Sunlight causing 9500i laser to go off.

[Wise87]

This evening I decided to take a late afternoon drive along one of the major roadways to see if I would get some hits with my 9500i. The sun was setting at my 1 o’clock position as I was driving west. Almost the entire time the laser warning was going off due to the setting sun. I had to mute it until I turned back east to get it to stop. I guess the conditions were just right to set it off. I have the RD mounted almost level with my mirror in my Tahoe. Is this normal with the 9500i? I had my old Whistler Pro-73 on the dash but it was quite the entire time, no laser hits. This was probably due to it being mounted lower.

[ActiveKAjam]

This evening I decided to take a late afternoon drive along one of the major roadways to see if I would get some hits with my 9500i. The sun was setting at my 1 o’clock position as I was driving west. Almost the entire time the laser warning was going off due to the setting sun. I had to mute it until I turned back east to get it to stop. I guess the conditions were just right to set it off. I have the RD mounted almost level with my mirror in my Tahoe. Is this normal with the 9500i? I had my old Whistler Pro-73 on the dash but it was quite the entire time, no laser hits. This was probably due to it being mounted lower.

How sure are you it was the sun? Most RD manufactures especialy belscort do all kinds of filtering to the IR sensor to keep non-IR light such as the sun out.
It's known that some cars noisy electrical system can trigger false laser alerts too but if that doesn't usualy happen to you then you should send it in to escort for a check up.

[RadarKid]

How sure are you it was the sun? Most RD manufactures especialy belscort do all kinds of filtering to the IR sensor to keep non-IR light such as the sun out.
It's known that some cars noisy electrical system can trigger false laser alerts too but if that doesn't usualy happen to you then you should send it in to escort for a check up.

true - my father sometimes has this happen in his new GMC truck

[MEM-TEK]

Hi RadarKid,

Stuff to check...

-- Is your 9500i vibrating up and down while you are driving? If so, then the vibration combined with the IR from sunlight can cause false laser alerts. What is happening is the vibration causes the sun's IR intensity to fluctuate as the sun's IR passes into the laser sensor. I permanently attached my RD brackets to my windshield using 3M superlock fasteners. My RDs don't vibrate at all now, and the only time I get laser falses is if sunlight from the setting sun is scintillating through tree branches in the winter.

-- Slowly rev your engine from idle to about 3500rpms. If at any point you get false laser alerts, then you should try a hardwire installation to provide cleaner power to your RD. If that doesn't work, add a snap-on choke around the power wire. If that doesn't work, then install a cheap noise filter (consisting of a choke and a capacitor inside a small box) which you can get from a car stereo shop or salvage from an old car stereo.

[RadarKid]

Hi RadarKid,

Stuff to check...

-- Is your 9500i vibrating up and down while you are driving? If so, then the vibration combined with the IR from sunlight can cause false laser alerts. What is happening is the vibration causes the sun's IR intensity to fluctuate as the sun's IR passes into the laser sensor. I permanently attached my RD brackets to my windshield using 3M superlock fasteners. My RDs don't vibrate at all now, and the only time I get laser falses is if sunlight from the setting sun is scintillating through tree branches in the winter.

-- Slowly rev your engine from idle to about 3500rpms. If at any point you get false laser alerts, then you should try a hardwire installation to provide cleaner power to your RD. If that doesn't work, add a snap-on choke around the power wire. If that doesn't work, then install a cheap noise filter (consisting of a choke and a capacitor inside a small box) which you can get from a car stereo shop or salvage from an old car stereo.

It only happens with my dads 8500 (pre X50) in HIS vehicle.
I never had issues with my X50. I think he said it happens when he revs the engine or takes off from a stop if I'm not mistaken. Any advice for him on that?

[CJR238]

I have been seeing more frequent laser falses from the 9500I than the older Escorts. I have also had 2 good Laser saves with my 9500I's so im going to assume with the better laser sensitivity of the 9500I there are going to be a few more falses.

[RadarKid]

I have been seeing more frequent laser falses from the 9500I than the older Escorts. I have also had 2 good Laser saves with my 9500I's so im going to assume with the better laser sensitivity of the 9500I there are going to be a few more falses.

what caused your false readings on LASER? I never got ONE with my x50.

[CJR238]

what caused your false readings on LASER? I never got ONE with my x50.

Every case for me has been a real threat, but i have read other 9500I owners getting alerts from sunlight or bright neon’s. Similar reports have been mad for the V1 for years.

[Wise87]

Hi RadarKid,

Stuff to check...

-- Is your 9500i vibrating up and down while you are driving? If so, then the vibration combined with the IR from sunlight can cause false laser alerts. What is happening is the vibration causes the sun's IR intensity to fluctuate as the sun's IR passes into the laser sensor. I permanently attached my RD brackets to my windshield using 3M superlock fasteners. My RDs don't vibrate at all now, and the only time I get laser falses is if sunlight from the setting sun is scintillating through tree branches in the winter.

-- Slowly rev your engine from idle to about 3500rpms. If at any point you get false laser alerts, then you should try a hardwire installation to provide cleaner power to your RD. If that doesn't work, add a snap-on choke around the power wire. If that doesn't work, then install a cheap noise filter (consisting of a choke and a capacitor inside a small box) which you can get from a car stereo shop or salvage from an old car stereo.

My 9500i is mounted pretty steady. I have it up against the RVM and the road was pretty smooth. The sun was extremely bright that evening as it was setting. I was only getting it when driving towards it. As far as the electrical connection, I have it hardwired directly into an unused fuse slot using Add-A-Circuit and a hardwire kit by escort. I will keep an eye on it for a few more days.

[TSi+WRX]

"Bright enough" *could* get it to false (this has been documented even on many of today's top-flight laser jammers), but it's usually in-conjunction with other factors as-noted - i.e. a bit of dirt/scratches on your windshield, combined with either noticeable or even imperceptible vibrations of the unit, setting up a "flicker" situation.