A little disappointed with Escort today...

[SportsFan]

I'll be honest: When I feel like a company/product deserves to be praised.....I'll do just that.

But likewise....when I feel like a company/product deserves to be trashed....I'll do that as well.

A few weeks ago, I purchased a new Escort Passport 8500 X50 Black radar detector. I've revisited this forum since my purchase to sing it's praises and brag on it a little bit.

Well....a little over a week or so ago I noticed a bit of a downgrade in it's performance. Not knowing for sure if it was my imagination or if the detector really had suffered a bit of a lapse, I continued on as if nothing had changed. Well, a few days ago as I was I driving down I-71 South though Cincinnati and into northern Kentucky....I passed a Speed Sign (located at the end of the tunnel just as you are approaching the Reds stadium - Great American Ballpark).....and the detector DID NOT ALERT AT ALL! As I passed the speed sign, I thought "Wow, what just happened (or DIDN'T happen) there?" So I turned around, and actually drove out of my way to pass by the speed sign AGAIN. And once again, it did NOT alert!

I slept on it overnight, thought about it, and thought maybe it didn't alert, for some reason, maybe because of the TSR software, which was "ON". So...the next day, I disabled the TSR portion of the X50 and returned to the scene. And this time, I passed it twice again....without the TSR software enabled. It failed to alert both times AGAIN!

So I called Escort customer service....and explained what had happened to one of their service reps in customer service. He told me that it SHOULD have alerted, and that the unit may be out of calibration. He asked when I purchased it, I told him August 27, and he said that since it was inside of 30 days I could bring the detector back in and exchange it for another (new) detector. He then transfered me up front, and I spoke to a woman at the front desk who looked up my information, and said that yes....I was eligible to return the unit for a new one.

I live in northern KY, so it's not a long...but still, about a 45 minute drive, for me. Today, I drove to Escort to exchange the unit. But upon arriving, instead of exchanging the unit....they "serviced" it by checking the calibration (she said he "recalibrated" it). So I didn't get the NEW X50 that I was told by two different people over the phone that I was eligible for and would receive...I just had the supposedly defective unit "serviced".

As of now, I am not a very happy customer. I intend to go past the exact same sign that the unit was NOT alerting to, and see if anything has changed. My guess is that it will still be the same. And I will definitely follow up in this thread and report back if the problem has been corrected or if everything is exactly the same as before.

[KaPro]

I'd look around for another false source. There is a Ka speed sign on the NB lane of the PA turnpike, just north of the tunnel, that my detectors USED to alert too but no longer do. All I can figure is the sign drifted out of tune. They (rd's) are fine with all other working speed signs and most importantly real radar. Your X50 black was and is probably OK. My .02. Oh, and I'm with you on the praising and trashing.

[focalcivic]

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

[SportsFan]

With the TSR software enabled, the detector is dead. No alert at all.

With the TSR software DISABLED....there is the tinest and faintest of "K Band" detection. But it's one bar, spread out, as if the radar source is a mile ahead even when you are right up on it driving through it and reading the speed signals showing your speed on the speed sign.

I have a friend who has the original 8500 X50 silver.....and he said he is going to try to drive through the Lytle tunnel sometime in the next day or so to see if he gets an alert from his radar detector. The problem is, my 30 days are coming to an end this Thursday (the 27th) and he said he is busy being swamped with work and might not have a chance to drive through there in time for me before my 30 days are up.

I'm currently in contact with Escort customer service through here via PM....so we'll see how they are willing to handle it. It's too bad that someone in the Cincinnati area isn't reading this and able to drive past it to see what kind of alert they get/don't get (hint, hint...anyone?).

[Super Dave]

I guarantee you the sign is out of calibration. I drive through there occationally and have never had any trouble out of my X50. Watch out for laser though on 71 through N Kentucky, and I/O.

[Bridge Cables]

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...peed-sign.html


Could be a FM-CW speed sign, see link.


BC

[mswlogo]

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

I agree, someone finally had the sense to technically assess your story and realize your unit is fine and confirmed it.

[StlouisX50]

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

"Speed Signs" are generally not a good source to test a detector , unless you test it within hours of your previous tests. The battery and/or solar power the signs use can weaken or improve the radar transmission. Making the signals change constantly.

[SportsFan]

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...peed-sign.html


Could be a FM-CW speed sign, see link.


BC

Thank you

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

"Speed Signs" are generally not a good source to test a detector , unless you test it within hours of your previous tests. The battery and/or solar power the signs use can weaken or improve the radar transmission. Making the signals change constantly.

Thank you

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

I agree, someone finally had the sense to technically assess your story and realize your unit is fine and confirmed it.

Huh?

The others were trying to help, and offered some reasonable possibilities as well as links that help to clarify and explain things. You were simply being an ass(uming type of guy)

[PointerCone]

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...peed-sign.html


Could be a FM-CW speed sign, see link.


BC

Thank you

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

"Speed Signs" are generally not a good source to test a detector , unless you test it within hours of your previous tests. The battery and/or solar power the signs use can weaken or improve the radar transmission. Making the signals change constantly.

Thank you

I am willing to bet that the unit is fine, if you search speed signs are never ever a good source to test radar detectors due to them wandering with the freq. They checked the unit at least I am sure it is fine.

I agree, someone finally had the sense to technically assess your story and realize your unit is fine and confirmed it.

Huh?

The others were trying to help, and offered some reasonable possibilities as well as links that help to clarify and explain things. You were simply being an ass(uming type of guy)

Next time , if you're so unsure, seek out a radar running LEO OR get a Bushnell to see if K band is working??