Escort SRX all the way!!

 

i'm not sure of the legality one way or another... but i had to send my 8500 back for service and they wouldn't touch it w/o the receipt. they specifically told me ebay means they WILL NOT touch it.


where to get the 8500 X50 authorized for $250? https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showt...dpost&p=3792075


DrCloud -- well put objective review.

rworne -- thanks for the info on the auto mute. i don't think i was aware that the V1 came with it.
i've actually disabled it on my X50 because in windy top down conditions it has muted itself sometimes before i heard the initial chirps.
i also thought i had read that the addition of POP mode to the V1 did require some minor internal changes... (not just firmware) does anyone know for sure?



ok -- i like my 8500, but i'm hardly the poster boy for worshiping it... still the continued FUD is just getting too deep here.


again -- more mis-information here... the 8500 has a simple volume knob (no complex buttons once configured), it has multiple bogey tracking (potentially superior to the V1 b/c it gives individual signal strength for each bogey).

and Escort ALSO offers the option to trade in for a newer model later on... (with an upgrade price, similar to the V1)
and i could STILL buy 2 Escort 8500 X50's for less than you would pay for a V1 and the upgrade.

 

one thing that gets lost is that "best" can mean different things to different people, or people in different places. For instance, in Vermont the threat is instant-on moving radar. Because traffic is light, and falses are rare, a single beep can be significant, so for there, the greatest range possible is key. The V1 arrows really help in telling whether the couple of beeps you heard were instant-on sampling traffic in front of you, or an alarm at a gas station on a crossroad that you've just passed. On the other hand, another feature set like better falsing elimination might be more useful in SoCal.

 

$80 Cobra = Completely useless

Escort Passport 8500 X50 = The best 300 bucks I've ever spent!

 

Here is a review I posted elsewhere about the 8500 VS a Valentine 1. Since I now own both I figured I would post my thoughts here too:


I have had a couple of Valentine 1 RADAR detectors for several years, and I love them.

I picked up a cheap Bel Cordless Express a couple of years back to use on the motorcycles. It is barely better then nothing, so when I found a "Deal" on a new 8500 I decided to try it out on the bikes. I would prefer another V1, but the 8500 is a lot cheaper (purchased at a discount). For the motorcycles I would need the V1 + the optional audio box ($448 total + shipping)- the 8500 has an audio out jack made right in and was $240 delivered.

OK, so I get my new 8500 in and run it through a test - the commute home past various X band door openers and a K band speed sign.

I only had the 8500 turned on - you can't "compare" detectors side by side since the radiation from one could effect the other.

The 8500 in highway mode, it picked up the K band speed sign about 1.5 miles away! The compares with the V1, about the same distance. But, as I pass the sign the detector shuts up in about 50 feet. With the V1 (and its rear antenna) the directional arrows show it behind me and the V1 continues to pick it for until I turn off that road (maybe 1 mile). So not having the rear antenna is a BIG loss. That said, if there was a cop behind me shooting forward, the 8500 would pick up the reflections off of other cars and objects in front of me. Of course, the rear antenna would pick it up even better.

Even in highway mode, I only had one false alarm on the trip home. With the V1 it would have been 6-7. In "little l" mode this would have been a quick beep - not that much of a hassle, but the 8500 did a lot better in this area.

Things I learned after getting the 8500:

The "remote box" is nothing like the V1 remote display - the V1 is a complete copy of the front of the detector and fully replicates it and turns off the main display. The 8500 remote just has a button and a couple of lights - if you turn off the main display then you get no other info (than the beeps).

The 8500 only comes with the detector, the windshield mount, and the coiled power cord. No extra suction cups, no sun visor mount, no hard wired power adapter, no straight power cord. All of these are standard with the V1, and either not available or extra money with the 8500.

In all but expert mode, there is no counter like on the V1 - the V1 is a number, the 8500 in expert mode is FAR harder to read. In other modes the display only shows you what the 8500 thinks is the strongest threat. The V1 has an LED for each band and a numeric counter, plus the arrows.

The face of the 8500 is smaller than the V1, but the 8500 is longer. I will try to post some pictures side-by-side later. Neither is real big. The V1 has a more solid feel - but does weigh more.

The 8500 does have the built in audio out jack which is an expensive option on the V1 - and is a must-have for a rider.

The "V1 Hater" says the alerts on the V1 are not as loud as the 8500. I just don't think that is true. The V1 at full volume can be heard in a convertible with the top down at 80mph and the stereo blasting (ask me how I know). The 8500 seems about as loud, and if anything a little LESS loud.

I will post more as I play with the 8500 more, but the price was right - even with having to buy a hard wire power cord - and the range on real RADAR seems super. A lot fewer false alarms. But on first glance, with money no object I would get another V1 and put up with the falses. I am going to run it in the car for a few days, then (after getting a power cord) get it mounted on the GL1800.

The next day

To follow up, I drove the same route tonight with the V1 on. It picked up the K band sign 1.4 miles away - a little less than the 8500 last night and less than I observed before with the V1. I was behind a couple of full size pickups when it beeped and was in the clear last night, but I will check it again.

The rear RADAR worked for a FULL MILE past the sign - I was amazed after the few feet I made it past with the 8500 last night. In this case it was pretty much clear behind me all the way back to the sign.

A couple of days later


More news and "testing".

Today was the first day I commuted IN to work with the 8500 - in highway mode it falsed at all the same spots as the V1! Same thing going out to lunch, in fact it may have found new ones the V1 does not get. Going home it picked up the K sign at 1.4 miles, and again dropped it right past it. In fact, I think that is why it didn't false on the way home the other day - it is very "Deaf" to RADAR behind it, so it missed some of the false alarm opportunities. Going in this morning it picked them up.

On one of the motorcycles, the cheap Bel picked up the sign this weekend from 1.1 miles away (not as good as the V1 and 8500, but not bad). It even continued to beep for about 1/2 mile past the sign - better than the 8500. Of course, it is mounted out on the right bar of the bike and the 8500 is IN the car.

I will try some in "city" mode, but it looks like in highway mode it does not have a false alarm advantage over the V1.

For the price, it is a nice detector - but I still like the V1 better.

I have to call Escort and get a hard wire power cable and get it on the bike and see how it does.

A few more days later

I have done more "testing" - this time in auto mode, this is the recommended best mode to use - previously I was in highway mode.

Auto mode did cut down on the false alarms from X band door openers, but the K band openers at OfficeMax still set it off AND several non-RADAR X band sources did as well. From all the test reports I read one of the big advantages of the 8500 over the V1 was lack of false alarms - at least in auto mode this is just not much difference.

More 8500 notes:

The plastic carrying case is cheap and adds no value. The "remote display" is not a display at all. If you dim the main display to its lowest setting then it does not display anything when it alerts. I am still looking into the hard wire solution - make my own or buy the one from Escort for $10 each + shipping. A shame this is not included. The coiled cord is too "tight" - it is a stretch to make it to the cig socket - they should have provided a straight cord as well. I forgot about the volt meter mode - you can set it to display the voltage, then it will switch to the normal display on an alert, then back to voltage after there is no more alert. This could be real handy to monitor the bike - like a GL1500 and the stator problem.

Driving past the K band sign last night I got < 0.1 mile past before the 8500 stopped alerting. This detector is pretty deaf to RADAR from the rear. It will probably work better on the bike in this area.

Will I keep it? Sure - as long as it integrates into my audio system on both bikes. It has more range than the Bel and better alerts and features.

Would I recommend it? Sure - for bang for the buck you can't beat it at the $240 price delivered.

What is the best detector? V1 hands down - it is just made better. The arrows, the digital counter, the REAL remote display that shuts off all lights on the detector, the included wiring choices, etc. For a motorcycle it is WAY spendy: $399 + $49 (audio adapter) + the optional $39 remote display + shipping = $448 - 487 + shipping. That is a LOT more than $240 delivered deal from CarToys for the 8500 (plus $10 or make your own hard wire power cord). For a car, you don't need the $49 audio box, but it is still a lot more.

I am on my second pair of V1s now. My original ones were the older (and larger) models. I got a price from Valentine to upgrade them, but ended up selling them both for $300 each and just replaced them with new ones ($400 each). This ended up being a good bit less than the upgrade price. That tells you something else about the quality and "value" of the V1 - after using them for 3 years or so I got back 3/4 of what I paid for them. That is pretty darn impressive.

If you can afford it - and afford the loss if it gets stolen - get the V1.

Dennis

 

good review.

the 8500 does offer a 'Loud Tones' mode that substantially increases the volume of the alerts.

i've never found expert mode to be hard to read, but readily wish for a more detailed remote display.

your observations on rear detection are intriguing however... clearly, the V1 is always going to be superior here, but to think the 8500 is that 'blind' to the rear? hrm... that's a little disturbing.

 

This is one of those contests that no one wins. I've had my V1 for about 4 years. After having the arrows pointing where the offender is, I cannot see myself living without them. My unit is a pre POP one and as far as I know, it will only cost $50 to get it upgraded to the latest spec. Perhaps our fellow member wanted to replace his altogether.

 

I have an older V1.7 I got off ebay that doesn't have laser detection...3 saves in the last 2 months

This unit walks the walk and the direction arrows help you see where it's coming from or if it's a mirage.

 

I checked out the radarbuster.com site and decided on a Bel X65. I really like it and found that it is easy to hardwire to S2000 fuse box. There is a how-to install I found during a search on this site.

They don't sell the V1, but they sell the X65 and the Escort models with actual tests to help you pinpoint what you want.

I used to have a Bel 870, bought 10 years ago, great laser and KA detector but no POP and that's all the local police in my hometown use. I sold the Bel with my Porsche.

Chris
Montclair, NJ
2002 S2000 Spa Yellow

 

I think I have it in loud mode, but it works fine on the motorcycles with a wired in sound interface - in fact I have to keep it turned down a bit. When I got it and tested it in the cars it did not seem quite as loud, but it was good enough.

I tried expert mode and while it works, I still like the V1 display better. My biggest pet peeve (if I drove in the car with the 8500) is that there is no true remote display. With the V1 you get ALL the info from the display on the remote display and the V1 display is totally dark. So if you are following me at night you will not know I have a detector (actually depends on which car, in the S the glass angle means it is hard to hide but at least there is no light on it). With the 8500 in expert mode you have to keep the display ON to use it - not very stealthy. On the bike I leave it on voltage (this is a nice bonus) and just dim it at night. I can hardly see the display during the day and don't want to attract attention at night - I just use the sounds to know when to slow down.

Having to pay extra for an 8500 hard wired cord hurls too, it should be included (even at a cheaper price).

I tried the 8500 many times and it does not hear well behind at all. I use it on all the rides now and when you pass the RADAR source it shuts up quick. Like I said, if they are shooting from behind then "it should" pick up the reflections from in front - but I KNOW the V1 will not only pick up the rear signal it will tell you it is from the rear.

With the 8500 I just have to drive slow any time it beeps. With the V1 I can tell if they are behind me and know when I pass them, so I can resume "normal speed" a lot quicker. If you don't mind driving the limit any time it beeps, the 8500 is a LOT of detector for the money (at the price I paid a no brainer). But if you HAVE the money, then get a V1 and a remote display and then you will know what all the fuss is about

Dennis