I'm returning my 9500 ix

[Will Cover]

I sold my V1 2.5 weeks ago. I now regret it.

I bought my 9500 ix on February 25, 2009 and I am returning it.

I want to like my 9500 ix, because it is a very quiet radar detector and I like the ability to update the database on my own. But, the detection range, IMO, sucks because of all the filtering.

I drive by 3 speed signs on my daily commute. The 9500's notification is pathetic compared to my V1. For instance, on three separate occasions, a speed sign (K-band) placed on the bottom of a small hill, I received no notification. Twice. The other time, I received 1/10 of a mile. My V1 would always provide me with at least 4/10 of a mile warning, rain or shine, cloudy or sunny.

Fast forward 2 miles down the road, straight shot K-band speed sign. 9500 ix alerts 9/10 of a mile, V1 alerts 1.2 miles.

1 mile further, similiar to the first situation described, 9500 ix fails to alert once out of three times. The other two times, I received 2/10 of a mile warning.

Traveling back in the opposite direction didn't reveal any better results. In fact, most of the time, the 9500 ix was blind to the speed radar signs. I tend to believe its off-axis detection is terrible, based upon the one encounter I had in a small city (2 police officers parked in a parking lot talking to each other, one with KA band constant on, but the 9500 ix couldn't find it until I was right on top of it).

I called Escort and was told that because of the filtering the 9500 ix possesses, it will eliminate those signals that are out of frequency. While I appreciate the filtering capability this detector possesses, I want to decide what is real and what is not. I simply don't have confidence in this detector.

I've also encountered 3 direct hits with laser (inside lane was being targeted, two times I was the lead car, the other time I was following back approximately 200 feet behind the lead car) with no notification each time. While I understand that I need a laser jammer to provide me maximum protection against laser, I felt somewhat comfortable with my previous V1 and its laser detection capabilities. In fact, I have been saved several times from laser because of my V1 (scatter) detection abilities.

I thought the "cool" features, downloadable database and 35.5 detection range (supposedly the 9500 ix is better than the V1 on this frequency) would be enough to make me stay, but it isn't.

Back it goes. I'm sticking to the tried and true. No more gimmicks for me. Lesson learned.

WC

[Freebird]

I also tested the 9500ix for about 10k miles of mostly Highway driving. I also came to the conclusion my STI smokes my 9500ix in performance , especially in any off axis encounter. It is obvious escort made the 9500ix tunnel vision to prevent falses from off axis grocery stores, and this works well. So bottom line is you cant have your cake and eat it to, more sensativity means a noisier detector. It would be nice to have V1 performance with truelock, but only time will tell. I gave my 9500ix to my girlfriend, cause she loves how quiet it is and it does a great job in the city (for what it was designed for).

[happya$$]

I sold my V1 2.5 weeks ago. I now regret it.

I bought my 9500 ix on February 25, 2009 and I am returning it.

I want to like my 9500 ix, because it is a very quiet radar detector and I like the ability to update the database on my own. But, the detection range, IMO, sucks because of all the filtering.

I drive by 3 speed signs on my daily commute. The 9500's notification is pathetic compared to my V1. For instance, on three separate occasions, a speed sign (K-band) placed on the bottom of a small hill, I received no notification. Twice. The other time, I received 1/10 of a mile. My V1 would always provide me with at least 4/10 of a mile warning, rain or shine, cloudy or sunny.

Fast forward 2 miles down the road, straight shot K-band speed sign. 9500 ix alerts 9/10 of a mile, V1 alerts 1.2 miles.

1 mile further, similiar to the first situation described, 9500 ix fails to alert once out of three times. The other two times, I received 2/10 of a mile warning.

Traveling back in the opposite direction didn't reveal any better results. In fact, most of the time, the 9500 ix was blind to the speed radar signs. I tend to believe its off-axis detection is terrible, based upon the one encounter I had in a small city (2 police officers parked in a parking lot talking to each other, one with KA band constant on, but the 9500 ix couldn't find it until I was right on top of it).

I called Escort and was told that because of the filtering the 9500 ix possesses, it will eliminate those signals that are out of frequency. While I appreciate the filtering capability this detector possesses, I want to decide what is real and what is not. I simply don't have confidence in this detector.

I've also encountered 3 direct hits with laser (inside lane was being targeted, two times I was the lead car, the other time I was following back approximately 200 feet behind the lead car) with no notification each time. While I understand that I need a laser jammer to provide me maximum protection against laser, I felt somewhat comfortable with my previous V1 and its laser detection capabilities. In fact, I have been saved several times from laser because of my V1 (scatter) detection abilities.

I thought the "cool" features, downloadable database and 35.5 detection range (supposedly the 9500 ix is better than the V1 on this frequency) would be enough to make me stay, but it isn't.

Back it goes. I'm sticking to the tried and true. No more gimmicks for me. Lesson learned.

WC

That is why I have always said that the V1 is the BEST dash mount RD in the planet! The M4 platform cant hold a candle to the V1. This has been the case and always will be the case. If you want a great balance between filtering and sensitivity look no further than the 9500CI. It is based on the M3 platform

[Freebird]

I would agree in overall performance the V1 is the king of the winshield overall meaning x,k,laser and ka combined, but in only ka winshield performance I feel the STI rules, especially over hill and off axis ka.

[happya$$]

the STI Driver SHOULD beat the V1 on 34.7, K band, and 33.8 since it is based on the SAME EXACT platform as the 9500CI and STI R but for some odd reason it has the similar performance as the M4 platform RD's

[Freebird]

My results comparing them was the STI and V1 would alert within 1-2 seconds of one another in most occasions, but on occasion on 34.7 and 35.5 my STI would give a couple blips from way away from the LEO (4-5 miles) that the V1 would miss. They would always perform the same when within 2 miles of the LEO alerting within 1-2 seconds on any band unless it was 35.5 at severe off axis..Thats the cool thing about my Job, I get to do real world testing on a daily basis and I see patterns most dont notice.. But I do enjoy sharing my finding with you all.

[Offshore]

i have tried all the belscorts as they have come out the only one that i kept was the STi which has been outstanding, V1 still the king of the highway!

Note: have not tried the CI

[Freebird]

i have tried all the belscorts as they have come out the only one that i kept was the STi which has been outstanding, V1 still the king of the highway!

Note: have not tried the CI

What do you find outstanding about your STI?

[RadarKid]

I sold my V1 2.5 weeks ago. I now regret it.

I bought my 9500 ix on February 25, 2009 and I am returning it.

I want to like my 9500 ix, because it is a very quiet radar detector and I like the ability to update the database on my own. But, the detection range, IMO, sucks because of all the filtering.

I drive by 3 speed signs on my daily commute. The 9500's notification is pathetic compared to my V1. For instance, on three separate occasions, a speed sign (K-band) placed on the bottom of a small hill, I received no notification. Twice. The other time, I received 1/10 of a mile. My V1 would always provide me with at least 4/10 of a mile warning, rain or shine, cloudy or sunny.

Fast forward 2 miles down the road, straight shot K-band speed sign. 9500 ix alerts 9/10 of a mile, V1 alerts 1.2 miles.

1 mile further, similiar to the first situation described, 9500 ix fails to alert once out of three times. The other two times, I received 2/10 of a mile warning.

Traveling back in the opposite direction didn't reveal any better results. In fact, most of the time, the 9500 ix was blind to the speed radar signs. I tend to believe its off-axis detection is terrible, based upon the one encounter I had in a small city (2 police officers parked in a parking lot talking to each other, one with KA band constant on, but the 9500 ix couldn't find it until I was right on top of it).

I called Escort and was told that because of the filtering the 9500 ix possesses, it will eliminate those signals that are out of frequency. While I appreciate the filtering capability this detector possesses, I want to decide what is real and what is not. I simply don't have confidence in this detector.

I've also encountered 3 direct hits with laser (inside lane was being targeted, two times I was the lead car, the other time I was following back approximately 200 feet behind the lead car) with no notification each time. While I understand that I need a laser jammer to provide me maximum protection against laser, I felt somewhat comfortable with my previous V1 and its laser detection capabilities. In fact, I have been saved several times from laser because of my V1 (scatter) detection abilities.

I thought the "cool" features, downloadable database and 35.5 detection range (supposedly the 9500 ix is better than the V1 on this frequency) would be enough to make me stay, but it isn't.

Back it goes. I'm sticking to the tried and true. No more gimmicks for me. Lesson learned.

WC

welcome back

[Cips]

Well you gave both a shot and went with what better suited you. That's the only way to decide what RD to use.