ZR4 owned by 20/20

**duhtroll** · 11-02-2008, 04:18 PM

OK, I had removed my ZR3 from my car and purchased new ZR4 front heads to install on another vehicle since I got a LI quad. You've already seen my vids from the LI install.

Anyway, the ZR3 control box is the same and I kept the rear ZR3 shifter since it is in very good shape, so the ZR4s in the front should offer some protection, right?

Wrong. Looks like the GOL tests are dead on -- again.

It didn't do a damn thing from under 1000 feet. Even under the best of circumstances (aiming right at the black grille where the heads are installed rather than headlights or bumper).

EDIT: OK, it *did* give a second or two of buzzing before locking on at about 1000 feet, and once or twice it did buzz a second from about 600-700, but that's it.

The rear shifter did ABSOLUTELY nothing. Not even an extra blip before locking on, and this was from 4 blocks away (roughly 1/4 mile)

The Marksman handed the ZR4 its ass every time. I got locks in less in one second -- two if I didn't hold steady.

After watching the LI performance on a black car, seeing the ZR4 on a white car is just depressing!

Since the only thing the ZR4 appears to be good for is letting me know when to pull over, I might uninstall and serve it up on fleabay.

I should also add that I had laser shields on the plates -- to no avail...

**06blackgto** · 11-02-2008, 04:36 PM

did you say you have the zr3 control box and zr4 heads?
couldn't that be a problem? the heads are diff. from the 3-4 heads. so maybe it is not jamming at all... just a thought.

**category4** · 11-02-2008, 04:37 PM

Hmmmmm, maybe I will rethink even installing them when I do the install of the 9500ci.

**duhtroll** · 11-02-2008, 04:45 PM

According to Escort the control box for the ZR3 and ZR4 are exactly the same. The tech is all in the heads themselves. I know it is working because of the few delays I did get. Just nothing helpful from under 1/4 mile.

But according to the GOL tests, it is behaving exactly as it should.

Originally Posted by 06blackgto

did you say you have the zr3 control box and zr4 heads?
couldn't that be a problem? the heads are diff. from the 3-4 heads. so maybe it is not jamming at all... just a thought.

**The Breeze** · 11-02-2008, 06:14 PM

The tests with Veil show much better results. I am hoping they are accurate as well. Just trying to justify my ordering a ZR4 after reading your report. It should be here in a day or two.

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 11-02-2008, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by duhtroll

According to Escort the control box for the ZR3 and ZR4 are exactly the same. The tech is all in the heads themselves. I know it is working because of the few delays I did get. Just nothing helpful from under 1/4 mile.

But according to the GOL tests, it is behaving exactly as it should.

NEVER LISTEN TO WANT MANUFACTURER'S TELL YOU!!!!!!!

I suggest you get a Zr4 control box and then try it and also add VEIL

**duhtroll** · 11-03-2008, 07:40 AM

1) It makes sense that the upgrade (if any between the ZR3 and 4

) is in the heads, not the box. The box is just a router.
2) My shifters work just like the GOL tests showed and the unit behaves identically to the ZR3 when receiving alerts and interfacing with my STI.
3) Why on earth would an Escort rep convince me to not buy one of their products if it is something I needed for it to work properly?

One could answer "because they are stupid," yet the nearly identical performance I got compared to established testing leads me to believe my unit is functioning normally and it looks like they were correct.

Just sayin'.

I thought about adding veil. However, the headlights are already pretty milky (even with silverstar ultras I got on sale) and if I'm going to darken them any further I'm going to have to replace them to be able to see at night. Besides, the whole car is white and pretty big which is a bad situation to begin with.

Adding this equipment to my winter car was really just going to be a cheap endeavor anyway -- hence the reason I just replaced the two pieces.

We already knew the 20/20 destroys the ZR4. It was misplaced optimism that I should be able to do significantly better. Just posting my experience.

Originally Posted by crazyVOLVOrob

NEVER LISTEN TO WANT MANUFACTURER'S TELL YOU!!!!!!!

I suggest you get a Zr4 control box and then try it and also add VEIL

**PMoth** · 11-03-2008, 08:21 AM

I will blame the fact that you aren't using the entire zr4 system first. Then I would blame faulty leveling or a misaligned install. The LI is more forgiving than this system with regards to head alignment. If the heads are more than 2-3 degrees off, your performance could be reduced by 500ft - infinity very easily. This is why I myself use proper matching components, a tiny bubble level, and a ruler of various sizes to install any jammer. I would change the title to your "installation owned by a 20/20."

**TSi+WRX** · 11-03-2008, 09:59 AM

I also remember seeing that the specific recommendation from Escort was that the ZR3 can be upgraded to the ZR4 via simply changing out the heads.

I remember the post as I've been interested in upgrading my ZR3, which has one front head that I repaired, myself - as this information sparked my interest.

However, given the inconsistencies and inaccuracies that technical information tends to come out of Escort's Tech-Support as well as C/S - and given the above scenario painted by duhtroll, I'm now wondering if, perhaps, a full-system change-out is a must, and that despite the heads being the place where all the work is done (which has been speculated of both the ZR3 and ZR4, from the likes of MEM-TEK and jimbonzzz, neither of whom are noobs or tech-challenged, to say the least) it may be possible that the use of the ZR3's in-cabin hardware may not lead to proper final results.

**duhtroll** · 11-03-2008, 05:56 PM

I didn't know you were there when I was intentionally mis-leveling the heads and deliberately wasting my time.

The heads ARE level, in all three planes, as I installed them using the same level that came with my LI. I ground down sections of the grille to make sure of it.

Now, if you wish to discount my findings about the ZR3 control box, until you have some evidence the box makes a difference then it's your word against mine and Escort's.

This unit is functioning exactly as described by the GOL test results, and they are the resident testing experts on this board.

The ZR4 sucks against the Marksman. 'Nuff said.

If you want to dispute it, you post some results that show otherwise using your own flawless installation.

Originally Posted by PMoth

I will blame the fact that you aren't using the entire zr4 system first. Then I would blame faulty leveling or a misaligned install. The LI is more forgiving than this system with regards to head alignment. If the heads are more than 2-3 degrees off, your performance could be reduced by 500ft - infinity very easily. This is why I myself use proper matching components, a tiny bubble level, and a ruler of various sizes to install any jammer. I would change the title to your "installation owned by a 20/20."