Which to use Auto mode or switch??

[David]

I'm still geting used to my 8500 X50 Blue and my driving area. I was just curious if I should just use the Auto mode or manually switch from Highway to City depending on where I'm driving.
If you guys are screaming down the open freeway do you use Auto or Highway and Why?
Sorry if my newbie questions are stupid.

David

[korn858]

Well I'll try and help but please remember I'm in California.. I allways have it in Highway mode. X band turned off. Tone on high. Expert meter. POP off, too many falses for me, and I don't think it's a threat here yet. Also X is not a threat to me hear either. Hope this helps, good luck...

[holein1]

Just leave it in auto mode and you'll be fine :wink: I have driven past known radar sources in both auto & highway mode and didn't notice any real difference in range. As far as turning x band off well I would't turn it off unless your positive it's not being used in your area.

[compu44]

I run Highway when in rural areas and on the highway, city when in town, and autoscan only when in unfamiliar towns. Bel told me that autoscan can delay alerts up to one second in the worst case, and i've had one encounter where one second made all the difference.

[robert]

Bel told me that autoscan can delay alerts up to one second in the worst case, and i've had one encounter where one second made all the difference.

This is why I always switch between Hwy and City. Most often I only really just leave it on Hwy anyway and use City if I need the X band on "Lo". Autoscan scares me :wink:

[David]

First, I must say you guys rock. There is nothing better than real world advice. This is why I joined the 8500 X50 Cult...lol. This RD is one amazing little piece of hardware. I was a little bit concerned with dropping so much cash for a RD. I now have zero regrets. It gave me an K-band warning on 635 south near Garland last night so far in advance that after I slowed to 65, I still had to wait almost 30 seconds before I saw the HP car. Amazing!! Well thanks again.

David.

[sethy]

Autosensitivity only affects X band, and still gives you about 10-20 seconds to react to an Z band threat.

Heck, I drive on A on the highway and have encountered a cop, thought it was a false until the thing was 1 c click away from full alert, STILL had enough time to go from 80 to 55

[happya$$]

Autosensitivity only affects X band, and still gives you about 10-20 seconds to react to an Z band threat.

Heck, I drive on A on the highway and have encountered a cop, thought it was a false until the thing was 1 c click away from full alert, STILL had enough time to go from 80 to 55

Is this a FACT that A mode only effects X band?

[Skelevate]

WE had this argument before... and the manual isn't too clear.
I have tried all the modes, and NONE of them seem to have effected k/ka/laser detection, no matter what mode i'm in.

I'm 90% positive it's solely for xband.

[sethy]

Its hasnt been 100% confirmed, but I have sat by a very very weak K symbol. switched it to highway and then back to auto. I am willing to bet my left nut

it makes no difference...

[JettaGLI]

WE had this argument before... and the manual isn't too clear.
I have tried all the modes, and NONE of them seem to have effected k/ka/laser detection, no matter what mode i'm in.

I'm 90% positive it's solely for xband.

I think there has to be some filtering on City mode at least. I mean what you're saying is that if I turn X off, then all three modes are identical?

I would think City would give some more filtering to at least K. Who knows thoough.

I have X off (never seen a cop in MA with X), POP off, expert mode, and switch between c/h.

-Bill

[sethy]

City affects only X, autoscan affects only X

City simply reduces sensitivity,

autoscan breaks the wave into 32 channels, and if 4 are above a certain threshhold it will alert

[JettaGLI]

City affects only X, autoscan affects only X

City simply reduces sensitivity,

autoscan breaks the wave into 32 channels, and if 4 are above a certain threshhold it will alert

So by turning X off I effectivly have three of the exact same settings? This isn't such a bad thing, I can just leave it on H all the time, or even turn any indication of what mode it is in off :D

Sorry I don't really get what you meant by the 32 channels, I don't know much about the actual phsyics of radar.

-Bill

[PassportToSpeed]

I've noticed that using auto filters out the pop falses from other detectors. When in Hwy mode a Cobra detector will make it POP. I found this out on my trip to OKC last week while following a car with a Cobra.

[compu44]

I've noticed that using auto filters out the pop falses from other detectors. When in Hwy mode a Cobra detector will make it POP. I found this out on my trip to OKC last week while following a car with a Cobra.

I tried this yesterday and it didn't help me any. Must only work against some models of the Cobra junk.

[PassportToSpeed]

I've noticed that using auto filters out the pop falses from other detectors. When in Hwy mode a Cobra detector will make it POP. I found this out on my trip to OKC last week while following a car with a Cobra.

maybe we should start a thread that asks all Cobra owners to throw away that piece of junk and pick up one of the Big 3.

[sethy]

Some protection is better then no protection...

[crazyVOLVOrob]

I use Autoscan in false areas and Highway every where else

[CLTX11]

WE had this argument before... and the manual isn't too clear.
I have tried all the modes, and NONE of them seem to have effected k/ka/laser detection, no matter what mode i'm in.

I'm 90% positive it's solely for xband.

I am going to say only X as well. I drove around with Auto for the longest time and switched to HWY mode. The K falses are still the same. I leave it in HWY all the time whether it be in the city or on the HWY. Get used to the K band falses, leave it in Expert mode and track em down that way!

[TexasRed]

I still had to wait almost 30 seconds before I saw the HP

You saw a TXDPS on 635?! :shock:

I never see 'em anywhere else but the tollway and George Bush