Passport Escort 9500i

[Jeph]

Life is better when you're expecting a package from UPS. Am I right?

I just ordered my latest gadget for the Boxster; A new radar detector. Nothing was wrong with my X50, but something better was to be had. I will be posting my review of it as I use it.

How many 9500i owners are out there? Did you go with red or blue? I couldn't get myself to spend the extra $50 for merely a different color. But if the red starts to agitate me, I have 30 days to change my mind. So who else sports the 9500i?

[gmboxster]

Jeph, Please give us a complete review of what you think. I'm currently very close to buying that same radar detector myself. It's easy to speed in these cars, isn't it ? BTW, how much are they ? If you don't mind. Radar detectors are illegal in VA, but I could use it on trips.

[Gary in BR]

I have a 9500 and have had it for almost a year. Its my favorite radar detector I have ever owned.

Get the remote display. Its worth every penny. I have my remote display mounted by the tach. When the detector alerts the bright flashing yellow led gets my attention before the voice or the display.

I have my detector mounted by the rear view mirror and its hardwired into my car. So there are no exposed wires.

Also, read up on the many displays the 9500 is capable of.
I am not one for fancy lights in my cars so I did not go with the Knight Rider signal scanning on the display I have a simple "a" for auto mode.

A great feature with this detector I dont see them advertising much of is the ability to track more than one signal. In its default setting it will signal multiple signals with the voice alerts. If you go into the menus there is a setting that will display multiple signals and each of their strengths.

My advice on blocking false alarms:
There is a setting that you can see the radio band of the radar.
I used that setting and a tablet. I wrote the band number and approximate location. After a few days of getting the same band in the same areas I blocked the signal.

I have done this on all of the routes I travel the most, to work, the gym, the other offices, LSU's campus. Now if I am on the interstate and get a signal I know its a cop somewhere.

The only feature I wish the detector had that I have seen on others is a dark display that when an alarm is triggered lights up. The 9500 does have a dark mode that shuts the entire devices display off, but it would be nice to have a separate mode that would be dark and then on when an alert is picked up.

As far as range goes, I normally pick up cops a mile to a mile and half before I see them. I understand some detectors may have more range, but over a mile is good enough for me, plus the lack of false alarms everyday to work is worth it.

I say go for the red because it matches the interior closer.
Hope this helped.

[Jeph]

I look forward to my detector and posting a review.

Gary, I had an X50 before for quite some time. And I kept it in Expert Meter mode (tracking multiple signals and strengths). That is the best and most useful view.

And yes, the red on the screen should match the needles of the tach, speedo, etc.

The first thing I plan on doing is driving to all the false radar hot spots and block them out.

It's funny you should mention other radar detectors having more range. Some of the stats I've read show better distances for other units. But if you think about it, it's virtually negligible. I mean, if you're over a mile away and another detector picks up a signal from 100 feet further back, at 60mph that's less then 1.5 seconds. At over a mile away, I would be willing to bet you can afford that kind of detection deficit.

[Jeph]

It's off to a great start with today's arrival.

Let me start off with a couple of things I'm not stoked about with the 9500i when compared to my previous 8500 X50:

• The color, I'm not keen on the black, I liked the dark gray better. Black makes it look older-ish.
• The flat screen instead of the display facing towards the driver. I got used to that on the X50. I guess having it flat makes it universal for vehicles that may be right hand drive. It took all of 4 minutes for me to re-adjust. I'm good now.

I know, I know. Those are some pretty weak complaints. Not bad if those are my only complaints so far.

Now then, I've been dying to go drive around to my typical false alarm hot spots to lock them out, but the thing does such a good job of filtering them out that I hardly get to! I only got to block one location today. It was kinda funny... I came to a red light (facing north) and the 9500i started to chirp at a Walgreens. So I blocked it out. Then seconds later it started going off again. I was impressed when I saw a cop approaching the intersection (from the east). Not only does it block location's coordinates, it associates a frequency with it as well. -Way cool!

Highlights:

• The auto dim feature is quite nice.
• Having it display your speed is more convenient than I would imagine. Plus it's more accurate than the car's speedometer. It's closer to one's line of site so it is easy to read -possibly easier than looking down at the dash.
• Noticeable decrease in false alarms.

Settings:
Voice - Off (that's cheesy to me)
X, Ku - Off
K, Ka, Laser, Pop, SWS - On
Auto Volume (adjusts volume based on car's ambient noise)
Auto Brightness (adjusts brightness level based on car's ambient lighting)
Display - ExpertMeter (shows multiple signals & each of their strength)

I have the default screen (or "Pilot" as Escort calls it) set to display vehicle speed. Get this, you can put it in city, highway, or auto mode. City is less sensitive to screen false alarms. Highway is more sensitive to maximize warning at higher speed. Auto automatically switches between the 2 based on your speed. My question is, WHY would that be an option? Leave it on auto! I don't know, I'm sure there's a legitimate reason for that. It does make me wonder how "auto" worked on my X50. But I am digressing.

To avoid any Gray Market units or possible fakes, I purchased straight from Escort via their website. Cost with shipping was $463.00.

Not to sound like the marketing wizards at Escort have brainwashed me, but it really is a smart detector. It does so much for the driver. It adjusts, adapts, and informs. I look forward to more drives with this device! I'll be sure to keep the 986 Forum posted.

[986911]

Was told by the sales person @ Escort that the blue display was easier to see in daylight & top down driving, than the red display. Does anyone find this to be true?