Non-X50 Upgradable to X50?

**boatboy** · 11-13-2008, 12:38 PM

Just got my 9500ix and all I can say is that it has been pretty quiet. Haven't seen a LEO yet in a 100 mile trip.

I still have an 8500 that is not x-50. It probably needs to be sent in to be tuned as it has started falsing much more than before. Just wondering if anyone knows if they can upgrade this to an x50? Not sure whether I will sell it or give to son. TIA.

**AirMoore** · 11-13-2008, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by boatboy

Just got my 9500ix and all I can say is that it has been pretty quiet. Haven't seen a LEO yet in a 100 mile trip.

I still have an 8500 that is not x-50. It probably needs to be sent in to be tuned as it has started falsing much more than before. Just wondering if anyone knows if they can upgrade this to an x50? Not sure whether I will sell it or give to son. TIA.

The only way you can upgrade to an X50 is buy one new. The 8500 is very similar to the X50, other then POP mode replacing SWS... and POP detection is useless.

So keep the 8500 it is an excellent back-up detector! PS: If you have not had any 'self-cal' messages or 'service required' messages... you most likely don't need a tune up on the unit (as long as it detects its regular falses).

You could put it towards a X50 in the Belscort 'rebate plan' for returning old units, but I think the unit has more intrinsic value then what they would give you.

**djkyle65** · 11-13-2008, 04:46 PM

So was it worth the upgrade from the 8500 to the 9500ix

**AirMoore** · 11-13-2008, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by djkyle65

So was it worth the upgrade from the 8500 to the 9500ix

Certainly, you will most likely gain some time in detection (real word scenarios for constant-on) I would say generally about 2 or 3 seconds, but its 2-3seconds none-the-less over the 8500.

Also you have gained the GPS feature for the most effective 'false suppression system' there is out there. You have gained a 2nd speedometer, and also a RLC database among other things.

**Obsidian** · 11-13-2008, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by djkyle65

So was it worth the upgrade from the 8500 to the 9500ix

I used 8500's and X50's since 2003, with a 7 month gap when I stupidly switched to the V1, and the 9500ix rocks.

I have a major concern with RLC's so I would have been happy with it even if it only matched the X50's performance ... it seems better, but who really knows without extensive testing.

**boatboy** · 11-13-2008, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by djkyle65

So was it worth the upgrade from the 8500 to the 9500ix

I can't honestly answer that yet from a functional standpoint. The whole 100 mile trip I took today left me disappointed. I saw 2 state troopers, but the only problem was that each was just getting on the highway and not running anything. It was drizzling rain all day so it wasn't the best for "getting my picture taken". I will say it was somewhat quieter when I arrived at the town I was going to. I still got a couple of falses from door alarms, but locked them out.

From a monetary standpoint, I am trying to justify the price in my mind. My wife has been on my case ever since it came in yesterday..."I can't believe you spent $500 on a #$%* radar detector", to put it mildly. I have also been experiencing that famous "cold shoulder" when I pass her. I simply told her I had 30 days to try it out and I can return it. She said she really sees that happening.

Don't get me wrong, I do like it but I am still weighing it out in my mind. I am not rich like some of you guys and it is a big chunk of change when a wife, family, and the current economy is figured in...all 3 of which I have to live with. My non x-50 was doing a great job and I remember how much better detection I had when I first got my 8500 compared to my previous Escort (6500, I think). Supposedly, the x-50 version of the 8500 has 50% better detection in K and Ka than the non x-50. The 9500ix is supposed to be comparable to the x-50 in detection but differing in it's having the gps true-lock, marks, rlc, etc. Escort is selling factory refurbished x-50's on ebay for $199, so it makes me wonder if the gps is really worth an extra $300.

I have a feeling that the price will eventually come down on the gps models. They had the first gps available and some of it's features make it a winner. I think as the new wears off and other manufacturers begin making them, it will drop. If you can remember back in the mid-late 70's when VCR's first came out, they were around $1000. As they got more popular, the price went below $100.

Like I said, I haven't had time to truly test it to establish an opinion, but I will post back when I can weigh it out better.