Got hit with instant-on K-band radar.....

[thestaton]

I had that revision as well, if you call up Escort they might replace yours for a newer one...

Man, the V1 dominated that hands down. Unfortunatley that's just how pathetic the 9500i ramp up is

[jwardell]

so i've created three videos showing the v1 and x50 and 9500i vs. the standard stationary k-band radar display. the videos are uploading to youtube so i will post them as soon as they are available (in a couple of hours).

the v1 in big L mode picked up the signal earliest and the ramp-up was excellent. no complaints.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qaxUiOSW-k

next, the x50 was pathetic in H mode since it didn't even alert until the radar was dead on me, sorta like getting hit with instant-on radar. somebody please tell me if there are other x50 settings i need to adjust to improve this outcome or maybe it is within spec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTFswh6B778

finally, the 9500i in H mode with GPS on (but no lockout) pickup the signal sooner than the x50 but the ramp up was awful and jumped from a few beeps to full-alert and it didn't even do that until i was right upon the source. not idea, the 9500i just doesn't get excited about radar enough for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZ1iyIIR1E

again, if there are other settings that i need to use, or if my speed 25mph is a factor, let me know what i can try. i am anxious to improve the performance of the x50 and the 9500i since these units are for my second car and my motorcycle.

WOW. I never expect the difference to be THAT significant.
Did you make multiple runs? Does the x50 react like that every time? (And does the V1 warn that early each time?)

I see three explainations:

1. The sign is somehow not always costant-on, but taking a rest to conserve power
2. Some software issue in the X50 is first filtering the sign but when it is strong enough changes its mind, and at that time it is at full alert (it is a speed sign after all)
3. The X50 really does stink.

If you made multiple passes with each and the X50 did alert further back some times, then I would think #1 is true (likewise the V1 would sometimes act like the x50)

[genxseven]

^^ my experience has been the same too with stationary speed signs. Valentine is just in a class by itself on detecting radar. However, the downfall is the more falses this creates.

[kensteele]

no, that sign is still there today and i can recreate the same scenario time and time again. if anything, the 9500i will act more like the x50 on some passes....meaning it will wait until the last second before it goes off. with the 9500i, i have experiences that "instant-on" effect once or twice with this stationary radar unit but for the most part, with the 9500i i will get a beep or two.

anyway, the sign is always on and doesn't rest that i know of, because the v1 is always detecting it, going, coming, in front, behind it, from the left, the right...wherever.

[wanderingmind]

I can't watch the videos because I am at work, but here's my question. What frequency was the sign (spec mode?)

I have noticed on many many occassions that I get next to know warning on K-band signs that are WAY out of spec. For example, there is a K-band sign by me. Whenever I drive by it, it doesn't alert until I am about 75 feet from it. It runs at 24.070. There are other signs around me that are closer to 24.150 and I get plenty of alert time.

So, my hypothesis is that the afforementioned sign is way out of tune. It is common knowledge that Belscorts are the most filtered RD's, so, I assume that it is filtering this alert out until it is super strong.

[kensteele]

I can't watch the videos because I am at work, but here's my question. What frequency was the sign (spec mode?)

I have noticed on many many occassions that I get next to know warning on K-band signs that are WAY out of spec. For example, there is a K-band sign by me. Whenever I drive by it, it doesn't alert until I am about 75 feet from it. It runs at 24.070. There are other signs around me that are closer to 24.150 and I get plenty of alert time.

So, my hypothesis is that the afforementioned sign is way out of tune. It is common knowledge that Belscorts are the most filtered RD's, so, I assume that it is filtering this alert out until it is super strong.

I sent my 9500i back for repair but I still have my x50 so I will find out the frequency and let you know.

[ziddey]

When I had my x50, I did some experimenting with a stationary unit as well. It was definitely constant on, when I drove around it normally. But if I pulled right up to it, the results were extremely erratic. It'd go full, fade down, disappear, instant full, fade, etc.

I guess it's not related to 9500i's situation at all though, seeing it has rampup issues