Escort 8500 X50 vs Solo S2 Florida Trip Test!!!

The Whistler 1788 is styled very similarly to the very attractive new Whistler 1778 and 1776 models. It has a black lower case and an array of chromed buttons across the top. The titanium-colored upper case inset can be removed to reveal an all-black housing, sharply reducing windshield glare.

It’s about twice the weight of the PNI cordless radar detectors, mostly due to its use of four very high-power Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) AA batteries. Chief engineer Mike Batten says the big battery pack was a deliberate move, enabling the 1788 to operate without a duty cycle, the only cordless model to do so. The payoff is in improved performance.

The NiMH batteries are pricey compared to the AA alkalines of the competition. but since they come standard and can be recharged quickly, we’ll take them. The weight penalty is largely offset by virtue of the batteries being rechargeable by merely plugging-in the supplied power cord. It also comes with a home battery charger. Both features are unique among cordless radar detectors, regardless of price,

This is the only cordless that I could find without a duty cycle aka "sleep mode".

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Originally Posted by X50 Radar Kid

I am going to Kissimmie,FL around February 10. I am going to purchase a solo S2 for the 30 day test period to see how it stands up against the X50. I am taking a big 2005 Ford F350 truck....since it is wide I am going to put one on one side of the windshield and one on the other. There will be about a 4 foot space between them. Just thought I would let everyone know. I thought about getting a STI but it's not worth $475 to me. It's not illegal here so I don't care. Range is not much better if any than the X50 (at least thats what ESCORT says :roll: :lol:

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When you have some time, can you tell me please if your S2 alerts you, visually or audio, or both, when the batteries are just about to die so to prepare yourself to change them? Mine doesn't tell me that, no sound, no nothing, but I always know when it's time to change them and always carry 2 fully charged in my pocket...
TIA and have a pleasant trip... and drive safely :wink:

Always wondered, why not make a cordless detector with a rechargeable battery pack, like the one that, purely for example's sake (as I know fairly little about this kind of thing) an iPod carries? You'd never have to change the batteries until you changed the detector (barring the famous iPod battery death situation, but that's brought about by improper calibration of the battery), and you could run cordless or plug it in and run corded.

The only problem I can see with that is the memory issue in rechargeable batteries (like the one that causes older iPod batteries to die), where the battery has to be completely charged and then completely drained before plugging it in/unplugging it, or you risk killing the lifespan. Are there any newer batteries that don't have this limitation?

Basically, am I sniffing up the wrong tree here, or would a rechargeable detector be something designers should be looking into?

I would like to know if you see any difference in performance using the smartcord vs battery only.

VW242---I've seen no difference in my SOLO when using the cord. I know Escort says there isn't. I usually do not use the cord when I'm in VA cause I don't want to get nailed by the cops.

Roadwarrior--- my SOLO alerts me when the batteries are low in 2 ways. First way is when the batteries are getting low and I turn the unit off it gives me a series of beeps flashing "low battery" and Second when the batteries are low it will "beep beep beep" to give me warning that way.

Davekr---How you doin?

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Originally Posted by bcorby

The only problem I can see with that is the memory issue in rechargeable batteries (like the one that causes older iPod batteries to die), where the battery has to be completely charged and then completely drained before plugging it in/unplugging it, or you risk killing the lifespan. Are there any newer batteries that don't have this limitation?

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Li-ion

I thought lithium ion batteries didn't, but wasn't sure. Would it be cost-prohibitive to use one of those in a cordless detector, or would it just not last long enough to even be worth making it cordless?