Radar Detectors

Escort Windshield Suction Cup Mount for Radar and Laser Detectors

Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector (Red Display)

Radar detector manufacturers are constantly playing a game of catch-up with new technologies designed to nab the lead-footed. "Pop" radar is a relatively new instant-on technology that may make a whole generation of radar detectors obsolete. These radar guns operate at low frequency until they are switched on to determine a driver's speed with lightning-fast accuracy. This leaves a radar detector little opportunity to scan and detect the radar signal. Pop radar may sound ominous, but a new crop of radar detectors--including the Escort Passport 8500 X50--offer Pop radar detection. Escort claims that the 8500 X50 is the most powerful and advanced radar detector ever, with the supreme sensitivity required to detect low-frequency Pop radar.

Design
Mounting the 8500 in our test vehicle was easy and straightforward. A small suction cup bracket slides into the unit's release mechanism and easily attaches to the windshield with light pressure. The unit is housed in a sturdy plastic case that's low profile and compact--although it is larger and heavier than Escort's wireless offering, the Solo S2. The rear of the unit is dominated by a receiver window and there's a rear-facing laser detector window designed to detect laser signals emanating from behind the vehicle.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms.

The Escort 8500 has a suprisingly simple control layout. Two buttons on the top of the unit control sensitivity settings and display brightness. They also double as selection buttons when the unit is in programming mode. The left side of the unit sports a volume dial. A mute button is positioned on the front panel next to the large, horizontal LCD display which, during normal use, graphs the intensity of the radar and laser signals the unit detects. Power is supplied by an included Escort SmartCord, which plugs into a cigarette-lighter power socket. The SmartCord features an alert LED, as well as a built-in mute button-- two handy additions.

Features
The 8500 can detect all of the radar bands currently in use in North America for speed detection, including the X, K and Ka bands. The unit also features detection diodes for laser detection, but for the most powerful protection from laser detection, Escort offers the ZR3 laser jamming system, which is plug-and-play compatible with the 8500.

The feature that separates the 8500 from other Escort radar detectors, as well as the entire previous generation of radar detector technologies, is its Pop radar detection capabilities. Pop radar guns, while still relatively rare in police departments, are used to identify speeding vehicles in traffic. They provide little warning as the radar signal idles at a low frequency until it transmits an extremely short, high-frequency burst to "Pop" a target. The 8500 is equipped with a highly sensitive receiving system and a digital signal processor designed to pick up Pop signals from a safe distance. Pop detection is not enabled by default in the 8500, however; users must turn it on in the settings menu. Escort probably chose to disable Pop detection by default because its increased sensitivity also increases false alerts. However, first-time radar detector users might be in for a surprise if they neglect to turn it on.

The Passport 8500 X50 provides 3 types of warning displays to choose from.

Audio alerts are the most important feature of any radar detector, and the 8500 doesn't disappoint in this department. Warning tones get progressively louder as a threat approaches, and users can set the unit to deliver warnings at preprogrammed volume levels. Each radar band--including Pop radar--has a distinct tone, making it easy to quickly discern threats. The 8500's "AutoMute" feature automatically lowers the volume level of an alert after a period of time.

False alarms are one of the major annoyances of radar detector use. In our tests, the 8500 was surprisingly adept at minimizing false alarms from home garage door systems, as well as home and commercial security systems that commonly operate on X-band radar. The unit's city sensitivity setting decreases sensitivity to X-band sources, while the highway setting does not. We found the unit's powerful "AutoSensitivity" mode the most accurate, however, as it dynamically filtered all types of radar signals and identified which sources were a legitimate threat. We got a few false alarms, but for the most part, annoying chirps from bogus X-band sources were uncommon.

The 8500 has nine built-in customizable settings. In the settings mode, the LCD acts as a menu system that lets users control display brightness, automatic mute, audio tones, and power-on modes. There are also settings for disabling detection of selected bands. We liked the expert mode settings, which allow a user to get a constant picture of the intensity of all the radar bands in the area. The SpecDisplay, which is a feature exclusive to the 8500, displays the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal being received.

For those living in states that prohibit use of a radar detector, the 8500 does include VG-2 radar detector detector protection, which is designed to both alert the driver and shut down the unit's oscillator.

On the Road
We used the 8500 on a 20-mile stretch of busy interstate and were impressed with the low number of false alarms we received. Again, this remarkable level of accuracy is due to the unit's AutoSensitivity feature. While we encountered no police radar, other controlled tests of the 8500's performance have put the reliable range of detection at 2 miles for all bands. Meanwhile, Pop mode tests place the reliable detection range between 500 and 1000 feet.

Pros

• Well-designed controls and display features
• AutoSensitivity feature greatly reduces false alarms
• Highly accurate with massive detection range

• Pop detection not enabled by default

Hailed as the most revolutionary radar/laser detector ever. The Passport 8500 X50's new "V-Tuned" radar receiver provides extreme detection range on all police radar; conventional and "instant-on" radar, including the new POP mode radar threat, X-Band, and up to 50% more range than the original Passport 8500 on the all-important K and Ka bands. Digital signal processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms. The Passport 8500 X50 is one of the most advanced and sophisticated radar and laser detectors yet developed by the professionals at Escort. Completely immune to the VG-2 detector-detector Operating Bands - X-band 10.525 GHz +- 25 MHz, K-band 24.150 GHz +- 100 MHz, Ka-band 34.700 GHz +- 1300 MHz, Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth Laser Detection - Quantum Limited Video Receiver, Multiple High-Performance Laser Sensors Programmable Features - Power-On Indication, Power-On Sequence, Signal Strength Meter, AutoMute, Audio Tones, City Mode Sensitivity, Display Brightness, Dark Mode, Radar / Laser Bands SmartShield VG-2 Immunity Radar Receiver / Detector Type - Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO, Scanning Frequency Discriminator, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Display Type - AlGaAs 280 LED Matrix/Text, Bar Graph, ExpertMeter, or SpecDisplay, 3-Level Dimming, plus Dark Mode Power Requirement - 12VDC, Negative Ground, SmartCord MuteDisplay Included Sensitivity Control - AutoSensitivity, Highway, and City Mute and AutoMute, Auto Calibration Circuitry Unit Size(HxWxL) - 1.25 x 2.85 x 5.32 inches Escort One year limited warranty

Whistler XTR-140 Radar/Laser Detector

Works right out of the box with included Power Cord and Windshield Mount.

Whistler XTR690 - High Performance Radar/Laser Detector with LCD Text Display

The Whistler high-performance Laser/Radar detector features dual blue LED periscopes that flash when detector alerts, plus Real Voice alerts. Offers 360deg total perimeter protection.

Whistler PRO-78 Pro-Series Radar/Laser Detector with Voice Alert

radar/laser detector * digital voice and audio tone alerts for radar, laser, and POP * dual alert LED periscope provides flashing lights when alert is signaled * 3 city sensitivity modes *

Cobra Electronics XRS-9950 12 Band Radar Laser Detector

The XRS-9950 12-Band Digital Radar/Laser Detector provides total protection and peace of mind with Xtreme Range Super heterodyne Technology, detecting all 12 radar/laser bands with its super-fast lock-on detection circuitry. LaserEye provides 360-degree detection of laser signals Voice Alert warns driver with voice announcements of the specific signal being detected IntelliMute Relative-speed-sensing Auto Mute system that virtually eliminates false alerts IntelliShield False Signal Rejection 3-Level City Mode offers the best false signal rejection in both urban and rural areas Digital Signal Strength Meter provides the driver with relative proximity to the target using 5-level digital signal strength meter SmartPower automatically shuts off power to the unit when ignition is turned off Car Battery Voltage Display provides graphical display of the car battery voltage and also warns the driver when it is low City/Highway Modes allows the user to select operating mode, reducing the frequency of false hits in densely populated urban areas Dim Mode allows the user to dim the radar detector display enhancing night driving visibility EasySet Programming Menu User-friendly mode selection/setting with visual guidance Stay Set Electronic Memory electronically remembers radar detector settings for an indefinite period of time even with the power off Low Car Battery Warning Alerts user whenever battery voltage falls below 11.9 volts 8-Point Electronic Compass automatically provides an accurate electronic direction reading Dimensions - Length 1.89 x Width 3.09 x Height 5.16 Weight - 6.49 ounces

Escort Visor Clip Mount for Radar and Laser Detectors

BEL Vector 955 High Performance Radar Detector

Radar Laser Detector with POP Detection and Voice Alerts / Long-range protection / Minimizes false alarms / Customize features Total Tracking Laser circuitry continually searches for laser guns Two city modes Auto mute on/off with fast/slow startup Use of a Radar Detector in certain areas may be considered illegal

Cobra ESD-7000 6-Band Radar Detector with VG2 and Safety Alert Signals

Protect yourself from prying radar and intrusive laser detection with the Cobra ESD-7000 radar detector. The six-band device monitors radar from the X, K, and Ka Superwide bands, while also using its 360-degree LaserEye to perceive laser signals from any direction. Should a radar or laser gun be pointed in your direction, the ESD-7000 will alert you immediately, letting you rest easy while cruising through speed traps. In addition, the ESD-7000 is immune to both VG2 and Spectre 1 technologies, making it invisible to officers scanning for radar detectors on the freeway--a common tactic in certain states. Meanwhile, drivers who want to avoid traffic snarls caused by accidents or roadwork will appreciate the Safety Alert function, which scans for emergency vehicles outfitted with Safety Alert transmitters.

Additional features include an easy-to-read LED display with simple band identification, auto and manual muting, separate modes for driving in the city and on the highway, and instant-on detection for radar guns with "pulse" signals. The ESD-7000, which includes a windshield mounting bracket and power cord, carries a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
ESD-7000 radar detector, windshield mounting bracket, power cord, user's manual.

The ESD-7000 is a radar/laser detector with reliable and proven performance. The unit detects all radar frequencies and laser signals currently used in the United States and Canada. VG-2 Alert/Undetectable provides complete immunity and alerts the driver when under surveillance of VG-2 Radar-Detector-Detectors Cobra's exclusive Safety Alert transmitters warn drivers of approaching emergency vehicles, railroad crossings, and road hazard locations Auto Mute automatically mutes the alert tone for enhanced driver convenience City/Highway Mode Switch - City Mode reduces false alerts in urban areas from conflicting X band signals such as microwave towers and automatic door openers. Highway Mode increases X band signal strength for optimum detection Dimensions - Length 3.86 x Width 2.76 x Height 1.3 (97.9x70.2x33.1mm) Weight - 4.26 ounces (121 grams)

Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector (Blue Display)

Radar detector manufacturers are constantly playing a game of catch-up with new technologies designed to nab the lead-footed. "Pop" radar is a relatively new instant-on technology that may make a whole generation of radar detectors obsolete. These radar guns operate at low frequency until they are switched on to determine a driver's speed with lightning-fast accuracy. This leaves a radar detector little opportunity to scan and detect the radar signal. Pop radar may sound ominous, but a new crop of radar detectors--including the Escort Passport 8500 X50--offer Pop radar detection. Escort claims that the 8500 X50 is the most powerful and advanced radar detector ever, with the supreme sensitivity required to detect low-frequency Pop radar.

Design
Mounting the 8500 in our test vehicle was easy and straightforward. A small suction cup bracket slides into the unit's release mechanism and easily attaches to the windshield with light pressure. The unit is housed in a sturdy plastic case that's low profile and compact--although it is larger and heavier than Escort's wireless offering, the Solo S2. The rear of the unit is dominated by a receiver window and there's a rear-facing laser detector window designed to detect laser signals emanating from behind the vehicle.

Digital Signal Processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms.

The Escort 8500 has a suprisingly simple control layout. Two buttons on the top of the unit control sensitivity settings and display brightness. They also double as selection buttons when the unit is in programming mode. The left side of the unit sports a volume dial. A mute button is positioned on the front panel next to the large, horizontal LCD display which, during normal use, graphs the intensity of the radar and laser signals the unit detects. Power is supplied by an included Escort SmartCord, which plugs into a cigarette-lighter power socket. The SmartCord features an alert LED, as well as a built-in mute button-- two handy additions.

Features
The 8500 can detect all of the radar bands currently in use in North America for speed detection, including the X, K and Ka bands. The unit also features detection diodes for laser detection, but for the most powerful protection from laser detection, Escort offers the ZR3 laser jamming system, which is plug-and-play compatible with the 8500.

The feature that separates the 8500 from other Escort radar detectors, as well as the entire previous generation of radar detector technologies, is its Pop radar detection capabilities. Pop radar guns, while still relatively rare in police departments, are used to identify speeding vehicles in traffic. They provide little warning as the radar signal idles at a low frequency until it transmits an extremely short, high-frequency burst to "Pop" a target. The 8500 is equipped with a highly sensitive receiving system and a digital signal processor designed to pick up Pop signals from a safe distance. Pop detection is not enabled by default in the 8500, however; users must turn it on in the settings menu. Escort probably chose to disable Pop detection by default because its increased sensitivity also increases false alerts. However, first-time radar detector users might be in for a surprise if they neglect to turn it on.

The Passport 8500 X50 provides 3 types of warning displays to choose from.

Audio alerts are the most important feature of any radar detector, and the 8500 doesn't disappoint in this department. Warning tones get progressively louder as a threat approaches, and users can set the unit to deliver warnings at preprogrammed volume levels. Each radar band--including Pop radar--has a distinct tone, making it easy to quickly discern threats. The 8500's "AutoMute" feature automatically lowers the volume level of an alert after a period of time.

False alarms are one of the major annoyances of radar detector use. In our tests, the 8500 was surprisingly adept at minimizing false alarms from home garage door systems, as well as home and commercial security systems that commonly operate on X-band radar. The unit's city sensitivity setting decreases sensitivity to X-band sources, while the highway setting does not. We found the unit's powerful "AutoSensitivity" mode the most accurate, however, as it dynamically filtered all types of radar signals and identified which sources were a legitimate threat. We got a few false alarms, but for the most part, annoying chirps from bogus X-band sources were uncommon.

The 8500 has nine built-in customizable settings. In the settings mode, the LCD acts as a menu system that lets users control display brightness, automatic mute, audio tones, and power-on modes. There are also settings for disabling detection of selected bands. We liked the expert mode settings, which allow a user to get a constant picture of the intensity of all the radar bands in the area. The SpecDisplay, which is a feature exclusive to the 8500, displays the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal being received.

For those living in states that prohibit use of a radar detector, the 8500 does include VG-2 radar detector detector protection, which is designed to both alert the driver and shut down the unit's oscillator.

On the Road
We used the 8500 on a 20-mile stretch of busy interstate and were impressed with the low number of false alarms we received. Again, this remarkable level of accuracy is due to the unit's AutoSensitivity feature. While we encountered no police radar, other controlled tests of the 8500's performance have put the reliable range of detection at 2 miles for all bands. Meanwhile, Pop mode tests place the reliable detection range between 500 and 1000 feet.

Pros

• Well-designed controls and display features
• AutoSensitivity feature greatly reduces false alarms
• Highly accurate with massive detection range

• Pop detection not enabled by default

Hailed as the most revolutionary radar/laser detector ever. The Passport 8500 X50's new "V-Tuned" radar receiver provides extreme detection range on all police radar; conventional and "instant-on" radar, including the new POP mode radar threat, X-Band, and up to 50% more range than the original Passport 8500 on the all-important K and Ka bands. Digital signal processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms. The Passport 8500 X50 is one of the most advanced and sophisticated radar and laser detectors yet developed by the professionals at Escort. Completely immune to the VG-2 detector-detector Operating Bands - X-band 10.525 GHz +- 25 MHz, K-band 24.150 GHz +- 100 MHz, Ka-band 34.700 GHz +- 1300 MHz, Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth Laser Detection - Quantum Limited Video Receiver, Multiple High-Performance Laser Sensors Programmable Features - Power-On Indication, Power-On Sequence, Signal Strength Meter, AutoMute, Audio Tones, City Mode Sensitivity, Display Brightness, Dark Mode, Radar / Laser Bands SmartShield VG-2 Immunity Radar Receiver / Detector Type - Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO, Scanning Frequency Discriminator, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Display Type - AlGaAs 280 LED Matrix/Text, Bar Graph, ExpertMeter, or SpecDisplay, 3-Level Dimming, plus Dark Mode Power Requirement - 12VDC, Negative Ground, SmartCord MuteDisplay Included Sensitivity Control - AutoSensitivity, Highway, and City Mute and AutoMute, Auto Calibration Circuitry Unit Size(HxWxL) - 1.25 x 2.85 x 5.32 inches Escort One year limited warranty