Here's another site that has test results on radar detectors... http://www.speedZones.com/test2001/test_2001.htm. They seem to rate three fairly high... the V1, the 8500, and the Bel 980.

 

Does the Passport 8500 come with 2 power cords? A coiled one and a straight one?

 

The standard package is one coiled cord. You can order the straight one when you order your Passport. It was $19.95 or maybe $29.95 extra. You can get this extra cord with a remote indicator whooobejooo on it.

However the power cord for a Passport 8500 looks like a phone line with the little plastic hook connector that plugs into the detector and power leads on the other end. I think at least one of the AZ owners (Tanqueray) is using a regular phone cord with no problems so far.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]Does the Passport 8500 come with 2 power cords?

 

Thanks for the info. I'm quite intrigued by the fact that a telephone cord can be used. I have the same concern about the "tiny" wires being able to take that current.
I already have wires running down the A pillar so no problems there.
It also strikes me as curious that retailers can offer a "discount" and you can't get a better price when buying direct.

 

We have a V1 and it's saved our butts more times than I can count. You can program it to ignore signals that are "false" alarms if that annoys you. Don't know about the Passport, it sounds good, too. I'm sure either way, you'll be better off than without. Good luck and FLY LOW!

 

Found out something interesting last night about the 8500. I have a truck with a DVD navigation system in it. I used the coiled smartcord and connected the 8500 to the front windshield, dead center, above the screen. I went around town looking for cops and radar signals to test the expert mode. NOTHING, not even the traffic light cameras set it off, nothing... Finally I thought the thing had already gone bad so I took it off the windshield mount, while driving, and the laser warning goes off scaring the @($@ out of me. I put it back onto the windshield mount, redrove that section of road and nothing - no warning. I took the thing off the mount and WHAM laser warning again (the loudest alert you ever heard)?!?! Driving home scratching my head I came up on a police car, Ka started flickering up the scale, until I passed the car at which time the signal was full strength - about 1/2 mile away in the city on auto mode.

When I got home I tried to figure out what was going on with the detector. I removed the detector from the mount again, car still on, and ALARM GOES OFF LOUD AGAIN - LASER - WATCH OUT!!! In my garage!!!!?!

I figured out that the DVD system in my truck sets the laser detector off when you aim the detector at it. Dim the screen and no problems...

Thank God the rear detector doesn't pick it up while driving. It only detects it when it is aimed at the screen!

Sooooo moral of the story, the thing is sensitive, it does work and can scare the $#% out of me.

 

Actually i've been thinking of buying one as well. Either the Escort 8500 or the V1. Just a stupid question though... can you use this in soCal? would the chp get pissed even more because you have that thing in your windshield? I also saw a higher model on the escort page for $320, this one is battery operated and therefor easier to install, remove. Any1 tried this before?

 

I would HIGHLY recommend the V1. The arrows are great but the bogey counter really makes it the best. Use it in Advanced Logic or Logic mode and the false alarms will be reduced to a minimum.

 

THe 8500 has saved my A$$ several times in just the last couple of months. I have a plan to one day install a femal phone jack in the windshield trip so when I remove the Radar Detector, it looks totally clean.

The Solo is a cool idea (battery radar detector) However, I am leery of trusting the power of a battery like that. As the batteries weaken, do you lose range on the detector? Also the batteries go bad pretty quick. It get's expensive to feed that thing. I hada battery powered Bell way back, it was more of a pain than it was worth because of the battery management issue.

I believe the Solo can be wired in just like the 8500. It makes it a good choice IF you hardwire it to your S, and then want to use the wireless feature once in a while in another car.