davidbijan

I have not had a ticket in over 20 years and want to keep it that way, but i find myself cruising along at times in excess of 80 (will leave it at that). So the question is does anyone own the escort passport 9500ix for 5 bills and is it worth it, compared to cheaper detectors. This detector has Gps not sure how this function benefits you. Any cheaper good detectors out there. 500 seems like alot for this unit, But getting popped in the triple digits would burn a bigger hole in your pocket book.

ttoE550

I have no useful info about the quality of detectors, but the GPS feature can warn you about known speed traps and camera radars. It can also let you know the speed limit for the road you are on and warn you if you're violating it.

davidbijan

Seems like the gps function is the selling point of this unit. It also reads forward and back but dont they all?

Tibs

Heh, I upgraded from a 12 year old Ford truck....lets put it this way, I was going 95 in a 55 tonight and didn't even realize it until my wife said slow down crazy ***. I feel ya on the cruising along at a high speed without realizing it.

I don't think the "My POS Ford would rattle your teeth out at 95 officer, it was an honest mistake!" will work.

I'm looking for a deal on that detector as well. I don't want the V1.

LaicepsYdobon

I have the Escort 8500 and it doesn't have the GPS feature like the 9500 does. I don't see that much usefulness in the GPS feature and I don't think I'm alone on this one because nobody else bothers to put it in their detectors besides Escort. I really do like my 8500. It does not interfere with my cars Distronic Plus system and it alerts me for everything including Laser. For conventional Radar signals it swallows them and does not report it back to the radar gun but it does not provide protection against Laser. There is a solution for that if you are interested I can post a link about it. The range is pretty good and it protects you from both front and back. I really like this detector. You also might want to take a look at the Valentine 1 unit also because that one is very good also but I have no experience with it since I've never owed one.

davidbijan

I think thats the best one out there. Its so easy to speed on open freeway and not realize how fast you are going

rhampar

Not an expert on this by any stretch of the imagination but have read many reviews that the Escort Passport 9500ix offers the best in radar detection technology today. Reviews state it is significantly better than V1, K40 and other high end brands of radar detectors. In fact this is one of the few units that will actually "learn" false alarms and over time will not go off when you pass them.

If you're looking for a stealthy version they have a 9500ic which would need to be installed yourself or by an installer behind the grill with a small control module and display that gets installed in the cabin. A little pricey at $1500 or $1900 with installation but you won't have to worry about you detector being seen and confiscated if using in states like CT and VA. Also don't need to worry about prying eyes breaking into your car and stealing it if you happen to forget and leave the ix version in plain view.

davidbijan

Not sure how many law enforcement agencies are using laser, but I suppose this function should be a must on radar detectors as laser is more accurate than radar bands, and probably gainig popularity with well funded agencies.

LaicepsYdobon

Upstate New York the state troopers are using laser a lot. I frequently drive up to Canada and the laser alert goes off a lot on the New York State Throughway. It scares me everytime because the sound of the radar detector reminds me of an angry alarm clock. I'm not sure about the legality of a laser jammer but I saw on the escort site they have a laser jammer that plugs into their radar jammers so you get messages from the radar detector and laser jammer on one display.

fromthebeginnin

I put in a passport Qi45 with laser jammers, great product for about $600 ish (paid cash), it is probably the least expensive high performance system. It comes with the install, totally hidden, two laser jammers in the front (this is what you need, I hear a lot of the cops are going to lasers). I think it is the best price performer, unless you want to go for the 1500-2000 (plus tax systems), I love when you're hit by lasers because it jams vs just knowing they are out there, then you just mute the jammers when you drop below speed and it send the signal back. What I like about it is, hidden, has laser jammers, very good radar/laser indicators, has a number of adjustable features. What I am not crazy about, Cali user radar for everything, we spent a ****load on flashing signs to tell you the speed (radar triggers), hospitals, etc, well you just live with these every time you pass the spot. If I wanted to spend $2k I would get the units that allow you identify known signal spots and blank it out. In the end the Qi45 is great, got hit by a couple of lasers last week, going 20 over, muted the jammer and just looked over at the cops, "I knew what happened not sure if they did" and the install is totally hidden.

davidbijan

So are jammers legal? Sounds like the cops cant detect your using a jammer, that would probably anger if they knew, and more likely to pull you over and ticket you based on visual estimates (if you are in line of sight)

Johnny Mo

A couple things...as for the V-1 I have had mine for 10+ years - it has absolutely without a doubt saved my bacon more than a few times. FOr laser detection - doesn't matter what you have you are toast - unless you have a laser jammer.

As for the 9500 "learning" about false alarms...that's great and all but when does it "tell" you that it has learned the false alarm that you pass on a daily basis? Cops KNOW where false alarms occur and they purposely will set up shop in that location so that those unfortunate souls without a really high-end detector will get nailed. WHile I applaud the learning feature of the 9500, I can absolutely vouch for the bogey indicator/counter on the V-1 to say that I know that I get x# of false alarms at intersection A, the day that I see x+1# of alarm indicators - I know there is a cop doing radar. Couple that with the portable digital construction billboards that usually (at least in NY anyway) have some fake radar or laser gun constantly going on them - and you have a real need to know just how may radar threats you are expecting to encounter.

As for CT confiscating radar detectors...that law to my knowledge was repealed years ago, as it was clearly stated on a state signage at the state border (Welcome to CT - radar detectors are illegal) - those signs are NO longer there. VA and I thought MD too are states that don't allow.

LaicepsYdobon

I'm by no means an expert nor am I a lawyer and I do not own a laser jammer so everything I say should be taken with a grain of salt (and skepticism). The legality of laser jammers vary from state to state. A quick google search gave me this: http://guysoflidar.com/usa-laser-jammer-laws.html I have no clue on how up to date this is or what the current laws for this technology is. I would assume it would be legal to own/use a laser jammer in a state to which you would be shipping too when ordering a unit from the Escort site.

Pntblnk

Please share...inquiring minds want to know! Moving to SoCal in the next 60 days and will need to enhance my protection. I have been running an 8500 for the last few years as well and pleased with the performance but am leaning towards the 9500 due to the elimination of falsing.

I am also curious as to what Escort will come out with now that the Valentine 1 patent has expired. Hope they will include arrows and bogey counters.

LaicepsYdobon

You are in luck ! Both the Escort 8500 and 9500 support what I was talking about. It's called the Escort ZR1 Laser Shifter and you can plug this into your radar detector unit (via Shift+Link) to cooperate with it. Here's the link for it: https://www.escortradar.com/store/la...ifter-zr4.html

And while I was looking I found the link for Radar Roy's website. He's an ex police officer who does some pretty comprehensive reviews of radar detectors and laser jammers/shifter. I find some of his reviews pretty good. Here's the link to his page: http://www.radardetector.org/

hyperion667

I have considered a detector.....this was a helpful thread.....thanx guys....

leaning towards a V1 myself.....and I heard that laser jammers were illegal here in NC.....just something I heard though, have not confirmed....
I can understand the high class government areas making them illegal.....
but not other 'normal' places.......we should have the right to detect and block them if 'they're' using them on us, lol......

ni2mi2

I have been using the 9500ix for the past 2 years on my C as well as the new E. It has saved my a** quite a bit since FL state troopers pretty much use Ka band and in a straight line (line of sight) highway I get a warning sometimes 2 miles away - good enough for me to slow down. That said, GA staties love the Laser burst on I-75 towards Atlanta and I would pretty much go 5-10 mph above speed limit so I can immediately slow down.

Pntblnk

So true. Several years ago I was commuting weekly from Atlanta to Valdosta on I75. The southern end of I75 is a huge money maker for Georgia State Patrol. They target the drug traffic and us routine traffic stops to fund the efforts. I once counted 29 officers in the ~200 mile trip on a Friday afternoon!

fromthebeginnin

Someone posted a comment on Radar Roy, Google his site he has all the information you need to make a informed decisions. The way a jammer works is if you are hit the jammer send back nothing it absorbs it soon as your hit, you slow down and mute the jammer then they retry and your visible but below the speed limit. There are so many speeders they just shot someone else, you're free the other guy is caught. Is it legal, as mentioned it depends on the state but speeding isn't legal either.

Great bang for the buck http://www.radardetector.org/reviews...tector-review/

davidbijan

To PntBlnk
The good thing about Cali is all CHP cars and Motorcycles are marked. They are easy to spot, and since most freeways have barriers between opposite lanes they cant turn around and get you easily. Also most traffic speeds on major freeways range from 65-80 average speeds. Usually they stop you if your weaving in and out or moving alot faster than the normal flow. When I lived in SoCal I did not need a radar detector but out here in good ol boy Missouri they have MHP with crown vic w/o top lights, unmarked Chevy Impala, Suburbans, etc. And of course most opposite lanes have no barriers between them. I feel vulnerable as hell. I guess I need a laser Jammer as well. Thanks LaicepsYdobon for the usefull links.

AMGTTV8

Spending money on anything other than a valentine one is a complete waste of money IMO...

Get one and save yourself the headache of dealing with 5-0!

hyperion667

and they wanna make it 85 in parts of Texas??

LOL........when hell freezes over probably....

rhampar

Was wondering... Has anyone checked out or used the escort passport iQ? It's a combination radar / laser detector a la 9500ix that also includes GPS navigation. All for $649. Now i know many will say why have a 2nd navigation unit but I think he cops and others won't notice it as easy since it looks just like a garmin gps. Plus can remove it and use in other cars that don't have nav.

Motor trend did a review on it and gave it some pretty good marks.


Thoughts / ideas????

fromthebeginnin

I checked it out, I like the technology but I didn't like the idea of having it laying around, as I mentioned the check out the QI 45 excellent! Check out all the reviews.

davidbijan

After reading reviews online of V1 and Escort I noticed some negative commentary on customer service with defective models from both companies. Some customer's V1, and 9500 have froze or stopped working altogether. And apparently if you purchase from companies like Amazon the warranty is void as they are not recognized as an authorized dealer. I had a bel when i was a kid. Im thinking about Beltronic GX65. Anyone have this one?