Radar Detector Input

Glowrdr

So I know the ultimate solution is to slow down. But, I drive for work (not a truck driver, but I'm mobile). I'm looking into getting a RD, and want to hear some opinions, pros, cons etc.

Here are some of my "thinking out loud" ideas to get the ball rolling and maybe spark some responses.

A co-worker of mine sent me a link to the Escort Solo 3. Battery operated - looks pretty decent. Definately looks like a start for my research. Then I'm hearing about general "issues" with any battery powered RD. Limited range, but added portability (not that I really need it)

Checking the site, I come across the 9500xi. GPS for learning/tagging of false alarms seems pretty cool. User updateable firmware/software seems to be a plus (and new). Only downside if you want to call it that is the wiring. I know it's probably easy to just wire it to my mirror - but I've been out of the DC world for 10+ years, and i'm not looking to take it on. I'd almost rather just goto Best Buy or someplace and give them $30 to hook it up (if they even do)

Heard a lot of good things about the Valentine 1. I don't personally care for the looks, but a lot of people really like the arrows on it telling you where the cop is. Great performace though.

Also, does anyone have any input on mounting locations? I'd like to keep it up above my mirror if possible to minimize the destraction. Does the tinted top portion of a windshield work against radar detectors? How about the GPS aspect of it? I'm not really sure what the tint is (metallic or not - it's OEM glass)

So I'm pretty much set on the 9500xi. Anyone want to contribute to this? I've looked at lines above and below. The 9500xi is about where I can justify the cost. As much as I'd like to get a pro-mounted one, I'm not dropping $1200+ on one. I've looked below (8500xi for example) - but I'm really kind of falling head over heals in love with the auto-detect/block feature of the GPS to mark false alarms and prevent them in the future (tags the spot, if it finds the same spot, same frequency 3 times in a row, it marks it and silences the alert automatically)

Polkie2009

I've had the same Escort Passport 8500 detector for almost 8 yrs. or so. Use it every day and since I'm constantly removing it from the windshield mount and storing it in the console when I'm not driving, I've have gone through maybe 2 power cords. I also ended up having to use the 2 extra windshield mount cups that come with the detector.Have dropped it 2 or 3 times ,never skipped a beat. All in all i've been pretty happy with it over the years. I'm not much of a speeder,but it's nice to be aware when there might be a police car around needing to get somewhere fast. Only complaint I can throw at it is sometimes in the heat of summer, the detector beeps a couple of times and displays, "needs servicing" or something like that.Usually turning the unit off for a minute or so takes care of the glitch. I probably should send it in to get the firmware updated. I almost went with the Valentine One before I got my 8500. Have never heard anyone complain about the Valentines.

exalted512

I'd get the 9500. I take mine down every time I stop though. If people don't see it, it's less likely to get stolen (like a GPS). Also, in this texas sun, it'll roast them eventually. Sucker would probably get 150*.

Anyway, that's the one I have (except the original 9500). I love it. GPS works great. You will not have to worry about the mounting location interfering with it or the performance.
-Cody

Gadabout

I have run the Passport 8500 for the last 9 years. One got stolen and I immediately went out and got another one. So, I guess that would be a recommendation for the 8500.

Mounting locations
- Above or around the mirror is fine, if your not concerned about laser. Most laser guns are narrow focused and they shoot at your front license plate (if you have one), your head lights or chrome part of your front grill (whatever is the flatest and most reflective surface to get a good reading).

- Most of the literature I have read says to mount the radar detector just above the wipers for the best and quickest response for laser guns.

Personally, I have mine dash mounted. I have one of those carpet covers on my dash, mainly to keep things from sliding around. There is small hump above the radio display and the detector sits on that. I just put Velcro on the bottom of the detector. This is also just above the wiper blades.

You'll end up wanting to hit the mute button a fair bit with a detector. So, if your power cord doesn't have one you will be using the button on the detector, so it should be mounted where it is fairly easy to access. I used to hard wore all of mine in, usually in the window pillar. This time I just use the cigarette lighter cord that came with it and just wrap it out of the way.

I looked at the Valentine One when I bought the passport, but just couldn't justify the cost. That of course also depends on how fast you drive. If you keep it around 10 -15 over, you should be able to slow down enough if you get pasted with a radar gun. If your driving faster than that, tickets are higher and perhaps you need more sensitivity and range. That would justify the higher cost.

I have no complaints with the passport and mine came with a cigarette cord, hard wire cord, suction cup window mount and a "U" mount that I believe is supposed to tuck in at the top of the windshield where it meets the headliner. I also wouldn't step below the level of the Passport. I have seen lots of other radar detectors give lots of false positives, which are annoying. Not that you won't get them with the passport if someone has a high end security system with perimeter motion detectors. Before you buy you might want to check the local laws for radar detectors. Some states don;t allow them. If any are some of the states you travel trough, you might want to get one that has external antennas, so the head unit is completely out of sight if you get stopped.

Toolfan66

One cop might have Radar but what about the one that just might have Lidar? Yeah I know it's not used near as much Radar yet but it will happen...

DMara

I'm driving with a Redline (http://www.escortradar.com/redline-details.php) for a couple years now, no ticket, so no complaint :biggrin:

Glowrdr

Well, after checking reviews, and reading other forums - I think I have a winner. Looking to get the 9500xi with a Blendmount.

In case anyone is curious to why this topic has come up.... I haven't had any tickets in over 10 years (probably closer to 12-13) and I'm one of the WORST drivers that anyone knows. lol I'm consistantly 15-20 over the limit, and have always had sportier cars that are usually heavily modified as well.

Long story short, I got a ticket back in April '11 that was legitimately my fault. I just received a second ticket a couple weeks ago that - while legitimate - was more created by a lack of my surroundings. I do IT work for a MN based network of hospitals and clinics. I spend 5-6 hours a day in my car driving from location to location, and rely heavily on my GPS to get around. Not that a radar detector would have helped me in either of these recent incidents - I just feel that if I can go 10+ years without issue, I certainly can use some common sense, keen observation, and a radar detector to keep me free and clear again.

Certainly not looking at this as a license to speed. Just wanting to self-regulate myself a little better. If I know they are out there, I think it will help me in the longrun to just keep it down altogether (as opposed to nobody's around, let's go detector)

I didn't really know things like the BlendMount existed. Is there anything else like it that I've missed? I know RamMount makes universal stuff for just about anything. I've seen some custom jobbers that people were selling on forums (not 1 off's, but more like somebody made 50 of them). The BlendMount is $90, but I've seen others as cheap as about 20 (cheap in both senses)

NotaSuv

passport 9500ix and has more than paid it self off

tonyb

Radar detectors are nice, but now we need something to cover the plates to avoid those damn cameras. Something James Bond-ish to where you push a button and the plate flips to another, or something comes down over the plate. Maybe even some sort of jamming device to screw up the video. You'd sell millions of those things.

vwfred69

escort also sells laser shifers to go with the 9500

Syndil

Polkie2009 wrote: »

I've had the same Escort Passport 8500 detector for almost 8 yrs. or so. Use it every day and since I'm constantly removing it from the windshield mount and storing it in the console when I'm not driving, I've have gone through maybe 2 power cords.

Same exact experience here. The power cords eventually break down from the temperature changes. The insulation becomes brittle and flakes off, then the wires go. But yeah, I've had my 8500 for probably about the same amount of time, and replacing a power cord every now and then is no big deal. I've also had the "needs servicing" message randomly appear, but after a restart it seems to work just fine. Haven't felt a need to actually send it off to be serviced.

I guess the 9500 is nice if you have speed cameras in your area. None around here.

exalted512

The 9500 is nice if you have any false signals anywhere.
-Cody

pitdogg2

tonyb wrote: »

Radar detectors are nice, but now we need something to cover the plates to avoid those damn cameras. Maybe even some sort of jamming device to screw up the video. You'd sell millions of those things.

there for awhile a company made a license cover that scattered the laser and made it give false readings the gov. promptly seen to it that company went out of business. 10yrs or so ago another company came out with a jammer that would say that you were going some insane speed like 610mph but haven't heard much about them lately either.
In the past I have been a Bel-tronics guy never cared much for the Escorts as i felt that Bel made a very good product that ran circles around my fathers Escort. We used both on a long trip and it seemed to me that the Bel had better detection and sensitivity i.e. would detect further away than the Escort he had.