trying out new detectors, 9500ci range & passport max

[ActiveKAjam]

hey everyone its been some time since ive posted here. with that said I've been a V1 user for a while now, updated later to V1 ESP using custom sweeps which has Ka gaurd off and great range for all situations. lately though with %99 city driving I was finally wanting to tryout gps filtering, seemed more ideal for in city then 30sec automute which works great on the V1 but still noisy somewhat and calls for muting most of the actual real K band threats.

anyways, I was almost saved up for a 9500i and saw the max was coming out. they mentioned it still has gps filtering and even better range then the redline which I think the redline uses the same s3 dual antenna design as the 9500ci, which I know is supposed to have better range in alot of cases then the V1.

its been 2 weeks with the max ans gps filtering is great and range is still very good, but its hard to tell honestly since Im not getting alot of strait on encounters w/o curves that always affect range but ive still seen good range on narrow 35.5 but so far nothing Ive seen blow away my V1 running with the gaurd off.

so I was thinking it'd be better to save for a 9500ci instead so that i can safely run it & the v1 as others have. seems like a sweet setup, too bad the 9500ci cannot be purchases w.o the shifters though. I was wondering though, if anyone has happend to have / tryout atleast a 9500ci & a passport max somewhat to compare, range / sensitivity.

for most of my testing of the max i've be running it by itself to insure no interference, itd be great to test it next to the v1 if it were shielded but i know that even 2 good rds can still interfere, but my dad has an 8500ci actually on his truck in the lower grill exposed so the laser sensor can see too and I know it uses the narrow M4 antenna design like a 9500i. ive had about 6 encounters with using the 8500ci and the max and the max would only alert 1-2 seconds before the 8500ci shortly followed the max. upon a curve the max actualy gave 3 good more secs then the 8500ci but on 35.5, which would have made all the difference. again, nothing my v1 probably couldnt see though. on a side note with these few tests the 8500ci only had KA & laser on and on a last encounter with 34.7 i think the max and the 8500 were interfering because one would totally loose the signal for 3 seconds then it switched...really weird & never saw what it was since it was dark.

[RadarGeek]

The Beltronics STiR+ is basically the 9500ci minus the laser shifters. There are some hardware differences, but the STiR+ will out perform the 9500ci when programmed correctly.

[ActiveKAjam]

but the Sti-R+ doesnt have gps filtering, does it? the band segmentation is what gives the sti-r+ its better range? thanks

[RadarGeek]

It does have GPS filtering

[ActiveKAjam]

well now the only thing is it looks like bel doesnt offer installment plans like escort does. I really like the 9500ci anyways. Is there any idea of how much more range the sti-r+ has compared to the 9500ci?

[RadarGeek]

It is more than just range that the STiR+ beats out the 9500ci. The STiR is much more reactive. Where the 9500ci may miss a short signal, the STiR will pick it up. If you don't have $1000 on a RD, then buy the Redline. It will perform as well as the STiR.

[ActiveKAjam]

how can it be that much though? don't all 3 of those use the same antenna? honestly im at a loss since i thought the max is supposed to be better then the redline. I also thought the redline was the non-gps winshield verison of the 9500ci when it came out atleast. or is the new redline better then the ci as well? been some years like ive said haha so i appreciate the updated info

[RadarGeek]

I am not a fan of GPS lock outs. There are many reports on here and escort radars's forum of users getting tickets in GPS lock out zones. I have RDs that have GPS lockout capabilities, but do not use lockout capabilities. Escorts official stance is that you need to drive more carefully in GPS lock out areas, so basically you need to keep one eye on your rd display looking for the spinning GPS indicator, which just is not realistic.

Escort Max, although a great idea, has problems that is being addressed by escort such as missed alerts, and excessive falsing. As Escort has done many times before, with max, they have released it to the public before testing it appropriately. Currently, I consider Max a beta release. In reports on escort's own forum the redline has been outperforming Max.

You can get GPS lock out features on the redline by combining it with Escort LIVE, but here again is another Escort product that still even after almost two years after being released, still has multiple bugs that can lead to missed audio alerts as well as other issues that remain to be corrected.

The hardware of the redline is basically the windshield version of the 9500ci minus GPS and ZR4 laser shifters. This past year, escort after much pressure released new firmware for the redline that makes it similar in programming to the Bel STiR+. The ability to turn off RDR (radar detector rejection), has greatly improved its performance. To reduce false alerts (primarily from Cobra RDs) turn off segment 1 of Ka band.

[smirnoff]

I was somewhat skeptical on upgrading the Redline.....however upon return, performance has improved, along with a significant reduction in false alerts. Unfortunately, I returned the Max within the 30-days due to all of the quality issues, which mine had.....the Redline is still the very best RD I have owned in over 25+ years!

[smokinu454]

Quick correction on the first post the redline and 9500ci use the m3 not the s3. Most will tell you to hold off on the MAX since a large amount of them are being returned and there are some issues that need to be sorted out by escort. Most will also tell you the MAX does not beat the redline, some will say it is close. As for me I cannot say since I havent used the MAX but I will say that I dont see how an altered M4 could compete with the M3 but you cant assume. The in my book the STiR+ is a better detector than the 9500ci IMO and the ZR4s arent worth much unless youe drive a small, dark, veiled vehicle with little chrome.