1200 mile roundtrip review of 9500iX vs. V1

**RadioZero** · 08-02-2008, 07:11 AM

this review is based on a 1200 mile round trip from Orlando - Mobile, AL - Orlando. I have a V1 (3.861) hardwired and mounted above rear view mirror in my '07 Honda Accord. i mounted the new 9500iX in the center of the windshield via the windshield mount and powered with the cigarette power cord. i know this testing procedure is suspect but the units never gave my any indication they were interfering with each other. V1 was in A mode and 9500iX in H mode.

my simple results:

X band = V1 has better range, hands down
K band = V1 by a hair
Ka band = dead even

Laser was an issue. i had one Laser alert that i visually confirmed (spotted the LEO), he was in the middle of the interstate and shooting me at approx a 45 degree angle. V1 Alerted, 9500ix Never made a peep.

later, while driving through a construction zone, the 9500iX alerted to Laser 3 times but i couldn't see anything. the V1 was quiet. On the return trip the 9500 alerted to Laser again in the exact same construction area but again, i couldn't see anything that would/should cause an alert.

over all, the 9500iX is a quiet detector and that is a good thing. it had way less random chatter than the V1. i consider this good because those little V1 beeps make me lift my foot off the throttle. i also feel the 9500 will give me enough advance notice to avoid a ticket, however the Laser issue makes me nervous.

but typically, if you're speeding and hit with laser you're doomed anyway.

My Accord has the factory installed Navigation. If either of these detectors are pointed at the LCD Navi screen it sets off the Laser alert. (happened with both detectors) Has anyone else noticed this issue?

My final answer:

I will be keeping the V1 as my highway travel companion because it works! the 9500iX will be put in my weekend, city, run around car because i like the auto learn feature and because it's quiet!!

here is a pic:

**hockey005** · 08-02-2008, 08:07 AM

hmm u do realize that runnin both RD's at the same time messes them up as is the ability to detect a signal and ur v1 is pointed towards the ground in that pic!

**ejd7** · 08-02-2008, 08:23 AM

I would love to run with almost a grand in radars! Nice review. I've wanted to see the everday use of the V1 compared to the xi.

Yeah my navi screen set off my 8500 about three times total when I first got it. Now it is quiet so I guess it figured it out? Your Escort should should hopefully learn to ignore it.

A buddy of mine from CO is passing through da Lou on his way to Orlando. We both have our radars hardwired in roughly the same spot in the same cars. I'd like to see my 8500 compared to his V1!

The placement of the power cord on the xi bugs me though. I have mine hardwired on the left side of the mirror but if I went to a 95 I may have to move it over to the right. Boooooooo.

**RadioZero** · 08-02-2008, 08:24 AM

the V1 is level, it's just the camera angle. i also made this disclaimer in the opening paragraph, "i know this testing procedure is suspect but the units never gave my any indication they were interfering with each other."

**MEM-TEK** · 08-02-2008, 09:08 AM

Hi RadioZero,

Nice write-up. I agree with your conclusions too. Whereas the Escort dash mount RDs have Excellent sensitivity across the board, the V1 goes beyond Excellent and into the Superb category (as in overkill for the average RD user) on X and K band.

I wonder if the 9500ix's top rear laser sensor is picking up some signals from the LCD navigation screen, yet this alone being below the threshold of a false laser alert. Perhaps try covering up the 9500ix's rear laser sensor (since it really isn't of much use anyway) with some electrical tape and see if your occasional laser false alerts disappear.

**thestaton** · 08-02-2008, 11:17 AM

nice review, but I would guess you had quiet a bit of cross talk going on between the detectors. from my experience the belscorts usually cause the Valentine to false K band.

I look forward to reading your further impressions, just make sure you are only running one at a time

**RanEnRui** · 08-02-2008, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by RadioZero

My Accord has the factory installed Navigation. If either of these detectors are pointed at the LCD Navi screen it sets off the Laser alert. (happened with both detectors) Has anyone else noticed this issue?

Yes, but only with the V1. My '08 Civic has the factory navigation and I have noticed the same. I'd take it off the mount to put it down before turning off the car and it would false incessantly while it was near the LCD panel. I just tested it with my 9500ix (build date 2908) and it doesn't do it. Strangely, I just tried with my V1 and it didn't do it so... I am not sure what to say.

Good test though, I can agree with the results. The 9500ix is great on all bands and awesome on Ka and the V1 is awesome on all bands.

**Stealth Stalker** · 08-02-2008, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by RadioZero

the V1 is level, it's just the camera angle. i also made this disclaimer in the opening paragraph, "i know this testing procedure is suspect but the units never gave my any indication they were interfering with each other."

What kind of "indication" were you expecting, a signed confession?

It's nothing you can see or hear. The proof of it's existence is in repeating the tests without the other detector there and comparing results. I think you are talking about spurious emissions, causing false alerts to each other, and that is only a small part of the problem. The bigger part is not false alerts, but literally the interference of signal reception, causing decreased performance. And there is no "indication" that it is happening for you to see.

**RadioZero** · 08-02-2008, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Stealth Stalker

What kind of "indication" were you expecting, a signed confession?
I think you are talking about spurious emissions, causing false alerts to each other, and that is only a small part of the problem.

^^the emissions is what i was looking for, i have seen 2 detectors in one car cause erratic behavior. i never witnessed any erratic behavior between these detectors, both detectors seem to work as expected. i have had the V1 for about a year. i have owned multiple Escort models, including the original Passport, a 5000, 7500, 8500, 8500 X50. i tried the 9500i when it first came out but didn't care for it after playing with true lock . So, based on having several other Escorts, i feel comfortable saying i know what to expect from Escort. i also drive 30,000 miles per year, so radar detectors are part of my daily life.

i am in no way inferring that my test was the be all end all test of test, i leave the real test up to the GOL's. again, this was my "simple test" and i got to play with my new 9500iX. ( i've had it less than 2 weeks, so it's still a new toy for me).

not here to argue, just posting my opinion based on my observations.

Edit to address the Navi issue:

Regarding the Navi LCD screen, it only happened when i was removing or putting the radar detector on the glass. if the unit was ON and it passed by the Navi (ON) it would make the Laser alert go crazy. (had this happen with both detectors, similar install/remove technique) if the Navi screen was off, nothing would happen.

**akarol** · 08-04-2008, 10:37 AM

I think using both RD is a tad excessive. Sell one of them off and get a good radar jammer so you don't have to worry about laser. As it stands, you're unprotected against radar anyways, so it doesn't matter which RD will alert you sooner to it.

As an Orlando resident myself, I know that you're thankful for getting an RD capable of detecting redlight cameras just in time. I am noticing that a bunch of them are going up and it feels great to know where they are.