Pulled over twice in one month now with no alert. Faulty detector or new radar band?

Hi, this is my first post here, so hi guys!

I live in wisconsin. My detector is a an Escort 8500.

In the last month I have been pulled over twice, one by a stationary cop in a really sneaky place (speedtrap), and the second time while the cop crested over a hill driving towards me.

Both times the detector gave no alert whatsover. The stationary officer says he hit me at 500ft with radar. He gave me a citation for 76 in a 55. The moving officer says he hit me with mounted radar doing 67 in a 55. He gave me a warning and was super cool.

I would like to mention I consider myself a super adept speeder, and consider myself an expert with my unit. It has saved me HUNDREDS of times. I have always considered its detection range excellent. The only ticket I have ever received while using the unit was laser from the rear by a cop on a pretty high freeway on-ramp (wisconsin state patrol). I figured none of the laser entered the rear aperture and didn't blame the unit.

So after getting pulled over twice in one month I am wondering whats the deal? Is there some new low power radar out there that doesnt get detected? A new band?

Is this something common that people know about?

Thanks.

The moving LEO was most certainly Radar while I suspect the stationary cop was most likely using LIDAR and not Radar.

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target...........LIDAR does. At 500ft the beam is very tight and if he targeted a headlight or LP, chances are your 8500 had no chance at seeing the beam. On K-Band the 8500 is fast enough to catch virtually any IO shot from a moving LEO........stationary might catch you but the LEO would have to be VERY quick on the trigger.....under .3 seconds.

Now the moving dude. Definitely moving radar........most likely Ka and you are the victim of a QT (Quick Trigger). On Ka band it can take the 8500 up to .8 seconds to register a hit while radars like the Stalker Dual and Kustom Golden Eagle can register a target speed and go back into hold (not transmitting) in as little as .3 seconds while moving.

Of course, there is always the chance that your 8500 has gone tone deaf on at least one band or portion of Ka. There are no new radar bands out there that it cannot detect.

I agree with nine_c1, the stationary was very likely LIDAR considering he gave you a distance read-out like that; I wouldn't worry too much about your 8500 missing that shot, considering there are so many variables with a detector actually seeing a LIDAR beam. As for the moving officer, two possibilities IMO: either your detector is dying or you were hit with Q/T. My best guess would be the latter. Considering your 8500 has served you faithfully for so long without any sign of fading out, I would have to assume that you got hit with a shot of Q/T that was simply too fast for your 8500 to register. If your 8500 is getting old and has a lot of hours on it, it wouldn't hurt to send it in for a tune-up.

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Originally Posted by nine_c1

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target..

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Do leos have to give 100 percent accurate distances? I always thought they could give estimates with distances?

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Originally Posted by unmamfqlm

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Originally Posted by nine_c1

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target..

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Do leos have to give 100 percent accurate distances? I always thought they could give estimates with distances?

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I surely wouldn't think so, but the fact that the LEO even mentioned the distance leads one to believe that he was using LIDAR. I've never heard of an LEO telling someone the distance at which they acquired their speed with radar, and even if they did, they would probably just give the measurement as an approximation in miles.

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Originally Posted by Silverado12

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Originally Posted by unmamfqlm

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Originally Posted by nine_c1

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target..

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Do leos have to give 100 percent accurate distances? I always thought they could give estimates with distances?

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I surely wouldn't think so, but the fact that the LEO even mentioned the distance leads one to believe that he was using LIDAR. I've never heard of an LEO telling someone the distance at which they acquired their speed with radar, and even if they did, they would probably just give the measurement as an approximation in miles.

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No Leos will not give speed with radar correct I had about 5 radar tickets none say how many ft

Sounds like it is time to 1. Get 8500 checked out, or 2. Buy a V1 or STI-R + , and some jammers :D

Granted if it has saved you hundreds of times, I don't see lidar being an issue in your area, and the 8500 is a nice detector also so maybe it needs checked out. How old is the 8500 because these will fall out of tune over time.

Ok, so the stationary unit told me 500ft, but I dont believe there is any chance in hell that is accurate. Just based on my estimate I saw him at least 1200ft away and braked hard to 55. I have an Audi with 4 piston brakes so this happens pretty fast.

I specifically asked him if he hit me with laser, and he said no, just radar. I made a joke like "well I guess this thing {RD} isn't worth a damn". I almost thought he might have been shooting X-band because they have an old mid 90's crown vic and it is their only unit. X was turned off on my detector at the time. I was actually planning on pleading not guilty and asking for all the gun records through discovery. The courts here will generally lower your fine and points just for taking the time to show up.

As for the rolling unit it was a brand new charger with all of the bells and whistles, cowbar, blacked out grill, rear radar guns, the whole works.

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Originally Posted by Pip

Ok, so the stationary unit told me 500ft, but I dont believe there is any chance in hell that is accurate. Just based on my estimate I saw him at least 1200ft away and braked hard to 55. I have an Audi with 4 piston brakes so this happens pretty fast.

I specifically asked him if he hit me with laser, and he said no, just radar. I made a joke like "well I guess this thing {RD} isn't worth a damn". I almost thought he might have been shooting X-band because they have an old mid 90's crown vic and it is their only unit. X was turned off on my detector at the time. I was actually planning on pleading not guilty and asking for all the gun records through discovery. The courts here will generally lower your fine and points just for taking the time to show up.

As for the rolling unit it was a brand new charger with all of the bells and whistles, cowbar, blacked out grill, rear radar guns, the whole works.

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lol X band, possible I suppose but highly unlikely. I always scratch my head when I get X band in Ohio (where it is used). X band is like the poor little kid saying hey look at me look at me, but it's such a non threatening girly tone on the V1 you ignore it, compared to the manly burp K band does in your ear, lol.

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Originally Posted by bombebomb

lol X band, possible I suppose but highly unlikely. I always scratch my head when I get X band in Ohio (where it is used). X band is like the poor little kid saying hey look at me look at me, but it's such a non threatening girly tone on the V1 you ignore it, compared to the manly burp K band does in your ear, lol.

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I don't like driving through Ohio for that reason. Nearly every time that I have been through there, which has been quite a bit, I have had x band encounters. They always seem to come in bad scenarios as well, like on an interstate near a town.