Escort ZR4

[Lucky225]

[quote="AirMoore"]

Very interested in the Zr4 reviews! looking forward to this unit coming out. Any one have an idea of what the controller and display will be like? Will they be the same 2 piece set up that the 9500ci has with the 2 front, 1 rear sensors?

I believe the unit will have 3 heads and the main controller will look like the ZR3 with led lights.

I think since it's being called ZR4, it will have 4 heads not 3. Just my 10 cents worth.

Probably not. Doubt they would make something different than the 9500ci setup.

X3 ESP. Since the ZR4 co$t is so much less then 9500ci set up, I mean think about it you can get ZR4 + 9500i for only $1k, the extra $500 for ci is just for the stealthy remote install.

Escort likes to keep things simple -- look at their radar detectors;

Passport 4500, 5500, 7500, 8500, 9500i

ZR3, ZR4..

4 doesn't mean 4 heads, just the next upgrade to their 'ZR' Jammers.. whatever ZR is heh

[nvr2fast]

US$499 for the ZR4, I'd get it for my new car (ugh... thats in 6 months).

Anyway, the reviews will be the deal breaker/winner... who cares if its $499 or even $200 if it doesn't jam diddly squat.

Of course, I'm quite sure Escort has dumped in R&D dollars into this. They're getting quite tuner/enthusiast friendly lately, with the "band-selectable" radar detectors under the Bel brand and stuff like that. Based on that, i'm sure they wont risk having their name muddied with a sub-par product.

The laser diode jammers... the tech and horsepower is better, but quality control just lacks... and the WORST situation I can think of is if you THINK you are protected, when in fact the jammer head has failed or something has gone wrong.... well, you can imagine what would happen next. To me, reliability, even if it lacks a little bit (just a bit) of performance, is a well worthwhile trade-off, and from reading here, I think most people feel the same.

If you REALLY think you need such a high level of protection, I'd say get the ZR4 (again, pending test results from GoL and others), and simply add a laser diode jammer to complement it up-front. The laser diode jammers are usually quite small, and have 1-2 heads max up front, so it wouldn't be an issue. But i doubt many people need that super level of protection unless it is white car with metallic specks in the paint :shock:

[passport_9500i]

My dealer/installer (Earmark) has the ZR3 in stock and ready to install. I have always considered myself to be an early adopter of technology and want the latest and greatest. But I'm stuck. If I wait for the ZR4 to come out, is it really going to make a difference in the near term?

In other words, how long might it be before LEA's start buying the latest guns that the ZR4 purport to provide additional protection against? I know it's an unknown that is hard to quantify, but if I go ahead and buy the ZR3 now, can I be confident that I have a reasonable amount of protection for the next couple of years before I have to cough up the $$$ for the ZR4? Heck, it may be another 6 months before Escort releases the ZR4. Decisions, decisions.

[Lucky225]

grr, Escort needs to put money where their mouth is, April 21st and not a single zr4 shipped, when 'shipping in April'

[djrams80]

My dealer/installer (Earmark) has the ZR3 in stock and ready to install. I have always considered myself to be an early adopter of technology and want the latest and greatest. But I'm stuck. If I wait for the ZR4 to come out, is it really going to make a difference in the near term?

In other words, how long might it be before LEA's start buying the latest guns that the ZR4 purport to provide additional protection against? I know it's an unknown that is hard to quantify, but if I go ahead and buy the ZR3 now, can I be confident that I have a reasonable amount of protection for the next couple of years before I have to cough up the $$$ for the ZR4? Heck, it may be another 6 months before Escort releases the ZR4. Decisions, decisions.

This all assumes that the ZR4's only improvements over the ZR3s are that it will recognize and jam the laser guns that it struggled or completely failed against before now. I tend to believe that the ZR4 will also be greatly improved against all of the laser guns out there on the market today. Only time will tell if this assumption holds true or not. I have no insider knowledge or anything like that, it's just my guess.

[happya$$]

My dealer/installer (Earmark) has the ZR3 in stock and ready to install. I have always considered myself to be an early adopter of technology and want the latest and greatest. But I'm stuck. If I wait for the ZR4 to come out, is it really going to make a difference in the near term?

In other words, how long might it be before LEA's start buying the latest guns that the ZR4 purport to provide additional protection against? I know it's an unknown that is hard to quantify, but if I go ahead and buy the ZR3 now, can I be confident that I have a reasonable amount of protection for the next couple of years before I have to cough up the $$$ for the ZR4? Heck, it may be another 6 months before Escort releases the ZR4. Decisions, decisions.

This all assumes that the ZR4's only improvements over the ZR3s are that it will recognize and jam the laser guns that it struggled or completely failed against before now. I tend to believe that the ZR4 will also be greatly improved against all of the laser guns out there on the market today. Only time will tell if this assumption holds true or not. I have no insider knowledge or anything like that, it's just my guess.

If any company has the $$$ and resources to do this it would be Escort

[Asleeper]

My dealer/installer (Earmark) has the ZR3 in stock and ready to install. I have always considered myself to be an early adopter of technology and want the latest and greatest. But I'm stuck. If I wait for the ZR4 to come out, is it really going to make a difference in the near term?

In other words, how long might it be before LEA's start buying the latest guns that the ZR4 purport to provide additional protection against? I know it's an unknown that is hard to quantify, but if I go ahead and buy the ZR3 now, can I be confident that I have a reasonable amount of protection for the next couple of years before I have to cough up the $$$ for the ZR4? Heck, it may be another 6 months before Escort releases the ZR4. Decisions, decisions.

IMO, I would wait until there has been some independent testing on the ZR4 before buying one. I'm not trying to bash it, but there have been other jammers that showed alot of potential and then failed to deliver in retail form. Even if you don't get the ZR4 when it comes out, you'll most likely be able to pick up a ZR3 for cheap.

I'd give it a few weeks to see how things turn with the ZR4. It won't be long after its released before we see some test results posted up on here.

[nvr2fast]

My dealer/installer (Earmark) has the ZR3 in stock and ready to install. I have always considered myself to be an early adopter of technology and want the latest and greatest. But I'm stuck. If I wait for the ZR4 to come out, is it really going to make a difference in the near term?

In other words, how long might it be before LEA's start buying the latest guns that the ZR4 purport to provide additional protection against? I know it's an unknown that is hard to quantify, but if I go ahead and buy the ZR3 now, can I be confident that I have a reasonable amount of protection for the next couple of years before I have to cough up the $$$ for the ZR4? Heck, it may be another 6 months before Escort releases the ZR4. Decisions, decisions.

It simply comes down to money.

This is what I would do if I was you (and assuming I had sufficient $$$ to buy both):-

Buy the ZR3 now, 2 heads front, 1 head rear (like their "standard" install).

When the ZR4 comes out, see what the esteemed people of GoL and other legit testing sites/persons say. If it turns out to be a dud (unlikely), well, you're good... you got the ZR3 which is not the greatest but is a known solid reliable performer.

If the ZR4 turns out super great, rivals the laser diode-based jammers, put ALL the ZR3 heads on the rear of your car, and put ALL the ZR4 heads on the front. This will give you max performance/reliability on the front with all the ZR4 heads front, and less performance (but still better than only 2 heads) on the rear with the ZR3.

I personally, at this point in time, would NOT put my money in laser diode-based systems which seem to have reliability problems... or at least, I would have a LED-based system in place as a "standard" and only add a laser diode-based jammer to the front to complement the LED system. Last thing you want is the laser diode-based system to have failed and you not even know and be without ANY protection.

[passport_9500i]

roger. Great suggestion. I am pretty much ready to buy the ZR3 now and get the ZR4 later. Only problem I see with using both is 9500i integration. Proly will have to separate one out (ZR3) and have one (ZR4) hooked into the 9500i. Can't wait much longer and Escort can KMA making us wait.

RANT ALERT ! ! ! WOOP WOOP WOOP

The sad thing is this: Escort needs to mature it's product by adding USB connectivity, and offer flashable software/firmware upgrades for purchase or subscription based! It's a no-brainer. So long as there are no hardware changes.

Every other high tech gadget I own has this ability and Escort should wake up to the revenue potential. They also need to partner with vendors that can create unique software for purchase/download. And when marking a location, wtf don't they have SCHOOL ZONE as a selectable location? WHY is only 'speed traps', 'camera' locations, or 'other' selectable ??? Ridiculous!

[passport_9500i]

I am pretty much ready to buy the ZR3 now and get the ZR4 later.

Maybe I answered my own question!!!! argggg