Finally, I think I have my 9500i working

**mswlogo** · 06-25-2008, 02:22 AM

Out of the box (if you exclude the GPS lock out feature) the 9500i is a HORRIBLE detector. Period. For me after own something like 6 generations of Escorts.

If you exclude the GPS capability. It has two serious issues.

1) The Ramp up is HORRIBLE. Period. I have had the fix, it's still Horrible. You slowly creep up to a false or real threat and it often starts FULL blast. This is startling and throws you off. If you set it to Highway it's better. But then it's overly sensitive in the city. But I'd rather it be chatty and predictable. The jumping around on ramp up is mostly caused by it not being sure your in city or highway and if in city then it tries to supress it and then panics and blasts you. It s**ks. A dumb ramp up is better. Which forcing it in highway does mostly.

2) The Automute/Autovolume thing as I discussed in another thread is totally f'ed up. I shut Autovolume off and now have it set at one full bar volume. I think it's at one full bar (it's around there). It is set to the point where when Automute is loudest and does a FULL mute (mostly). That is when it does it's thing it almost COMPLETELY mutes it. If you have any background noise at all it will sound 100% silent. I decided the way I drive this is best for me. I ran this way on a 400 mile trip with my wife in passenger seat and it didn't piss either one of us off. It is riskier running in this mode. But it is safer than throwing it out the window. This is a bug I'm taking advantage of. It should do something more consistent on the automute. But at the right level it fully mutes automatically. It alerts me and then goes almost silent a few seconds later. That's really all I need. Even if the radio is on, I'm tuned to it.

To Escort, get off your butt and fix this thing.

I won't even get into the whole GPS Lock Out thing which I think is appropriately being debated.

**CJR238** · 06-25-2008, 08:48 AM

It takes a while to get any RD to work the way you personally want, and you can’t always have each feature fit exactly what your preference is. I’m glad you were able to get it pretty close. It took me a while to analyze all the 9500I’s features and adjust them to what I wanted. I ended up using an external amplified speaker for my alert volume needs.

I agree that the ramp up needs some work, However if it was on a noisier RD it would be completely unacceptable to me. I much preferred the old ramp up.

Auto mute works fine for me but i do agree auto volume doesn’t seem to do much if anything at all.

Even with my few complaints I still feel the 9500I is a fine detector, it’s saved me dozens of times. My passengers are always impressed how accurate it is and not noisy. For me the main goal of the 9500I is: Great accurate detection while decreasing false alerts.

**MEM-TEK** · 06-25-2008, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by mswlogo

Out of the box (if you exclude the GPS lock out feature) the 9500i is a HORRIBLE detector. Period. For me after own something like 6 generations of Escorts.

If you exclude the GPS capability. It has two serious issues.

1) The Ramp up is HORRIBLE. Period. I have had the fix, it's still Horrible. You slowly creep up to a false or real threat and it often starts FULL blast. This is startling and throws you off. If you set it to Highway it's better. But then it's overly sensitive in the city. But I'd rather it be chatty and predictable. The jumping around on ramp up is mostly caused by it not being sure your in city or highway and if in city then it tries to supress it and then panics and blasts you. It s**ks. A dumb ramp up is better. Which forcing it in highway does mostly.

2) The Automute/Autovolume thing as I discussed in another thread is totally f'ed up. I shut Autovolume off and now have it set at one full bar volume. I think it's at one full bar (it's around there). It is set to the point where when Automute is loudest and does a FULL mute (mostly). That is when it does it's thing it almost COMPLETELY mutes it. If you have any background noise at all it will sound 100% silent. I decided the way I drive this is best for me. I ran this way on a 400 mile trip with my wife in passenger seat and it didn't piss either one of us off. It is riskier running in this mode. But it is safer than throwing it out the window. This is a bug I'm taking advantage of. It should do something more consistent on the automute. But at the right level it fully mutes automatically. It alerts me and then goes almost silent a few seconds later. That's really all I need. Even if the radio is on, I'm tuned to it.

To Escort, get off your butt and fix this thing.

I won't even get into the whole GPS Lock Out thing which I think is appropriately being debated.

Hi mswlogo,

Auto Sensitivity mode kills all X and K alerts when you are driving less than 15 mph. Above 15 mph and in Auto Sensitivity mode the 9500i's sensitivity rapidly ramps up to full sensitivity once you reach 50 to 55 mph.

If you want to test the ramp-up, either test in Highway mode or turn off GPS while in Auto Sensitivity mode. That way you can drive slowly towards a radar source and get a nicely increasing ramp-up as you approach the source.

Never use Auto Volume since it just doesn't work properly. Try testing Automute with Auto Volume turned off.

**dagored** · 06-25-2008, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by MEM-TEK

Never use Auto Volume since it just doesn't work properly. Try testing

Automute
with Auto Volume turned off.

Seriously, I would like this explained in a little more detail. On my outing yesterday, two hours up and two hour back, the 9500

alerted me, I have the volume on the third stripe(for lack of a better description) and then it dropped down in volume.

Is that how its supposed to work?

**CJR238** · 06-25-2008, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by dagored

Seriously, I would like this explained in a little more detail. On my outing yesterday, two hours up and two hour back, the 9500

alerted me, I have the volume on the third stripe(for lack of a better description) and then it dropped down in volume.

Is that how its supposed to work?

"aMute
In this setting, PASSPORT’s audio alerts
will initially be at the volume you set, but
after a few seconds PASSPORT will
automatically reduce the volume level to
keep you informed, but not annoyed.
(factory default)"

Yes, so essentially you set the max volume (3rd stripe) than auto mute will decrease the volume to less than half of original alert. A 3 stripe alert you may not be able to here it at all or here a change (some peoples hearing is better than others, and background noise may affect hearing it).
For best results set it at over ½, or full volume, full works best.

**thestaton** · 06-25-2008, 09:48 AM

I don't think I even know how auto volume works. I know on the four 9500i's I've owned it's just a marketing gimmick. From what I could tell it didn't do anything.

If I remember the manual correctly, it doesn't even go into any detail on how it's supposed to work. Very vague.

**MEM-TEK** · 06-25-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by thestaton

I don't think I even know how auto volume works. I know on the four 9500i's I've owned it's just a marketing gimmick. From what I could tell it didn't do anything.

If I remember the manual correctly, it doesn't even go into any detail on how it's supposed to work. Very vague.

I totally agree. Auto Volume doesn't seem to work at all -- except to somewhat interfere with the way Automute is supposed to work. That is why I suggest turning Auto Volume off.

**dagored** · 06-25-2008, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by CJR238

"aMute
In this setting, PASSPORT’s audio alerts
will initially be at the volume you set, but
after a few seconds PASSPORT will
automatically reduce the volume level to
keep you informed, but not annoyed.
(factory default)"

Yes, so essentially you set the max volume (3rd stripe) than auto mute will decrease the volume to less than half of original alert. A 3 stripe alert you may not be able to here it at all or here a change (some peoples hearing is better than others, and background noise may affect hearing it).
For best results set it at over ½, or full volume, full works best.

Believe me volume set to the third stripe is loud enough and it definitely drops down after that. That is why I asked for a little more detail. I am quite happy with it so far.

I am still on auto and I have to say that at least 90% or more of the alerts are real. Very few false ones. I am out in a rural area. I will be going to Columbus in about a month, then I can see how it deals with false alerts.