I think I have a Solo S2 problem!

[justinp95]

I think I have a Solo S2 problem! I just got it and i got it used. When driving around it will randomly just go off. Its the KA and it goes off full strenth then goes down. Whats the deal. There are NO cops radaring me. It seems to beep at other things also, but this is annoying. Ideas?

[AirMoore]

Man... it is sad you didn't come here before this.


Your solo S2 is most likely broken, and furthermore, even in brand-new condition, the radar detection is absolutely terrible compared to corded models.


Sorry to break the bad news to you pal.

Basically the detector is worthless, certainly not worth sending to Escort for repair.

[justinp95]

Damn does this happen alot? What does it cost for them to repair it?

[djrams80]

AirMoore's point is that the Solo S2 doesn't work very well, even when healthy.

Guys of LIDAR - Radar Detector Test - August 2007 (http://www.guysoflidar.com/august-2007/radar-detector-test.html)

[dpatel01]

Escort usually charges $59.95 for repairs, but the Solo S2 will remain a subpar performer even after getting fixed.

[justinp95]

True, but im sure its better than alot of detectors. I dunno if ill repair it. Im going to try a reset and what not and see if it helps. If not I found a orginal passport 8500 for pretty cheap...

[djrams80]

True, but im sure its better than alot of detectors. I dunno if ill repair it. Im going to try a reset and what not and see if it helps. If not I found a orginal passport 8500 for pretty cheap...The original 8500 will crush the Solo S2, especially on any Ka band.

[AirMoore]

The original 8500 will crush the Solo S2, especially on any Ka band.


x2!


To the OP:

Why are you buying all this used junk though?

IMHO you would be better off buying a brand-new V940/V955 for 150-200 bucks.

[justinp95]

x2!


To the OP:

Why are you buying all this used junk though?

IMHO you would be better off buying a brand-new V940/V955 for 150-200 bucks.

What brand is that? V940/V955

[FoolishOne]

Beltronics.

[djrams80]

Beltronics Vector 955 Radar Detector - Radar Detectors at Radar Busters (http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detectors/beltronics-radar-detectors/beltronicsvector955radardetector1.cfm)

[justinp95]

I think this has something to do with my other radar detector. It seems to only happen when my other one is on. Right when I unplug my old radar and plug it back in about 80% of the time it will act up. Ive now noticed it does it on KA & K bands now. I reset it and im going to leave the old one unpluged and see if it does it again.

[Zapple]

I think this has something to do with my other radar detector. It seems to only happen when my other one is on. Right when I unplug my old radar and plug it back in about 80% of the time it will act up. Ive now noticed it does it on KA & K bands now. I reset it and im going to leave the old one unpluged and see if it does it again.

:lol::lol::lol:

[texasspeed]

from what i hear, you should NOT use two detectors at the same time. it will heavily decrease the performs and sometimes act up. i would unplug the other radar and see if that solves it. my friend has a solo and his batteries run out in no time, plus the performance isnt that great. i have a beltronics rx-65 and it works wonderful. shop around and be careful on what you buy. good luck.

[djrams80]

I think this has something to do with my other radar detector. It seems to only happen when my other one is on. Right when I unplug my old radar and plug it back in about 80% of the time it will act up. Ive now noticed it does it on KA & K bands now. I reset it and im going to leave the old one unpluged and see if it does it again.


:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[nategr8ns]

I think this has something to do with my other radar detector. It seems to only happen when my other one is on. Right when I unplug my old radar and plug it back in about 80% of the time it will act up. Ive now noticed it does it on KA & K bands now. I reset it and im going to leave the old one unpluged and see if it does it again.


:lol::lol::lol:


:lol::lol::lol:
:lol::lol::lol:

running two RDs together greatly reduces their performance.

Just curious, but what is your other RD?

[stlcardsfan]

The solo s2 got beat badly by the Cobra on 35.5 Ka. I didn't know anything could do worse then a Cobra on 35.5! :eek:

:haha: :dito:

[FoolishOne]

Justin, you may or may not have...well, okay...sugarcoating aside, you did experience the side effect of running 2 RD's together. This has been known, on the forum, for ages, unfortunately you had to find out yourself. Knowing this beforehand, I would have warned you...I'm not so sure the members laughing would have though...:p. They're nazi's!

[djrams80]

Justin, you may or may not have...well, okay...sugarcoating aside, you did experience the side effect of running 2 RD's together. This has been known, on the forum, for ages, unfortunately you had to find out yourself. Knowing this beforehand, I would have warned you...I'm not so sure the members laughing would have though...:p. They're nazi's!For the record, I was laughing at Zapple laughing at justinp95. :lol::lol::lol:

[Zapple]

For the record, I was laughing at Zapple laughing at justinp95. :lol::lol::lol:

:p

BTW, I suggest running your S2 off the wire and not batteries; it has to help performance.

[FoolishOne]

It comes with a ciggy? I don't think I ever knew that...

[Zapple]

It comes with a ciggy? I don't think I ever knew that...

Yep, my dad has one.

EDIT: I'm not 100% sure that it comes with a cord. On the Escort website it says SmartCord (optional). I am 100% sure that there is an RJ-11 input on the right side of the RD under a little piece of rubber that can be used if there are no batteries in it. My dad has a SmartCord that he can use with it.

[9500ier]

Yep... the problem is that you own it.

[justinp95]

The one i have is like a cobra 9700 or something. I didnt know you could run em together considering I saw a test with a whole bunch of them mounted together & I have heard of people comparing. I was just doing it so I could see which one is better. I have only come into contact with one cop and this picked it up plenty far enough.

[justinp95]

Also, you can just hard wire it with a telephone cord which I will do eventually. Or hell maybe ill sell it and buy a 8500!

[stlcardsfan]

So did GOL test the Solo S2 with batteries or the power cord?

[Zapple]

So did GOL test the Solo S2 with batteries or the power cord?

I would assume with batteries since it's advertised as a cordless detector. I would be interested to see if it performs any better running corded.

[AirMoore]

I would assume with batteries since it's advertised as a cordless detector. I would be interested to see if it performs any better running corded.


It does not. The cord does nothing to performance of the Solo S2.

[Zapple]

It does not. The cord does nothing to performance of the Solo S2.

I just was thinking that from what I read on the V1 site. (http://www.valentine1.com/cordless/)

[djrams80]

The one i have is like a cobra 9700 or something. I didnt know you could run em together considering I saw a test with a whole bunch of them mounted together & I have heard of people comparing. I was just doing it so I could see which one is better. I have only come into contact with one cop and this picked it up plenty far enough.Or so you think. Neither of those RDs detect 35.5Ka at all, so if you ran across that radar band, you'd probably never know. Adding the interference of them running together and you'd have basically no shot at detecting 35.5.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

:p

BTW, I suggest running your S2 off the wire and not batteries; it has to help performance.
NOPE the Solo 2 acts the same whether you are using Battery power or its plugged in!!!!

I am 95% sure GOL tested the SOLO 2 plugged in.


A long time ago jimbonzz went into the details that the Solo S2 performs the same whether plugged in or on brand new batteries

[Zapple]

NOPE the Solo 2 acts the same whether you are using Battery power or its plugged in!!!!

I am 95% sure GOL tested the SOLO 2 plugged in.


A long time ago jimbonzz went into the details that the Solo S2 performs the same whether plugged in or on brand new batteries

Gotcha. Thanks for coming in and clearing that up.

[stlcardsfan]

It makes sense. There is no guessing about bad batteries...etc. each detector being plugged in should be a standard for comparison.

[justinp95]

Well, I sold it now and got a 8500.

[<<JAZZY>>]

NOPE the Solo 2 acts the same whether you are using Battery power or its plugged in!!!!

I am 95&#37; sure GOL tested the SOLO 2 plugged in.


A long time ago jimbonzz went into the details that the Solo S2 performs the same whether plugged in or on brand new batteries

It looks like the Solo S2 plugged in or not gives you almost 1.5 football fields (not including endzones) of detection when 35.5 Ka band is in use. By comparison, the Valentine One gives you over 3.5 football fields (not including endzones) when detecting 35.5 Ka band. The POS PNI gives you about 24 yards of detection which is equal to twice the distance an extra point is in NFL football.

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/radar-detectors-general/9628-gol-unofficial-test-4-15-06-a-3.html


OK here it is!
Please remember, this was more of an experiment than an actual test. For a few of the detectors, we did a second run, and the results seemed to be consistent with the first run.

Radar used:
Kustom Golden Eagle, 35.5 GHz.

Results in number of feet from source at which the detector alerted.

Valentine One v3.826
1072 Feet

RX-65 S7 v3.6, USA Mode
788 Feet

Solo S2 w/Cord
433 Feet

Solo S2 No Cord
421 Feet

Whistler 1788 w/Cord
93 Feet

Whistler 1788 No Cord
66 Feet

PNI Silver Bullet RX7600 w/Cord
72 Feet

[honda761]

I just got mine last week. I ok with giving up some performance for the cordless feature. I have enough confidence in it to do the job.

[Cherokee Driver]

OMG...I had a Escort Solo S2 and it was horrible on detecton with batteries in and even being hardwired. Horrible ramp up, it would miss I/O like no tomorrow and very short range detection. They should put "Cobra" on it instead of "Escort".

When I had it and contacted Escort to see what the problem was...the escort rep. said its running on a 4 volt ciruit board and does not have the power that a regular radar detect like a passport 8500 which is a 12 volts. I then told him that Escorts Ad's are total crap and he said..."Yes" so do you want to trade it in? so I asked him does he accept...........A dail tone when I hung up.

[djrams80]

I just got mine last week. I ok with giving up some performance for the cordless feature. I have enough confidence in it to do the job.The Solo S2 is performs horribly when correctly mounted. I can't imagine how bad your Solo S2 performs, when mounted pointing off at a sideways angle like that. The Solo S2 is basically blind to 35.5Ka. By the time your Solo S2 alerts to 35.5Ka, the LEO will most likely already have your speed.

[Cherokee Driver]

The Solo S2 is performs horribly when correctly mounted. I can't imagine how bad your Solo S2 performs, when mounted pointing off at a sideways angle like that. The Solo S2 is basically blind to 35.5Ka. By the time your Solo S2 alerts to 35.5Ka, the LEO will most likely already have your speed.

In that location it will act like its turned off even when its on.

Honda761...if you bought new at a store...I hope you did not lose your receipt. The Solo S2 will give you false hope and will get you into trouble where you have to pay money....

[honda761]

I bought off ebay. It was new off ebay. Getting a bit worried. I think I will move it to center of windshield now. Maybe just sell it for a 8500 and deal with cords?:(

[<<JAZZY>>]

I bought off ebay. It was new off ebay. Getting a bit worried. I think I will move it to center of windshield now. Maybe just sell it for a 8500 and deal with cords?:(

The Escort 8500 will blow the Escort Solo S2 out of the water so ditch the Solo. Mount your 8500 up at the top of your windshield and hardwire it to hide the cord and you will be set.

[AirMoore]

The Escort 8500 will blow the Escort Solo S2 out of the water so ditch the Solo. Mount your 8500 up at the top of your windshield and hardwire it to hide the cord and you will be set.


x2.


Really: The Solo is only hurting you to be honest... giving you confidence you shouldn't have!

[Cherokee Driver]

I bought off ebay. It was new off ebay. Getting a bit worried. I think I will move it to center of windshield now. Maybe just sell it for a 8500 and deal with cords?:(

Think of a blind person looking where your S2 was pointed trying to see out the windshield and then moving to the middle...its still blind....

Sell it and get something that works...good luck.

[FoolishOne]

Maybe just sell it for a 8500 and deal with cords?:(

We, as a community, would rather you did.

We may not know the protection you desire above the minimum safe level, but we know that the Solo isn't even giving you the minimum.

Yeah, its probably upsetting that you just bought this thing and then come into an Escort forum, and they tell you its crap, but we're just looking out for you, before you explore the How To Beat Your Ticket sub-forum.

Escort Solo S2 (http://www.radardetector.net/forums/how-beat-your-ticket/)

[honda761]

Well, guys how in the world did the S2 get 5 stars from This famous radar person?

Escort Solo S2 Cordless Radar Detector - Radar Detectors at Radar Busters (http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detectors/escort-radar-detectors/escortsolos2cordlessradardetector.cfm)

Plus this.

RadarTest.com - Best radar detector reviews from the world's most respected authority. (http://radartest.com/article_2.asp?articleid=100588)

This radar has me confused.

[FoolishOne]

The first one is marketing. It is the best cordless detector. I think there are only like 2, both of which are built on ancient Aztec technology.

There are just as many 2 stars as there are 5 stars on RB's. 17 is a very small sample size also.


The second is Craig Peterson, who is not a reliable source.

[honda761]

I think I will get the Bel 955 later on and sell the s2 on ebay soon. Or mabye 8500. I think I will lose 75 bucks on the S2.

[Cherokee Driver]

I think I will get the Bel 955 later on and sell the s2 on ebay soon. Or mabye 8500. I think I will lose 75 bucks on the S2.

the 8500 can have the X band turned off plus you can have several radar sources showing. You cant do that do that to the 955. I think the 8500 is a better detector plus there are more user options but still becareful buying on fleabay.

[djrams80]

the 8500 can have the X band turned off plus you can have several radar sources showing. You cant do that do that to the 955. I think the 8500 is a better detector plus there are more user options but still becareful buying on fleabay.The Bel v955 has a CityNoX setting. I agree with the rest of what you say here though. The 8500 performs similarly to the v955 with better features, but minus pop detection.

[thestaton]

I didn't read any of this, but I'm sure other has already pointed out, the Solo S2 is the problem... Just upgrade to higher end Belscort or V1 and you'll be back in business.

Down right disgusting Belscort sells those god damn things. They aren't worth a sack of dried leaves.