9500ix false alerting to laser near airport

**neb** · 07-18-2009 03:04 PM

I've had my 9500ix for nearly a month now, and so far have been pretty happy with it. The only complaint I have is I'm getting what I think are false laser alerts, always in the same area. Almost every day I drive the SR 60 causeway that connects Clearwater FL, to Tampa (sorry, no map link as I a newbie). When I'm heading east towards Tampa, I'll frequently get a laser alert when I'm at the top of the bigger bridge (the one nearest Tampa). I've looked and looked, and have never been able to spot anyone with shooting a laser at me. I'm starting to think it's a collisions avoidance system from Tampa airport that's just a couple more miles east. I'm wondering if anyone else is seeing similar behavior near airports? I get the feeling there's nothing that can be done about this, but if there is, I'd love to know. That stretch of road after the big bridge is one of their favorite speed trap spots.

**Google Adsense** · 07-18-2009 03:04 PM

**stlcardsfan** · 07-18-2009 03:08 PM

Laser falses are common near airports.

**rocky2** · 07-18-2009 03:12 PM

I got false laser alerts around the South Bend airport a few times. I actually locked them out I was shocked the 9500ix would let you lockout laser. (Laser is not used in South Bend)

**neb** · 07-18-2009 03:24 PM

I think they may know about the false alerts around airports. I'm thinking that's one of the reasons they'll setup 'gang ticketing' on that stretch of road. It's pretty common to see one car shooting a laser at people and four to six motorcycles chasing people down and witting tickets. That's the reason I don't want to lock out that area.

**rocky2** · 07-18-2009 04:08 PM

That sucks it would be hard to tell if you where getting a actual hit or a false. I guess the only way to know is if you have a jammer and it does not go off then its a false.

**Stealth Stalker** · 07-18-2009 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by neb

I think they may know about the false alerts around airports. I'm thinking that's one of the reasons they'll setup 'gang ticketing' on that stretch of road.

LOL! I doubt they are aware of the falsing problem. It's more that they just know that people going to the airport are in a hurry.

**bigalinwv** · 07-18-2009 08:52 PM

My 9500is go off near a small airport here, too. None of my other Belscorts go off, none of my Whistlers, and my V1 doesn't either. I can't figure out why no other detector goes off.....it's not like the 9500i is that sensitive to laser like the V1 is.

Anyway, the laser near airports, so I have been told, is due to windsheer sensors. My dad used to be a pilot.

**neb** · 07-19-2009 09:45 PM

Good point SS.

So, it looks like others are seeing the same issue. At least now I don't feel like the unit I bought is a lemon. I find it interesting that only the Escorts seem to have this problem. Does anyone know if Escort is aware of this and working on it? It would be very nice if it could be fixed with a firmware update.

**bigalinwv** · 07-19-2009 11:09 PM

I find it interesting that only the Escorts seem to have this problem.

The 9500i is the ONLY Escort/Bel model that does it to me. My X50s and STi Driver don't.

**thx1138** · 07-20-2009 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by neb

I've had my 9500ix for nearly a month now, and so far have been pretty happy with it. The only complaint I have is I'm getting what I think are false laser alerts, always in the same area. Almost every day I drive the SR 60 causeway that connects Clearwater FL, to Tampa (sorry, no map link as I a newbie). When I'm heading east towards Tampa, I'll frequently get a laser alert when I'm at the top of the bigger bridge (the one nearest Tampa). I've looked and looked, and have never been able to spot anyone with shooting a laser at me. I'm starting to think it's a collisions avoidance system from Tampa airport that's just a couple more miles east. I'm wondering if anyone else is seeing similar behavior near airports? I get the feeling there's nothing that can be done about this, but if there is, I'd love to know. That stretch of road after the big bridge is one of their favorite speed trap spots.

For years I have driven by the Tampa airport and had false laser alerts. My old Bel 910, my Escort 8500X50 and also my new Valentine one all alert when in proximity of the airport. I suspect that the electronics get overloaded from the radar tower that is on the west end of the airport and show a false laser hit. Interestingly enough, my laser interceptor has never alerted in the 2 months I've had it. Its particularly bad along the veterans expressway north of Memorial just past Hillsborough Blvd and I sometime get falses as when I'm on the Howard Franklin Bridge (I-275). It troublesome because traps are set-up along the Veteran's Exp. frequently. You may want to get a laser jammer.