|
| Escort Passport 9500i Radar and Laser Detector |
|
 Larger image
|
List Price: $449.99
Our Price: Too low to display
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Escort Inc.
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Escort
Color: Black
EAN: 0037795095003
Feature: High-Resolution Display
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Escort Inc.
Manufacturer: Escort Inc.
Material Type: Polycarbonate
Model: 9500i
Publisher: Escort Inc.
Release Date: 2007-04-01
Special Features: Intelligent volume control
Studio: Escort Inc.
Variation Description: Black
|
|
|
Features
|
High-Resolution Display
5 Levels of Brightness Control
Built-in Earphone Jack
Safety Warning System
2 year extended service plan available
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
radar/laser detector featuring SiRFstar III GPS protection * digital voice and audio tone alerts for radar, laser, and POP * "Mark Location" feature remembers points for future warnings * TrueLock feature remembers sources of false signals and mutes alerts * 3 sensitivity modes: automatic (speed-based), highway, and city *
|
|
|
| Spotlight customer reviews: |
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: The best there is - when it works.
Comment: I have owned this detector for about a year and a half now. When it works, it is simply awesome.
I've driven with a couple BEL's, an old-school Passport (Circa 1989), and a Valentine One.
The V1 has the best build quality and the coolest Bogey counter, but it has a major downfall - it squawks so much because it is so sensitive that you learn to ignore it.
That is where the 9500i takes the cake - especially when you drive the same route over and over - you "train it" where the false alarms are, and the GPS that is built in ignores the false alarms. So...if a Police Officer parks next to one of your "trained" locations - it will still go off! It is so smart it knows there are two RADAR signals there and not just one.
I have two beefs with the device and I have had to send it back to Escort twice already for repair. This is unsatisfactory.
One of its downfalls (but I guess they all do this, even the Valentine One) is they false alarm for LASER. The V1 falses when you are behind a vehicle with really bright LED taillights - like a Cadillac Escalade. This will do that as well - but this also false alarms in bright sunlight. I asked Escort about this and they said it could be the light is being reflected so that it is hitting the frequency of the Laser. Hmmm.
Either way, it is annoying.
But...the reason I sent mine back twice is the GPS tracking failed. It would say "GPS SIGNAL ACQUIRED" and then a minute or so later it says "GPS SIGNAL IS LOST". And repeat. And repeat. Very annoying. This is in clear skies with good satellite coverage - my Garmin Zumo which was also in the car / motorcycle with it had no problem tracking.
The first time I sent it back they fixed it up...and it worked great again for another 4 months, and then it started happening again. It went back again this week, and I paid the extra $125 for the 9500ix upgrade, so we'll see what that does.
Anyway, when this thing works, there is nothing better - because when it goes off, it is the real deal (except for the aforementioned bright sunlight LASER false alarms).
My advice - Buy the extended warranty just in case, based on my experience. It is called the "Escort Service Plan" - ESP. In my case, it gets me a fixed detector, vs. a $450 paper weight since I am beyond my one year warranty period.
UPDATE 10/11/2008:
Just got it back...paid an extra $125 to get it upgraded to the 9500ix version...and....drumroll please...it still will not get and hold a lock on the GPS satellites...so it is going back again on Monday. So...as of this point, it is now a $575 doorstop until they get me a working version.
Customer Rating:
Summary: radar detector
Comment: this detector is fabulous. it is not noisey like the others. It does what was advertized. It works!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Damn Laser!
Comment: My last detector was a Cobra 9930 and it was great for the money. For a great portion of the time, the Cobra served me well; the Ka band detection was at 80% of what the 9500i could do. But the big difference is the 9930 would have 1 bar up to right when I pass the cop before going into 5 bar, the 9500i was much more confident in showing the range of signal. The last time I encountered Ka band, it was over several incline and decline straight road. The Ka band went from 1 to 5 in a matter of seconds, then drop back to 3 when I was in the lower end of the road, then 5 when I was on top. Then it stopped. I thought to myself at that moment that it maybe have been a false alarm, but it was too rhymically synchronized that it couldn't be. that's when I passed the cop who has already pulled someone to the side of the road and stepping out of his cruser.
The other reason I upgrade to the 9500i was it's range in both X and K band. But that would have been a double edged sword as in the case of the X50, which I owned briefly via eBay buy and then sell, because there are so many false alarms. The GPS feature of the 9500i make it bearable.
Up till now, I've been pretty positive about this device. And don't get me wrong, I think it's the best detector out there. But the achilles' heel for my 9500i is the laser detection. This topic is of course about false alarms. The Cobra 9930 gave me a good dose of false pop alerts, but this Escort 9500i gives a lot of false laser detection. And it's not random. I get a laser detection every time I accelerate hard from a dead stop. If I pull some G higher than a certain point, it'll go off. I push on the gas, beep! I enter the freeway, beep! damn that laser. Although I can't imagine that it's the electronics that reacts to acceleration. I really don't know what it is. My latest theory is that it's the clear suction cups acts like a prism and refract the light next to the senor at the top. But it's just a guess.
Overall, I would still recommend it. I like it so much I bought one for my wife. Market rate when I purchased brand new on EBay and Craigslist is $340.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Pretty darn good!
Comment: This is our first radar detector and it did not disappoint. As with any detector, it requires a little skill to use but it has never failed to alert to a real "threat". The GPS speed verification is a pretty decent plus and the ability to lock out false signals related to a location is excellent.
The only negative is the pretty crummy means to mount the detector to the windshield. The suction cups work OK if you apply the lick-n-stick method but don't overdo the licking or the detector will slide on the windshield.
The manual cautions that you have very little time to react to a laser indication. Make that "NO TIME" to react. I got hit with a laser and it was a darn good thing that I was doing the limit at the time because the cop was less than 100 feet away from me at the time. I'm guessing that if I'd been "haulin'" at the time I'd have been busted. The unit DID alert but by that time I'm sure it was too late. This isn't a negative but more of a warning to behave in congested areas such as construction zones.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Big Ripoff!
Comment: Bought this item, and it came with three months of free downloads. These downloads will gave you the latest info. on radar traps, traffic light cameras, etc.
However, after spending $500 on the detector, Escort is too cheap to provide one with a $10 USB cord or a $10 12-volt adapter to download the updates they charge you for after the 3 month trial. With Shipping & handling the accessory items will run you about $40 so you can give Escort more money to download their updates which of course will cost you even more money.
Unlike GPS manufacturers which give you free updates, Escort wants to charge you for them. In addition, Escort claims a standard USB cable will work and a standard 12V adapter will work as well. Complete lies, they make them completely non-standard so you will have to buy the accessories from them.
If you are looking for a much lighter wallet this is the radar for you. Otherwise stick with the V1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
