8500 X50: What does Auto mode do?

[jdong]

I've read way too many conflicting reports, many of which are "responses from Escort CS", about what exactly the Auto mode does.

I understand that the City mode, depending on programming, will lower X, really lower X, or turn off X.


However, I've heard SEVERAL stories about Auto mode, including:

(1) Raising X band alert threshold up to like 4 bars minimum if the area is densely packed with X band signals
(2) Doing the same for X and weak K
(3) Looking for pairs of X and/or K band signals
(4) Scans X, K, 33.8, 34.7, 35.5 first before scanning the full spectrum, prioritizing alerts that match police frequencies spot on (??? this would be really neat if true!)
...


So, what EXACTLY does this Auto mode do? Intuitively, it seems to make the unit very resistant to alerting to X-band door openers while K band seems to perform identically, though i don't have many data points to go off.

[djrams80]

I've read way too many conflicting reports, many of which are "responses from Escort CS", about what exactly the Auto mode does.

I understand that the City mode, depending on programming, will lower X, really lower X, or turn off X.


However, I've heard SEVERAL stories about Auto mode, including:

(1) Raising X band alert threshold up to like 4 bars minimum if the area is densely packed with X band signals
(2) Doing the same for X and weak K
(3) Looking for pairs of X and/or K band signals
(4) Scans X, K, 33.8, 34.7, 35.5 first before scanning the full spectrum, prioritizing alerts that match police frequencies spot on (??? this would be really neat if true!)
...


So, what EXACTLY does this Auto mode do? Intuitively, it seems to make the unit very resistant to alerting to X-band door openers while K band seems to perform identically, though i don't have many data points to go off.

This is a job for:

[Retaliation]

This is a job for:

I was thinking the same thing.
The one thing I can report acurately about the Auto mode is that it suppresses X-band alerts until the signal passes level 3. For a better/more complete explanation I defer to the experts.

[CJR238]

I was thinking the same thing.
The one thing I can report acurately about the Auto mode is that it suppresses X-band alerts until the signal passes level 3. For a better/more complete explanation I defer to the experts.

X2, MEM-TEK did some extensive testing with Bels version of Auto mode.

Auto mode on the 8500 suppresses X band to an extent, but tries to do it with pairs of X falses.
Its kind of useless if you ask me, i never felt it filtered enough, but it also made me not trust the results it was giving me.
Auto mode only works well with the 9500I, but thats a hole different kind of animal.

[jdong]

To be honest the 8500 feels sufficiently quiet even on HIGHWAY I might just keep it that way and program City to be very reduced X.

[djrams80]

To be honest the 8500 feels sufficiently quiet even on HIGHWAY I might just keep it that way and program City to be very reduced X.

That's called less sensitivity!

[MEM-TEK]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I have never specifically tested an X50 in order to figure out exactly how it performs in Auto mode. Hopefully I will be able to talk the supervisor at either a Best Buy or at a Flying J to let me test an X50 for a week or so. I will explain who I am, what I will be testing, and that I only need the X50 since I have a hardwire install and a permanently installed mounting bracket. I will further explain that the X50 will be kept out of heat at all times when I park my car and that the X50 will be returned in MINT condition and with known and guaranteed performance. Hopefully this will fly even if I do have to pay some sort of restocking fee.

I could post some theories about how the X50's Auto mode should function, but instead I prefer to conduct specific tests and then report, rather than pegging out my BS meter!

[Retaliation]

If you go the Best Buy route, you could always tell them there's a problem with the detector to avoid the restocking fee. Or, I seem to remember a thread a while back about a person who was renting detectors.

Found it.

Who knows if she's still in business though.

[fire65]

According to Escort, Auto Mode only affects X band. I was just reading what they said. Had to send my X50 in today. Auto only affects X band, it determines the level of X and basically changes to city mode if it determines to much x. I never run in Auto, either C dots or H dots. Just read the Escort site if you want to know what they say.
They also say the X50 is the same as the 9500 on range. Only difference is the options. NOT ME, Escort says this on their web site.

[jdong]

If you go the Best Buy route, you could always tell them there's a problem with the detector to avoid the restocking fee. Or, I seem to remember a thread a while back about a person who was renting detectors.

Found it.

Who knows if she's still in business though.

15% restocking fee is even charged for RETURNING a defective product; it's not charged for EXCHANGING a product for whatever reason.