[Choolgooz]

Escort 9500i, GPS helps ALOT with false positives near the house. I am sure its pretty close to the V1 as far as performance.

[xsb00st]

Originally Posted by Nutballa

My Passport 9500ix is excellent!

+1, love mine!

[MWcoupe]

v1 . when theres a new update. you can send it back and they will program it for you for FREE! lifetime!

i always let my friends borrow mine, they all said it WORKS NICE!

[sofaonasock]

I have had 4 radar detectors thus far:

- Cheap $30 radar detector from Circuit City
...almost got in trouble, thus tossed it...

- Passport Escort 8500 x50
- Used it for 5 years and then an intermittent "Serv Required" or "Self Cal" message kept on popping up..

- V1
- I've had mine for over a year and find that I can't really tell visually which band V1 is alerting me to at night
...oh my mute button no longer works after 1 yr...

- Passport 9500ix
- I've had it for ~6 months
...the volume control is wacked...sometimes it is super loud despite being on volume "2"
...I'm not a big fan of the "new updates weekly" but it costs $30 for 3 years program...

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

any other reviews? sofa which would you choose if you were in my position? The V1 or the Passport?

[stratplaya06]

Noticed you're in Potomac, MD. I'm just a few minutes from you in Bethesda. My V1 has saved me from so many camera tickets up river road (i'm sure you know what I mean, there are a ton of cameras on it now). My girlfriend has gotten 5 camera tickets on river alone (drives a benz, asked just for a v1 for her birthday haha).

In short, Get the v1. My buddy has a 9500ix and I wasn't nearly as impressed with it as I am my v1. While I probably get more faults than him, we tested with a camera, and I detected a significant amount quicker than he did. The v1 is tried and true, and the arrows are REALLY helpful, as you can tell if you have already passed a speed trap, or are coming up to one.

[seej333]

Originally Posted by asdflkijd

+1, I honestly don't even use the radar that much, I just use my spidy senses, but when I do depend on it, its only about 70% depending on mild traffic, if there is no traffic at all, then my dependence level drops down to 10%... You really need to learn how to use the radar, can't just be going 100+ on the highway when there are no cars..

+1 Well said!

[HighVoltage]

Originally Posted by nick6753

What is holding mode?

More evil than lidar...at least you can get a jammer for lidar.

It means the radar is not in a constant-on-state, broadcasting all over the place. He puts it in a holding state and then releases it into a broadcast state with a trigger, i.e point and shoot. In order for you to detect the signal you have to effectively rely on others ahead of you getting targeted and the sensitivity of your detector. If you are alone and speeding, you are toast.

In my experience it is real rare to find someone using this approach and to be the only vehicle around. I have only been hit by this once in many years and it was 3am on a friday night. I wasnt speeding at the time because I knew it was typical trap spot (i.e blind hill).

[skim7x]

You know, I just went through this conundrum myself -- V1 vs 9500i... I have used both of these detectors for the past 2 months (first the 9500i, and now the V1) and it's hard to say which is better...

The 9500i is amazing for in the city... you can lock out all the false signals in your area... something that you just can't do with the V1... and some people say you get used to the false signals and you know they are false because you remember them... that's bull... you can't possibly (or at least I wouldn't want to) memorize every false signal on all your frequent routes around the city... that's just rediculous... and on top of that, let's say you DO memorize all the false signals... every time it goes off, you still have to keep an eye on the bogey counter to make sure there isn't a NEW signal in that same area... all these problems are solved by the Passport. I recently drove through a big shopping center by my apartment with the V1... it gave me about 6 signals... with my passport, it blocks out ALL signals, and if there is a new policeman on the street in that area, the Passport will still single him out among all the false signals.

That being said, the Arrows on the valentine are huge... I was driving to Houston with the Passport 9500i, and the detector went off... but it was dark and I really couldn't see anything around me... then the signal went away (as the cop put his radar on hold mode), 2 minutes later, it came back... and basically it would have been REALLY nice to know which direction it was coming from so I knew which way to watch out (coming from behind, or a speed trap ahead).

Both detectors have just about the same credentials... so as for picking up radar signal, I think you are safe with both... just that the 9500i gives you ease of blocking out annoying radar signals and allowing you to identify a real threat among 6 false signals (something you can't do with a V1), but the V1 gives you arrows which are invaluable for the open road.

In the end, I did choose the V1, though, mostly because of it's ability to provide a stealth setup... I am going to have the V1 way up high on my windshield out of the view of police and other drivers, hard wire it to the fusebox, and connect my concealed display to my instrument cluster... that way, it does not attract attention. With the 9500i, you are able to turn off the display while keeping the radar on, allowing it to be less obvious at night, but then when it goes off, you can't see any information as to what kind of radar you are dealing with, how many signals, etc... so for a covert setup, the V1 has it... and that's what made my decision in the end...

[Nomad]

For "covert" setup you can use the 9500ci from escort as well....

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by Nomad

For "covert" setup you can use the 9500ci from escort as well....

uhhhh for $1600... haha

[freshwhite335]

i went from an 8500 to an 8500 x50 to a v1 to the 9500i and the 9500 is the best one. yeah the v1 has the arrows but it never shuts up! i like the GPS in the 9500i and i have the unit mounted so that it is always in my line of sight so i can check my speed. with that said though i kept my v1 and when i go on road trips i use my v1. i find the radar range to be a little bit better. im probably going to be living in naples for the summer and driving back and forth between here [jacksonville] and there about 4 times a month [1000 miles round trip] and ill be carrying both. the 9500 for in town and the v1 for the interstate.

[jzchen]

I'm sorry, but I've had nothing but good experiences with Cobra, so: XRS 9960G. I must confess it is cheaper. No need to pay for database updates, ever.

(My NAV ONE 4500 traffic feature didn't work from the start. A couple years later, (warranty up,) after dropping off the mount on very bumpy roads a few times, the connector broke on the unit and traffic antenna. I sent it in, and they fixed it for free and shipped it back for free. It's hard to find any company that will fix an issue like that for you.)

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by skim7x

uhhhh for $1600... haha

Yep they are proud of that product arent they.....

[BlueLion]

save your money get the V1

[Richwm]

I have owned three V-1's since 1990 still have two of them one for each car. I upgraded the one I got in 1990 for $200, what other detector will do that for you. No tickets in 21 years and my normal commute speed is 80 Mph in a 65. Check my sig for my remote display setup.

[skim7x]

Just thought I'd contribute my setup, since I just did it yesterday

[digivue]

In general V1 hands down, but it won't help you against pacing and direct laser measurement.

[RaDaRkInG]

Originally Posted by -=Hot|Ice=-

Thanks everyone The only problem that I see with the V1 is that it's big and bulky.

Size (from smallest to largest):

Valentine One -> 16.20 cu. in.
Bel RX65 Pro -> 16.33 cu. in.
Bel STi Driver-> 16.33 cu. in.
Escort 8500 X50 -> 18.95 cu. in.
Escort 9500i -> 21.72 cu. in.

Weight (from lightest to heaviest):

Valentine One -> 181.5g (6.40 ounces)
Bel RX65 Pro -> 236.6g (8.35 ounces)
Escort 8500 X50 -> 253.7g (8.95 ounces)
Escort 9500i -> 269.2g (9.49 ounces)
Bel STi Driver -> 291.6g (10.29 ounces)

The Escort 9500i is the largest in size and the Beltronics STi Driver is the heaviest. The Valentine One is the smallest and lightest radar detector of the top five radar detectors made today.


Nothing can beat the $399 Valentine One in radar and laser detection in the under $500 radar detector category.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detector-performance/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...adar-detector/

http://www.laserveil.com/laser-detec...ice-laser-gun/

[335iPaul]

Originally Posted by asdflkijd

I have the escort passport x50 and I like it just fine, although the V1 would be nice to have the arrows but I like having to find waldo everytime my radar picks up a K band signal ..

I have the x50 as well and like it.

[RaDaRkInG]

Originally Posted by Choolgooz

Escort 9500i, GPS helps ALOT with false positives near the house.

Originally Posted by skim7x

The 9500i is amazing for in the city... you can lock out all the false signals in your area... something that you just can't do with the V1... and some people say you get used to the false signals and you know they are false because you remember them... that's bull... you can't possibly (or at least I wouldn't want to) memorize every false signal on all your frequent routes around the city... that's just rediculous... and on top of that, let's say you DO memorize all the false signals... every time it goes off, you still have to keep an eye on the bogey counter to make sure there isn't a NEW signal in that same area... all these problems are solved by the Passport. I recently drove through a big shopping center by my apartment with the V1... it gave me about 6 signals... with my passport, it blocks out ALL signals, and if there is a new policeman on the street in that area, the Passport will still single him out among all the false signals.... just that the 9500i gives you ease of blocking out annoying radar signals and allowing you to identify a real threat among 6 false signals (something you can't do with a V1), but the V1 gives you arrows which are invaluable for the open road.

Originally Posted by freshwhite335

i went from an 8500 to an 8500 x50 to a v1 to the 9500i and the 9500 is the best one. yeah the v1 has the arrows but it never shuts up! i like the GPS in the 9500i and i have the unit mounted so that it is always in my line of sight so i can check my speed. with that said though i kept my v1 and when i go on road trips i use my v1. i find the radar range to be a little bit better. im probably going to be living in naples for the summer and driving back and forth between here [jacksonville] and there about 4 times a month [1000 miles round trip] and ill be carrying both. the 9500 for in town and the v1 for the interstate.

The TrueLock feature on the Escort 9500i is fundamentally flawed and it could result in a speeding ticket. The Escort 9500i breaks K band down into 8 segments so when you TrueLock a K band false from a door opener, you have blocked 12.5% of K band that is shot in that particular segment in that 1/2 mile area. That is if you only block one door opener because most places have multiple door openers all operating in different segments of K band. If you have 4 door openers that are in different segments, you will have blocked 50% of K band radar that is shot in that area regardless of whether it is from a door opener or a cop shooting K band within that 1/2 mile area. You will not receive an alert and you will receive a ticket if you are speeding. The only time the Escort will definitely alert in a TrueLocked area is if he is shooting Ka band because the Escort 9500i and Escort 9500IX will always alert to Ka band in a TrueLocked area.




Videos showing you why TrueLock = TrueFail:

YouTube - Escort 9500i TrueLock Problems

YouTube - Escort 9500i Locking Out Real Police Radar


Read what this Escort 9500ix user had to say about the GPS TrueLock feature. His Escort 9500ix with TrueLock has blocked out actual police radar 4 out of 6 times when he was in a TrueLock area which is a 66.66% failure rate and a 33.33% success rate.

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...leo-today.html

"I was driving a stretch of road that used to have two K band alerts in less than a mile. Now thanks to trulock, that stretch of road has been quiet for me.

But today it was too quiet. I was almost dead center between the two false alarm locations and noticed my satellite icon was still spinning. (It usually stops for a while in between the two locations.)

I reached up and hit the GPS button to disable GPS features and my ix instantly starts freaking out on K-band. (Very strong signal)

Sure enough, there is a LEO about a block ahead of me waiting to make a u-turn. He made the u-turn and took a side street shortly thereafter. As soon as he turned down the side street the K-band alert stopped and a few seconds after that, the CVS sounded a weak K-band alert as expected.

********As of 1/27/9 My 9500ix has "locked out" 4 LEOs (BAD) and alerted to two K-band LEO's in locked-out locations*************"

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by RaDaRkInG

The TrueLock feature on the Escort 9500i is fundamentally flawed and it could result in a speeding ticket. The Escort 9500i breaks K band down into 8 segments so when you TrueLock a K band false from a door opener, you have blocked 12.5% of K band that is shot in that particular segment in that 1/2 mile area. That is if you only block one door opener because most places have multiple door openers all operating in different segments of K band. If you have 4 door openers that are in different segments, you will have blocked 50% of K band radar that is shot in that area regardless of whether it is from a door opener or a cop shooting K band within that 1/2 mile area. You will not receive an alert and you will receive a ticket if you are speeding. The only time the Escort will definitely alert in a TrueLocked area is if he is shooting Ka band because the Escort 9500i and Escort 9500IX will always alert to Ka band in a TrueLocked area.




Videos showing you why TrueLock = TrueFail:

YouTube - Escort 9500i TrueLock Problems

YouTube - Escort 9500i Locking Out Real Police Radar


Read what this Escort 9500ix user had to say about the GPS TrueLock feature. His Escort 9500ix with TrueLock has blocked out actual police radar 4 out of 6 times when he was in a TrueLock area which is a 66.66% failure rate and a 33.33% success rate.

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...leo-today.html

"I was driving a stretch of road that used to have two K band alerts in less than a mile. Now thanks to trulock, that stretch of road has been quiet for me.

But today it was too quiet. I was almost dead center between the two false alarm locations and noticed my satellite icon was still spinning. (It usually stops for a while in between the two locations.)

I reached up and hit the GPS button to disable GPS features and my ix instantly starts freaking out on K-band. (Very strong signal)

Sure enough, there is a LEO about a block ahead of me waiting to make a u-turn. He made the u-turn and took a side street shortly thereafter. As soon as he turned down the side street the K-band alert stopped and a few seconds after that, the CVS sounded a weak K-band alert as expected.

********As of 1/27/9 My 9500ix has "locked out" 4 LEOs (BAD) and alerted to two K-band LEO's in locked-out locations*************"

WOW!! Glad I decided on the V1 and returned the 9500i Thanks for the great info!!