Time for a new radar detector.

[red-beard]

I've been using a Uniden GPS-RD. I have 2 and have been slowly making one out of them...

So I am in need of a new one as well. The thing I like about the GPS-RD is that the GPS gives me a simple and very visable heads up speed read-out. It is more accurate than the car speedos.

Anyway, it also had a feature where you can record "positions" as traps.

Escort has gone a step further with this concept and created downloadable positions for redlight cameras, etc, to warn you that you are in a "trap".

I'm considering one of these:

http://www.escortradar.com/9500ix.htm



PASSPORT 9500ix

At ESCORT, we're continually improving our line of radar and laser detectors with the best technology. Our latest invention, the GPS-powered PASSPORT 9500ix, is no exception. It provides the best long-range protection against every known radar and laser gun in use in North America, but also incorporates GPS accuracy to silence each and every false alert. It is by far the most intelligent, fully automatic radar and laser detector ever designed. You drive. It learns. End of story.

The PASSPORT 9500ix also comes pre-loaded with thousands of safety camera locations, including red light and speed-based cameras throughout North America. You can also download updates, back up your data, and stay on top of new threats directly from our website.
Database Subscription Options
Location Database Updates and Detector Software Updates for the PASSPORT 9500ix require a Windows based computer. (Operating on Windows XP or Vista only)

Important: Detector must be powered (if not using a laptop, requires a Radar Detector 12 Volt Adapter - not included with detector) and connected to your PC (requires an USB A to Mini USB cable - not included with detector) before you can install location database updates and detector software updates.

It is probably not as good a radar detector as the V1, but the redlight/speed trap feature may more than make up for it.

[Rick Lee]

I read a ton of reviews last night. The consensus seems to be that the V1 has slightly more range and thus warning time than the 9500i, but that the V1 gives off so many falses that it eventually desensitizes you and you begin to ignore them. Falses really nag the hell out of me and the 9500i will program and store them, so you don't hear it again when you drive by a known X band source. I really don't care about the arrows at all. I was pleasantly surprised to learn, however, that my X50/8500 is still rated as one of the best and, indeed, it continues to save me money on a regular basis. So maybe I will stick with what I have for a while.

Kaefer, the Bel STi seems to be overkill outside of VA. I don't need to run in stealth mode and I don't care if the cops here know I'm running a detector. It mattered to me in VA, where the Bel STi's invisibility to the SPECTRE would be nice. BTW, I've also read that the Bel 940i is the exact thing as the 9500i, but $100 cheaper. Anyone know if that's true?

[Tim Hancock]

I don't even know what brand my two detectors are other than they were about $50 each many years ago at BestBuy. Most of my speeding takes place on the rural portion of my drive to work and they use plain ole radar which my detector picks up very nicely. If I traveled major highways more often than I do, I guess I would want to upgrade.

[RoninLB]

I disconnected the X band on my V1.

directions on V1 site.

[charleskieffner]

rick first and foremost, we are leaving for happy hunting grounds williams friday at 10am be there or be square. this would be a muy excellante chance to test whichever "DAR - DAR" unit you buy. us vs. az-dps.

our trek will include az-dps along i-17 and i-40. then back down thru chino valley/prescott. us vs countie mounties. always fun pushing the envelope with a "DAR-DAR" detector.

mind you we will be lugging toys and ice chests (PLURAL) FULL OF BEER and of course.........LOTS OF GUNS! since scouting includes shooting primary as well as backup hunting rifles, as well as younger spawns new marlin1895xlr w/leupold 3x9 vari-x and qd mts, this ought to be giggles of the highest order vaporizing rocks at distance and possibly the very unlucky varmints that cross our paths.

but for a simple" DAR-DAR" test close to your humble abode...........just take a cruise thru district IV mcso cop shop here in lil ol cave creek(home of the cave) and sunny carefree. i can promise you MORE "DAR-DARS"(radar) going off in your ear than you can swing a dead cat!

first you have simple mindless "X" band on the goofy ass waste of taxpayer money "DAR-DAR" trailers thru out both towns. great for checking speedo calibration and nothing else. i sure as hell dont slow down for them......ever! love blowing thru them and making them light up "SLOW DOWN"!

next you have the ancient "K" band dar-dar on the old cruisers and ferd bronco cop units. dead giveaway and you literally have all the time in the world to slow down. these run constant and are easy to react to.

the trick is the newer cop units that have "KA" dar-dar. these units only go off when car approaches them. kind of instant on/off. these you literally have to jam the binders , throw out the anchors, and deploy (2) simpson drag chutes or you will be nailed big time.

i run this dumbass gauntlet every freeking day to and from work, they move all over both towns about a 1000 times a shift trying to nail people. 10 mph over the limit yer OTAY with "KA" dar-dar. 20mph over the limit you are toast........plain and simple. unless of course you are a superhero with superhero powers and can react faster than a electronic beam.

the lazer beams are pretty much the same as a "DEATH RAY!" only way you can react is if beam is placed on some other unlucky sap in front of you and even then you better deploy simpson chutes, both anchors , and both feet on the binders.

my next toy will be a jammer. available from company in scottsdale airpark. fergot name. but as mentioned here before i will not deploy it if running alone. only when surrounded by other cars. when cops "DAR-DAR" states yer going 1 BAZZILLION MPH or 0MPH its a dead giveaway to cop yer speeding and then he will clock you on tried and true speedometer. but it does add another layer of protection.

call me if ya can make it friday thru sunday up in williams. bring yer phishing pole also............trouts at kaibab lake. BIG FREEKING TROUTS!

[Rick Lee]

Thanks Charles. My radar detector got a good workout on the drive to Williams and back this past weekend. And it paid for itself a few more times on that drive. I took the 993 and stayed in Williams Sat. night.

I don't think I can make this trip. My M4 upper is out for repair, my .30-06 is not sighted in and I don't have time to get to Ben Avery to do it before Fri., I don't have an AZ hunting license yet and the wife won't like me being gone. I do have to use up some vacation days before Xmas though. I'm thinking of taking the bike to Moab for a long weekend in October.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I read a ton of reviews last night. The consensus seems to be that the V1 has slightly more range and thus warning time than the 9500i, but that the V1 gives off so many falses that it eventually desensitizes you and you begin to ignore them.

Only if you have the V-1 set on "all bogeys" mode, which is worthless near urban areas. I don't really use mine in town, but if I did I would have it on "Logic 2", which filters-out (eliminates) all X and regular K band signals. (I think).

You need to research the V-1 a little more, for the sensitivity tests you read, did they have them all set-up w/ all filters disengaged? I think the Lidar guys test them more than one way, ie. filters on/off, etc...

[gtc]

I don't get any more false alarms with my V-1 than my friend gets with his 8500. In fact, I think I get slightly fewer. I am very happy with the V-1, and would buy it again over any Escort. The bogey counter and direction arrows are a lot more useful than I had expected.

If I had a newer Porsche with more openings in front, I would look into a laser jammer.
I can generally see a radar speed trap before they paint me, but the laser guns with magnification and a much tighter beam have me at a disadvantage, especially at night.

[Rot 911]

I've yet to get a ticket with my 8500. Yes the direction arrows would be nice, but I just drive the speed limit until the signal drops off. Also the V1 is butt ugly.

[osidak]

arrows are well worth it

was going down the road - saw the trooper with a person pulled over - arrows went from front to back and right as I was about to roll back onto the gas I saw the V1 was now report radar from the front. i kept the speed down and came around the corner and there where two more troopers waiting

the arrows saved me

[450knotOffice]

I just ran 1000 miles over the weekend with my 996 with a seven year old Beltronics 980 and other than the fact that the audio is dead so I have to keep the readout almost dead ahead so I can see it in my peripheral vision (which works well), the unit worked GREAT. I picked up KA band radar from from a LONG way away and always knew its signal strength. It saved me at least a few times. I'm looking to pick up another Bel unit soon.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I absolutely swear by my V1. It's amazing and has paid for itself many times over already. It's so good I even take it with me on out-of-town trips for use in rental cars, etc. The arrows are excellent.

[RWebb]

I belong to the Order of the Arrows

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I should switch off the X-band as well around here. I've never had an X-band contact be real. At least not here in the urbanized SoCal areas. It does yield a lot of false alarms even on logic mode. Same with K band to some extent.

By contrast, virtually ALL Ka contacts are real. Pay attention to those.

YMMV by area. I did get a "real" X-band contact somewhere - I think either Colorado or Florida last year.

[FastCarFan]

Years ago I saw a Porsche in a parking lot with two detectors, connected together by some sort of high-quality rubber-band-like thingie. A V1 was attached to the windshield with the suction mount & another (one of the Escort products -- I forget which one) was attached to the bottom of the V1.

I have always understood that detectors typically give off a weak radar signal. If that is true, I would think that each detector would set off the other one.

If they would work, both a V1 & 9500ix would be the way to go. What do others think? Would that work?

[Rick Lee]

Two detectors side by side will reduce effectiveness of both. However, what you saw may have been some other kind of jamming device, though I thought folks usually hid those in their front grilles.