Not impressed by new X50

**jcdc** · 07-05-2006, 08:00 AM

I got my X50 on Friday morning and drove 300 miles from Augusta to Durham NC, and then on Monday from Durham to Bluffton SC. Hwy/interstate the entire way, including several hundred miles on 95. My 1st impression of the thing is a bit disappointing. I got lit up with a few instant on Ka-bands that Had I been speeding(wasn't d/t car in front of me) I would have been NAILED. NO advanced warning at all.

Got a good handfull of falses too. I understand that I'm new to this, but I thought the range and overall performance would have been better from one of the "Top Three". :?

**AirMoore** · 07-05-2006, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by jcdc

I got lit up with a few instant on Ka-bands that Had I been speeding(wasn't d/t car in front of me) I would have been NAILED. NO advanced warning at all.

Ummm ok? What you described there in italics is exactly why we use rabbits, and the bold part there is exactly why instant-on is so deadly... how could the X50 give you any advanced warning to a radar signal that isnt there?

So what you described wasnt dissapointing, it was just how things go with instant on, no matter what detector you had.

Sometimes, I repeat sometimes, you get advanced warnings down the road, as the LEO is targeting other people with instant on... but I have known (patient) LEOs to wait upwards of 10minutes between instant-on bursts on cars they target.... so there of course wont be warning there.

Its just the nature of the beast, what you described is text-book instant-on, and no detector would have helped you any more then the X50 did, and what you described is the text-book use of a rabbit... in which combined with the X50 the rabbit saves you a ticket.

Also, give the X50 some credit for alerting you to laser, that just shows how come he X50 is the 2nd best in laser detection (only to the V1).

**jcdc** · 07-05-2006, 09:32 AM

What type of range is considered "good" for continuous Ka? There are some Ka-band speed signs near me, and the best I've gotten is 6/10 of a mile, and 4/10 coming the other way(signs are on both sides of I20). The road is pretty flat and straight. What's to be expected?

**sethy** · 07-05-2006, 09:41 AM

KA is the most unpredictable. IMO, there isnt a detector made today that can detect KA consistantly.

**Orbital75** · 07-05-2006, 10:26 AM

Are you sure these hits of KA were not Radar Drones? Most Drones are placed facing downwards off bridges facing the interstate. Most all of my Drone encounters have been on the Interstate. In fact they're all over I40. From what I understand, they emit a brief shot of radar every 2 to 5 seconds and since they are placed facing down from above advanced warning is rare, you just get blasted like Instant on...... I'm thinking that could be what you encountered on your drive. You have to give the X50 credit though it is a great detector. I've had mine for 2 years and have never recieved a ticket.

**jcdc** · 07-05-2006, 11:08 AM

Nope. Not drones. I actually saw the LEO sitting there in the crossover b/t the two lanes. I will admit, there is a lot of thick underbrush and trees in the medians to block the signal, but getting blasted as you look over and see the cop is not fun. I would still like to know what Ka range is considered good.

**AirMoore** · 07-05-2006, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by jcdc

I would still like to know what Ka range is considered good.

That completely depends on the circumstances.

**venexoz** · 07-05-2006, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by jcdc

Nope. Not drones. I actually saw the LEO sitting there in the crossover b/t the two lanes. I will admit, there is a lot of thick underbrush and trees in the medians to block the signal, but getting blasted as you look over and see the cop is not fun. I would still like to know what Ka range is considered good.

Like it was said before instant on there is no way that you can know there is a cop until he sjoots you. That is why you should use a rabbit or cobra user to be able to have advance warning

**lordhamster** · 07-05-2006, 12:47 PM

I Beg to differ.

V1s can alert to instant on radar even if the cop has it off!!!

ehehe

But really, the guys are right... if you are the only car in your direction or if the cop is being smart and not shooting everything that passes, then instant on radar is deadly. That is how I got my one and only ticket last year. I was being an idiot driving over 50mph in a 35 where I was the only car on the road in my direction.

My V1 screeched to full alert, but then it was too late because it was me that was targeted.

**Orbital75** · 07-05-2006, 02:23 PM

I was on my way back from Raleigh, NC about a month ago and got plenty of KA warning from my X50. I would say I was 2.5 miles away and getting several bars. Keep in mind though he was using constant on and being on the interstate, it was a Straight line on flat ground. I haven't had much experience with KA on hills and curves but on Flat highway the x50's Ka distance is superb. I have heard that there are bad batches of X50's that ship so you may have got a bad one but with Instant On it's doubtful. An intelligent Leo using Instant On targets his speeders well and waits miles before he shots again.