Transfer Locked Out Locations from 9500i to GX-65 and general impressions

[samq45]

Does anyone know how I can accomplish transferring lock out locations? Or if it is even possible?

I have an GX-65 (for about 3 weeks) and a 9500i. I have a boatload of locked out locations on my 9500i since I (or my wife) have had it for a while.

On a side note I prefer the 9500i other than the shape (I have both in Red Displays). The off axis detection apears to be worse than the 9500i (which is not good compared to an STi to begin with)

My GX-65 has a much lower lockout radius and the spread on the frequency fo lockouts seems to be much less. I have had to lockout certain doors three times. I have noticed that the tempature seems to make a difference. At 40 degrees the frequency is a bit different that at minus 22 (yes -22 or more here and north over the last few weeks).

Also the ramp-up combined with the speed is annoying. If you are under 25 miles an hour or so the ramp up sounds and signal strength bar are all over the place. And Ka Band is treated different than K from what I can tell. I pulled into a mobil station and there was a local leo shooting KA. As I approached the GX-65 provided good ramp-up and solid signal strength. When I parked about 20 feet from him (he must have heard the GX) The signal strength was at 1 bar but the audio alert was at full blast. - I was like WTF?

I parked at the airport where a LEO left his K band on and the opposite happened. The signal strength was a full bars but the alert was slow like 1 bar. I assume this was because I was not moving, but this feature seems really buggy. I did not think the spped would afffect KA band, but it appears too.

There are time I go for an hour or more before I get a GPS lock. On the 9500i I get a GPS lock in a minute every time in the same location. I wonder how BIG AL made out with his similar problem.

I am thinking of sending it back. I get really good Ka reception (comparable to the 9500i, but slightly less than my updated STi), but on K it is not as good as the STi and all the reviews I read and comments from users here say this thing smokes on K band.

Also it never seems to start or finish an alert on 1 bar. When it finally chimes on on known K band falses it is always ar 3 bars and then fades out at 2-3 bars. Why can't we just get a normal ramp up from them on the first try?

Last but not least - this is for Radarkid. I did lock out a leo, but there were rare cirsumstances. There is a spot where there is a CVS across from a Rite-Aid. I had to lock out this location about 5-6 times before the GX was entirely quiet. I was following a LEO running c/o K band for about 3 miles and we entered into this area the detector was entirely quiet. Mostly my fault as I probable locked half of the K band sprectrum or more and this is a "low risk " area as I do not speed there. For only about 700 feet the detector was quiet and then alerted back to full after leaving the area.

[MEM-TEK]

Since it seems that the GX65's lockout radius is smaller and since you note that it seems that the frequency resolution seems to be better, possibly you might be better off to store new lockout locations in your GX65?

I don't know if the exported lockout database from your 9500i uses the same format as that used for the GX65. If not, I wonder if Bel can convert your 9500i's lockout database so that you can then load it into your GX65. Perhaps call them or do the online chat thing and ask?

[gpracer1]

If you dont get a sat lock in under 2 minutes, send it back.
Mine has never been over 45 seconds.

Something interesting.....with sat on, I hit the GX with my K band gun with car not moving.....2 or 3 beeps and then silent with the alert still flashing.

If I dont have the sat on, like when its first searching and I hit it with K, it goes full bars crazy.

Both times in Highway mode.
Im going to experiment more this weekend.

[porky786]

I have to ask you something?

So your saying the STI driver smokes both the GX and 9500I on off axis and distance ?

On a side note, I believe in auto scan mode below 20mph, both gx and 9500 scale back their detection distances.

I ran my GX in highway mode all the time to avoid, it was still really quiet, but GPS lock was flawless , never an issue.

[samq45]

Since it seems that the GX65's lockout radius is smaller and since you note that it seems that the frequency resolution seems to be better, possibly you might be better off to store new lockout locations in your GX65?

I don't know if the exported lockout database from your 9500i uses the same format as that used for the GX65. If not, I wonder if Bel can convert your 9500i's lockout database so that you can then load it into your GX65. Perhaps call them or do the online chat thing and ask?

Those are good ideas Mem-Tek. I will ask Bel as I planned on sending it back. The reason I do not want to mark all my locations again (including speed traps) is because in my hardwired location I cannot reach the buttons on top and the remote mute button will only lockout signals, not mark speedtraps. Another reason I prefer my STi.

Something interesting.....with sat on, I hit the GX with my K band gun with car not moving.....2 or 3 beeps and then silent with the alert still flashing.

Thats what I was trying to say. Seems like on K band when you are under 25 miles per hour it will drop the sound to the lowest level, even if the display is at full bars, but on Ka band mine did the opposite. 20 feet away with 1 bar and full sound. I have only been in highway mode so far.

I have to ask you something?

So your saying the STI driver smokes both the GX and 9500I on off axis and distance ?

On a side note, I believe in auto scan mode below 20mph, both gx and 9500 scale back their detection distances.

I ran my GX in highway mode all the time to avoid, it was still really quiet, but GPS lock was flawless , never an issue.

My STi is much better off-axis than those 2 and a bit better in a straight line. Although Stalker Detection with both the GX-65 and the 9500i are very good. If I had to guess the edge would go to the 9500i. It seems like the M3 horn is better over hills and off axis. I do not run my Sti with either detector, but the STi-r is always paired with one. Yesterday, My Sti-R alerted to Staler 34,7. 1.2 Miles later there was a Leo 90 degrees to the road. The GX-65 did not alert until about 100 feet away and dropped the signal quick. Sti has performed better in those situations and around curves. But all seem good at on-axis hits and I think other users and testers have noticed this.

I have not had the GX-65 in auto mode. Only Highway. I do not really see the reason after you have locked-out your locations.

[porky786]

As far as window mounted detector, 95001, GX, STI driver

If sent to run 45mph up and down twisty roads and need the best and most likely alert distance , would it be a tuff choice, or is the choice clear?




BTW
I wasnt thilled with the detection ability on the GX either, I've considered the 9500 ix , but I'm hearing to much they are indentical.

[MEM-TEK]

...Thats what I was trying to say. Seems like on K band when you are under 25 miles per hour it will drop the sound to the lowest level, even if the display is at full bars, but on Ka band mine did the opposite. 20 feet away with 1 bar and full sound. I have only been in highway mode so far...

Thats by design. The reason you get a full volume alert for Ka band when driving very slowly or sitting still is that Ka band is always perceived to be a real threat rather than possibly being a false from a door opener. It would be nice if there was a user adjustable setting to disable the squelching of X and K alerts when driving really slowly. You can of course turn GPS off and then you will get full volume X and K alerts even if your car is sitting still.

[gpracer1]

Thats by design. The reason you get a full volume alert for Ka band when driving very slowly or sitting still is that Ka band is always perceived to be a real threat rather than possibly being a false from a door opener. It would be nice if there was a user adjustable setting to disable the squelching of X and K alerts when driving really slowly. You can of course turn GPS off and then you will get full volume X and K alerts even if your car is sitting still.

With the vehicle NOT moving with gps on in Highway mode GX65:

You hit the RD with K band and it beeps twice, goes full bars, and then is silent even with C/O still on.

When I turn OFF gps it still does the exact same thing even though the unit doesnt know its not moving. I just waited 5 minutes after turning gps off and it still is silent after 2 beeps. I think this may be a bug, as the gps is not turning off like it says it is.

If you turn off gps, then cycle the power to the RD, then you hit it with K band and it allerts full bars and full volume.

[MEM-TEK]

With the vehicle NOT moving with gps on in Highway mode GX65:

You hit the RD with K band and it beeps twice, goes full bars, and then is silent even with C/O still on.

When I turn OFF gps it still does the exact same thing even though the unit doesnt know its not moving. I just waited 5 minutes after turning gps off and it still is silent after 2 beeps. I think this may be a bug, as the gps is not turning off like it says it is.

If you turn off gps, then cycle the power to the RD, then you hit it with K band and it allerts full bars and full volume.

Yep, it sounds like you found a firmware bug. Write up a full description of it so that you can quickly copy and paste it into the online chat thing on Bel's or Escort's web site. The CS rep will forward your report to their engineers. Thats a good job of finding a bug!

[samq45]

Thats by design. The reason you get a full volume alert for Ka band when driving very slowly or sitting still is that Ka band is always perceived to be a real threat rather than possibly being a false from a door opener. It would be nice if there was a user adjustable setting to disable the squelching of X and K alerts when driving really slowly. You can of course turn GPS off and then you will get full volume X and K alerts even if your car is sitting still.

Why not make the visual ramp up match the sound then on Ka? It is weird or part of the bug, especially if you are going 30 at a full alert and then go below 25. The sound does not change from full but the display drops from full to 1 bar.

You hit the RD with K band and it beeps twice, goes full bars, and then is silent even with C/O still on.

Mine does not do this - it still alerts at a very very slow pace on K. The difference may be that in my scenario I picked up the K band alert when I was at 45mph and I parked not to far from the LEO.

As far as window mounted detector, 95001, GX, STI driver

If sent to run 45mph up and down twisty roads and need the best and most likely alert distance , would it be a tuff choice, or is the choice clear?

BTW
I wasnt thilled with the detection ability on the GX either, I've considered the 9500 ix , but I'm hearing to much they are indentical.

The STi appears to be marginally better than the other 2, but you should make a choice based on what threats you face and if you need lockout or stealth. They are fairly close in terms of detection.

If you face Stalker (34.7 Ka) then I would recommend the STi - after the updates to the firmware and ramp-up . I would chose the STi over the 9500ix and GX-65. Generally all bels are good with 34.7.

If your main threat is K or another Ka band besides stalker, I would suggest another option and you should consider the V1. If you do not care about false alerts - At it's current price its detection cannot be beat.

I have decided to send this one back. Not sure if I will get it fixed or will just continue with the STi, which has served me well.