My SECOND 9500i - More bad news...

[th3 factory freak]

To start, I really don't know what Escort did to the circuitry of the new 9500i. Their 8500 and X50 was great.

I'm on my second unit of the 9500i and got problems again.

I custom program the unit. One of the options is the expert mode, which I always use.

I happened to catch a CHP Ka patrol car and also drove by a stationary radar sign near the post office.

Let's start with the CHP Ka.

The patrol car was going the opposite way. The detection range was awesome for Ka. At least 3/4 of a mile IMO.

As the patrol car pass me, a second Ka bar appears on the unit. Was there another CHP around? I don't know..

Next is the stationary radar. The K band detection doesn't seem as good as the X50. It comes up, goes down and when I'm 30 yards from the sign it still half bar, then boom! Goes all the way up.

It is also hard to tell if the K-band is a false alert or not. With the X50 it was easy, it was like instant on. With the 9500, it goes up and down and remains there for a while and I start looking all over the place and there is no patrol car whatsoever. With that said, I really don't see how the whole GPS gig is going to help me if I'm driving through unfamiliar area and not sure what the detector is trying to tell me.

What can I say, for $450...I'm very disappointed. I'm also kicking myself for selling my X50, that besides false K band alerts was great.

In my opinion Escort lost focus with this product. They are trying to get it to do too many things, too many gadgets if you ask me. Add to that, the display isn't point towards the driver. WHY????????? that was a great feature, why change it????

My second unit will probably be back at Escort in a few days.

Not sure what else to say. From here it's either a used X50 or a V1.

Just DISAPPOINTING.

[proudNMAmember]

That sucks man, already your second unit and still problems. Man. :(

[th3 factory freak]

That sucks man, already your second unit and still problems. Man. :(

Yes, and I want to kick myself in the @$$ for selling the X50 so fast........ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGh

[bauzer71487]

Well they straighted it out. . . for the other side of the globe users. . . . seeing as they drive on the other side of the road.

Send it back, get your money back.

[th3 factory freak]

Well they straighted it out. . . for the other side of the globe users. . . . seeing as they drive on the other side of the road.

Send it back, get your money back.

Pretty much.

Might give the V1 a shot, not sure yet.

[KnightHawk]

Let's start with the CHP Ka.

The patrol car was going the opposite way. The detection range was awesome for Ka. At least 3/4 of a mile IMO.

As the patrol car pass me, a second Ka bar appears on the unit. Was there another CHP around? I don't know..



I have noticed this one too with the 9500i. When i did a test with the 9500i with my golden eagle at first, it only showed 1 bogey with the radar behind and thought is was better than the X50. But when facing the radar source, it showed the double bogey with only 1 dot for the second bogey. This double bogey in expert mode is also seen on the X50's when it encounter's a kustom Ka band signal. For some reason, the X50 and 9500i gets double bogey with the Kustom Ka radars. You won;t get it in other frequencies.

[th3 factory freak]

I have noticed this one too with the 9500i. When i did a test with the 9500i with my golden eagle at first, it only showed 1 bogey with the radar behind and thought is was better than the X50. But when facing the radar source, it showed the double bogey with only 1 dot for the second bogey. This double bogey in expert mode is also seen on the X50's when it encounter's a kustom Ka band signal. For some reason, the X50 and 9500i gets double bogey with the Kustom Ka radars. You won;t get it in other frequencies.

My X50 and 8500 never did that and I've owned each for about 3 years.

I'm pretty damn confused now. I'm not sure what to buy next. Hell, I'm not sure if I even want another detector at this point.

[statusquo]

Let's start with the CHP Ka.
...

As the patrol car pass me, a second Ka bar appears on the unit. Was there another CHP around? I don't know..



I have noticed this one too with the 9500i. When i did a test with the 9500i with my golden eagle at first, it only showed 1 bogey with the radar behind and thought is was better than the X50. But when facing the radar source, it showed the double bogey with only 1 dot for the second bogey. This double bogey in expert mode is also seen on the X50's when it encounter's a kustom Ka band signal. For some reason, the X50 and 9500i gets double bogey with the Kustom Ka radars. You won;t get it in other frequencies.

I passed a CA CHP car and saw the weird 1-2 bar (very weak radar) and then it went full on. He had someone pulled over and the 9500i was picking something up when I got very close to him on Ka. I might need to set it into Expert Mode to get some more info. I circled around and did the same approach and got the same 1-2 bars Ka to full alert (maybe less than 100 feet to him).

I've reported earlier about one tailing me (about 35 feet behind me) for 35 miles or so on a straight highway. The x50 (then) hovered around 1-2 bars unless he fired the Ka at which point it went Full display for 1 to 2 seconds. I thought he was playing with output power or something. Maybe alternating between front and rear radar? All I know he was sure being a pest by tail-gating me for so long (he was slow close all I saw was his car in the mirror). Talk about a slow parade.

I don't know what Ka they've got leaking out of their cars (not seen on their bikes), but Escort seems to think they have some radar always on pointing at the ground to perhaps measure their car's speed.

Maybe some distancing radar as when they close in on someone and nudge them?

I dunno.

:?:

[th3 factory freak]

Just send the 9500i back. I was not impressed with the rep on the phone.

The rep was trying to tell me that 2 bars in expert means a stronger signal. I politely advised him I disagree, pulled the manual, page 12 and read him the description.

"Well if you are not happy with it you can return it for a full refund".

That's exactly what I did today.

Now I'm inclined to try the Valentine 1 for 30 days......[/i]

[f_399]

send it back, save some money and get a v1

stock mode...it does what its suppose to do... detect everything, up to you to decide if its a real threat or not

or you can program it fit your needs

[th3 factory freak]

send it back, save some money and get a v1

stock mode...it does what its suppose to do... detect everything, up to you to decide if its a real threat or not

or you can program it fit your needs

Money isn't an issue, thus I'm getting a $450 refund.....

[f_399]

send it back, save some money and get a v1

stock mode...it does what its suppose to do... detect everything, up to you to decide if its a real threat or not

or you can program it fit your needs

Money isn't an issue, thus I'm getting a $450 refund.....

you dont need a detector then

what were you expecting... what do you want from a detector?

[marker227]

Doesn't this always happen with a new anything?

There are always bugs in electronics when the first generation comes out.

[insidercw3]

Just send the 9500i back. I was not impressed with the rep on the phone.

The rep was trying to tell me that 2 bars in expert means a stronger signal. I politely advised him I disagree, pulled the manual, page 12 and read him the description.

"Well if you are not happy with it you can return it for a full refund".

That's exactly what I did today.

Now I'm inclined to try the Valentine 1 for 30 days......[/i]

:? Hmm, seems like some of you have short memories. This "double" bogey display when encountering STRONG signals has been disected before by Jimbonzzz if my memory serves me? It has been discussed before that receivers can sometimes see 2 or more signals when encountering a very strong signal source due to issues with 'image' frequencies and harmonics. All of the Escorts since the start of the Expert meter mode have this issue. When a cop with a Ka or K gets right on top of the detector the signal is so strong that it causes multiples, ghosting, or image frequency detection, whaterver you want to call it. This isn't new.

[th3 factory freak]

you dont need a detector then

what were you expecting... what do you want from a detector?

I'll be the judge of what I need and what I don't need.

Thanks.

[John@RadarDetectors1]

Let's start with the CHP Ka.

The patrol car was going the opposite way. The detection range was awesome for Ka. At least 3/4 of a mile IMO.



Haven't read the rest of your post yet (I will), but I can't agree that 3/4 of a mile is "awesome", given that I've detected Ka from 3.4 miles with a Valentine One in the past.

I haven't gotten around to sending my 9500i back yet (my unit's problem is that when you lock out a K-Band signal, ALL K-Band frequencies get locked out in the particular geographic area in question). I've got to hurry, or the 30 days are going to be up! I hope my second unit does better than yours.

Best wishes,

John at RadarDetectors1

[nascar]

I wouldn't get a second one. Not just yet. I'd wait to see if they address any of these real issues. So far Escort is in denial.

[bauzer71487]

I wouldn't get a second one. Not just yet. I'd wait to see if they address any of these real issues. So far Escort is in denial.

What do you expect them to do? Say "Oh yeah, by the way - its still only so-so, and everyone call and send us your units back and we'll pay you your money back. Oh yeah, and in 3 months when we get it fixed again - please think of trying it again"

[ghz1]

$450 eh :lol: :lol:

[nascar]

What do you expect them to do?

Simple. Release the product when it actually works as advertised.

[John@RadarDetectors1]

I wouldn't get a second one. Not just yet. I'd wait to see if they address any of these real issues. So far Escort is in denial.

If I was just buying for myself, I wouldn't take a second one either. But this is my business (I sell radar detectors throughout Europe and Australia on various websites and eBay.co.uk).

I am testing this unit in anticipation of selling it. If it works as promised it will be FANTASTIC for use in Europe where there are about 3 times as many K-Band false alarms in their urban areas and also on the Autobahn as well. On many of the speed-limited parts of the German Autobahns, they have erected steel bridge structures over the road every few miles that sense the transponders on commercial vehicles that drive under them in order to regulate how much road taxes they pay. But interestingly, these structures all emit a K-Band radar signal, and it would seem that the only purpose of these signals is to annoy the owners of radar detectors. It would sure be nice to be able to lock these spurious signals out and never have to listen to them again! (Only about one in 100 of these “bridges” have an actual photo/radar unit camera on them – you can see the camera lens on these relatively rare units). But they all cause your Radar Detector to Sound-Off every few minutes and you either wear out your brakes very quickly and throw fuel money down the drain with the constant slowing down and speeding up again, or you ignore your RD at your own peril. It would be real nice to be able to silence these things once and for all!

Cheers,

John at RadarDetectors1

[nascar]

But this is my business (I sell radar detectors throughout Europe and Australia on various websites and eBay.co.uk).

Worse yet. You don't want to sell a product that will come back because it doesn't (knowingly) work as expected.

[Synbios]

Doesn't this always happen with a new anything?

There are always bugs in electronics when the first generation comes out.

I agree. If Escort is reading these forums (which they should be if they want to know what problems to fix) then they will know that a lot of people have been complaining about the ramping up issue. I assume that they could easily revert back to the old ramping system of the X50, which is what we all love.

I could be wrong but the ramping up seems to be the major problem with the 9500i and is what misleading people in thinking that their detection range has gotten poorer.

[th3 factory freak]

Let's start with the CHP Ka.

The patrol car was going the opposite way. The detection range was awesome for Ka. At least 3/4 of a mile IMO.



Haven't read the rest of your post yet (I will), but I can't agree that 3/4 of a mile is "awesome", given that I've detected Ka from 3.4 miles with a Valentine One in the past.

I haven't gotten around to sending my 9500i back yet (my unit's problem is that when you lock out a K-Band signal, ALL K-Band frequencies get locked out in the particular geographic area in question). I've got to hurry, or the 30 days are going to be up! I hope my second unit does better than yours.

Best wishes,

John at RadarDetectors1

You're missing my point. In that situation, that range is more than enough.

Where did you detect a Ka at 3.4 miles??? Maybe in an open flat road? I'd like to see some proof of that.

[RacerX]

Where did you detect a Ka at 3.4 miles??? Maybe in an open flat road? I'd like to see some proof of that.


it depends on where you live.
a prime example is the latest GOL test.
happya$$ saw a 5.5 mile detection on constant ka, that he'd never seen before.
yes, it was an wide open area.
the same unit back home he usually gets maybe .75 mile.

he'll probably chime in here, but you should have seen the look he gave me when i reset my trip meter for an alert.
he thought i was nuts, until he saw the several mile warning i was getting. :lol:

the same detector can give varying performance, depending on terrain and location.
unless i'm in the middle of the city, as habit i reset my trip meter, because i'm used to longer alerts. :D

[thestaton]

I've gotten over 3 miles in DE.

[happya$$]

Where did you detect a Ka at 3.4 miles??? Maybe in an open flat road? I'd like to see some proof of that.


it depends on where you live.
a prime example is the latest GOL test.
happya$$ saw a 5.5 mile detection on constant ka, that he'd never seen before.
yes, it was an wide open area.
the same unit back home he usually gets maybe .75 mile.

he'll probably chime in here, but you should have seen the look he gave me when i reset my trip meter for an alert.
he thought i was nuts, until he saw the several mile warning i was getting. :lol:

the same detector can give varying performance, depending on terrain and location.
unless i'm in the middle of the city, as habit i reset my trip meter, because i'm used to longer alerts. :D

Yeah I almost busted one seeing my very own V1 that I use in Ohio where it typically gives me no more than .75 mile warning on Ka and about 1 mile on K band give me 5.5 miles warnign on 35.5 Ka!!!!!!!!! I was one of the biggest skeptics before on receiving these crazy distances but now I am a believer!

[Spinner55]

Hello,

I've had about that long of a Ka alert / detection. But I was 'hill topping' and got a short alert then about 1/2 mile on top of the next hill it started to ramp up for the next 2+ miles. All told, about 2.5 to 2.6 mile alert. Normally it's about a 1 1/2 mile (CO) and lot less if they are in the IO mode.

Take care,

Spin

[GoHawks63]

I've gotten 1.5 miles (Ka) in the NW Chicago suburbs in my old school 8500.

[spyder2000]

All in all I think the 8500 is a better detector for me than the X50 version. I don't need arrows to determine what is going on.

[nascar]

All in all I think the 8500 is a better detector for me than the X50 version. I don't need arrows to determine what is going on.

Only the V1 has arrows. Have you tried the X50?

[GoHawks63]

All in all I think the 8500 is a better detector for me than the X50 version. I don't need arrows to determine what is going on.

Escort no longer offers the old school 8500. Your choices are the 7500, 8500 X50, or 9500i.

[spyder2000]

I have an 8500 and an X50. My wife uses the X50 while I keep the 8500. My impression is that there are noticeable differences in sensitivity between the two with the original 8500 being more sensitive. That's seat of the pants talking because I have never run them under controlled tests.

Both give more than adequate warning when there are signals about to detect. IO is used on K and Ka a lot and there are a couple of X band units about. We haven't seen POP here and the X50 doesn't false a great deal with POP enabled. I am comfortable with either of them.

My V1 was just not worth the difference in money. Maybe it's my driving habits or my experience level but I really can't say. I returned it. I've used every version of the Escort/Passport family even back to the dedicated standalone laser receiver that you mounted in a tandem mount with the RD of the time. My favorite (for size) was the original Passport.

I still have a 7500 (I think?) wideband+ somewhere about. I've been saving that one for a trade in program. And I still have the Passport too.