New Escort X50 Owner Question

**Olorin** · 07-19-2005, 04:04 PM

Hey all, first time poster here. I just bought an X50 blue after doing a lot of reading on this board (thanks for the great info, btw). Unfortunately, I haven't driven past any radar yet to really test it. But, there are two stores near my house that set of my detector - one with X and one in K.

My question is, why does the X50 seem to only pick up these sensors (or alarms) when I'm right on top of them? Is it because they have extremely short range themselves, or very low power? I just hope it doesn't have any bearing on actual police radar detection, because the alert range would be horrible. This may sound like a noob question, since it's obvious that police actually point radar toward traffic, and it has longer range... but should the X50 be picking up sensors sooner than what I'm seeing? I had a cheap Whistler detector years ago that also seemed to pick up sensors as I was driving by them.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

**kpatz** · 07-19-2005, 04:11 PM

Door sensors are weaker in strength than police radar, and they're usually at a right angle to the road when you drive by. Since the X50 has "tunnel vision" (it has less sensitivity to the sides, where radar can't clock you anyway), it doesn't pick up the door openers as strongly as it would pick up a real radar threat.

If you pull into a parking lot and drive directly toward a door opener, does the X50 show a stronger alert?

**robert** · 07-19-2005, 06:11 PM

echo what kpatz said. the door openers only need to recognize you when you walk right up to it, a cop would love to get you on radar at a distance far enough away that you may not see him.

**Olorin** · 07-19-2005, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I kinda figured the sensors were much weaker than police radar. I guess I was thinking back to my old Whistler and how it usually wouldn't pick up anything unless you were right next to it. :wink:

Robert, I'm also from Baltimore. Has your X50 saved you from any Maryland speed traps?

**Radarboy12312** · 07-20-2005, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by Olorin

Hey all, first time poster here. I just bought an X50 blue after doing a lot of reading on this board (thanks for the great info, btw). Unfortunately, I haven't driven past any radar yet to really test it. But, there are two stores near my house that set of my detector - one with X and one in K.

My question is, why does the X50 seem to only pick up these sensors (or alarms) when I'm right on top of them? Is it because they have extremely short range themselves, or very low power? I just hope it doesn't have any bearing on actual police radar detection, because the alert range would be horrible. This may sound like a noob question, since it's obvious that police actually point radar toward traffic, and it has longer range... but should the X50 be picking up sensors sooner than what I'm seeing? I had a cheap Whistler detector years ago that also seemed to pick up sensors as I was driving by them.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

What mode are you using? if your not using the highway mode this may be the reason why.

You just got the best RD money can buy and I think you will agree.

**Olorin** · 07-20-2005, 04:07 PM

Radar Boy: I started using Auto, but I've been sticking with Highway for the past couple days. I seem to be picking up the sensors a little earlier now.

I just thought I'd also mention to everyone, this detector just saved me from a ticket today. I was hauling a$$ to work today because I was running late. I'd just turned onto a long, straight road and within a couple seconds, the Ka brap-brap went to two or three bars. I figured it was a cop but being the first real alert I've had, I didn't know how far down he was... so I turned off onto a side-street. When I got back onto the main street, the X50 started going crazy again but I didn't see anything down the road. I had to drive several more seconds (doing about 40mph) before I saw a cop standing on the side of the road with a radar gun. If I had no warning, I feel I would have definitely been pulled over, probably for doing 20 or more over the speed limit.

Maybe I should make this its own thread.

**Radarboy12312** · 07-20-2005, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Olorin

Radar Boy: I started using Auto, but I've been sticking with Highway for the past couple days. I seem to be picking up the sensors a little earlier now.

I just thought I'd also mention to everyone, this detector just saved me from a ticket today. I was hauling a$$ to work today because I was running late. I'd just turned onto a long, straight road and within a couple seconds, the Ka brap-brap went to two or three bars. I figured it was a cop but being the first real alert I've had, I didn't know how far down he was... so I turned off onto a side-street. When I got back onto the main street, the X50 started going crazy again but I didn't see anything down the road. I had to drive several more seconds (doing about 40mph) before I saw a cop standing on the side of the road with a radar gun. If I had no warning, I feel I would have definitely been pulled over, probably for doing 20 or more over the speed limit.

Maybe I should make this its own thread.

This is why the X50 is the best

**TheGame** · 07-20-2005, 04:46 PM

Like RadarBoy said, keep it on highway mode, and also check to make sure your car isn't using a shielded UV-blocking windshield. My 8500 X50 picks up the door signals from pretty far away....