a cable to the v1 box in the background?

    Thanks!

    1. Of course. The Android BT module is necessary to hook up to an Android phone.

      Coming out of the side of my phone is a USB power cable that I’ve hardwired. It doesn’t wire into the V1. The V1 wires up with the BT module and the BT module wirelessly communicates with the phone.

      1. What parts did you use to hardwire your USB power?

        1. For the V1 I used Savvy, but you can hardwire it into your fuse box too. For a phone I hardwired a cig. lighter splitter that has a USB port and plugged it in that way. Here’s some info on how to do all the hardwiring stuff: https://www.vortexradar.com/2016/07/how-to-hardwire-a-radar-detector/ 🙂

  5. Why can’t I connect yav1 to my LG TRANSPYRE it has the Bluetooth LE so I ordered the v1 connect LE. I down loaded the v1 connect app as well and it connects just fine with that app but no connection with yav1. Can you help?

    1. YaV1 is not compatible with the V1C LE. Android phones are, but not YaV1.

  6. I have just got a Connect LE, and it will not work with YAV1 application. I was told that it would work with both Android and IOS, but it is designed to ONLY work with the V1 applications, which at this point are way inferior to YAV1. Keep this in mind..If you want to run YAV1, then get the connect, not the connect LE!

    1. The YaV1 app specifically does not work with the V1C LE model BT adapter. Right now, you *have* to use the V1C adapter for Android. there might be some time in the future when Francky has a chance to reconfigure the code for YaV1 to work on the BT LE protocol, but for now, only the “normal power” BT adapter works.

  7. I have a question regarding the settings in yav1 on version 2.03. Unless I just cant find them this version doesn’t seem to have the bulk filter option or lockout radius. Cqn you shed any light on this?

  8. I have a question regarding the settings in yav1 on version 2.03. Unless I just cant find them this version doesn’t seem to have the bulk filter option or lockout radius. Can you shed any light on this?

    1. The bulk filter option was removed in 2.0 and replaced with autolockouts. There’s no longer a way to mass lockout every signal that you see all at once. You can still do them individually though. As for the lockout radius, that should be in the advanced lockout settings. Unless you’re really sure what you’re doing though, it’s probably best to let that sit at the default settings.

  9. New to all of this… just got my hands on a new v1. Considering getting the v1 connect in order to utilize the yav1 app. Is it absolutely necessary to get a dedicated phone for that setup? Can’t I just use my existing android? Thank you,

    Bill

    1. Your existing phone is great actually. Dedicated phones are good for those of us who are iPhone users and don’t already have an Android. 😉

      1. Wow! That was quick… thanks very much. And thanks for all you do…

        Bill

  10. I bought the LG Optimus Exceed 2. How do I navigate on the phone without activating it?

    1. Here ya go: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2601533

  11. Good morning vortex. I love your text to speech on YaV1. How can I enable mine to work the same as yours?

    1. Morning Tom! 🙂 Here’s the tutorial for ya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8RJObhVJ1w

  12. What about using the same phone for multiple devices? I have V1s in 4 cars, but want to use my phone to program all of them. I just finished my wife’s car, and the V1 is great now. Now I have to tell myself that I have to take every warning seriously. I briefly tried to set up my car, but I couldn’t seem to get the phone to pair. YaV1 tries to search for my wife’s unit.

    Thanks for helping set YaV1 up.

  13. Vortex – by far this is the most complete write up I have found on the V1 and YAV1. I was almost ready to pull the trigger on the V1, but now I am not so sure. Cudos for letting everyone know they need the android adapter for the phone and not the LE version (which is what I would have purchased). I have a tough time justifying the need for a dedicated phone to use with the V1 (I have an old S4 that would do the job though).

    Do you see the need to use SAVVY along with the V1 if using YAV1 too? Saving $50 always helps sway the decision.

    Thanks again!

  14. HI

    I have V1 version 3.93 with ESP but not connected to V1 Connect LE. I will use Iphon 6 and V1 app. I come from Poland (Europe). Do I have to set sttings to V1 – how and where?
    I also have a question about the capacity of the connection cable with RJ11 cable I have tried to do longer than the original and did not knit or rope in the RJ 11 cable are replaced?

    Vortex on mail can send pictures as I connected V1.
    I hope you will help me in Europe (Poland) is a little information about the V1

    Marcin

    1. Hey Marcin, so I can’t give you recommendations on the settings you need for Poland. If you have the V1C LE, it needs to plug into the ACC port of the V1’s power cable and then when you load up the app, it should automatically see it and connect.

  15. Is anyone using a Nexus 6 with either the V1 Connect or V1 Connect LE?? Going form the phonedata site link from Valentine’s site, a Nexus 6 does not have the SPP Bluetooth protocol. Going from Valentine’s own app installed on my Nexus 6, it appears it does support Bluetooth properly & would connect (I do not currently own a V1 or the Connect module to to actually find out). I need a new detector & don’t want to buy a module that will just be a paperweight if it can’t communicate with my phone.

    Thank you

    1. Your best bet is to ask if anyone on RDF is also using a Nexus 6 with their V1. https://www.rdforum.org/forumdisplay.php?f=159

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