New 8500 x50 Questions

[zarry]

Last week I received my brand new 8500 x50 blue. I have been bouncing around these forums without a name for quite some time learning everything I can. Unfortunately, I guess I had a false sense of confidence after getting it and hitting some speed traps with my detector alerting me way before. Last night on i-87 i was hit with a laser doing 87 in a 65. ( ouch) thats number 3 for me ticket wise. The officer was very high and mighty and had a smirk on his face when he saw my detector and asked me if it picks up lasers ( damn prick ). I never want to be in this situation again. I shouldn't have been going as fast as I was alone on the highway but ill take credit for that stupidity.

I am still in court about another ticket so I still have my license as of this point. My question ultimately comes down to settings and laser jammers.

1. What settings do you feel work best in NY state? Just looking for your personal opinion before I make my own. Right now I am leaning towards Pop Off and X off.

2. What laser jammer would you recommend? I am leaning towards the Shifter zr3 because of integration but the more I read I get pulled towards the LI or one of the Blinders. Does anyone have any of these combos and what do they recommend?

3. What advantages does hardwiring my x50 provide?

Any other information you think would help me would be greatly appreciated!!!


Thanks in advance!

[Esoterica]

Can't help you at all with #1, see my last paragraph for a little help though.

#2
I too liked the idea of integration of the ZR3 into my 9500i, its appealing, but then I read the GOL reviews on the ZR3 and can clearly see its not the absolute best choice for the same amount of money. Its easy to use integration as a deciding factor, but you also have to keep in mind the primary purpose behind getting it in the first place, so function out weighs form.

I don't even see much laser where I live, but still like the thought of getting a jammer just for that one in a million time, after all since I don't have that as a regular threat here its only going to take them one time to get me good. RadarRoy has recently announced in another post here that he is soon going to be publishing his review of Escorts new ZR4 jammer system. He suggested I wait to buy a ZR3 for the ZR4 to come out instead and I suspect he had good insider information for making this recommendation to me. So for now I'm waiting to see what capabilities the new ZR4 is going to offer before I finish making up my mind on which jammer to get.

I do wish though that Cheetah offered a wireless kit for the ZR4 as I use multiple vehicles and will have to be moving things around from time to time to different vehicles. I also wish (maybe they have changed) that the wireless kits allowed you to manually turn off your jammer, but I'm sure I could figure out a way to get around that, probably by running wires though and thus defeating the purpose in the first place.

#3
There's no real advantage to hard wiring, it just makes for a cleaner and neater look inside your vehicle and it frees up your lighter socket for other uses like charging your phone or what ever.

The only other thing I'd suggest sounds like you already learned. Spend a lot of time at getting use to how your detector functions so you can become one with it and it becomes an extension of your own body. But more importantly, get use to the habits and tactics of the LEO's in your area. You'll find they all train together the same way and act like sheep, but not all LEO's everywhere have the same Shepperd training them so tactics and habits will vary from say what I see happening where I live and what you see happening where you live. Getting to know though indepthly how they operate in your area is vital, you just pay a lot of attention to what you see them doing, since they are trained sheep they don't stray from doing things by the book very often and you can easily often guess what they are going to do before they even do it.

[Super Dave]

Sorry you got nabbed! Not much you can do against laser though, other than to always try to have a rabbit. I run my X50 POP off. I dont know much about jammers yet but looks like some good advice above. There also is a VEIL forum here I am sure you have seen - maybe a cheaper alternative you could try although I dont know much about Veil myself. I have my RD hardwire mounted left above the RVM so maybe it can't be seen as well...maybe a good place to pull it down quickly if I had time without looking like I'm hiding something (and making the LEO nervous).

I pretty much have a rule that if no one is in front of me I stick to a max of 10 over...

[djrams80]

1. On the verge of losing your license, I personally wouldn't turn anything off.

2. Waiting for the reviews of the ZR4 would probably be wise, except for the almost losing your license part. The little tidbits we have gotten seem to be positive and the ZR3 was top-notch when it was released.

3. Hardwiring your RD makes it more difficult for thieves and/or LEO's to spot.

[TSi+WRX]

Integration is something that's very nice to have, however, I feel that primary importance HAS to be placed, first, on proper and complete protection.

In this respect, the ZR3, zarry, will unfortunately fail, in your particular geographic location, due to enforcement hardware mismatch, if nothing else, alone.

If you have to have something, "now," I'd recommend looking at either the LPP/AL or LI.

If you can wait a while, it may be worth your time to see what the Escort ZR4 brings, and at least get some independent hobbyist testing data about it, before you make this rather costly purchase.

[zarry]

I really appreciate the replies... but I have some more questions.

I think I want to wait for the review of the ZR4 but is their a date? What does soon mean? The word is very vague... Also, What integration does it provide? Does it just beep on both and show laser on both? What actual advantages come from linking the two devices? I plan on getting VEIL but again what does it will be available soon mean?

Any other information regarding settings?


Thanks in advance!!!

[TSi+WRX]

This a copy-paste from my reply to you on another thread:

Supposedly either March or April release-date.

However, honestly, I'd wait until at least some members here - if not the GOL outright - have been able to quantitatively test these units for performance, before committing to the buy.

$500 puts you well within the shooting range of today's top-flight laser-diode based jammers, which are proven performers with proven durability/reliability track records.

It would be foolish, IMveryHO, to pursue the ZR4 without at least some independent confirmation of at least its performance.

As for "integration."

Speaking solely of the ZR3 -to- x50/9500i setup:

Integrating the ZR3 to the detector shunts all threat display functions to the detector's display. Thus, instead of a small LED indicator that warns you of front-vs.-rear incoming LIDAR threat, your detector will, clearly, display "F" versus "R" "LASER," as well as actively confirm both "SHIFTING" (as well as "OFF" function, once the latter is activated upon tactical disengagement).

Another advantage exists in that functions to control BOTH pieces of equipment becomes centralized to the ZR3's remote. You can both mute both pieces of equipment (on the 9500i, it also retains the ability to trigger the TrueLock function), as well as use it to govern, as cited above, the ZR3's switch between SHIFTING and RECEIVE modes, for disengagement.

I have no clue if additional features will be implemented with the ZR4.

[zarry]

I like all the integration features but you are right a wait for members or even GOL to do a review seems like a wise idea. I just dont know if I should wait or go with the LPP or ZR3 it comes down to wait for a review of the ZR4 then decide... or move now on either a LPP or ZR3 and the only reason I say move now is because as my situation shows I really cant get another ticket.

but maybe its time for some self control :/ and taking it easy for awhile...

[TSi+WRX]

but maybe its time for some self control :/ and taking it easy for awhile...

I'd say that would definitely be the way to go.

I know, easier said than done, right?

[Esoterica]

What does soon mean? The word is very vague... Also, What integration does it provide? Does it just beep on both and show laser on both? What actual advantages come from linking the two devices? I plan on getting VEIL but again what does it will be available soon mean?

I've been curious myself about just what happens when you integrate the two devices, I mean in detail. I was waiting to read the reviews and see if I could find answers to this question in those before asking here.

As far as "soon" goes, ha ha ha, that's a good question as well, seems with in the radar detector realm of the world "soon" could mean anything from a month to several years.

It's said that the new Escort system will be on the market and available for sale in March or April. Some professional reviewers like Roy I suspect will have their hands on one sooner for testing, if not already. Non professional non industry recognized reviewers like GOL may have to wait until the thing is actually on the market, not really sure how things exactly operate with them though as far as what and how they get their hands on stuff, as in does the factory loan stuff to them or do they actually have to buy the stuff like anyone else would in order to test it? Hopefully they actually buy the stuff or I could see where their reports would be influenced in order to stay on good terms with the factories.

As far as Veil goes I have absolutely no experience with that, some people here who have tested it and use it swear by it, mostly, but I have a problem with any kind of quick fix in a can type thing. In theory though I suppose painting something with a non reflective, or reflective reducing covering could have at least a marginal advantage at not allowing light to be reflected back. Reducing areas to minimize reflected surfaces is how "stealth" in general is achieved, even for hi tech military equipment.