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  1. #1

    Default 8500 W/ ZR3 Question

    I have a 995 currently hooked upto the smart cord that has the remote mute button... I previously had an x50 hooked upto the same cord, and will be getting another x50 in a few weeks.

    I'm also going to be getting a ZR3 to couple with my x50.

    My question is, what will happen to the remote mute button? In the install manual for the zr3 it says to use a cable to go straight from the x50 to the zr3 'brain'

    That would mean getting rid of my remote mute button yes?

    If that's the case, does the remote mute button for the ZR3 mute radar as well as laser? All I found in regards to that was one tap to mute laser, and two taps to go into 'receive only' mode.

    Last question is, the cable from the x50 to the zr3 brain, is that just a normal RJ-11 cable like the rest of the cables Escort uses?


    Thanks all,

    Justin

  2. #2
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    Default Re: 8500 W/ ZR3 Question

    Quote Originally Posted by Justin89t
    I have a 995 currently hooked upto the smart cord that has the remote mute button... I previously had an x50 hooked upto the same cord, and will be getting another x50 in a few weeks.

    I'm also going to be getting a ZR3 to couple with my x50.
    ^ OK.

    My question is, what will happen to the remote mute button? In the install manual for the zr3 it says to use a cable to go straight from the x50 to the zr3 'brain'

    That would mean getting rid of my remote mute button yes?
    Correct.

    The ZR3's vehicle-interior components break-down into two three main items.

    1. An "interface" (Escort's official name for this device) box, which is the one that receives the "input" jacks from all three emitter heads as well as has "outgoing" jacks for
    a- the x50 integration "link" wire (more later)
    b- the control module, as well as
    c- the remote mute button

    2. The control module (with indicator LEDs for on/off, start-up testing, and jamming status [front vs. rear]; as well as includes an onboard speaker and an onboard mute/"disable transmit" (aka "receive only" - more detail in #3, below) button.

    and

    3. A remote mute (this works just like the control module's on-board mute button, which with the initial press, silences the alarm - and with the second press, disables the Shifter's active jamming function, essentially putting it into "receive only" mode, whereby it still alerts to the incoming laser threat, but does not output a jamming sequence).

    Of these three components, the interface box is the one that is used to tap power (fused) and ground. The other devices, including the exterior emitter heads, draw power from this main device.

    If that's the case, does the remote mute button for the ZR3 mute radar as well as laser? All I found in regards to that was one tap to mute laser, and two taps to go into 'receive only' mode.
    ^ Yes and no.

    If you choose to fully integrate the x50 with your ZR3 by linking the two using the supplied link cable, then yes, the ZR3's mute button - be it the onboard button on its control box or the remote button - will also function to mute the x50, and this includes even radar warnings.

    However, if you choose to leave out the integration link, then your x50 will be powered independently via its SmartCord remote mute, while the ZR3 draws its power from its interface unit. And in this case, the ZR3's main control box integrated mute and/or its remote mute becomes its own chief control.

    You thus have two ways to run your controls.

    I know you plan to integrate your x50, but in any case, I wanted to point out the pros/cons of the "two ways" to run your controls.

    I started out my interest in active laser jammers a little over 3 years ago with the ZR3/x50 combo. The idea of being able to integrate alerts and control functions very much interested me, and it was the chief reason why I went with this combo (outside of the x50's then sole ability to handle POP, and its superior filtering).

    I tried the integrated setup at-first, but eventually decided to split the controls to their idividual components because, well, simply put, I'm a control-freak. Type-A personality, yada-yada-yada, etc. ops: With my setup at the time, which was solely x50/ZR3, I figured that this separation would allow me to have a two-step operation between disabling the ZR3's jamming output, while still allowing for the x50 to fully alert me, un-muted, about the still-present laser threat - since I'm also a distinct proponent of NOT "JTG'ing."

    With my current setup, though, as I have also added LPPs to my countermeasures, I find that full integration of the ZR3 to the x50 is more ideal.

    Since I now chiefly rely upon the ZR3 to give me laser-hit warning, I like the fact that its integration to the x50 gives me a fast, unmistakable visual output of the position of the incoming laser threat (whereas using the control module's LEDs offers more potential for error, as well as adds an additional visual "step" for me in checking through my countermeasures, upon threat detection).

    Also, it has the side-benefit of giving me faster shut-down of audible alarms - which, with a 15-month-old infant sometimes asleep in the back-seat, is a Godsend.

    Last question is, the cable from the x50 to the zr3 brain, is that just a normal RJ-11 cable like the rest of the cables Escort uses?
    Correct.

    Hope this helps!
    -A

 

 

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