<<JAZZY>>'s new REFURB 8500

[jmccam]

I just received it today and I will give you my initial impressions:

The auction ended on June 11th and I received it on June 17th.

I was impressed with the case that it came in but I have never really had a use for a radar detector case.

It seems very well built but the suction cup mount is smaller than the one that came with the Whistler XTR-690SE.

I like that you can adjust the 8500 to make it level with the button on the top.

After driving with the Whistler XTR-690SE, I am used to a pretty sturdy mount with very little noise at all. The 8500 mount sucks because it rattles against the windshield and that is on good roads. I believe there is some kind of rubber type material on the back of the V1 to absorb road vibrations but the 8500 has nothing but plastic. I believe the Whistler XTR-690SE doesn't even contact the windshield like the 8500 does. I am going to have to buy some little rubber adhesive things or it will drive me bonkers. I was missing my V1 after watching the 8500 bounce and rattle because I knew it was because of the length of the 8500 and the not very well designed tiny 8500 mount.

I have never been a coily cord person because I prefer to hardwire my detectors. I wish that I got a long straight cord without the SmartCord feature rather than a coily with the SmartCord.

I don't really have a use for the SmartCord because I can press mute on the detector because it is closer than where it plugs into the lighter in my car.

I prefer the sounds of the 8500 over the Whistler XTR-690SE so far and it kind of reminds me of the old X and K band Escorts and Passports I had back in the day.

The 8500 definitely beats the Whistler on X and K band when I compared detection distances with door openers. I haven't had a chance to really check the Ka band yet. I did notice when I ran both the 8500 and the Whistler XTR-690SE at the same time that the 8500 would alert to Ka band when I pressed the menu button on the Whistler XTR-690SE. The alert didn't end until the Whistler automatically ended the menu mode twenty seconds later.

I will post a video soon where I checked the X band detection of both detectors. I know X band isn't used much but it is all I have on short notice.

Jazzy, have you tested it against the speed sign coming off the causeway into Metairie. Before I sent mine back for an exchange I was getting great signal off of this. Over 2 miles closer. My biggest concern was the KA sensitivity to the 34.7 the causeway police are running. Have you experienced them with this unit? I could get no better than .3 miles on a flat straight away and that is when I knew something was wrong.

I have not been on the Causeway with the 8500 yet...I will probably be checking it tomorrow either going to or coming from work. Did your 8500 bounce around and rattle like mine because of the crappy mount? I will check to see if I can get more than .3 miles of 34.7 Ka band detection tomorrow.

Honestly, it did not bounce at all. I did flex (bend) the suction cup mount just a little so that when I clip it in it was tight, but I had no rattle. It may just be the curve of my windshield. It shares the same location as my 9500ix.

I will be really interested to see what kind of range you get on KA tomorrow as well as the K band sign. If you get good range on their C/O 34.7 then I will know I had a DUD.

[CJR238]

Just hope you do not get a service required message

My 8500 went for over 6 years with out a service message. Even when it did powering it down fixed it for about a year. Mostly happened when it was hot.

I sent mine in for service and it’s been working like a champ ever since. However i still prefer my superior 9500ix with its much better M4 design.

[<<JAZZY>>]

I just received it today and I will give you my initial impressions:

The auction ended on June 11th and I received it on June 17th.

I was impressed with the case that it came in but I have never really had a use for a radar detector case.

It seems very well built but the suction cup mount is smaller than the one that came with the Whistler XTR-690SE.

I like that you can adjust the 8500 to make it level with the button on the top.

After driving with the Whistler XTR-690SE, I am used to a pretty sturdy mount with very little noise at all. The 8500 mount sucks because it rattles against the windshield and that is on good roads. I believe there is some kind of rubber type material on the back of the V1 to absorb road vibrations but the 8500 has nothing but plastic. I believe the Whistler XTR-690SE doesn't even contact the windshield like the 8500 does. I am going to have to buy some little rubber adhesive things or it will drive me bonkers. I was missing my V1 after watching the 8500 bounce and rattle because I knew it was because of the length of the 8500 and the not very well designed tiny 8500 mount.

I have never been a coily cord person because I prefer to hardwire my detectors. I wish that I got a long straight cord without the SmartCord feature rather than a coily with the SmartCord.

I don't really have a use for the SmartCord because I can press mute on the detector because it is closer than where it plugs into the lighter in my car.

I prefer the sounds of the 8500 over the Whistler XTR-690SE so far and it kind of reminds me of the old X and K band Escorts and Passports I had back in the day.

The 8500 definitely beats the Whistler on X and K band when I compared detection distances with door openers. I haven't had a chance to really check the Ka band yet. I did notice when I ran both the 8500 and the Whistler XTR-690SE at the same time that the 8500 would alert to Ka band when I pressed the menu button on the Whistler XTR-690SE. The alert didn't end until the Whistler automatically ended the menu mode twenty seconds later.

I will post a video soon where I checked the X band detection of both detectors. I know X band isn't used much but it is all I have on short notice.

Jazzy, have you tested it against the speed sign coming off the causeway into Metairie. Before I sent mine back for an exchange I was getting great signal off of this. Over 2 miles closer. My biggest concern was the KA sensitivity to the 34.7 the causeway police are running. Have you experienced them with this unit? I could get no better than .3 miles on a flat straight away and that is when I knew something was wrong.

I have not been on the Causeway with the 8500 yet...I will probably be checking it tomorrow either going to or coming from work. Did your 8500 bounce around and rattle like mine because of the crappy mount? I will check to see if I can get more than .3 miles of 34.7 Ka band detection tomorrow.

Honestly, it did not bounce at all. I did flex (bend) the suction cup mount just a little so that when I clip it in it was tight, but I had no rattle. It may just be the curve of my windshield. It shares the same location as my 9500ix.

I will be really interested to see what kind of range you get on KA tomorrow as well as the K band sign. If you get good range on their C/O 34.7 then I will know I had a DUD.

I crossed the Causeway coming home today to the northshore. I did pick up the K band speed sign but it wasn't very impressive because it was facing the other direction so that is normal. However, I picked up a Ka band 34.666 hit from 1.3 miles away and it was a cop heading south on the other side of the bridge as I was heading north. It first alerted when I was at the tallest portion of the bridge where large vessels cross under and it continued to alert as I went down the hill all the way to the cop.

I also got a 34.7?? Ka band alert and the cop was at one of the crossovers facing the opposite direction and shooting traffic that was heading south. His rear radar was not on so I only picked him up from about .2 miles away. After I went passed him, I picked up his signal from .7 miles away. I wish that I brought my Whistler XTR-690SE along so that I could compare them but you can't really run them both at the same time or try multiple runs without travelling many miles to the next crossover. It appears you got a dud or the cop was shooting radar the same direction you were heading.

My 8500 mount is still rattling around. I have tried to bend it and I have tried to insert it as little as possible to deaden the noise. It is the actual 8500 detector that is rattling against the windshield so I guess my only option is rubber adhesive stickys.

[statusquo]

I crossed the Causeway coming home today to the northshore. I did pick up the K band speed sign but it wasn't very impressive because it was facing the other direction so that is normal. However, I picked up a Ka band 34.666 hit from 1.3 miles away and it was a cop heading south on the other side of the bridge as I was heading north. It first alerted when I was at the tallest portion of the bridge where large vessels cross under and it continued to alert as I went down the hill all the way to the cop.

I also got a 34.7?? Ka band alert and the cop was at one of the crossovers facing the opposite direction and shooting traffic that was heading south. His rear radar was not on so I only picked him up from about .2 miles away. After I went passed him, I picked up his signal from .7 miles away. I wish that I brought my Whistler XTR-690SE along so that I could compare them but you can't really run them both at the same time or try multiple runs without travelling many miles to the next crossover. It appears you got a dud or the cop was shooting radar the same direction you were heading.

My 8500 mount is still rattling around. I have tried to bend it and I have tried to insert it as little as possible to deaden the noise. It is the actual 8500 detector that is rattling against the windshield so I guess my only option is rubber adhesive stickys.

V-1 traitor.

sq~

[jmccam]

I just received it today and I will give you my initial impressions:

The auction ended on June 11th and I received it on June 17th.

I was impressed with the case that it came in but I have never really had a use for a radar detector case.

It seems very well built but the suction cup mount is smaller than the one that came with the Whistler XTR-690SE.

I like that you can adjust the 8500 to make it level with the button on the top.

After driving with the Whistler XTR-690SE, I am used to a pretty sturdy mount with very little noise at all. The 8500 mount sucks because it rattles against the windshield and that is on good roads. I believe there is some kind of rubber type material on the back of the V1 to absorb road vibrations but the 8500 has nothing but plastic. I believe the Whistler XTR-690SE doesn't even contact the windshield like the 8500 does. I am going to have to buy some little rubber adhesive things or it will drive me bonkers. I was missing my V1 after watching the 8500 bounce and rattle because I knew it was because of the length of the 8500 and the not very well designed tiny 8500 mount.

I have never been a coily cord person because I prefer to hardwire my detectors. I wish that I got a long straight cord without the SmartCord feature rather than a coily with the SmartCord.

I don't really have a use for the SmartCord because I can press mute on the detector because it is closer than where it plugs into the lighter in my car.

I prefer the sounds of the 8500 over the Whistler XTR-690SE so far and it kind of reminds me of the old X and K band Escorts and Passports I had back in the day.

The 8500 definitely beats the Whistler on X and K band when I compared detection distances with door openers. I haven't had a chance to really check the Ka band yet. I did notice when I ran both the 8500 and the Whistler XTR-690SE at the same time that the 8500 would alert to Ka band when I pressed the menu button on the Whistler XTR-690SE. The alert didn't end until the Whistler automatically ended the menu mode twenty seconds later.

I will post a video soon where I checked the X band detection of both detectors. I know X band isn't used much but it is all I have on short notice.

Jazzy, have you tested it against the speed sign coming off the causeway into Metairie. Before I sent mine back for an exchange I was getting great signal off of this. Over 2 miles closer. My biggest concern was the KA sensitivity to the 34.7 the causeway police are running. Have you experienced them with this unit? I could get no better than .3 miles on a flat straight away and that is when I knew something was wrong.

I have not been on the Causeway with the 8500 yet...I will probably be checking it tomorrow either going to or coming from work. Did your 8500 bounce around and rattle like mine because of the crappy mount? I will check to see if I can get more than .3 miles of 34.7 Ka band detection tomorrow.

Honestly, it did not bounce at all. I did flex (bend) the suction cup mount just a little so that when I clip it in it was tight, but I had no rattle. It may just be the curve of my windshield. It shares the same location as my 9500ix.

I will be really interested to see what kind of range you get on KA tomorrow as well as the K band sign. If you get good range on their C/O 34.7 then I will know I had a DUD.

I crossed the Causeway coming home today to the northshore. I did pick up the K band speed sign but it wasn't very impressive because it was facing the other direction so that is normal. However, I picked up a Ka band 34.666 hit from 1.3 miles away and it was a cop heading south on the other side of the bridge as I was heading north. It first alerted when I was at the tallest portion of the bridge where large vessels cross under and it continued to alert as I went down the hill all the way to the cop.

I also got a 34.7?? Ka band alert and the cop was at one of the crossovers facing the opposite direction and shooting traffic that was heading south. His rear radar was not on so I only picked him up from about .2 miles away. After I went passed him, I picked up his signal from .7 miles away. I wish that I brought my Whistler XTR-690SE along so that I could compare them but you can't really run them both at the same time or try multiple runs without travelling many miles to the next crossover. It appears you got a dud or the cop was shooting radar the same direction you were heading.

My 8500 mount is still rattling around. I have tried to bend it and I have tried to insert it as little as possible to deaden the noise. It is the actual 8500 detector that is rattling against the windshield so I guess my only option is rubber adhesive stickys.

Thanks for the update. I will be interested to see how the 8500 does heading into the K band sign compared to the Whistler.

I am now convinced that something was wrong with the KA reception on mine because heading towards the LEO while he sat and shot KA was .3 miles and when I came back after a turn around on one of the crossovers, I got no reading on his forward facing radar until after I passed him and it did not last long at all.

If you get a chance to shoot any video please let us know.

As far as the rattling, it sounds like you only option is the rubber tips.

[jmccam]

I crossed the Causeway coming home today to the northshore. I did pick up the K band speed sign but it wasn't very impressive because it was facing the other direction so that is normal. However, I picked up a Ka band 34.666 hit from 1.3 miles away and it was a cop heading south on the other side of the bridge as I was heading north. It first alerted when I was at the tallest portion of the bridge where large vessels cross under and it continued to alert as I went down the hill all the way to the cop.

I also got a 34.7?? Ka band alert and the cop was at one of the crossovers facing the opposite direction and shooting traffic that was heading south. His rear radar was not on so I only picked him up from about .2 miles away. After I went passed him, I picked up his signal from .7 miles away. I wish that I brought my Whistler XTR-690SE along so that I could compare them but you can't really run them both at the same time or try multiple runs without travelling many miles to the next crossover. It appears you got a dud or the cop was shooting radar the same direction you were heading.

My 8500 mount is still rattling around. I have tried to bend it and I have tried to insert it as little as possible to deaden the noise. It is the actual 8500 detector that is rattling against the windshield so I guess my only option is rubber adhesive stickys.

V-1 traitor.

sq~

Conscientiousness objector

[happya$$]

I can tell you for sure the 8500 will beat the Whistler by a wide margin on K band but not like it did on X band (not as wide of a margin). The difference will be huge though

[jmccam]

I can tell you for sure the 8500 will beat the Whistler by a wide margin on K band but not like it did on X band (not as wide of a margin). The difference will be huge though

I agree. Even when the KA was not working correctly the range of the K band to the sign was ridiculously far away.

[jdong]

Some things to point out:

(1) It's a purposely programmed "Feature" of Whistler detectors that while in a menu or for a few seconds while booting up, they will park the LO with a harmonic in continuous-wave Ka band. It's designed so that you can test Ka band reception of other detectors, as it's harder to go around looking for a Ka band source unlike X/K door openers. (Source: Michael B)

(2) Yeah, X/K you're gonna see a very noticeable performance advantage to the 8500. IMO you are also going to see less leaky-detector Ka falsing. At the same time you're going to find that the 8500 responds less ideally to bursty signals or purposely quick-triggered IO compared to the Whistler.

(3) Escort's Expert Meter doesn't seem to break frequencies down as nit-pickily as the V1 does. The V1 can give me a pretty accurate count of the number of K-band transmitters I face in a parking lot, while with my 8500 X50 I can be head-on to 2 visible K-band transmitters and only get 1 bogey. On Ka band the Expert Meter seems a lot more reliable -- even the Stalker DSR 2x cops around here show up as 2 bogeys.

[<<JAZZY>>]

Some things to point out:

(1) It's a purposely programmed "Feature" of Whistler detectors that while in a menu or for a few seconds while booting up, they will park the LO with a harmonic in continuous-wave Ka band. It's designed so that you can test Ka band reception of other detectors, as it's harder to go around looking for a Ka band source unlike X/K door openers. (Source: Michael B)

(2) Yeah, X/K you're gonna see a very noticeable performance advantage to the 8500. IMO you are also going to see less leaky-detector Ka falsing. At the same time you're going to find that the 8500 responds less ideally to bursty signals or purposely quick-triggered IO compared to the Whistler.

(3) Escort's Expert Meter doesn't seem to break frequencies down as nit-pickily as the V1 does. The V1 can give me a pretty accurate count of the number of K-band transmitters I face in a parking lot, while with my 8500 X50 I can be head-on to 2 visible K-band transmitters and only get 1 bogey. On Ka band the Expert Meter seems a lot more reliable -- even the Stalker DSR 2x cops around here show up as 2 bogeys.

Thanks for the info.