Veil Guy's Review of the Escort Passport 9500i

**piconut** · 02-22-2007, 12:10 PM

I don't know the first thing about hacking but it's probably only a matter of time before someone figures it out (I hope) now that the 9500i is shipping!

**MMeteor** · 02-23-2007, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by statusquo

I've owned about 7 or 8 GPS units in the past several years.

The SiRFstar III chip that began showing up around last summer (about the size of a nickel with antenna) is far faster and has the ability to get a signal even inside my house where the older units would not. Works far better in dense foilage and overcast conditions as well.

The chip is used in Microsoft's Streets & Trips 2007 program if you get it with their Pharo's GPS unit. It's also in the Garmin Zumo unit for motorcycles and, I believe, their Nuvi line(?).

It used to be that it took 20 minutes for the older Garmin units to intialize to a new location in the U.S. from the Taiwan plant. Now it's seconds with the new chip. More stuff on this fantastic chip is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SiRFstar_III

I'm amazed the Escort put this chip in their unit so quick. It's not a cheap chip. Their teaming with Garmin must have had something to do with it for several years. They've integrated it very well, enough so that Popular Mechanics gave it their Editor's Choice Award for outstanding achievement in new product design and innovation at the Las Vegas CES show.

In essense, "It is like the second coming of Jesus Christ" (taken from those who cannot tolerate anything other than some other obsolete brand technology that isn't quiet!).

Of those 7 or 8 GPS units you've owned, after a years time, how many have issues aquiring satelites now???

I've owned quite a few units and I own two now. In my experience, when they get old (about 8 months to a year), they get slow and start to have issues with satalite acquisition.

**statusquo** · 02-23-2007, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by MMeteor

Of those 7 or 8 GPS units you've owned, after a years time, how many have issues aquiring satelites now???

I've owned quite a few units and I own two now. In my experience, when they get old (about 8 months to a year), they get slow and start to have issues with satellites acquisition.

The oldest was a Garmin eMap. Took about 20 minutes to get first acquisition. The Quest also took a long time, maybe 30 minutes the first time I got it (I thought it was defective at first). The 60cs was maybe 15 minutes. The BMW Navigator II+ (a Garmin 2610) locked pretty quickly as well, but I had to send it back a few times as it had "heat stroke" issues with the LCD screen.

Newest is the Garmin Zumo, maybe 30 seconds tops (SiRF III), often just a few seconds once the lock is established.

Granted, if I move from the location any of them were shut off at, it takes longer to get a good lock on the new one.

The Zumo is pretty quick to lock on as is the Escort 9500i GPS. The Pharo's still locks pretty quick as well. Of course, these are all newest chips.

The Denso (?) in the Toyota never turns off while the car is running. When the screen comes on (I disable it most of the time) it's pretty much on track always.

None seem to be slower unless I do not use them and/or they lose the last position. Maybe the eMap is the slowest in acquisition among them all, but it is older technology too.

**Scott** · 02-25-2007, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by nascar

Originally Posted by StlouisX50

As far as GPS loosing signal, I mentioned this, I knew it would happen as it does with all GPS devices.

My GPS devices rarely if ever loose signal. I don't feel that is common at all.

My 9500i has not lost its signal yet after it acquires it at powerup. This while driving throughout AL/FL and mounted high on my windshield in front of my RVM (not the best view for SAT reception). This SiRFStar III is awesome!

**insidercw3** · 02-25-2007, 06:25 AM

[quote="M_Six"]Good review. But I have two concerns. One, has Escort solved the laser falsing around airports? I sold my older 8500 because it falsed so much I though it was dying. I bought the X50 and it falses as well. It stays in nearly constant laser alert mode for about a mile before and after I pass a local airport. It does the same thing anywhere within a mile of the airport in Indianapolis. That area is heavily patrolled, but my $300 Escort is useless to me during that time. I'd be really po'd if I spent $450 and had the same problem.....
quote]

Airports are a problem because of the strong signals that airports radiate, both in radar and radio comms. The transmitted power is so huge that it is simply picked up by the extremely sensitive laser circuit. Many detectors will have issues near airports and other radio transmission cites.

**happya$$** · 02-25-2007, 06:48 AM

[quote="insidercw3"]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Good review. But I have two concerns. One, has Escort solved the laser falsing around airports? I sold my older 8500 because it falsed so much I though it was dying. I bought the X50 and it falses as well. It stays in nearly constant laser alert mode for about a mile before and after I pass a local airport. It does the same thing anywhere within a mile of the airport in Indianapolis. That area is heavily patrolled, but my $300 Escort is useless to me during that time. I'd be really po'd if I spent $450 and had the same problem.....
quote]

Airports are a problem because of the strong signals that airports radiate, both in radar and radio comms. The transmitted power is so huge that it is simply picked up by the extremely sensitive laser circuit. Many detectors will have issues near airports and other radio transmission cites.

Actually the best way I solved it when I had an X50 is turn off the laser detection on it and depend on my laser jammer to do the work. I know it is an expensive fix BUT laser detection on a detector is pretty much useless. Think of it liek a football game. THe score is 56-0 with a minute left but you end up scoring a touchdown and you put 7 on the board. Thge losing team will look at it liek "well we did not get shut out" but the reality is they got their a$$es kicked and a loss is still a loss.

**nascar** · 02-25-2007, 07:41 AM

I went by Newark International on Friday. The 9500i did not alert to laser. Although I was not able to get on the road where my X50 would always alert. I will try to get there but I don't know when.

I am told that airport radar uses EMP radar and that will set off radar detectors. I would probably find it suspect if a laser radar detector did not alert.

**UpandDown** · 02-25-2007, 09:50 AM

The veil guys really love the area over by where I live for testing.

**nascar** · 02-25-2007, 11:03 AM

And they use X band. And IO X band. They love it. Now the NJ SP are starting to use Laser even more.

NJ SP on 287, 78, and the GS Parkway are very active. Be careful!

**UpandDown** · 02-25-2007, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by nascar

And they use X band. And IO X band. They love it. Now the NJ SP are starting to use Laser even more.

NJ SP on 287, 78, and the GS Parkway are very active. Be careful!

That I know.

The lower picture is less than a 1/4 mile from my g/f's house... and about a mile from where I work.

287 south of 78 doesn't seem as active as 287 north of 78, but that might be just the times I travel along there.