Is something wrong or does my 9500XI suck??

[E92n54T]

Hey all,

I'm new on here and wanted some opinions. I own a new 9500IX for about 3 months now and it seems like it's working and all but the distance is horrible!

For example:

Just yesterday on the freeway on a straight away, same altitude, with nothing in the way, I see two troopers about a mile down the road and they had their lights on and had pulled someone over. Well I kept on staring at my detector and it did not go off until I was about 1/4 mile away... This isn't the first time I've noticed this... Before I defect over to Valentine 1... Can anybody tell me if mines just bad or if there's a setting I missed.

(I had already synced my detector in my computer, downloaded all the settings and updated info)...

[EscortRadar]

It is certainly possible that your 9500ix is malfunctioning but first let's make sure that it is. What did your 9500ix alert to? Radar or laser?

1/4 mile alert is fairly normal for laser depending on the circumstances. If it was instant on radar, or constant on radar that was just turned on, then nothing will detect it until they activate radar. With no obstructions and with the radar gun facing you, the 9500ix should detect constant on radar of any band much further away than 1/4 mile.

[E92n54T]

It is certainly possible that your 9500ix is malfunctioning but first let's make sure that it is. What did your 9500ix alert to? Radar or laser?

1/4 mile alert is fairly normal for laser depending on the circumstances. If it was instant on radar, or constant on radar that was just turned on, then nothing will detect it until they activate radar. With no obstructions and with the radar gun facing you, the 9500ix should detect constant on radar of any band much further away than 1/4 mile.

Thanks for your help.

It was a constant KA band. Im sure it's constant because he just pulled someone over. This was on a freeway in Las Vegas. I could see the cops lights on a dead straight away almost 1-2 miles out... The detector didn't do anything until it was about 1/4 of a mile... This isn't the first time something very similar has happened.

Another time I was going down the interstate and I saw a troop on the shoulder. His radar gun on his dash was constant but pointing in the direction of travel. Nothing infront of me but other cars and until I was about maybe 100 yards of him, no beep until I almost passed him and the KA went full blast...

[Freebird]

Sounds like you are experiencing forward facing radar. In these encounters the radar is pointed away from you and the RD has to rely on reflections back to it to alert. The officer on the shoulder had his forward antenna on and not his rear, thus the 1/4 mile alert. Had he had his rear antenna on you would have experienced miles of detection distance depending on the terrain.

[EscortRadar]

Thanks for clarifying. I agree with Freebird, it sounds like forward facing radar which he explained perfectly. It isn't being aimed at you so your speed isn't being monitored anyway.

Give it some time and more encounters and if you are certain that the detection distance is lacking then see if you can return it to who you purchased it from for a refund or replacement. You can also contact us to have it serviced. Our number is below in my signature.

[powerpickle]

I agree with Freebird. Something that can make it worse is if he had the antennae angled to the right depending on how he was parked to monitor traffic. The signal could have been shooting off into space with very little to reflect the signal back. I have seen that scenario many times and had poor reception and in those instances my speed couldn't be acquired either.
If your worried then send it in to be checked.

[E92n54T]

Thanks for everyones replies... I'll keep testing out... I was really worried because on my old radar detector, it was a cheap $100 Cobra and I remember it picking up forward KA bands a lot further down the road...

[Akosikojak]

It's because your 9500XI sucks ( just joshing)

It sounds like you might have gotten a Forward Facing alert, but until you narrow it down I would be careful. If your really worried about it and / or notice it's starting not to detect w/any reliable distance to known sources then definitely send her back in for a check up.

Also you had me thinking w/the title of your post w/9500XI instead of 9500ix No worries though. I was like dang, did Escort brought out something new or what

[E92n54T]

It's because your 9500XI sucks ( just joshing)

It sounds like you might have gotten a Forward Facing alert, but until you narrow it down I would be careful. If your really worried about it and / or notice it's starting not to detect w/any reliable distance to known sources then definitely send her back in for a check up.

Also you had me thinking w/the title of your post w/9500XI instead of 9500ix No worries though. I was like dang, did Escort brought out something new or what

Oops! I thought that was wrong lol my bad, I'm a noob on here

[Akosikojak]

It's because your 9500XI sucks ( just joshing)

It sounds like you might have gotten a Forward Facing alert, but until you narrow it down I would be careful. If your really worried about it and / or notice it's starting not to detect w/any reliable distance to known sources then definitely send her back in for a check up.

Also you had me thinking w/the title of your post w/9500XI instead of 9500ix No worries though. I was like dang, did Escort brought out something new or what

Oops! I thought that was wrong lol my bad, I'm a noob on here

LOL no worries, I can't even count the number of times I either miscounted / misquoted something on this site