9500ci and STi Radar Antenna Horns

**MEM-TEK** · 07-24-2008, 04:34 PM

Hi everyone,

Just a quick post of some interesting stuff I found while comparing my 9500ci's horn assembly to my STi's horn assembly...

Here are some quick shots I took today comparing the 9500ci and STi radar horn assemblies. Note that the horn castings used in the 9500ci, STi-R and STi are identical. Also note that the laser detection circuitry is not populated on the 9500ci's antenna board whereas this circuitry is present on the STi-R antenna board. You can see that the STi features a predominantly downward flared horn. The 9500ci and STi-R horn assemblies are oriented identically to a STi horn assembly when the serial number sticker on the 9500ci or STi-R case is on top.

Not shown below are any photos of the 9500ci internal LO board. The 9500ci Lo board is up to rev F compared to the rev C LO board in my STi which was manufactured in mid March of 2007. I carefully examined both LO boards. The electronics and all traces on the boards are identical. The only changes I saw were the green silkscreen overlays which tell the pick-and-place machines where to place the components. My guess is that Bel/Escort has been coming up with every tweak they can think of which might speed up production.

Below is a view of the 9500ci antenna (left) and my STi antenna (right):

The 9500ci antenna and board assembly stacked atop my STi antenna and electronics:

A close-up view of the X band antenna. If you look carefully, you can see that the center antenna ridge is coupled to a microstrip landing on the LO board:

The K-Ka band horn. Note that the K-Ka band horn features a slightly shallower downward flare angle compared to the X band horn. The difference is only maybe 1 or 2 degrees. The X band horn, above, is optimized for receiving X band signals. Likewise, the K-Ka band horn is optimized for receiving the higher frequency K and Ka band radar signals, rather than just being an exact duplicate of the X band horn:

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 07-24-2008, 05:38 PM

Mem-Tek when you send them back the STi-R tell them to improve it's ramp-up please they won't listen to a V1 owner

Cause I want the STi-R since I already have a laser jammer and I don't need GPS lock out unfortunately the tones and ramp-up keep me using my V1 instead of switching

**MEM-TEK** · 07-24-2008, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by crazyVOLVOrob

Mem-Tek when you send them back the STi-R tell them to improve it's ramp-up please they won't listen to a V1 owner

Cause I want the STi-R since I already have a laser jammer and I don't need GPS lock out unfortunately the tones and ramp-up keep me using my V1 instead of switching

The 9500ci's performance continues to blow me away after doing some more testing today against my STi. I am with you with regards to Bel's STi-R. It has identical performance to the 9500ci, yet its audio ramp-up is very inadequate. Escort has a 5 stage audio ramp-up on their 9500ci. Why can't Bel incorporate the same feature on the STi-R? Tons of people here have wished for a RD which could be attached perhaps to the top of their windshield yet which has a remote display. The STi-R fits these user needs perfectly -- except for its audio ramp-up issue.

One neat thing which I noticed is that the 9500ci antenna case (and the STi-R antenna case) features a slight taper. It would be so easy for Bel/Escort to design a windshield bracket where the antenna slides into such a windshield bracket. Thus the best of both worlds -- remote display and operator controls, a windshield mounted RD with superb performance, and a relatively quick and easy installation!

I also note that the remote antennas for the 9500ci and the STi-R use only 4 wires. Thus it would be relatively simple to redesign the antenna case with a RJ-11 jack on the back so that the user could have a hardwired cable running up the A pillar, along the top of the windshield, and then to the RD antenna. Perhaps they could include not only a standard windshield suction cup bracket, but also a special permanent mount bracket which attaches near the top of the windshield with 3M VHB tape. And needless to say, supposedly the STi-R and 9500ci antennas will equal or best a V1 with regards to K and Ka band performance.

Personally, I think that such a RD from Bel or Escort would be really slick. Why not? Mounting the RD antenna just below a car's windshield top tint strip would both conceal the RD antenna and help to protect it from excessive heat buildup due to direct sunlight. And the remote display and control modules would be sheer joy in terms of user convenience. Plus the interface module is already designed to be quickly secured up under the dash with wire ties so that it is a no-brainer to install. And the remote windshield mount antenna could be quickly taken down and hidden to reduce the risk of theft.

What do you all think? Would you buy it or not -- especially if the price could be held down to $750 to $800?

**KnightHawk** · 07-24-2008, 08:02 PM

MEM-TEK, I see a difference between the 2. Note that the Ci inner diameter of the horn is narrower or smaller whereas the STi has a wider or larger inner diameter. The angle of the bottom flare is more pronounced with the STi compared to the Ci. I wished you also took a closeup photo of the STi's horn like you did with the Ci for better comparison.

**happya$$** · 07-24-2008, 08:05 PM

So if the platforms are the same then why is there such a big difference in performance between the 9500CI and STI Driver dash mount?Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

**MEM-TEK** · 07-24-2008, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Azonehits

MEM-TEK, I see a difference between the 2. Note that the Ci inner diameter of the horn is narrower or smaller whereas the STi has a wider or larger inner diameter. The angle of the bottom flare is more pronounced with the STi compared to the Ci. I wished you also took a closeup photo of the STi's horn like you did with the Ci for better comparison.

Naw, that illusion is just due to barrel distortion in my camera lens, perspective errors since it was hard to get aligned exactly plane-on, and lighting effects. Believe me, I thoroughly compared both horn assemblies when I wasn't taking photos. No difference whatsoever. I didn't take a close-up of the STi's horn since it is identical.

I swear this stuff on my mother's grave.

**MEM-TEK** · 07-24-2008, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by happya$$

So if the platforms are the same then why is there such a big difference in performance between the 9500CI and STI Driver dash mount?Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I don't have a frigging clue. Do you?

**ActiveKAjam** · 07-24-2008, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by happya$$

So if the platforms are the same then why is there such a big difference in performance between the 9500CI and STI Driver dash mount?Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I was thinking the exact same thing. There has to be something different. Same goes for the X50 and the 9500i, same platform but the detection is supposed to be very different.

Originally Posted by crazyVOLVOrob

Mem-Tek when you send them back the STi-R tell them to improve it's ramp-up please they won't listen to a V1 owner

Cause I want the STi-R since I already have a laser jammer and I don't need GPS lock out unfortunately the tones and ramp-up keep me using my V1 instead of switching

Your not going to use your V1 anymore? I never thought you off all people would stop using their V1. Or are you doing a combo thing like erickonphoenix?

That would ruin your stealthness though.

**KnightHawk** · 07-24-2008, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by MEM-TEK

Naw, that illusion is just due to barrel distortion in my camera lens, perspective errors since it was hard to get aligned exactly plane-on, and lighting effects. Believe me, I thoroughly compared both horn assemblies when I wasn't taking photos. No difference whatsoever. I didn't take a close-up of the STi's horn since it is identical.

I swear this stuff on my mother's grave.

If that's the case, I'm wrong then. It's hard when you just rely on pictures without actually seeing it.

**TSi+WRX** · 07-25-2008, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by MEM-TEK

I also note that the remote antennas for the 9500ci and the STi-R use only 4 wires. Thus it would be relatively simple to redesign the antenna case with a RJ-11 jack on the back so that the user could have a hardwired cable running up the A pillar, along the top of the windshield, and then to the RD antenna. Perhaps they could include not only a standard windshield suction cup bracket, but also a special permanent mount bracket which attaches near the top of the windshield with 3M VHB tape. And needless to say, supposedly the STi-R and 9500ci antennas will equal or best a V1 with regards to K and Ka band performance.

Personally, I think that such a RD from Bel or Escort would be really slick. Why not? Mounting the RD antenna just below a car's windshield top tint strip would both conceal the RD antenna and help to protect it from excessive heat buildup due to direct sunlight. And the remote display and control modules would be sheer joy in terms of user convenience. Plus the interface module is already designed to be quickly secured up under the dash with wire ties so that it is a no-brainer to install. And the remote windshield mount antenna could be quickly taken down and hidden to reduce the risk of theft.

What do you all think? Would you buy it or not -- especially if the price could be held down to $750 to $800?

I'll buy it.