I bought my first ix the other day and have had a few days to check it out, I currently own three 8500s and they have served me well but with all of the features packed into the ix I just couldnt resist. First impression was WOW, Ive been running Escort products since the original model was put on the market in the 70's, this thing is a million percent improved on that one but I have found what I consider issues. 1st would be the speed trap warning distance, I have found that the warning distance is set at 1500' regardless of speed. Being what I consider to be very experienced with radar detectors over the years I took the user manual at face value and when I read that warning distances are affected by speed I was surprised that it didnt matter whether I was stopped or doing 75mph that the distance is 1500.
I had already contacted support about what I thought were good ideas on how to expand on the use of the GPS and received a very nice email from a VP saying thanks and he would take my suggestions under serious consideration. When I realized the distance problem (by marking a spot where cops always sit and having the det warn me at the crest of a bridge and dead in his sights right at 1500' away) I replied to the VP that perhaps 1500 wasnt such a good number, at least not at 65 and I made the suggestion that they should consider making this user definable to which I received a another email saying basically that they cant make the units too complicated, at least thats what I took from it. I replied that there should be advanced settings for experienced users that understand what they are doing and the ramifications, at that point I hit a brick wall. The 2nd issue I have is with the camera warning system, I live just outside of St. Louis, Mo. and on the 1st trip thru the city I was on the interstate and traveled past 4 intersections right off the interstate that have red light cameras that have been there at least 2 years, not a peep out of the ix and I assummed that they must really have the camera locations down and the GPS data as well as speed kept it from sounding any warning. I found this to be incorrect when I finally did get a camera warning while on the interstate, it showed the cameras 500' off the highway at a intersection I know quite well which only has camera light control and no other cameras. Later the same day I found myself looking in the rearview mirror at a red light camera and not a peep out of the ix... That made a total of 5 locations that should have lit the det up that didnt and one that shouldnt have that did, I wrote another email to the VP and got a not so nice response.
I was ready to replace all of my 8500s but at this pont I am going to have to see what happens with the database, if the info isnt in there it really doesnt do me any more good than the 8500s I already have. Out of the box looking at what its supposed to do it looks great but in my experience in the 5 days Ive had it its lacking in a big way in the accuracy of the database. Per the VP they only put into the database "verified" locations, this information comming from manufacturers of the camera systems and "a third party source that has thousands of feet on the street". I offered to be one of those "feet" but was not pointed to the source so I wonder who the source is. Anyone know? Its nice that you can mark locations as a reminder but if Escort doesnt collect this info during detector updates (the best way to do it from my perspective) and use it to update the database then a up-to-date database is going to be slow in comming. It wouldnt take much to verify the location if multiple users are marking the same spots. Just my .02 and I hope you find it helpful. Ken
Bookmarks