Radar Detector Jammer Forum

jmccam · 07-01-2009, 11:34 PM

I received my new (refurb) 8500 X50 today and immediately took it out to compare it against my 9500ix. I went to know location (Lowe's) that had a strong K band door opener and compared the two detectors (not running at the same time).
The X50 appeared to have the same range and sensitivity to the ix and I was very pleased. It seems to be very strong on detection.

On my return trip, I made a stop. When I got back in the vehicle and started it, my 8500 came on, with the direct cord hard wire, but went straight to self cal. I turned it off and then back on it appeared to reset with no problem.

Should I be concerned and or should I do a hard reset? This is my second refurb and I really want this thing to work. I obviously have time to run with it for a couple of weeks, but I am concerned.

Thoughts?

I have posted this question on the Escort Forum and would appreciate any input.

MEM-TEK · 07-02-2009, 03:34 AM

A self-cal error can be thrown if the RD is powered up while near a really strong microwave door opener.

happya$$ · 07-02-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmccam

I received my new (refurb) 8500 X50 today and immediately took it out to compare it against my 9500ix. I went to know location (Lowe's) that had a strong K band door opener and compared the two detectors (not running at the same time).
The X50 appeared to have the same range and sensitivity to the ix and I was very pleased. It seems to be very strong on detection.

On my return trip, I made a stop. When I got back in the vehicle and started it, my 8500 came on, with the direct cord hard wire, but went straight to self cal. I turned it off and then back on it appeared to reset with no problem.

Should I be concerned and or should I do a hard reset? This is my second refurb and I really want this thing to work. I obviously have time to run with it for a couple of weeks, but I am concerned.

Thoughts?

I have posted this question on the Escort Forum and would appreciate any input.

"The X50 appeared to have the same range and sensitivity to the ix"

$150 vs $500. This is what I have been saying all along. A good S7 will beat a good M4 every time in sensitivity. The best S7 will beat the best M4 every time in sensitivity. I will say though that the 8500 S7 based RD's seemed to be all over the place in terms of DB's. In other words there was a lot of manufacturing variance and there were reliability issues. The beauty though is there is a good chance you will land a good one and if you do you will be one happy camper.

jmccam · 07-02-2009, 02:18 PM

All is well. I did a reset after it self calibrated and it appears to be working fine.

After talking with MEM-TEK, I think the sensors used to activate the gate at our apartment complex is what is causing interference.

So far so good and I am very pleased with unit. I will test it over the next couple of weeks and compare it against some other units running at a strong permanently mounted K band speed sign on the causeway and report my findings.

I know Happya$$ will be pleased to know that this unit appears to be dead on as strong and sensitive as my 9500ix.

It is a little more noisy, but that is certainly expected.

We'll see when I run some base line test.

Icer1 · 07-02-2009, 02:53 PM

I'm sure you'll be happy with it now, my X50 has worked great.

rocky2 · 07-02-2009, 04:55 PM

I have a Rev 5 X50 and it has better off axis sensitivity than my 9500ix, but I think the IX has a little better KA band sensitivity especially when the radar is not off axis. I haven't really got any I/O yet and it has been over a month with my 9500ix, so I don't have any comparison yet for how quick it reacts.