Radar detectors? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Viper5 · 09-18-2009, 06:09 PM

Why would you want a gps/radar combo? If you want something reliable, get a dedicated radar detector and a dedicated gps. Also to the guy who rode in his friends vette...all the radar detector does is detect frequencies. If your friend has a passport and it's not going off, either it's because it's broken, or he has one of the bands turned off. Personally, I would just rather have a detector which lets me know about every threat so that I can make a determination of if I think it's a cop. I won't trust a radar detector to do that for me. I do have X band (electronic doors) turned off on mine though.

jbox53 · 09-18-2009, 06:41 PM

Let me inform all of you folks that if you're doing excessive speed, no radar detector in the world is going to help you deaccelerate to to lawful speed prior to being intermittenly zapped by a cop running lidar or radar for that matter.. Those units sample a dozen or so speeds per second and take an average faster than you can say oh ***it. The only thing you can hope for is a good reflection single from the car in front of you.

Viper5 · 09-18-2009, 06:44 PM

jbox, detectors can definitely save you. As for laser, you have a point. Unless you are getting a detection from a vehicle in front of you then you are screwed. But with radar you can get plenty of warning if you can interpret the radar detector correctly unless again you are the only car on the road AND he is using instant on.

vath2001 · 09-18-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper5

Why would you want a gps/radar combo? If you want something reliable, get a dedicated radar detector and a dedicated gps. .

So on my dash would be sitting a 4x6 GPS display and the another 2x1 radar detector, both requiring to be plugged into my cig lighter. So now I need a 12v power splitter for the power to feed both... wires everywhere.
Remember, one of my criteria was to be able to move it from vehicle to vehicle...easily. Oh I may also need to charge my cell phone too... another wire... and maybe charge the IPod.

I want an IPhone with a radar detector app!!!

mptoledo · 09-27-2009, 09:11 PM

I have owned many radar detectors throughout the decades and currently own a passport 9500ix. I have used it in cross country mode(2400 miles from Cali to Ohio), rural mode and city mode. I have used the passport in about every scenario possible. It gives great early warning, with plenty of time to slow down, It reminds you where the redlight cameras are, It has little if any false signals. I can find no flaws with it. Plus it just looks pretty damn Cool!! The valentine is a great unit also, but it's technology is like an Vinyl record while escort's technology is like Digital music. It's just years ahead!! Yes they both play music, but one just does it better than the other and all you hear is crystal clear music, while the other has a lot of irritating noise (but you can still hear the music).

pteam · 10-06-2009, 05:17 PM

Ok I bought a passport 9500 because of this thread.

First let me say:

IT SUCKS!!!!! Seriously. The reason it sucks is because of the design and the cord. First of all they give you this severly big cord that is only like a foot and a half long and plugs in on the DRIVERS SIDE! So here is a picture from my viper on how it looks from the driver's view:

Notice how it perfectly covers up the display of the radar detector? What idiots designed this thing to plug into the drivers side with the biggest round cord ever in the world, and then make it shorter than short so you have to stretch it to even go over a foot.

EDIT: Also here is a pic in my hummer

Notice how it again covers up the radar screen but also because these smart people had it plug in on the drivers side it also covers up my navigation and BARELY reaches the cigarette lighter, and thus pulls on the radar because its stretched. Its not even close to being able to reach the 2nd cigarette lighter outlet.

I cannot hardwire this as I have many cars and that would be impossible to switch cars. It won't even reach lighter spots in my hummer or my viper, I have to use the very close one instead of other ones out of the way that my old radar detector could reach. Also I really like how the cord goes right in the way of your radar or in dash navigation, it goes right in the way of it because of their wonderful design! ::end sarcasm:: This product sucks...

btw the speed camera, stop light camera known locations, and gps functions are good, but when your frustrated every single time you look at it, it kinda defeats the purpose...

mptoledo · 10-06-2009, 05:37 PM

You could always just drill a hole in your dash and run.... Sorry I can't even complete that statement with a straight face.

I do understand your frustration, but as for my Boxster the cords works fine. I think the Boxster has a design flaw with only one lighter and within new jerk of the passenger.

I am planning on hardwiring my passport to free up my lighter. You might want to check into that option. The passport in the first week of use is rather noisy as it takes some time to block out the false signals, but give it time and I hope you like it. Here is some different cords for the escort. Might want to try a straight cord. https://www.escortradar.com/store/straight-cords/

Escort already has a new Detector out The "REDLINE".
https://www.escortradar.com/store/ESCORT-Redline-Radar-Detector.html

JackG · 10-06-2009, 05:40 PM

pteam,

Move it slightly to the right and up an inch, and your problem is solved. You'll be able to see it and the the cord will dress to the right of the console. You pretty much never have to touch it since the lighter plug has the mute button right on it.

Seriously, I've had mine in several cars and it's never been an issue. Maybe the Viper is a special situation? In any case, it's easy enough to rig a cord for it, or you can go to:
https://www.escortradar.com/store/straight-cords/
and just buy the cord for your application.

RandallNeighbour · 10-06-2009, 06:15 PM

PTeam, sounds like you're a prime candidate for the V1... They were smart enough to design it with the power cord on the left of the unit where it belongs.

Take Escort up on their 30 day money back guarantee and send a message to their engineers.

pteam · 10-06-2009, 06:20 PM

Also here is a picture of it in my hummer:

Notice how it again covers up the radar screen but also because these smart people had it plug in on the drivers side it also covers up my navigation and BARELY reaches the cigarette lighter, and thus pulls on the radar because its stretched. Its not even close to being able to reach the 2nd cigarette lighter outlet.

Ok so I had to buy this straight smartcord Blue as if $500 wasnt enough now I get to spend another $36.69 because of their bad design. I pity anybody who doesnt know they sell different cords. Also I like how they have a smart cord blue and a smartcord red and don't have any description difference. One would think that means the actual cord is red or blue, but I "think" its actually the lights on the power plug light up different colors?!? I only think that becuase of theyre tiny picture (that cant be enlarged).

Also I sent pictures and this thread to passport's support team, hopefully they can do a simple redesign and have the power cord plug into the passenger side and not have a coiled cord that is only a foot and a half long. A quick search on google shows there are MANY people complaining about this same problem.

mptoledo · 10-06-2009, 06:50 PM

You have it too low on your windshield. Your dash is inhibiting the rear detection. I always mount mine under the rear view mirror in both my vehicles with absolutely no problems.

It seems to me like your just making exuses to hate it (no offense meant). It looks obvious that you could just move the unit up 5 inches or so and run the cord down the right side of your nav system, Or just buy a flat cord.