8500 x50 / Rear Antenna

**Catalyst** · 06-30-2005, 04:54 AM

Apologize for my n00bness, but, does the Passport 8500 x50 have a rear facing antenna, like the V1 does? From looking at it in photos it appears to, but I wanted to ask some experts first. Thanks!

**stalker** · 06-30-2005, 05:04 AM

no rear antenna for radar, only a rear laser receiver.

**V1 Dave** · 06-30-2005, 05:15 AM

No, just a rear laser sensor.
Although on my test drive with an X50 I was somewhat impressed at how good it picked up radar from behind using reflections from metal objects like other cars & trucks.

http://www.radardetector.net/x50-question-2827t.php

**sethy** · 06-30-2005, 10:00 AM

I will say this, on the way to tombstone arizona bob had the v1 and x50 out on the windshield, and the x50 cought a K band 2 seconds before the v1 did from the REAR.

The valentine ended up holding onto it for almost 30 seconds longer, but it was very impressive that the other detector picked it u pfirst.

**stalker** · 06-30-2005, 04:47 PM

ohhhh that should ruffle the V1 guys feathers...haha

**BiGeAsYgUy** · 06-30-2005, 10:48 PM

This is an email that a person on another forum received from Escort regarding the rear radar detection on the X50:

"It is good to hear from you! All independent tests have concluded that
rear detection is a very small concern. Microwaves behave a lot like
radio waves - they bounce everywhere; (you can turn your radio upside
down or backwards and it will still receive the radio station). Just as
humans can hear fine with one ear, so can radar detectors. We need two ears to pinpoint the direction the sound is coming from. If you feel it is necessary to know which direction the radar signal appears to be
coming from, you might enjoy the V-1.

Please give us a call and we will be glad to go over the details with
you and answer any questions you might have.
Thanks for your interest in Escort!

Radar Laser Experts
5440 West Chester Road
West Chester Ohio 45069

Customer Service Department
1-800-543-1608
8 AM - 6 PM M-F EST

**(in)Sanity** · 06-30-2005, 10:59 PM

I've had excellent luck with rear detection on my X50. If you need more then a half mile warning to start to slow down then you have more problems then your speed. I've had good half mile to three quarter mile warnings from the rear from vehicles that were parked. In other words I passed a parked vehicle (writing a ticket) on various occasions and have had a very long warning after. So I have to use logic and say that if they were cruising up behind me I would get at least as good of range. I've also had that happen as well and even being right in front of an 18 wheeler still had excellent warning.

The bottom line, the X50 works really well from the rear.

**icantdrive55** · 07-02-2005, 03:24 PM

Going down the local two lane highway on this busy 4th of July weekend, I am travelling with my V1 on "L".

*BAM* Ka Alert. 4 LEDS. REAR ARROW.

Silence for 5 seconds.

*BAM* Ka Alert. 3 LEDS. REAR ARROW.

Silence for 10 seconds.

*BAM* Ka Alert. 5 LEDS. REAR ARROW.

((Instant on radar obviously being used))

So, knowing this coming behind me, I know I was safe from radar as I knew he was driving behind me. I pull over to see how far he was away.

I estimated a solid distance of at least 1 mile he was behind me once he passed me.

This was basically down a straight two lane highway with quite a bit of traffic.

((Wish I had a video camera like others on this board!!))

Okay, no big deal with "arrows", eh? These arrows are for informational purposes such as this. Just where is the radar threat coming from..and are you at risk?

Regular radar detectors would have just sounded *BAM*...and I am sure every non-V1 user would believe the threat was in front...thus slow down (unnecessarily).

I love those arrows!

**sethy** · 07-02-2005, 03:31 PM

Regular radar detectors would have just sounded *BAM*...and I am sure every non-V1 user would believe the threat was in front...thus slow down (unnecessarily).

Well, true to a point. An experianced x50 user would first slow down (the important part) then assume it is in front. If you go over a hill and it dies down, pass a huge object and the strength jumps up, alert just drags out for a long time, then you know hes behind you,.

I believe v1 capitalizes on situation awareness. There is an alert, you know exactaly where he is.

But for those who got a radar detector just not to get a ticket, arrows are not truely needed.

**stalkervision** · 07-02-2005, 03:58 PM

you guys want to know of a cheap rear alert system for any detector? Just make a simple radar deflector that you can move partially in front of your radar detectors antenna as you please and that deflects rear radar signals to the antenna. Just swing it down when you get a long alert and if your led's go way way up on your detector it's a rear radar source.... :wink: 8)