Got my new X50... itty bitty review...

[kpatz]

UPS dropped off a box from Roy a little while ago, containing my shiny new red Escort X50. I took my new toy out to my car during my lunch break and gave it a once over.

First of all, I like the travel case that it came in. Since my X50 will be the detector that I would move from car to car, or use as a backup for my V1, it's nice to have the case to protect it when it's not in use. Valentine offers a case for the V1 but it costs extra, and I don't have one.

My next order of business was to attach the windshield mount. Ok, how do I get it to stay on? You know what they say, when all else fails, RTFM. A-ha, you have to push that button on the top of the X50. Doh... that was easy. Plug it into the ciggie lighter (they should really call it the radar detector socket; after all, who still lights cigarettes with the thing?), power it on, and listen to the cute little beeps and braps while it goes through the power-up sequence.

So far, so good. Now I need to find some radar and laser so I can see what this bad boy can do. Laser was easy, as I now have JTW's handy dandy super duper laser tester. The X50 responded readily to the JTW tester, even from the rear. Ok, laser works, now for some radar.

I put the X50 into ExpertMode display and went for a short drive to find some door openers, and maybe a radar cop if I got lucky. I also switched to Highway mode, to increase the chances of finding X band falses. I took a route where I knew where some falses were along the way as well. Sure enough, X50 sounded off K band in one location, X band in another, and when I pulled into the WalMart parking lot (great place for K bogeys) I got to see the Expert Mode track 2 door openers at once (the WalMart I drove to has only K band openers, as my V1 loves to tell me whenever I go there).

I pulled into a parking spot maybe 100 feet away, and perpendicular to the building, and the X50 stopped alerting to the door openers. I then switched to Spec mode display and drove toward the building again. It alternated between 24.150, 24.116, and 24.316 or something like that. It's interesting that it showed 3 or more frequencies alternately on K band. I wonder if Spec Mode can display more than 2 bogeys on K band, unlike Expert Mode.

On the trip back to work, the X50 sounded off a couple more X band alerts in spots that also set my V1 off on X.

I didn't encounter any "real" threats on my short trip.

When I returned to the office, I took the X50 down, and experimented to see how feasible my "Stealth Pouch" visor setup would be with an X50. The X50 is deeper (front to back) than the V1, which makes it too long to fit in the pouch without sticking out. I suppose with a custom pouch it could be done, but you'd also lose rear laser reception due to the location of the sensor. I might still experiment with this, especially if I find myself wanting to use the X50 as more than just a "spare" detector.

Some other random observations:

The X50 is quieter than the V1. I don't necessarily mean in terms of falsing--I haven't tried Auto or City mode yet, though it seemed to be a bit tamer around door openers than the V1, maybe due to the lack of bogey-lock tones. It's also "quieter" in that the tones aren't as loud as on the V1. If I have the windows down and the radio going I might have trouble hearing the X50. I'll have to experiment with the "Loud" setting to see if that helps.

I was surprised at how heavy the X50 is. It might actually weigh more than the V1, even though the X50 has a plastic case and the V1 is magnesium. I'll find out for sure when I pull the V1 out for its tune-up.

Well, this is pretty long winded for an "Itty Bitty" review, especially since I've logged about 15 minutes of driving time with the X50 so far. I'm just excited about my new toy and wanted to post about it. I'll post more as I spend more time with it.

[lordhamster]

So it seems from your review that the X50 seemed to false in all the same places as your V1, except it was less annoying/audible?

Is this an accurate assesment of what you've found?

[kpatz]

So it seems from your review that the X50 seemed to false in all the same places as your V1, except it was less annoying/audible?

Is this an accurate assesment of what you've found?

Sort of. Bear in mind that I've logged thousands of driving hours with a V1, and about 10-15 minutes so far with the X50. Also, I had the X50 in Highway mode on purpose so it would alert more during my inaugural test drive. I'll bet it'll false less in Auto or City modes. Of course, I'll see the same K falses, as Auto/City only affect X band.

As I spend more time with my new toy, I'll get a better idea of how it performs vs. a V1 in terms of falsing, alerting to cops (I haven't encountered a real cop with the X50 yet), etc.

[CLTX11]

1st off I know you are a frequent forum member by setting it to EXPERT mode straight out of the box.

I want freaking V1 up to date to "compare"

My buddy has V1 but hasnt updated in sometime, now that most of the "bugs" are out and its supposed to be much quiter he still hasnt.

He was an RD fan til school hit him hard...COLLEGE.... and I found this place I give him crap.

Once I get 400 bones I will test out the V1 for 30 days and five you guys a review. Only bad thing, I drive more city than HWY, unless I recieve my new job that will pay twice as much as now which would be nice, except I will have to move, get tons of things in my name and pay em.

If I get a V1, ill keep you guys posted on my reviews since the GOL overruled me.

Trivia question, what was Jasons (Outruns) 1st post/video about?

I remember this cause he lives about 25 mins away and I PMed him. We were/are going to do some testing (yes Jason, I remember).

[cbb77]

kpatz,

I find this thread interesting as I am currently saving my pennies to get the V1 and you go ahead and pickup a X50 while owning a V1. I know I read you plan on using the X50 for portability from car to car, so I ask, how big is the V1 that you couldn't do the same? I've been struggling with deciding which to get, the X50 or V1 and had decided on the V1 to avoid obsolencense (sp?) but am now concern on size. I plan on hardwiring whichever unit I get up toward top of windshield but still plan on removing it while parking. Just curious as to your thoughts on mounting/unmounting V1 and why you may not have felt it up to the task to move amongst different cars.

[KnightHawk]

kpatz,

I find this thread interesting as I am currently saving my pennies to get the V1 and you go ahead and pickup a X50 while owning a V1. I know I read you plan on using the X50 for portability from car to car, so I ask, how big is the V1 that you couldn't do the same? I've been struggling with deciding which to get, the X50 or V1 and had decided on the V1 to avoid obsolencense (sp?) but am now concern on size. I plan on hardwiring whichever unit I get up toward top of windshield but still plan on removing it while parking. Just curious as to your thoughts on mounting/unmounting V1 and why you may not have felt it up to the task to move amongst different cars.

The V1 is a little thicker but shorter in length. It is also lighter in weight than the X50. The V1 has the best windshield mounting to far beating the belscort models when it comes to mounting. The V1 has a quick release wire that when pressed, the unit comes off quickly. With the X50 mounting, it is a task taking off each suction cup from the windshield. As far as moving it around, the V1 is the easiest and take note that the V1 comes with a hardwire kit, one long straight wire and a coiled wire. In addition to that, the cigarette plug has a telephone jack style connector - meaning you have telephone jack connectors in both ends of the coil or non-coil wires and this makes it easier to store the V1 wires. Whereas the X50 comes with a smart plug(cigarette plug with LED's for power/alert and a mute button) with a permanent coiled wire attached to it with a telephone jack connector at the end to plug it to your X50. I found out that you can put the V1 anywhere with great mounting flexibility. The X50 has a tendency to vibrate with the windshield when passing through rough surfaces. Although you can easily eliminate it by putting a damper in between the X50 casing and the windshield. The V1 does not require it even in rougher surfaces because it has a rubber damper that prevents the main casing to touch the windshield eliminating vibration.

If you add the accessories that come to the V1 - the hard wire kit, a long straight wire and visor mount, you'll be really close to the V1's price range. The X50 comes with a good loking storage case, the smart plug and the windshield mount. Other accessries for the X50 has to be bought separately.

[SCjohn]

what's a dunper?

[KnightHawk]

what's a dunper?

It's a damper i should say. You can buy it from your local walmart stores, crafts and arts store and etc.. I use the smooth part of a velcro attachment and stick it to the windshield where i mount my X50 all the time. They come in different sizes and i used the small round ones. You have the option to stick it to the RD directly but i did not go that way in case i need to sell my X50. I wanted to have no blemishes on my X50 - sticky stuff when you remove the sticker.

[kpatz]

kpatz,

I find this thread interesting as I am currently saving my pennies to get the V1 and you go ahead and pickup a X50 while owning a V1. I know I read you plan on using the X50 for portability from car to car, so I ask, how big is the V1 that you couldn't do the same? I've been struggling with deciding which to get, the X50 or V1 and had decided on the V1 to avoid obsolencense (sp?) but am now concern on size. I plan on hardwiring whichever unit I get up toward top of windshield but still plan on removing it while parking. Just curious as to your thoughts on mounting/unmounting V1 and why you may not have felt it up to the task to move amongst different cars.

You are right, the V1 is lighter and a little smaller than the X50 and if you're using the windshield mount it's very easy to move it from car to car.

I got the X50 for the following reasons:

1. To have a detector I can easily move from car to car. Sure the V1 is fine for this too like you said, but mine is normally hardwired and in a pouch. Also, I lost my V1 accessories in a house fire. So I would have had to replace all the accessories separately, or buy another detector.

2. My V1 needed to go to VR for a LO tune-up, and I wanted another detector I can use while my V1 is away on its little vacation.

3. I wanted a POP capable RD for those rare times I drive in CT or NY. Yes, I could have upgraded the V1, but their POP version still has a few bugs to be worked out.

4. I wanted another toy to play with.

5. I wanted to buy something from Roy.

[KnightHawk]

Kpatz, you'll enjoy the X50. As a matter of fact, i use it with the V1 in my car with independent switches. Can you compare the V1's bogey counter witht he X50's bogey counter in expert mode? The reason why i'm asking is that, i always pass by this partilcular gorcery store and my X50 will only show 1 bogey in K band and my V1 will show 3-4 bogeys. Don't compare it with the V1 if you get 2 bgeys with the X50 because the X50 can only pick up a max. of 2 bogeys and there is a possibility that there can be more than 2.