Explanation of the 9500I & TrueLock info (Tricks)

[€]

Originally Posted by insidercw3

What evidence does anyone have that ESCORT designed the 9500i horn to have a limited off-axis view. Specifically how is the 9500i horn any different than the X50 horn?

9500i horn looks exactly the same as X50 (M4) horn. I compare them when my friend bought new X50. I think you can even swap them.

[barry911]

I called Escort and asked them when the update will be and she said "for a long time". what is the purpose?> the "marked locations" for traffic cameras didn't work in san diego. I returned it. Happy with a V1

[CJR238]

As I stated in my original post but with more detail:

The problem with the 9500I’s audible ramp up there was beginning alert to full alert no mid range. Normal detectors would alert strength wise like:

1-1-1-2-2-2-3-3-3-4-4-4-5-5-5-6-6-6-7-7-7-8-8-8 (all the way to full alert)

9500's ramp up problem was like:

1-1-1-2-2-2-8-8-8 (jumps to full alert from a weak strength)

There "now" is a flash availablewith new software to fix ramp up. (All 9500I's build dates 4007 and above are good to go, 4 digit # is on bottom of RD) If yours has the ramp up problem you can call and request the ramp up flash/update. You will need to send it in to Escort but you should get it back in a week or two. I believe new 9500I’s built after November will have the ramp up fix incorporated in them.

Personally I like the ramp up (quieter) so I won’t be updating mine, but I will be getting a new Blue 9500I next month.

Mark Location Feature is for speed traps & cameras. Good for those traps set up on your "not so frequently" driven rides where LEO's use I/O. the verbal notification of the mark out circumference is 1/2mi under 50mph and 1mi over 50mph, So if you drive on road parallel it will still alert you. It will also count down in feet to the mark location and away from it.
The 9500I will not mark a location when its receiving a signal (for safety/design flaw). However the 1 real KA speed trap i encountered I was able to Mark the location 500ft passed him wen the signal went away. Because the Mark location radius is pretty big (1mi & 1/2mi) i see no big problem.

If it is a speed trap (LEO's frequent that spot) you will have many chances to Mark the location so come back another time when LEO is not using radar or not in that location. Or mark it just after the alert, Mark location does have a good radius.


[Note] The 9500I should be powered down at some point after marking a location to save/confirm.
A good place I use mine for is a speed change from 55 to 25mph on my trip to my place in Vermont.

[Holla]

Can you turn Specific bands Off on the 9500i

[CJR238]

Originally Posted by Holla

Can you turn Specific bands Off on the 9500i

Yes, but I suggest if your going to do that use TrueLock so it’s specific to your area. You may travel somewhere the band your turning off is being used.
For example it appears that towns with less of a budget still use X band sometimes.

1) To enter Preferences, press and hold the “MRK” and “BRT” buttons down for 2 seconds. 2) Then press the “BRT” button to review the current. 3) Then press the “MRK” button to change any setting.settings.

Check owner’s manual for details: http://www.escortradar.com/pdf/9500i_Manual.pdf


Bands DFT
Bands MOD

X ON or OFF (default is on)
Ku ON or OFF (default is off)
K ON or OFF (default is on)
Ka ON or OFF (default is on)
POP ON or OFF (default is off)
SWS ON or OFF (default is off)
LSR ON or OFF (default is on)

[CJR238]

Some info on GPS acquisition:

Originally Posted by Escort

"In order for PASSPORT's GPS-powered features to work properly, the top case must have a clear view of the sky"

If you choose to mount the 9500I high, you will obstruct the ability to "see" the GPS satellites above and ahead of your car. The result is the slight lag time, (Initial 1-3 minute lag) and possibly a slightly reduced accuracy for your vehicle's speed calculations.
I have my 9500I mounted high to the left of the RVM with tint and dots shielding the top of my 9500I. GPS acquisition is a bit longer to acquire than having it lower, but only an extra minuet or so when first turned on from sitting a few hours.
Radar acquisition within the 9500i is a completely separate circuit. The lag in GPS in no way affects radar performance at all (on or off). I prefer the trade off, extra stealth for longer GPS acquisition initially.

My GPS troubles:
GPS signal & 9500I

[MEM-TEK]

Originally Posted by CJR238

The GOL off axis test showed limited off axis on the 9500I M4 horn. The 9500I and the X50 use the same M4 horn, im not sure of any specific differences. The M4 horn also seems narrower than the old S7 horn used in the original 8500's.

Actually it appears most RD's are designed to have a decrease in detection on extreme off axis. Its the 9500I's filtering and horn design combo that I feel makes it work so well.

The width of the M4 horn is the same as the S7 horn, specifically 1.1 inches which is the wavelength of X band radar. The angle of the side walls is the same too -- 15 degrees.

Radar detector horns are not designed to have a decrease in detection for off-axis radar or greatly off-axis. This is just an inherent occurrence within any radar horn, and most of it is due to the off-axis phase cancellation which occurs within any radar horn along with an inherent reduction in the off-axis gain of the horn. Of note, due to the design specifics of the M4 horn which uses a metal clad area of the circuit board to form the final wall of the horn and which uses only a single wave guide, the result is that the M4 horn has stronger phase cancellation issues for radar which is way off-axis.

Nevertheless, I totally agree that the M4 horn design in conjunction with the 9500i's filtering algorithms makes for a superbly designed radar detector as far as off-axis falses in cities is concerned. This combined with the fact that the horn in the 9500i is mounted upside down (to allow room for the GPS board above the flat circuit board which forms the top of the horn), creating a downward horn flare, results in better on-axis sensitivity when the 9500i is mounted high. It is the best of both worlds -- few falses in cities yet excellent sensitivity on the highway.

[CJR238]

Thanks MEM-TEK,

I was wondering if there was any major design difference in width and angle on the M4 horn. It definitely seems to have different filtering attributes than the S7.
So the metal clad area of the circuit board and a single wave guide, with stronger phase cancellation off-axis is what makes the M4 quieter to off axis. Would the above be considered the horn, the receiver, software or all the above? :?

The horn on the 9500I mounted upsidown i find to be a very logical way of increasing on-axis sensitivity and picking up radar reflections from logical directions. Especaly when the 9500i is mounted high. :wink:

[MEM-TEK]

Originally Posted by CJR238

Thanks MEM-TEK,

I was wondering if there was any major design difference in width and angle on the M4 horn. It definitely seems to have different filtering attributes than the S7.
So the metal clad area of the circuit board and a single wave guide, with stronger phase cancellation off-axis is what makes the M4 quieter to off axis. Would the above be considered the horn, the receiver, software or all the above? :?

The horn on the 9500I mounted upsidown i find to be a very logical way of increasing on-axis sensitivity and picking up radar reflections from logical directions. Especaly when the 9500i is mounted high. :wink:

I think that it is all of the above. It also seems that Escort has been tweaking the 9500i firmware to work optimally with the M4 horn and receiver board (antenna) too. This is just a guess, but it is the only thing that I can think of to explain the 9500i's recent jump in performance compared to early 9500i firmware versions. The hardware hasn't changed at all within the 9500i so it has got to be the changes in the firmware.

On a side note, my 9500i was received by Escort yesterday for the new flash for the ramp-up issue. I did the online chat thing with Escort about an hour ago and was told that they might have it for 7 to 10 days. No big deal if it takes that long since I have my STi to use in the meantime.

[jimbonzzz]

Originally Posted by MEM-TEK

The hardware hasn't changed at all within the 9500i so it has got to be the changes in the firmware.

MEM-TEK: I've read several posts where you've stated this. And you have no clue what you're talking about, so please stop BS'ing everyone