I've owned my passport 8500 for about 1.5 years, and it has been great. Up until recently it's worked flawlessly... well, with the exception of the occasional false alarm. It hadn't ever detected any laser signal until about 2 months ago. Then it started doing it every now and then. But lately it's been several times each time I'm in the car. For instance, on the way to work this morning it detected laser about 5 times during the 10 min drive! And frequently when I start my car up in the morning in the garage it will start screaming laser after a few seconds. I'm in the middle of a neighborhood, and I seriously doubt there's any laser around. Unless someone is following me around with one to play a prank, there is something wrong with the unit.

Also, it seems to throw a lot of K and Ka band when it's really warm outside. If I've left my car parked out in the sun for a while and the interior is hot it seems to go nuts sometimes. I don't leave the passport up in the window while parked, though. I take it down and put it under the seat out of view... mainly because I don't want it stolen, but also because I don't want it to bake in the S. Carolina sun.

I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar. Is there a way to reset the unit or something along those lines? I figure that might clear things out.

 

There are a couple of things that set off laser, but not that many.

Third brakelights on the Chevy Trailblazer and related. Also some of the new cars with adaptive cruise control will set it off.

I have a Valentine, but those are some of the things that will set it off, however I will say its rare.

 

Yeah, I was aware that the CC on a few vehicles might possibly trigger it... but the 3rd brake light on the trailblazer is new to me. Even still, this wouldn't cause the stuff that's been going on with mine. Hmmm, I'll have to do some research on this and maybe get a hold of cust. support for the passport.

 

KeithD---I'm glad I'm not the only one whose V1 goes off when a Trailblazer/Envoy's brake light is lit. I was wondering about this myself.

It mus be something about the output of this 3rd brake light because many modern cars have very bright, LED type 3rd brake lights that don't cause my V1 to alert lazer.

 

If you look at them, they have sort of a violet color mixed in with the red.

Inifiniti QX and FX series SUV's also trip the V1's laser sensor (from the front end of the SUV only) because of the adaptive cruise control.

The damn things seem to have it on all the time, even in stop-and-go traffic on city streets. It turns out it not only is for the cruise control, but for the brake assist that tries to determine if a panic stop is warranted.

 

Could it be set off by the park distance control module?

 

This is covered in the V1 "already answered" section of "Ask Mike".

http://www.valentine1.com/lab/Previously7.asp

I had a new problem - the OEM NAV screen in my RX-8 sets off the V1 laser detector. I called V1 support to ask them about it and they said "yep, we get a few complaints from NAV system owners on various cars about this". I found through testing that once the screen warms up the laser falsing goes away so I keep the V1 muted and/or the screen tilted down until it warms up. On a really hot day, it warms up so quick I don't bother. We will see how it does this winter, if it gets to be a problem I will just program off laser. It is pretty much useless anyway - since if you are speeding and they zap your car you have 0 warning anyway.

I commuted in behind an Envoy the other day. The driver had a nervous brake foot and kept setting off the V1, so I just slowed down and let a few folks pass me until I had enough buffer zone to keep the V1 from falsing.

Dennis

 

i had read about the laser alerting w/ the V1 and the Trailblazer/Envoy tail light, but my 8500 has never triggered off of it -- and i've tried by following them in stop and go traffic for miles.

i have had cruise controls on other vehicles set off the laser on the 8500 X50 though... but this doesn't sound like the case.

what this MAY be is related to this... read this thread carefully:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...laser++van++X50

after i sent my X50 in for repair, it never gave me laser falsing again. can you determine if there's a sequence or common event that triggers the false alerts?
perhaps try it in another car and see if the falsing continues?


the only problem i've had... well, problems... is my X50 has been in and out of Escort service w/ some real and some false "SERVICE REQUIRED" alerts. they've taken care of me at every stage, even including a 3 year warranty for free to keep me happy and keep my confidence... but as best we can tell, something is happening when my car starts that's triggering a service flag. either or... my laser problem was solved, and now i'm trying to work on what triggers the "service required" signals...

 

I tried my 8500 (I use it on the bikes) and it DOES NOT go off with the V1 on the RX-8 display, so it may not also go off for GM brake lights like the V1 does.

I don't think I have yet been "lasered" with the 8500 that I can recall, so I have no idea how well it works against the real thing. The V1 does pick it up quite well, but 99 out of 100 times you will be "toast" if you are speeding and they hit you with laser.

Laser warts and all, I still like my V1s better than the 8500 - but my 8500 was sure a lot cheaper

Dennis

 

actually -- to answer the original question (which i failed to do yesterday)...

i've been lasered pretty often w/ the 8500. i'd say typically at least 1 time every month for the last year and a half. our city PD uses laser almost exclusively, so i see it a lot. and of those times, most of the time, i spotted them far in the distance before i got the alert and had slowed down. but generally each time, i was given a LASER alert before i was directly in their sights (from them hitting traffic ahead of me). the few times i didn't see them before, the LASER alert via reflections off surrounding traffic gave me sufficient time to slow down (very rapid braking) before i was the front target. i can think of only 1 time where i was lead man and got hit with a laser. i climbed all over the brakes and got a nasty look from the office as i drove by... *whew*
in fact, i was hit with laser yesterday morning. the detector alerted me before i saw them, but traffic wasn't moving really quickly, so i wasn't really in risk.

perhaps i've been lucky, but with them using so much laser around this city, i'm usually watching out for them. i have considered buying the ZR3 shifter unit to pair with the X50. perhaps i should consider it again...

*edit* i would agree though that if you get hit w/ laser, and you're the only guy on the road? chances are you just got an advanced notice of a ticket and of having to pay the speeding tax.