X50 VS RX65

[Armour]

I am going to be buying a radar detector very soon. I am trying to decide between the passport and the Bel.

I thought I was going to get the bel and then the more I read on the forum seems to lean towards the passport X50. Although all of the reviews that I have read seem to go towards RX65.

I am sure many have asked this question but I need some recommendations. I cannot afford to buy both and decide which one I like better and has better performance so I need to get it right the first time.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[leo68]

I am going to be buying a radar detector very soon. I am trying to decide between the passport and the Bel.

I thought I was going to get the bel and then the more I read on the forum seems to lean towards the passport X50. Although all of the reviews that I have read seem to go towards RX65.

I am sure many have asked this question but I need some recommendations. I cannot afford to buy both and decide which one I like better and has better performance so I need to get it right the first time.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Both are made by the same company and both use the same antenna and possible the same circuit board? I own both and the Bel RX-65 has slighly better Ka range. There seems to be inconsistency from one unit to the next, some report excellent performance and the others report that performance on K and Ka are poor? I Like the Bel RX-65 over the Escort 8500 X50 but it's a personal preference.

[wanderingmind]

I prefer the X50 because of features, ramp-up and of course the blue LED's 8) As far as performance, they are pretty equal.

GOL test 2007
Ka 35.5
X50 #2 946
X50 #1 833
RX-65 832

Ka 34.7
RX-65 1221
X50 #1 1209
X50 #2 1194

Ka 33.8
X50 #1 986
X50 #2 841
RX-65 715

K band
X50 #2 938
RX-65 879
X50 #1 830

[Armour]

I prefer the X50 because of features, ramp-up and of course the blue LED's As far as performance, they are pretty equal.

What is ramp-up refering to? The RX65 doesn ot have this reature?

[Computerjlt]

yes it does

[bunny]

What is ramp-up refering to? The RX65 doesn ot have this reature?
yes it does.

some people like the x50 more because of the tones while alerting, but it all opinionated.


where do you live? that matters more then anything when choosing an rd. like if you are in an area that uses a good amount of laser then rd might be close to pointless.

[Armour]

I live in the midwest.

I have an older Bel right now. I was just looking to upgrade. I know that they have laser around but I dont think that it is used as much as say Florida from what I have heard.

My current BEL has gone off for laser but it is really rare. I think it has happen like 5 times since I have had it. Knock on wood I have not gotten a ticket because of it. I know that if laser go's off you have been caught if you are speeding. So I think the few times that it has gone off I was not speeding.

I have seen some of the state troopers using it though. They are usually the ones that ride a motorcycle from what I have seen.

[wanderingmind]

Ramp up refers to the strength of the alert. Ideally, one would like to see a linear ramp up as you near the LEO. So, the signal strength on the RD starts at one and gradually moves to 2, then 3, 4 and finally 5 when you are nearly on top of the LEO. The X50 has a wonderful ramp up. The Bels do not.

Here is an example of bad ramp up (watch the signal strenth meter jump from a 1 all the way to a 5. There is no linear ramp up, just 1 to 5.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5665574771547013897

Here's a great example of good ramp up (9500i) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ruE5nKjsE

The reason ramp up is important is it lets you know how close you are to the source.

[happya$$]

I personally like the X50 better because of its features and ramp up. Detection range wise the RX65 is better. From my personal experience Bel's products are better in terms of performance than Escorts even though they are the same company

[bauzer71487]

x50 any day. . .

looks better and appears to be a more solid performer.

[vw242]

Let's not forget the "scanning dot" and expert meter. 8)

[wanderingmind]

Let's not forget the "scanning dot" and expert meter. 8)

Yeah, but, if you use the scanning dot, then you will become what Cactusman calls a ""college scanning dot boy."

[milkman-n8-2]

I have both. like the X50 but think on Ka RX65 is better. X50 is better on K band. X50 seems to alert more cosistent than the RX65.

[Ronin]

Not to go off topic here but, what are your thoughts when adding the STI into the mix, would you consider it better, same or equal to x50 or 65. Or would you not include it since it's built on a different/newer platform. I'm looking to ether get the x50 or STI (since my understanding is that the STI is a 65 with stealth capabilities)

[sethy]

Most almost here would agree that has owned both. STI over the x50

Personally I have never owned and STI, but am looking into giving one a shot in the near future.

[Armour]

So is the ramp up on the RX65 bad or just not as good as the X50?

[happya$$]

So is the ramp up on the RX65 bad or just not as good as the X50?

Not even close to the X50

[milkman-n8-2]

since i got mine back. I will say i think the Ramp up in this verison 6.2 is better than the 6.1. X50 is still better.

[carboncopy]

I've been tempted to sell my RX65 to try the X50, but I am wondering if there is any real performance increase with the X50? Based on the GOL tests it looks like they are pretty close! And if the RX65 is run in USA mode it looks like it wins on Ka, which is my main threat!

However, the X50 looks like it does better on K band most of the time. And I love the rampup on the X50. Anyone else made the switch from RX65 to X50? If so how do they compare? Thanks.

CC

[jimbonzzz]

Since the X50 and RX-65 use the same platform, performance should be very close. Running the RX-65 in USA mode gives it a definite edge over the X50 on Ka band, but you also run the risk of missing any older stalkers out there on 34.94, which USA mode doesn't sweep.

I like the X50 better than the RX-65 because of the far superior gradient audio on the X50, and the thumbwheel volume control.

[Armour]

So does the X50 pick up the 34.94 along with the older stalkers? Does it pick up everything in Ka that the RX65 does but just not as well?

[jimbonzzz]

So does the X50 pick up the 34.94 along with the older stalkers? Does it pick up everything in Ka that the RX65 does but just not as well?

The X50 picks up everything in the superwide Ka band (33.4-36 GHz), and so does the RX-65 when in INTL mode. When operated in this manner, performance should be about the same.

When the RX-65 is put into USA mode, it has a bit more Ka sensitivity, but only sweeps 33.8, 34.7, and 35.5 GHz +/- 100 MHz, which would miss older Stalkers at 34.94 GHz.

[Armour]

Alright an last objections before I buy the X50? :)


Thanks for your help.

[carboncopy]

Alright an last objections before I buy the X50? :)


Thanks for your help.

I vote go for it! If you don't like it you could always send it back and try the RX65.